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Dog Keeps Eating Cat Food

Solutions To Stop Your Dog From Eating The Cats Food

How to Keep the Puppy From Eating the Cat’s Food : Pet Behavior

This is how you can protect your kittys food from your puppy or adult dog. The effectiveness of each solution will depend on your dogs size and personality:

#1 Replace The Food Bowl With An Automatic Selective Pet Feeder

If you free-feed your cat the food will be sitting in the bowl because most cats dont eat all the food at once. They eat as they spend energy throughout the day. This is a situation that allows the dog to steal the food from the cat. You can stop this with a selective automatic feeder, such as the SureFeed or the Wireless Whiskers.

The SureFeed Microchip feeder allows you to feed your cat dry or wet food and it works with a sensor that opens when in contact with a collar tag the cat wears . The dog simply wont be able to eat from this feeder.

The PortionPRO RX is a very well constructed feeder that stops a dog from trying to eat the cats food through RFID. The cat wears a collar tag and the dog doesnt. The feeder only opens when the cat is close to the feeder. The feeder is closed at all times and this way the dog doesnt have any access to the cats food. This is one of the best selective feeders for dry food. Check more details in the PortionPRO RX review.

#2 Elevate The Food To Make It Unreachable To The Dog

#3 Set Up A Cat Feeding Station Where Dogs Dont Fit

Enclosed feeding stations are a very good solution to keep your dog from eating your cats food. You can buy a cat feeding station or create your own.

If you Want To Do It Yourself

The Difference Between Dog And Cat Food

At a first glimpse, dog and cat food appear strikingly similar. They are both dry kibble that come in similar shapes and looks. They come in bags and they may even have a similar smell. But they are quite different when it comes to ingredients.

Cats are obligate carnivores and as such, their diets are very rich in protein. Sharon Crowell-Davis, DVM, DACVB and professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Georgia, suggests that it’s this high protein content that has a major impact on flavor.

The fact Rover loves Fluffy’s food is a no-brainer, but the real question is: Will eating cat food harm my dog in the long term? Below, we will take a look at the health implications and side effects of eating cat food as a habit.

Can Dogs Eat Dry Cat Food

Cat kibble and cat biscuits can be a much healthier alternative to treats or rewards compared to commonly used human foods, such as chicken, peanut butter, and cheese.

But again, dry cat food will be designed to satisfy a cats nutritional requirements rather than a dogs. This type of food is quite high in carbohydrates from meat sources and doesnt contain many plant-based ingredients. In addition, dry cat food is meant to be chewed up by cats, whose teeth are sharper and thinner, and will not succeed in cleaning a dogs teeth as well as dry dog food.

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How Do I Stop My Dog From Eating Cat Food

Experts agree: Keep cat food out of your dogs reach. Put cat bowls up highsuch as on counters or cat treesthat Rover cant reach. Or feed your dog and cat in separate locations, even if that means using a baby gate or pet barrier to segregate hallways.

Another suggestion is to schedule your dogs and cats mealtimes 10 minutes apart so you can supervise and keep your fur babies from swiping food from each others bowls.

Open to high-tech solutions? Get each of your pets a feeder programmed with his or her microchip or RFID collar tag. These types of feeders only open when the registered pet approaches. That means your cat can access her food at any time without the fear of it being stolen.

Why Your Dog Eats Cat Food

How to Keep Your Dog from Eating Your Cat

So, your dog is eating cat food. Can you blame them? Some dogs love cat food because cat food has higher levels of fat and protein than dog food. Cat food is also designed to smell savory…which can be an irresistible draw for dogs in search of a treat! Can dogs eat cat food? Yes, its completely safe. But, if your dog makes a habit of eating cat food, that extra fat and protein can quickly lead to weight gain.

It will take some adjustments to your usual feeding routine, but its possible to resolve the issue, either by training your dog to ignore the cats meals or by removing the opportunity entirely.

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What Happens If My Dog Keeps Eating Cat Food

A dog can survive on cat food during a stressful period if the nutrition is unbalanced. However, the nutritionally insufficient food can irritate the stomach, cause digestive problems, and lead to obesity and depression.If you have been diagnosed with pancreatitis, your veterinarian should be on your side as soon as possible.

What Are The Differences Between Cat Food And Dog Food

Cats and dogs have a few important biological and anatomical differences. For example, cats are classified as obligate carnivores who require a diet primarily comprised of meat.

Dogs, on the other hand, are best characterized as opportunistic omnivores who need a lot of different types of foods, including plenty of meat.

These differences are reflected in the foods we feed each, as discussed in greater detail below.

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What To Do If Your Dog Is Eating Cat Food

You might not be feeding cat food to your dog, but that doesnt mean he isnt seeking it out on his own. In multi-pet households, its common for dogs to raid the cat food bowl.

