{"id":6208,"date":"2026-10-19T11:16:45","date_gmt":"2026-10-19T11:16:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/canefelis.com\/?p=6208"},"modified":"2026-10-19T11:47:37","modified_gmt":"2026-10-19T11:47:37","slug":"feeding-dogs-and-cats-together","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/canefelis.com\/en\/feeding-dogs-and-cats-together\/","title":{"rendered":"Can Cats Eat Dog Food? Feeding a Dog and a Cat in the Same Home"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>.canefelis-blog .cf-toc{background:var(--cf-sage-light);border:1px solid var(--cf-border);border-radius:10px;padding:20px 24px;margin:1.7rem 0 2rem}.canefelis-blog .cf-toc strong{display:block;margin-bottom:.55rem}.canefelis-blog .cf-toc ol{margin:0;padding-left:1.25rem;columns:2;column-gap:2rem}.canefelis-blog .cf-toc li{break-inside:avoid;margin:.28rem 0}.canefelis-blog .cf-toc a,.canefelis-blog .cf-related-list a,.canefelis-blog .cf-sources a{color:var(--cf-charcoal);text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-color:var(--cf-sage);text-underline-offset:3px}.canefelis-blog .cf-btn{display:inline-block;background:var(--cf-sage);color:#fff!important;border-radius:10px;padding:12px 20px;font-weight:600;text-decoration:none;margin-top:.35rem}.canefelis-blog .cf-btn:hover{background:var(--cf-charcoal)}.canefelis-blog .cf-sources span{color:#6b665e;font-size:.92em}@media(max-width:700px){.canefelis-blog .cf-toc 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class=\"cf-lead\">You put the cat&#x27;s bowl down, turn around for a second, and when you look back, the dog has its head in it. Sound familiar? Or maybe it&#x27;s the other way round: the cat sneaks over to the dog&#x27;s bowl and prefers the food there to what is in its own bowl?<\/p>\n<p>Published: 19 October 2026<\/p>\n<p><em>By the Canefelis editorial team \u00b7 Updated: October 2026<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Sooner or later, almost everyone who shares a home with a dog and a cat asks: is this a problem? Can cats eat dog food? And what happens if the dog steals the cat&#x27;s food every single day?<\/p>\n<p>If you have wondered about this, you are not alone. Dogs and cats may share the sofa, but their nutritional needs are quite different.<\/p>\n<p>At Canefelis we have two separate food lines, one for dogs and one for cats. For this article, we reviewed veterinary guidance on the subject.<\/p>\n<p>The good news first: a stolen bite is usually not an emergency. The less good news: dog food is not suitable as a long-term diet for cats, and cat food is not suitable as a long-term diet for dogs.<\/p>\n<p>In this article you&#x27;ll learn why the two types of food aren&#x27;t interchangeable, when snacking from the other bowl becomes a problem, and how to set up feeding spots so each animal can eat its own food in peace. You&#x27;ll also find out why a cat often turns food down after a quick sniff while the dog beside her will eat almost anything.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"the-key-points-in-30-seconds\">The key points in 30 seconds<\/h2>\n<div class=\"cf-keypoints\">\n<ul class=\"cf-list\">\n<li>A few bites of dog food usually won&#x27;t harm an adult cat. As a regular diet, it isn&#x27;t suitable.<\/li>\n<li>Cats need taurine, arachidonic acid and preformed vitamin A from their food. Cat food is made for that, dog food isn&#x27;t.<\/li>\n<li>Cat food isn&#x27;t toxic to dogs, but it&#x27;s usually richer in fat and protein. Eaten regularly, it adds too many calories.<\/li>\n<li>The most reliable fix is physical separation: the cat&#x27;s bowl up high, set mealtimes, leftovers cleared away straight after.<\/li>\n<li>With repeated vomiting, ongoing diarrhoea, lethargy or existing health conditions: call your vet.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<nav class=\"cf-toc\" aria-label=\"Contents\"><strong>Contents<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><a href=\"#can-cats-eat-dog-food-the-short-answer\">Can cats eat dog food? The short answer<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#why-cat-food-and-dog-food-aren-t-interchangeable\">Why cat food and dog food aren&#x27;t interchangeable<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#cat-eats-dog-food-when-is-it-dangerous\">When does eating dog food become a problem for cats?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#dog-eats-cat-food-is-that-bad-or-even-toxic\">Is cat food bad for dogs, or even toxic?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#dog-eats-cat-food-what-to-do-and-how-to-stop-it\">How to stop your dog eating the cat&#x27;s food<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#feeding-your-dog-and-cat-separately-how-to-set-up-the-feeding-spots\">Feeding your dog and cat separately: how to set up the feeding spots<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#set-meals-or-food-available-all-day\">Set meals or food available all day?