Do Not Feed Your Cat Dog Food

I came across this very interesting article at ktnv.com called ‘Cat and dog food differences explained’, featuring the insights by pet nutritionist Hilary Watson.

Top Differences in Dog and Cat Food

1. Cats need more proteins than dogs: cat food contains > 30% protein, while dog food contains 20-25%.
2. Cats need taurine, an essential amino acid, which is found only in animal tissues, such as fish, beef and poultry. Should be no less than 0.1 percent in dry foods.
3. Vitamin A is critical for cats, and must consume the vitamin from meat. Dogs can convert beta carotene into vitamin A, so a carrot will do.
4. Cats require arachidonic acid, a fatty acid, which they can only get from meat. Dog can recieve this fatty acid also through
   linoleic acid, which is abundant in vegetable oils, like sunflower and safflower oils. Felines also need more niacin.

5. Taste and texture. Cats prefer a finer texture than dogs. They also prefer salty & meaty tastes over sweets.

The ‘choosiness’ from cats stems from its higher position on the food chain, Watson believes. They are true carnivores.