You can prevent stomach upset and overeating and ensure your dog is getting the nutrients he needs by following a few simple rules to keep him out of the kitty kibble:

  • Feed your dog and cat in separate rooms.
  • Do not let your pets free feed and remove uneaten food after mealtime.
  • Place cat food bowls on countertops or elevated surfaces, out of your dogs reach.

Whether your dog sneaks a few bites from the cat food bowl or eats a can of wet cat food in an emergency, its okay for your dog to eat small amounts of cat food, but it should never be the mainstay of his diet.

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Teach Them The Leave It Command

what happens if my dog eats cat food? can dogs eat cat food video

If your dog cant get over cat poop, you need to teach it the Leave It Command. This command tells your dog to leave whatever it is eating.

Start by saying leave it firmly, then give your dog a treat when it stops and comes back to you. Repeat this several times until your dog understands what the command means.

Then, start using the command when your dog is around cat poop. If your dog tries to eat the poop, say leave it and give it a treat when it stops.

If he doesnt stop, try commanding in a firm voice. Youll have to practice a few times until your dog understands the command, so be patient and keep trying.

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Reward Your Dog For Leaving Cat Food Alone

When you give your dog the command to leave it, make sure that they follow through.

A good way of doing this is by rewarding them with a tasty treat or game after they refrain from eating the kittys food. Can do this in basic training exercises to help your pet associate the act with positive things.

Cats Vs Dogs: Nutrition

Cats and dogs have different dietary requirements. Cats are obligate carnivores, which means that cats must eat meat. Its a biological necessity. Dogs, contrary to some beliefs, are omnivores, which means they eat meat and vegetables, so they need a more varied diet than just meat alone to meet their nutritional requirements.

Cat food is much higher in meat-based protein than dog food. This might be why cat food is so appealing to dogs, since the meat smell and flavor are so strong. However, just because dogs crave it doesnt mean they should eat it.

Unless your veterinarian recommends otherwise, the best food for your dog is dog food, not cat food.

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Feed Your Cat In A Different Room

Another simple way to prevent your dog from eating your cats food is to simply feed your cat in a closed room your dog cant enter.

You could use any room for such purposes, but bathrooms, laundry rooms, pantries, and garages are among the best. Baby gates can also be used to segment off a part of a room. Some household dog gates are designed with a small opening that allows cats to pass through while keeping canines out!

Feed Your Cat In A Separate Room

Automatic Cat Feeder Keeps the Dog Out of the Cat Food ...

This is what you should do. Do not feed your cat in the presence of your dog or in an area where your dog will be able to access easily as this may lead him to start barking at your cat in an attempt to scare her away so that he can have the food.

Keeping your cats dish in a separate room which your dog will not be able to enter easily.

When its feeding time for your cat, bring her to the room and place her dish on the table. Keep the door closed during the feeding time. If your dog is so skillful to be able to open the door, you would have to lock the room.

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Ask Your Vet About Your Dogs Nutritional Needs

So how good or bad cat food is for your dogs health really depends on your dog.

For most healthy adult dogs, this means you no longer need to worry about your dog partaking in the occasional kitty treat.

However, if you have any questions, be sure to reach out to your veterinarian or a veterinary nutritionist for advice as to whether commercial cat food, in any amount, may be right for your dog.

Is Cat Food Bad For Your Dog

If youve just discovered how your dog is eating your cats food, one of the first thoughts that likely came to your mind is if its dangerous or harmful to him. In the short term, NO. In the long term, YES.Cats are carnivores and their diet needs to be made up of mostly meat and fat. So, needless to say, cat food is practically all protein and fat without much more going into it.Dogs, on the other hand, are omnivores, which means they need a mixture of meat and plants . Dog food is made with this in mind and therefore has a much lower meat content in it than cat food.So, in the short term, if your dog sneaks in some cat food once or twice, its not going to cause too much of a concern. But over a long period of time, it will absolutely have a serious negative impact on his overall health. Cat food lacks vital nutrition that your dog needs.Not to mention, cat food contains taurine. Taurine is an amino acid that is found naturally in both cats and dogs. But, in large amounts, it will likely cause some health issues for most dogs.

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Can Dogs Eat Wet Cat Food

For some pups, such as those experiencing weight loss, decreased appetite, or battling cancer, cat food might be a great alternative to dog foods. This is because in these cases, cat food is tastier, higher in calories, and more nutrient-balanced than some home-prepared diets.

Small amounts of cat food from time to time are also unlikely to cause any harm to healthy adult dogs. However, giving cat food for a prolonged period of time can cause gastrointestinal issues such as diarrhea and flatulence, or even allergic reactions as wet cat food isnt tested on canines.

