Anyone who owns a dog or a cat knows that they will typically eat anything they can get their paws on. While it is not harmful for a dog to eat a cat’s food, it can be potentially hazardous for a cat to eat a dog’s food. In moderation, a cat eating a dog’s food is probably safe, but if the cat is only eating Fido’s dinner, they are probably not getting the nutrients that are essential to their specific health needs.

“Cats’ nutrition requirements are different than dogs’, they have unique needs,” explains Dr. John Bauer, a professor of animal nutrition at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine &Biomedical Science. “Your cat is not going to get ill from eating the occasional pieces of dog food, but if they are only eating dog food, then they are not getting nutrients they need for a healthy life.”

If you have a cat that prefers to feast on their canine pal’s dinner, it is important to know that there are five main nutrients, essential to feline health, that are not balanced properly for proper feline nutrition....