Is there any reason i can't feed my cocker spaniel cat food?

[SoupDragon]

Because at the moment, Dill's eating the cats' food, the fat cat is eating both his own cat food and the dog food and I'm not sure what the littlest cat is eating.

I can't separate the food, or at least I certainly can't put the dog food where Atticus can't get it.

I think you can feed cat food to dogs but not dog food to cats.....if that helps at all

You shouldn't let a dog eat cat food it's too rich for them. Could you put the cat food on a higher surface? That's what my parents do

Yep, that's what I understood too - cat food has a higher meat content or something, I can't remember exactly.

Cat food is too high in protien and fat for dogs.

Agree you need to move the bowl up, my cat and dog owning friend has her cat bowls on top of the fridge freezer.

I can't really move the cat food higher as I certainly don't want them fed on the worktops and there's not a hope in hell of them getting on top of the fridge freezer as it's a free standing American style one, approximate 5'5" high :)

The cat seems to be doing fine on the dog food (which he only actually eats once his own cat food is exhausted). Dill's not keen on dog food and actually won't eat cat food if it's in his own bowl . he seems to be the perfect shape/weight though so he must be eating something. Having compared the tins, the cat food is 8% protein and the dog food 6.5 so there's not a huge difference.

None of the options will solve the cat eating the dog food, not even if i put a cat flap in the utility room door. as I understood it a cat can't survive on dog food alone.

I was hoping everyone would just say "yes, of course it is!" as it would make my whole life simpler if i could serve them all up the same stuff :)

CAt food is too high in protein and fat for dogs, it isnt good for their kidneys (iirc) my cat is fed ontop of my tumble dryer so the dog doesnt eat it.

Do you feed the cat and dog dry food?

I was told that cat food is poisonus for dogs, not sure if it is right. Have you thought of asking your vet?

Cats can not eat dog food long term as it does not contain enough taurine an amino acid that dogs manufacture in their liver, but cats do not have the enzyme to make.

They have both tinned and dry food.

The only option is to cut a hole in the utility room door and put in a cat flap. which is a PITA. there's really nowhere high to feed the cats other than the kitchen worktop which is a non-starter.

Damn. Never mind.

Thanks

I would Ike to make it clear that the cats do eat cat food as their main meal! Fat Cat just tucks into the dog food once he's finished.

And he's not really fat, just a big cat.

We have a really tall cat tree, bought on line which stopped our dog getting the cats food

Cat food is too high in protein for dogs, it can cause pancreatitis.

Why don't you put a stairgate in the gap between the kitchen/utility room door instead of a catflap? Will act as a barrier to the dog and the cats can get through it/jump over it.

What we do is don't leave dog food down, they eat at mealtimes only, so there is no dog food for the cats to eat, and keep the at food in the upstairs bathroom, as the dogs are not allowed upstairs.

the problem with putting a gate across the utility room doorway is that I then can't shut the door at any time. I don't think there is an ideal solution.

I'd like to only leave dog food down at dinner times but Dill never wolfs down his food (unless it is the remnants of the roast dinner!). I'm beginning to think hes not a proper dog! He's certainly nothing like my childhood spaniel. I'm going to try to find a food which he will wolf in one go which will at least stop Fat Cat eating the dog food. Hopefully Dill will also then be less inclined to steal the cat food (which, as I said, he won't eat if it's actually served to him ) it's a good job he's utterly adorable.

now, off to post my next dumb question...

I do love your dog's name, Soupy

One of my other favourite TV programmes :) Although it also fits with the poncetastic cats named after To Kill A Mockingbird characters.

We had a Yorkshire terrier once who would only eat catfood (whiskas iirc).
She lived to be 18 years old.