Cats and Dogs Are Not Equal When It Comes to Food

Did you notice that cat food is more expensive than dog food?

The foster for my adopted kittens told me that the food she is feeding the cats is dog food, but it is the same as cat food.  I was skeptical, because I know that cats and dogs have different dietary requirements.  For one, cats don't and shouldn't eat grains and vegetables.  Cats need taurine.

Sure enough, the labels were exactly the same, ingredients and percentages.  For the First Mate brand, this was true.  The chicken, turkey, and salmon dog food cans are 12 ounces, for $3.  The "cat food" can of 5.5 ounces is $2.  So for "dog food" you are paying 25 cents per ounce, and for "cat food" you pay 36 cents per ounce.  If you have two cats, it really makes sense as you would be using food at twice the rate and could handle the 12 ounce size.  My nine week old kittens are eating around 6-7 ounces of food a day, between them.

Of course this is not true for all dog foods, that they can be fed to cats.

The only criticism I have of the First Mate brand is the potato content, which the sales rep guesstimated at 2%.  He said they needed to replace the carageenan and guar gum with a binder and potatoes fit the bill.

So go ahead and save yourself some cash.  Buy some dog food for your cat.