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#cat-prefers-dog-food-what-might-be-behind-it\">Cat prefers dog food: what might be behind it<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#why-cats-taste-differently-from-dogs\">Why cats perceive taste differently from dogs<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#peace-at-the-bowl-stress-in-a-multi-pet-home\">Peace at the bowl: stress in a multi-pet home<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#when-one-animal-is-on-a-vet-prescribed-diet\">When one animal is on a vet-prescribed diet<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#puppy-and-kitten-in-the-same-home-what-to-watch-for\">Puppy and kitten in the same home: what to watch for<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#treats-water-and-the-litter-box\">Treats, water and the litter box<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#frequently-asked-questions-dogs-cats-and-the-bowl\">Frequently asked questions: dogs, cats and the bowl<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#two-animals-two-recipes-how-we-handle-this-at-canefelis\">Two animals, two recipes: how we handle this at Canefelis<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#dog-and-cat-at-the-bowl-how-does-it-work-in-your-home\">Dog and cat at the bowl: how does it work in your home?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/nav>\n<h2 id=\"can-cats-eat-dog-food-the-short-answer\"><strong>Can cats eat dog food? The short answer<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Yes, a few bites are usually no cause for concern. Dog food isn&#x27;t toxic to cats. If your cat nibbles from the dog&#x27;s bowl now and then, there&#x27;s no need to rush to the vet.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"cf-figure\"><img src=\"https:\/\/canefelis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/canefelis-hund-katze-fuettern-02-katzenmahlzeit.jpg\" alt=\"A woman lies beside her tabby cat as it eats from a small green bowl on the floor of a bright kitchen.\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1073\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"><\/figure>\n<p>No, it isn&#x27;t suitable as a main diet. Veterinary sources agree on this: a cat that eats mostly dog food for weeks or months won&#x27;t get everything it needs in the long run.<\/p>\n<p>The reason isn&#x27;t that dog food is bad. A dog food can be complete and balanced for a dog and still fall short for a cat. That&#x27;s down to how cats are built, not to the packaging.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"why-cat-food-and-dog-food-aren-t-interchangeable\"><strong>Why cat food and dog food aren&#x27;t interchangeable<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Dogs and cats often stand side by side in the kitchen, but metabolically they&#x27;re worlds apart. Cats are obligate carnivores. Their bodies are set up to get certain nutrients ready-made from animal tissue instead of making them themselves. Dogs are far more flexible here.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"cf-figure\"><img src=\"https:\/\/canefelis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/canefelis-hund-katze-fuettern-03-hundenapf.jpg\" alt=\"A woman holds a white cup over her greyhound\u2019s bowl on the floor in front of a wooden kitchen cabinet.\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1073\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"><\/figure>\n<p>The main differences, explained simply:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"cf-list\">\n<li><strong>Taurine:<\/strong> cats can&#x27;t make enough of this amino acid themselves and have to get it from food. Dogs usually produce taurine on their own.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Arachidonic acid:<\/strong> a fatty acid cats need from their diet. Dog food doesn&#x27;t have to contain it.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Vitamin A:<\/strong> dogs can make it from beta-carotene, found in carrots for example. Cats can&#x27;t, so they need preformed vitamin A.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Niacin:<\/strong> cats also need to get this B vitamin from their food.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Protein:<\/strong> relative to energy, cats need more protein than dogs. Because they eat smaller amounts, every portion needs to be sufficiently nutrient-dense.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>A cat food labelled as a complete feed is designed around these needs. A dog food is made for dogs. So a food can meet all your dog&#x27;s nutritional needs while falling short of your cat&#x27;s. <a href=\"https:\/\/canefelis.com\/en\/why-cats-need-meat-taurine\/\">Read more about why cats need meat and taurine.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Nutrition professor John Bauer of Texas A&amp;M University sums it up in one simple rule: every animal should get food made for its own species. Occasional mix-ups, on the other hand, are no cause for worry.