{"id":14221,"date":"2023-01-23T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-01-23T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hartz-v2.local7\/cat-food-and-dog-food-not-the-same\/"},"modified":"2024-04-12T14:57:39","modified_gmt":"2024-04-12T14:57:39","slug":"cat-food-and-dog-food-not-the-same","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hartz.com\/en-ca\/cat-food-and-dog-food-not-the-same\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Cat Food and Dog Food Are Not the Same"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Difference

Cats and dogs each require very specific diets based on their unique metabolic systems.<\/p><\/div>\n

While felines and canines have similarly been domesticated from wild ancestors to become the companions to us they are today, each require very specific diets based on their unique metabolic systems. If you\u2019ve ever wondered about the distinction between cat and dog food, Hartz discusses why diets between both carnivores are not the same, and how specific nutrient profiles contribute to your animal\u2019s health and well-being.<\/p>\n

Carnivores, Herbivores, Omnivores and the In-Between<\/h3>\n

Humans are omnivores, which means we have the physiological ability to eat, obtain energy from and survive on both plant and animal food sources.<\/p>\n

Herbivores are animals that subsist on plants, such as horses and some small pets like rabbits and guinea pigs.<\/p>\n

Cats (both wild and domestic) are classified as obligate carnivores. They must eat meat in order to thrive. While they can ingest other foods such as fruits or grains, their diet requires meat. True carnivores are unable to efficiently digest vegetative matter.<\/p>\n

When it comes to dogs, there has long been a debate as to whether they are carnivores or omnivores. Most veterinarians agree that dogs are carnivores; however, the U.S. National Research Council, which studies and examines matters related to health care, considers dogs to be omnivores. Unlike cats, dogs are scavengers. They will sort through garbage, discarded material and eat dead carcasses. While they prefer meat, they can survive on plants if necessary. Because of this, they are believed to be scavenging carnivores \u2013 a happy medium between carnivores and omnivores. Taxonomically, dogs are in the \u2018Order Carnivora\u2019 and the family \u2018Canidae\u2019 along with other carnivorous mammals.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s important to note that while dogs can survive on a meatless-diet, they do not thrive at their optimal health.<\/p>\n

The reason dog food differs from cat food is because cats have special dietary needs that scavenging carnivores and omnivores do not.<\/p>\n

Unique Nutritional Needs of Cats<\/h3>\n

As obligate carnivores, cats require animal-based nutrients<\/a> such as muscles and organ meat to survive. Plant-based proteins such as gains and vegetables are not good substitutes. As they evolved and consumed prey that had already digested plant-based nutrients, cats\u2019 metabolisms lacked the enzymes necessary to convert those nutrients as efficiently as animal proteins. Moreover, the proteins derived from animal tissue contain a different amino acid profile than plant-based proteins, which do not contain all the essentials for the health of an obligate carnivore.<\/p>\n

\"Difference

Cats need more protein in their diets than dogs \u2013 2 to 3 times the amount!<\/p><\/div>\n

The cats that occupy our lives today have adapted to this with a shortened digestive tract and altered enzyme capacity.<\/p>\n

Cats also need more protein in their diets than dogs \u2013 2 to 3 times the amount! And kittens require 1.5 times more protein than puppies. This is primarily because cats use protein for growth, body maintenance, and energy. Most other mammals do not use protein as energy, and their bodies can adapt to low-protein diets, conserving amino acids to manage any deficits.<\/p>\n

A cat\u2019s body must use protein. And when there is not enough in their diet, they become malnourished quickly, especially when sick or injured.<\/p>\n

In addition to their higher requirement for protein, cats also need increased amounts of certain amino acids found naturally in animal tissue.<\/p>\n

One of the amino acids missing in plants is taurine, which is found in animal muscle meat, in particular the heart and liver.\u00a0A taurine deficiency can\u00a0causes serious health concerns in cats, including cardiovascular disease and blindness.<\/p>\n

Dogs\u2019 bodies produce their own taurine.<\/p>\n

Cats also have other unique needs for certain vitamins:<\/p>\n