The Pet Owners Corner

February 12, 2026

Dear Cattalker:  Our dog keeps eating our cat’s dry food. The cat is a nibbler so I have to leave food down. Is it OK for the dog to eat it?    Anna K

Dear Anna:  Cats and dogs have different food requirements. Cats need more protein and fats than dogs do. The higher fat and protein can cause diarrhea and upset stomachs in dogs. Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning their diet MUST contain meat proteins. Dogs are omnivores, which means they need meat, vegetables and grains, just as people do. The correct balance of nutrients makes for healthy animals. So, should dogs eat cat food? Not really. Should cats eat dog food? Not really. That being said, a few pieces of kibble won’t hurt either animal.

Perhaps there is a way to keep your dog from the cat food. Some people put the dish up on a table or shelf where the cat can jump but the dog cannot. Another suggestion is to take a large plastic container with a lid, such as you might store sweaters of clothing in, turn it upside down so the lid is on the floor, put the dish on the lid, cut a cat sized opening in the side of the container so the cat can enter and eat but the dog cannot. Yet another suggestion is to feed in a room where you can put a gate that has a cat opening, so the dog cannot enter but the cat can. Those types of gates are available on line. Another solution might be to see if your cat would switch to canned food that might be eaten in one sitting.

I hope this help you find a solution to the problem many owners of cats and dogs have.

 

Pet Owners Corner is designed to answer common questions that pet owners may have. Answers will be simple and straight forward. No questions are too silly to ask; if you have that question, others probably do as well. No medical advice will be given because diagnosing and treating is not possible without a proper veterinary examination.

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