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"cat-eats-dog-food-when-is-it-dangerous\"><strong>When does eating dog food become a problem for cats?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>What matters isn&#x27;t the single bite but the pattern. Three questions help you put it in perspective:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"cf-list\">\n<li><strong>How often does it happen?<\/strong> A few bites once a week is very different from half a portion every day.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Is she still eating her own food?<\/strong> If the cat leaves her bowl and increasingly fills up at the dog&#x27;s, her diet is shifting.<\/li>\n<li><strong>How long has it been going on?<\/strong> Over weeks and months, nutrients that only a cat food reliably provides may start to run short.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>A long-term taurine deficiency can affect a cat&#x27;s heart muscle and retina over time. That&#x27;s no reason to panic after one raid, but it is a good reason to separate feeding spots. If you suspect your cat has been eating a lot of dog food for a while, mention it at the next vet check-up.<\/p>\n<p>What to do if she gets diarrhoea after a bigger raid is covered further down in the frequently asked questions.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"dog-eats-cat-food-is-that-bad-or-even-toxic\"><strong>Is cat food bad for dogs, or even toxic?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>What about the reverse? In many homes, this happens even more often. Dogs love cat food. No wonder: it usually contains plenty of animal protein and fat, and it smells strong.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"cf-figure\"><img src=\"https:\/\/canefelis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/canefelis-hund-katze-fuettern-04-hund-frisst.jpg\" alt=\"A slender brown greyhound eats from a dark bowl on the floor in front of a warm wooden cabinet.\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1073\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"><\/figure>\n<p>The reassuring news: cat food isn&#x27;t toxic to dogs. A dog that licks the cat&#x27;s bowl clean won&#x27;t end up short of nutrients because of it. The concern is excess calories rather than missing nutrients.<\/p>\n<p>Because cat food is more energy-dense, regular helpings can lead to weight gain over time, especially in dogs that put on weight easily.<\/p>\n<p>High-fat food is also linked with inflammation of the pancreas. Dogs that are prone to it, or have had it before, should be kept away from cat food entirely; talk this through with your vet.<\/p>\n<p>And there&#x27;s one more point that&#x27;s easy to forget: whatever the dog eats is missing from the cat&#x27;s meal. If your cat only finds leftovers, she may be eating less than you think, and you might not notice until much later.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"dog-eats-cat-food-what-to-do-and-how-to-stop-it\"><strong>How to stop your dog eating the cat&#x27;s food<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Scolding doesn&#x27;t achieve much here. Your dog is following his nose, and a bowl left within reach is an invitation. It works better to take away the opportunity and train a clear cue at the same time.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"cf-figure\"><img src=\"https:\/\/canefelis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/canefelis-hund-katze-fuettern-05-napf-anbieten.jpg\" alt=\"A woman kneels on the kitchen floor and calmly offers a small metal bowl to her brindle greyhound.\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1073\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"><\/figure>\n<ul class=\"cf-list\">\n<li><strong>Bowl out of reach:<\/strong> put the cat food where only the cat can get to it, such as a windowsill, a cat tree with a wide platform or a shelf.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Set mealtimes:<\/strong> feed both animals at the same time but in separate rooms, and stay nearby.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Clear leftovers straight away:<\/strong> a bowl that&#x27;s put away after the meal can&#x27;t be raided.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Train a cue:<\/strong> practise the \u201cleave it\u201d cue with your dog and reward him when he turns away from the bowl. Short, friendly sessions, a few minutes every day.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Offer something to do:<\/strong> some dogs go for the cat&#x27;s bowl out of boredom. A short sniffing game after their own meal often takes the edge off.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Expect it to take a few weeks for the new routine to become a habit. Relapses are normal, especially if a full bowl is ever left unattended.