How Much Cat Food Is Too Much For A Dog

How to Keep Your Dog from Eating Your Cat’s Food – Feeding and Litter Box Solution – MeowSpace®

For dogs, cat food is the ultimate treat. By definition a treat is something that we have in moderation and only on special occasions. Just like humans cant live on sweets and snacks alone, dogs cant thrive solely on cat food either. Still, different animals will have different tolerance levels for protein-rich cat food.

A bit here and there is unlikely to hurt, unless your dog has an ultra sensitive system. In fact, some vets use the occasional piece of kitty kibble to bribe dogs during a visit to the clinic. The point at which your dog breaks in to the bag or gorges themself straight from the bowl, keep an eye out for problems.

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Will Cat Food Hurt A Dog

Some cats may be allergic to food containing cat fat, however this pet food could easily resolve GI upsets in no time.A doctor should, however, be consulted if diarrhea or vomiting persists after a period of 24 hours.Whenever your canine companion consumes cat food in large quantities, they may become bloated easily.

Separate Their Feeding Areas

The first step is to ensure that your dog isn’t confused that the food is not theirs. It isn’t too surprising that they wouldn’t know the cat food isn’t for them if it is in a bowl similar to their bowl and in the same area. To ensure it’s not just a case of mistaken identity, separate the feeding areas and use very distinctly different shaped and colored bowls.

When you first introduce this new set up you could try feeding them at separate times to make the distinction even clearer.

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Cat Food Is More Delicious

Its true, sorry fido, cat food has a much higher protein and fat content than dog food. This means that there will naturally be a stronger savory meaty smell to the food, making it seem so much better than his own. This, for the most part, will be one of the main reasons. Dogs love tasty treats, especially ones with a strong meat smell. To your dog, this is exactly how they view cats food when you put it down. Not only is it different from theirs, but it also smells so much better, just like a treat.

How to stop your dog eating cat food:

The first and easiest way to stop this behavior is to keep your cats food physically separated from your dog at all times. Fortunately, cats are great gymnasts and you wont have an issue feeding Felix at a much higher level than your dog, or in a different room altogether. After doing this, see how your dog reacts, does he go back to his own food? If so, everything is likely fine. But, if he now refuses to eat, it likely means theres an underlying issue. Read on!

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Protecting The Cat’s Food

How To Keep Dog From Eating Cat Food
  • 1Place your cat’s food somewhere high that your dog can’t reach. Cats can usually reach higher areas than dogs can, so take advantage of this by placing your cat’s food out of the dog’s reach. Try up on a counter or on a cat post. That way your dog won’t be able to reach the food and your cat can eat in peace.XResearch source
  • This method will also ensure that your cat has to work a little for her food, which will help keep her healthy.
  • 2Block off the cat’s food with a gate. If your dog is small enough, a gate should successfully block him from the cat food. The cat should be able to climb or jump over this gate to reach her food.XResearch source
  • Some special gates have a cat hole, just big enough for the cat to get through. Consider this option if your cat is unable to get over a gate blocking her food.
  • You could also use a baby gate to block off a doorway and set it a few inches off the ground. This will give the cat room to squeeze through, but your dog won’t be able to unless he’s very small.
  • 3Install a cat door. Like a gate, a cat door will block off a doorway and stop the dog from getting through. The door has a flap that the cat will fit through, but that most dogs will be too big for. Look for one of these in a pet store or on the internet.XResearch source
  • This will only work if your cat is smaller than your dog. If the dog is the same size as your cat, obviously, this wont work.
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    Teaching Your Dog To Leave It

  • 1Begin by showing your dog a treat that will fit inside your hand. The goal with leave it is to teach your dog to leave things alone that you dont want him to mess with. To accomplish this, you will train him that he will get something better when he leaves it as you command. Show your dog the treat and let him see what you have.XTrustworthy SourceAmerican Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to AnimalsLeading organization dedicated to the prevention of animal crueltyGo to source
  • Make sure you have a treat ready for him in your other hand, but dont let him see this one.
  • 2Say leave it in a firm voice. Dont yell at your dog, or you could scare him. Simply say it in a firm voice that makes it clear that you are issuing a command. Then, hold out your hand with your fist closed around the treat.XTrustworthy SourceAmerican Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to AnimalsLeading organization dedicated to the prevention of animal crueltyGo to source
  • You can also connect a gesture with the command. Since you will be teaching this command with a closed fist, a fist held sideways could be a good gesture.
  • Usually, once the dog realizes he cant get at the treat, hell stop pawing after a few seconds.
  • The key is consistency. Praise him and give him a treat as soon as he stops trying to get at the treat in your fist.
  • Wait until the dog stops trying to get at the bait treat.
  • Wait until the dog stops trying to get the treat. Then praise and reward him immediately.
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