Cats and dogs have similar nutritional needs… but not the same. They both eat meat as a staple food, but cats need more than protein to stay fit and healthy.
Therefore, although the food of the dogs is cheaper, it is important to know the differences in the diet of dogs and cats because a bad decision could put the health of our friends at risk.
The cat is a strict carnivore
Unlike the dog, the cat only and exclusively can and should eat meat; instead, the dog is more omnivorous, especially since it became part of people's lives. Therefore, the food that we give to our furry must be rich in protein, and it must also be free of cereals since these ingredients often cause allergies by not being able to digest them well.
Taurine, essential for the cat
Taurine is an organic acid found in the bile and muscle tissues of the body of many animals, including dogs, cats, and people. It is very important for the body, since it acts as an antioxidant, regulates the salt and water inside the cells, takes care of the eyes, produces bile, and maintains the proper functioning of the cell membranes.
The problem is that felines do not produce it in sufficient quantities, so they must ingest it from food. And that's why cat food always contains this acid, unlike the one that is given to the dog.
The cat is not a heavy drinker
The cat is an animal that obtains much of the water it needs from its food. Being originally from the desert, it has evolved for that. Living with us, if we continuously feed him dry feed, we risk developing diseases such as urinary infections or kidney stones. To avoid this, we can change the traditional drinker for a fountain type, or substitute dry food for wet.
The cat's palate is more selective
Unlike the one that the dog has, the cat is more special with the food. If there's something he doesn't like, be it the smell, the texture, or anything else, he's going to reject it. For this reason, it is recommended not to change the brand of feed or wet food much, since if you find something that you like better, you may not want to eat what we gave you before.
I hope it has been useful to you. 🙂