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"feeding-your-dog-and-cat-separately-how-to-set-up-the-feeding-spots\"><strong>Feeding your dog and cat separately: how to set up the feeding spots<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>A well-planned feeding setup often solves mealtime problems more effectively than training alone. A few ideas that work well in many households:<\/p>\n<figure class=\"cf-figure\"><img src=\"https:\/\/canefelis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/canefelis-hund-katze-fuettern-06-getrennte-plaetze.jpg\" alt=\"A cat eats on a raised sideboard by the window while a brown dog eats from its own bowl farther away.\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1073\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"><\/figure>\n<ul class=\"cf-list\">\n<li><strong>Use height:<\/strong> cats jump, dogs mostly don&#x27;t. A raised feeding spot is often the simplest fix. Make sure your cat can get up comfortably and without slipping, especially if she&#x27;s older.<\/li>\n<li><strong>A room of her own:<\/strong> a room with a door stop that leaves only a cat-sized gap, or a pet gate with a cat flap.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Feeding station with a small opening:<\/strong> a box only the cat fits into. It works well with big dogs, not always with small ones.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Microchip feeder:<\/strong> the lid only opens for the animal whose chip is registered. Handy when several animals eat different food.<\/li>\n<li><strong>A quiet corner:<\/strong> cats don&#x27;t like eating with an audience. A spot away from walkways and at a distance from the litter box makes sense.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The dog&#x27;s bowl can stay on the floor. For the cat, food, water and litter box shouldn&#x27;t sit right next to each other. Some cats eat and drink more calmly when these spots are spread out a little.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"set-meals-or-food-available-all-day\"><strong>Set meals or food available all day?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>In a home with just one cat, the bowl is often full all day. Once a dog lives there too, that rarely works. A full bowl sitting around for hours is simply too tempting for most dogs.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"cf-figure\"><img src=\"https:\/\/canefelis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/canefelis-hund-katze-fuettern-07-portion-abwiegen.jpg\" alt=\"Two hands place a pale bowl containing food onto a small kitchen scale on a wooden worktop.\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1073\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"><\/figure>\n<p>With set meals you keep track: you can see who ate what and notice sooner when an animal eats less than usual. Many cats like several small portions. So split the daily amount into a few meals and serve them where the dog can&#x27;t reach.<\/p>\n<p>With soft food there&#x27;s one more rule: anything opened goes into the fridge, covered, after the meal and shouldn&#x27;t sit in the bowl for hours. For opened packs, follow the manufacturer&#x27;s instructions.<\/p>\n<p>If your cat eats tiny portions spread across the whole day, a microchip feeder is often a good compromise: the food is ready, but only for her.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"cat-prefers-dog-food-what-might-be-behind-it\"><strong>Cat prefers dog food: what might be behind it<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>\u201cMy cat only eats the dog&#x27;s food now.\u201d It sounds odd, but it happens. A few possible reasons:<\/p>\n<figure class=\"cf-figure\"><img src=\"https:\/\/canefelis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/canefelis-hund-katze-fuettern-08-erhoehter-napf.jpg\" alt=\"A tabby cat eats from a pale ceramic bowl on a broad, stable sideboard beside a window at home.\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1073\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"><\/figure>\n<ul class=\"cf-list\">\n<li><strong>Curiosity and competition:<\/strong> whatever the other one has is interesting. Young cats in particular like to try what&#x27;s in someone else&#x27;s bowl.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Texture and shape:<\/strong> some cats like the size or consistency of the dog&#x27;s pieces. That tells you about their preference, not their needs.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Her own bowl has lost its appeal:<\/strong> dried-out food, a bowl right next to the litter box or a busy spot.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Physical reasons:<\/strong> if a cat suddenly turns down her usual food, toothache or other problems may be behind it. That needs checking.