A question for the board
 

What's the difference between dog food and cat food? Enquiring minds and Lensman wants to know. :helpme

dog food is for dogs & cat food is for cats?


oh, but a dog will eat cat food, but a cat wont eat dog food?

you can get one at your local chineese food place?

Cat food comes in smaller tins and costs more.
Cat food is generally also smaller kibble when dry and costs more.
Cat food is often made from fish or poultry.
Dog food is often made from grain and other crap with beef flavoring.
Dog food is what you feed co-workers in the kraft services trays, puree and label as pate.

It's all about the taste, trust me or try it yourself :winkwink:

What's Really in Pet Food.

Dogs and cats have different nutritional needs:
http://www.cvm.uiuc.edu/petcolumns/s...cle.cfm?id=189

By Joseph Hahn
Information Specialist
University of Illinois
College of Veterinary Medicine
There are some who believe that it is all right to feed dog food to cats. There are others
who feel that it is all right to feed cat food to dogs. It is time to set the record straight on the
nutritional habits of our favorite furry family friends.

"Cats are very peculiar in their dietary requirements," says Dr. Allan Paul, small animal
Extension veterinarian at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine at
Urbana. "They are not small dogs."

The first major difference between cats and dogs, explains Dr. Paul, is that cats are true
carnivores, requiring a diet mainly of meat and meat products. Dogs are omnivores, having
the ability to exist on a diet of meat and plant products.

"There are certain nutrients that cats need that can only be found in animal sources," claims
Dr. Paul. "Dog foods are higher in grain products and lack some of these essential
nutrients."

Taurine is an essential amino acid that is crucial for a catshahaha65517; health and is only found in animal
tissues. Without taurine in the diet, cats can experience heart problems, blindness, and
respiratory problems. Dr. Paul remarked that the blindness caused by a lack of taurine in
the diet was first seen in cats that were fed strictly dog food.

The next nutrient Dr. Paul mentioned was vitamin A. Dogs have the ability to convert
beta-kerotene to vitamin A. Cats on the other hand need pre-formed vitamin A in their diet,
which can only be found in animal tissues.

Arachidonic acid, a necessary fatty acid, can be synthesized by a dog using linoleic acid.
The cat is unable to do this and needs to ingest arachidonic acid in their diet. This, too, can
only be found in animal tissues.

Finally, Dr. Paul stated that cats have a much higher protein requirement than dogs because
they use protein as an energy source.

"Because of all of these differences, you should not feed dog food to your cat," states Dr.
Paul. "Because cat food is not formulated for dogs, you should not feed cat food to your
dog.

My cat food has way more fish based compared to dog food

I now feel guilty. I just feed my dog basically any food that is available.

Yuck, I don't eat dog food!

.. now isent that just amazing - please click my sig now.
This reply is brought to you by TexasDreams GFY bot v1