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Dogs vs Cats: Nutrition Explained

Dogs and cats may live in the same home, but their nutritional biology is fundamentally different.

Understanding this difference is essential.

Dogs: Adaptive Carnivores

Dogs evolved to eat primarily animal tissue but developed some flexibility alongside humans.

Biologically:

• They rely on animal protein and fat

• They have limited ability to process starch

• They thrive when diets align with carnivorous design

Tolerance does not equal optimality.

Cats: Obligate Carnivores

Cats are obligate carnivores by biology.

They must obtain certain nutrients directly from animal tissue, including:

• Taurine

• Preformed vitamin A

• Arachidonic acid

They cannot synthesise these efficiently from plant sources.

Any feeding strategy that ignores this reality compromises feline health over time.

Why “One Diet Fits All” Fails

Generalised feeding advice:

• Blurs species differences

• Prioritises convenience

• Often applies dog logic to cats

Biologically appropriate feeding treats dogs and cats as separate nutritional categories.

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