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If your cat suddenly refuses her own food, our article <a href=\"https:\/\/canefelis.com\/en\/cat-wont-eat-usual-food\/\">Cat Suddenly Won&#x27;t Eat Its Usual Food: 7 Checks<\/a> offers a step-by-step checklist, including advice on when to call the vet.<\/p>\n<p>Rather than simply letting your cat keep eating the dog&#x27;s food, address what may be putting her off her own. Offer your cat a cat food with a texture she likes instead, and turn her feeding spot back into a place where she can eat in peace.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"why-cats-taste-differently-from-dogs\"><strong>Why cats perceive taste differently from dogs<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Cats have around 470 taste buds, dogs about 1,700, and we humans more than 9,000. These figures are cited by veterinarian Megan Keller and help explain why smell and texture matter so much to cats at mealtimes.<\/p>\n<p>It also explains why a cat sometimes rejects food after a quick sniff without even tasting it, while the dog next to her happily takes anything that smells of meat.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"peace-at-the-bowl-stress-in-a-multi-pet-home\"><strong>Peace at the bowl: stress in a multi-pet home<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>For animals, food is a resource, and resources get defended. Even a dog and cat who otherwise get on well can be tense at the bowl. Often you only notice it in small things:<\/p>\n<figure class=\"cf-figure\"><img src=\"https:\/\/canefelis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/canefelis-hund-katze-fuettern-09-ruhe-zusammen.jpg\" alt=\"A tabby cat and a reddish-brown dog lie relaxed next to each other on a pale blanket at home.\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1073\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"><\/figure>\n<ul class=\"cf-list\">\n<li>The cat eats hastily and keeps looking around.<\/li>\n<li>She leaves the bowl as soon as the dog walks in.<\/li>\n<li>The dog hovers nearby during the cat&#x27;s meal and watches her.<\/li>\n<li>One animal only eats at night or while the other is asleep.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>These signs suggest your pets need more space or privacy at mealtimes. Try greater distance between feeding spots, a visual barrier or separate feeding times. Cats need to feel they won&#x27;t be surprised while eating.<\/p>\n<p>Your relationship with her plays a part too. Many cats eat more calmly when a trusted person is close by. To find out who your cat trusts most, read <a href=\"https:\/\/canefelis.com\/en\/cats-favorite-person\/\">A Cat&#x27;s Favorite Person: How to Recognize Your Bond<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"when-one-animal-is-on-a-vet-prescribed-diet\"><strong>When one animal is on a vet-prescribed diet<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Separation becomes especially important when one of the animals is on a diet prescribed by the vet, for example because of kidney disease or an allergy. In that situation, it matters if either animal eats from the wrong bowl.<\/p>\n<div class=\"cf-vetbox\">\n<p class=\"cf-vetbox-label\">IMPORTANT<\/p>\n<p>In that case, ask the practice how strict the feeding has to be and whether a microchip feeder or separate rooms would make sense. That&#x27;s not overdoing it, it&#x27;s part of the treatment.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"puppy-and-kitten-in-the-same-home-what-to-watch-for\"><strong>Puppy and kitten in the same home: what to watch for<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Young animals have their own, higher needs. A puppy needs food designed for puppies or for all life stages, and a kitten needs cat food for kittens or for all life stages.<\/p>\n<p>Young dogs in particular are tireless bowl thieves. So separate the feeding spots from day one, and the habit never gets a chance to form. And in the first weeks, don&#x27;t let puppy and kitten eat together unsupervised.<\/p>\n<p>The feeding guide on the pack is a starting point for deciding how much to feed a growing puppy or kitten. How much your youngster really needs is something to discuss with your vet at the first vaccination appointments.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"treats-water-and-the-litter-box\"><strong>Treats, water and the litter box<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><strong>Treats:<\/strong> snacks are designed for a specific species too. A dog treat for the cat, or the other way round, is fine as an exception but shouldn&#x27;t become routine. And count treats as part of the daily amount.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"cf-figure\"><img src=\"https:\/\/canefelis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/canefelis-hund-katze-fuettern-10-saubere-naepfe.jpg\" alt=\"Two clean ceramic bowls in cream and sage green dry on a cotton cloth beside the kitchen sink.