Protein, dog and cat food

[noj]

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I wondered if anyone might answer this conundrum.
We're told that cat food is not good to feed dogs because it is too high in protein.
I feed Marley the Collie raw paleo ridge or similar dog food.
Wouldn't the raw food be very high in protein? What am I missing here? Cheers!

 

[JudyN]

It's a good question - I had a google and couldn't get to the bottom of it, so was hoping someone else would answer! Raw food for dogs is generally higher in protein than kibble (discounting moisture in raw), but as it is all very accessible, digestible protein, it isn't associated with the problems that overly high protein in kibbles are reputed to cause (which is, according to some, a myth). The protein levels of Lily's Kitchen wet dog food and wet cat food seem to be similar as well, and James Wellbeloved wet cat food is only slightly higher than their dog food.

It's certainly confusing!

 

[noj]

I have seen raw food that is claimed to be for both cats and dogs. So confused I remain! Thx

 

[Hemlock]

If you look at actual raw food from prey, it isn't all that high in protein - there is a lot of water, roughage from bones, indigestible matter from gut contents and so on. So feeding to a raw profile with commercial raw foods isn't per se high in protein the way feeding from processed commercial food can be.

 

[Flobo]

I adopted a little yorkie many years ago when she was 12 years old. Her owners(they were giving her up because she had occasional incontinence)had only ever fed her commercial cat food, she had no teeth, her hair was very thin and her body condition was very poor. My vet said quite clearly it was a lifetime of eating only cat food, which was too high in protein, that had contributed to her conditions. I slowly weaned her off that and on to a better quality dog food and she came on really well, we had two good years with her before she passed away and she lived them well.
As to your question about protein, I don't know, but I think Hemlock has answered that, but this was my experience of the negative effects of solely feeding cat food to a dog...

 

[JudyN]

Taurine is possibly a factor as well - cats need it, whereas too much is harmful for dogs.

I've been doing some sums (to take into account moisture content in different foods), and the difference in commercial wet dog food and cat food is small, though cat food on the whole has higher protein. But the protein in Natures Menu Complete, discounting moisture, is 42.9%, so higher than a lot of cat food. Not that I would consider feeding a dog cat food or a cat dog food, based on my limited knowledge and a few sums!

 

[Flobo]

Another factor is that I'm pretty sure cats are obligate carnivores, like ferrets, which is why their food is or should be higher in meat protein to dogs.

 

[Hemlock]

Yes: that's right. Although cats will choose to eat vegetation, so that idea may change slightly in future. But cats will die if fed non-meat food, and dogs won't, although they won't be as healthy as dogs that are.

 

[noj]

All interesting stuff. I've also seen raw food that is meant to be suitable for both dogs and cats

Taurine is possibly a factor as well - cats need it, whereas too much is harmful for dogs.

I've been doing some sums (to take into account moisture content in different foods), and the difference in commercial wet dog food and cat food is small, though cat food on the whole has higher protein. But the protein in Natures Menu Complete, discounting moisture, is 42.9%, so higher than a lot of cat food. Not that I would consider feeding a dog cat food or a cat dog food, based on my limited knowledge and a few sums!