In this Pooches at Play segment, host Lara Shannon sits down with Narelle Cooke, Founder of CanineCeuticals and qualified animal naturopath, to separate fact from fiction in multi-pet household nutrition. Many pet parents wonder if cats can safely eat dog food or vice versa, and there are plenty of myths around feeding your feline family members, which this segment clears up once and for all.
Narelle explains that cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they rely almost entirely on nutrients from animal sources to thrive. They require specific nutrients such as taurine, preformed vitamin A, high-quality protein and essential fatty acids like arachidonic acid. Feeding a cat dog food can lead to long-term health consequences, including heart and vision issues, because most dog diets don’t meet these essential requirements.
While dogs are more flexible in their diet, feeding them cat food regularly isn’t ideal either. Cat food is often higher in fat and protein, which can cause digestive upset and weight gain in dogs if given consistently. Other common myths, such as giving cats milk or excessive fish, are also addressed. Most adult cats are lactose intolerant, and feeding too much fish can create nutritional imbalances, including low calcium and reduced vitamin B1 absorption.
For multi-pet households, the takeaway is clear: cats eat cat food, dogs eat dog food. Narelle highlights the importance of feeding species-appropriate, nutritionally complete diets to support overall health, digestion, skin and coat condition, and long-term wellbeing.
With the growing range of premium, natural pet nutrition from CanineCeuticals, families can now provide high-quality, species-specific diets for every member of their household.