\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1073\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"><\/figure>\n<p><strong>Water:<\/strong> dogs and cats can generally drink from the same bowl if both are happy with that. Many cats, though, prefer drinking at their own quiet spot. A second water bowl at cat height costs little. Change the water every day.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Litter box:<\/strong> some dogs take a suspicious interest in the litter box. It&#x27;s not just unappetising: cat faeces can carry parasites and pathogens such as Toxoplasma or Salmonella. Clean the box regularly, place it where the dog can&#x27;t reach it, and talk to your vet if he keeps managing to get in anyway.<\/p>\n<div class=\"cf-note\">\n<p><strong>Your feeding checklist for dogs and cats<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"cf-list\">\n<li>Each animal has its own bowl in its own spot.<\/li>\n<li>The cat&#x27;s bowl is raised or in an area the dog can&#x27;t reach.<\/li>\n<li>Feeding happens at set times, and leftovers are cleared away afterwards.<\/li>\n<li>Opened soft food goes into the fridge, covered.<\/li>\n<li>The cat also has water at her own height.<\/li>\n<li>The dog can&#x27;t get to the litter box.<\/li>\n<li>You know roughly how much each animal eats every day.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"cf-faq-title\" id=\"frequently-asked-questions-dogs-cats-and-the-bowl\"><strong>Frequently asked questions: dogs, cats and the bowl<\/strong><\/h2>\n<div class=\"cf-faq-section\">\n<div class=\"cf-faq-item\">\n<p class=\"cf-faq-q\"><strong>Can a cat get diarrhoea from dog food?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"cf-faq-a\">It can happen, especially if she&#x27;s eaten a larger amount of unfamiliar food. Unfamiliar food can upset the stomach for a short while, and it usually settles quickly.<\/p>\n<p class=\"cf-faq-a\">If the diarrhoea lasts longer than a day, keeps coming back, comes with vomiting or your cat seems lethargic, call your vet. With kittens, older cats and animals with existing conditions, call sooner.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"cf-faq-item\">\n<p class=\"cf-faq-q\"><strong>Does my dog need the taurine in cat food?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"cf-faq-a\">Usually not. Dogs can make taurine themselves and get what they need from a complete dog food. If you have questions about taurine and your dog, for example because of the breed or a special diet, the vet is the right place to ask, not the cat&#x27;s bowl.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"cf-faq-item\">\n<p class=\"cf-faq-q\"><strong>What if you run out of cat food?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"cf-faq-a\">For one evening, a little dog food is no problem. Some guides also suggest cooked, unseasoned, boneless chicken as a stopgap. By the next day, though, your cat should be back on her complete cat food. A small stock of unopened pouches saves you evenings like that.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"cf-faq-item\">\n<p class=\"cf-faq-q\"><strong>Can a dog and cat eat from the same bowl?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"cf-faq-a\">Better not. Apart from needing different food, with a shared bowl you can&#x27;t see who ate how much. It can also easily lead to squabbles. Separate bowls in separate places are the calmer solution.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"cf-faq-item\">\n<p class=\"cf-faq-q\"><strong>My dog has emptied the cat&#x27;s bowl. What now?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"cf-faq-a\">Stay calm. Most dogs will be fine after eating a single portion of cat food. A sensitive stomach sometimes reacts with diarrhoea or vomiting, which usually passes quickly. Keep an eye on him for a few hours.<\/p>\n<p class=\"cf-faq-a\">With repeated vomiting, severe diarrhoea, tummy pain, or if he has a known pancreas condition, call your vet. If in doubt, it is better to call.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"cf-faq-item\">\n<p class=\"cf-faq-q\"><strong>Can I feed my dog and cat at the same time?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"cf-faq-a\">Yes, and it&#x27;s often handy. But at the same time doesn&#x27;t mean side by side. Feed them simultaneously in different rooms or at different heights, so each is busy with its own bowl and nobody eyes the other&#x27;s.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"two-animals-two-recipes-how-we-handle-this-at-canefelis\"><strong>Two animals, two recipes: how we handle this at Canefelis<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Everything in this article comes down to one sentence: every animal gets food made for its own species. That&#x27;s how we do it too.<\/p>\n<p>We don&#x27;t make a recipe \u201cfor dogs and cats\u201d. We have two separate lines, Canefelis Dog&#x27;s for dogs and Canefelis Cat&#x27;s for cats. Both are gently baked soft food with a soft, moist texture, but each is formulated for a different species.