Kitten Eating Dog Food

Does anyone know if nibbling on dog food (dry) can be harmful to a five month old kitten? My kitten will play with the dog food (dry, but he also eats it. I guess he figures if his friend zuby (the dog) can eat it so can he. The kitten actually pushes the dog from the dish so he can get to it. It's cute, but I don't want him to get sick.

Rob:

I don't know how healthy it is or not but must of my cats do it too! Brandon does the same thing Zuby does, he lets the cats push him out of the way. I think it might be okay as long as he gets his own food for the nutrients and doesn't eat too much. Also the dogs eat the cat food. I go through more cat food that anything. Brandon and AJ are constantly eating the cat food. If I don't close the lid on the container that I keep the cat food it the dogs think it is a feast. I catch them with their whole heads in the container.

Michele

Thanks for the info Michele. Talk to you later.
Robin

Hey Robin...probably don't remeber me. Micheles friend who has the orange tabby that you were going to take if I didn't. BTW, she is just as cute as ever. She is on my website if you want to take a peek.
The dog food thing. What I have read and have understood is that dog food is not good for cats. Main reason being that it does not contain the nutrients and proteins they need. If they fill up on dog food, they wont eat the food they need to. If it keeps up they can become deficient on things

Yep, like Snadie said, although dog food is not HARMFUL to cats, if they fill up on it, they will be lacking necessary nutrients.

On the other hand, Cat food IS harmful for dogs, so make sure your dog does not eat cat food.

Yes - eating dog food is not good for cats. If they eat only dog food they will get very sick as it doesn't contain taurine. So eating dog food instead of cat food is not very good for them.

By the way, I'm moving this to the health and nutrition forum.

Sandie:

Wrong Sister. The one you met was Elisa. Robin lives in Florida hopefully someday I can convince her to come up her and you can meet her. She is one of the nicest and most caring people in the world. And I am not just saying that cause she is my sister.

Michele

LOL I could have sworn she was visiting you. I get them mixed up because I don't ever see them. Sorry Robin!!!!

Sandie:

That's okay. I actually have three sisters and they are all cat owners. Robin is slacking cause she only has one. My sister Elisa has four and my other sister has two and a dog. I have been trying to convince Robin to get a second one. I am close. She is just worried about the birds.

Michele

Thank you everyone for you feedback.

My kitty, Socki, only nibbles once in awhile but I will watch that he doesn't get carried away. As for my dog, Zuby he can't get at the dog food so I don't have to worry about him eating the cat food.

Sandi, If I ever get to visit Michele, I will be sure to let her introduce me to you.

Michele, Thanks for be so sweet, and you are by far that must caring and loving person I know. And I also am slacking between my sister and the number of kittys that they have, but I did go as far as calling someone that had an ad in the paper for kittens and am seriously thinking about it. But Michele I know I will nerver catch up to your 16 or is it 17?

Robin

Dog food was not intended to be fed to cats, as dogs and cats have very different nutritional requirements. Dog food isn't high enough in protein or fat to meet a cat's needs, and it doesn't contain taurine, an essential nutrient for cats. It won't hurt the kittens, but it will fill them up to the point that they won't eat their own food. The dogs and cats need to be fed separately, so that they eat their own food.
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Its best to discourage this. Dog food lacks taurine and the necessary higher protein needed for cats. It won't hurt the kitten, but it should not become a habit.

Try not to be free feeding the dog - allow 1/2 hour for eating, then take the food up. Offer it at the next meal. Keep the kitten for bothering the dog when he's eating.