<\/p>\n<p>The difference is on the label too. Our dog recipes list L-lysine among the additives, our cat recipes list taurine, declared at a minimum of 0.15 %. The crude protein figures also differ: at least 18 % for dogs, at least 19 % for cats.<\/p>\n<p>An example with an almost identical name: our cat food Chicken with Vegetables and Fruit contains, according to the label, 70 % chicken breast, 8 % chicken liver, 7 % chicken heart and 5 % egg. The dog food Chicken with Vegetables and Fruit contains 60 % chicken breast, 12 % chicken liver, 8 % chicken heart and 5 % egg. Similar names, different recipes.<\/p>\n<p>So nothing gets mixed up at feeding time, the pouches are clearly marked Dog&#x27;s and Cat&#x27;s. <a href=\"https:\/\/canefelis.com\/en\/wet-pet-food-shelf-life\/\">Unopened, they keep for 18 months<\/a> without a fridge. That way you can keep a small stock for both animals without opened packs piling up in the fridge.<\/p>\n<p>One more note for transparency: our duck recipe for dogs and our fish recipe for cats also contain chicken. If one of your animals reacts to certain ingredients, read the full ingredient list and discuss the choice with your vet.<\/p>\n<div class=\"cf-ctabox\">\n<p><strong>Two animals, two recipes: fancy giving it a try?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Our trial boxes let you try both ranges before stocking up. Each box contains 12 pouches of 100 g with all three recipes.<\/p>\n<p>If you live with both a dog and a cat, take one box of each. That way every animal has its own food from the first meal.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"cf-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/canefelis.com\/en\/product\/trial-box-for-dogs\/\">Trial box for dogs<\/a> \u00b7 <a class=\"cf-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/canefelis.com\/en\/product\/trial-box-for-cats\/\">Trial box for cats<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Shipping to Austria and Germany is free on orders from \u20ac47.<\/p>\n<p>P.S.: A trick against bowl thieves that costs nothing: tonight, put the cat&#x27;s bowl a metre higher and see what happens.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"dog-and-cat-at-the-bowl-how-does-it-work-in-your-home\"><strong>Dog and cat at the bowl: how does it work in your home?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Who&#x27;s the bowl thief in your home, the dog or the cat? And which trick worked for you? Tell us in the comments. We read everything and collect your ideas for future articles.<\/p>\n<div class=\"cf-ctabox\">\n<p><strong>Read more<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"cf-list cf-related-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/canefelis.com\/en\/wet-pet-food-shelf-life\/\">Wet Food for Dogs and Cats: How Does It Keep for 18 Months Unopened Without a Fridge?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/canefelis.com\/en\/why-cats-need-meat-taurine\/\">Why Cats Need So Much Meat: Carnivores and Taurine Explained Simply<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/canefelis.com\/en\/dog-cat-food-myths\/\">Dog and Cat Food Myths: 12 Misconceptions Fact-Checked<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Can cats eat dog food, and is cat food bad for dogs? The key differences and practical tips for feeding a dog and a cat separately at home.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6258,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[219],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6208","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-multi-pet-household"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/canefelis.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6208","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/canefelis.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/canefelis.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/canefelis.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/canefelis.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6208"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/canefelis.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6208\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6284,"href":"https:\/\/canefelis.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6208\/revisions\/6284"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/canefelis.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6258"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/canefelis.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6208"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/canefelis.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6208"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/canefelis.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6208"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}