Can My Cat Eat Dog Treats?

Are you a pet parent to both dogs and cats? If so, you may ask yourself “Can My Cat Eat Dog Treats?” After all, it would be the perfect way to simplify your shopping list and probably make organizing your pantry a lot easier.

If you want the short and sweet answer: any pet treats that we sell at Freeze Dry Australia are nutritionally safe for both cats and dogs. This is because all of our products are free of preservatives, grains and any ingredients that could harm your feline and canine friends.

The answer can get a little more complicated, though, especially if you are just shopping at any general pet supply store. In this post, we’ll explain the basics about dog treats for cats to keep your kitties safe and healthy.

 

Contents:

• What’s the Difference Between Cat and Dog Treats?
• Do Cats Like Dog Treats?
• Ingredients to Avoid in Cat Treats
• What Happens if My Cat Eats Dog Treats?
• What Treats are Good for Cats?
• Shop Freeze Dry Australia for Safe, Healthy Cat Treats

 

 

 

What’s the difference between cat and dog treats?

Although they both make perfect house pets, cats and dogs are different in more than just personality. They also have different dietary needs.

Dogs, for example, are omnivorous. In addition to protein, they also need a steady supply of vegetables and fruits. Cats are carnivores, though. Their diet should consist almost solely of animal products.

Treats marketed for one species or the other usually take these dietary needs into consideration. Freeze Dry Australia, however, specialises in 100% raw pet treats. The primary ingredient is meat and we never add grains or other fillers.

 

 

 

 

But do cats like dog treats?

That’s a big maybe.

In addition to varying dietary needs, just like humans cats and dogs may have different taste preferences. In the wild, cats will pray on small birds, fish and reptiles amongst other things. Pet treats are no different, chicken, quails and sardines are often cat’s favourite. Regardless of that, the treat needs to be pure to have maximum diserability.

Of course, every pet is different, so you’ll need to experiment to learn what your furry friends love best.

 

 

 

 

Ingredients to avoid in cat treats

Depending on where you are shopping, there are several ingredients that are sometimes added to dog treats that you absolutely must avoid feeding your cats:

Garlic and onion

Garlic, onion and other members of the Allium family (chives, leeks, scallions etc.) are all dangerous to cats. They contain disulfides and thiosulphates, which can harm red blood cells and lead to conditions like anemia.

Unfortunately, garlic and onion are often used as flavouring in dog treats. What’s surprising is that they can also be harmful to dogs. However, a dog’s toxicity level is much higher than a cat’s.

 

 

Irradiation

The process of food irradiation uses gamma rays or high energy electrons to kill bacteria and viruses in pet food. Along with the killing of bacteria, the process of irradiation can also destroy vitamin content. Center for Food Safety reports that irradiated foods can loose anywhere between 2-95% of their vitamins. This can lead to deficiencies in your pets diet.

As also reported by the Sydney Morning Herald, a series of mysterious cat deaths was caused by the government-mandated practice of irradiating imported pet food. This led to cat food irradiation being banned in Australia.

Once the foods are behind those doors, they are exposed to about 2,500 times the dose of a typical chest x-ray, a level high enough to kill humans 150 times over. It kills by destroying living tissue. – Dogsnaturallymagazine.com

 

 

Cat food often has a stronger taste than dog food. Your dog is probably more likely to sniff around your cat’s bowl than the other way around. – vets-now.com

 

What happens if my cat eats dog treats?

If you find out that your cat has eaten a dog treat containing any of the ingredients above, you should contact your vet immediately. Although small amounts don’t always present an emergency, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Your vet will be able to provide you with the best course of action to take.

Our pet treats do not contain any of the above ingredients and are generally harmless to cats.

Cats are carnivores, but that doesn’t mean it’s unsafe to eat the grains and veggies found in some dog treats. These are fine as an occasional snack. They just shouldn’t be a regular part of your cat’s regular diet. After all, a hot fudge sundae isn’t poisonous to humans, but it still wouldn’t be healthy to eat one every single day.

Can cats eat dog biscuits?

As long as the ingredients are safe, your cat can eat dog biscuits without much worry. However, it is probably better to avoid making it a regular practice.

Cats and dogs have different dental care needs. Dog biscuits may be larger and harder than standard cat treats, so they might not be healthy for feline teeth. Furthermore, one function of pet biscuits is actually plaque removal. Using a biscuit that is specially formulated for your cat will help keep their teeth clean.

 

 

Can cats have bully sticks?

No. Although bully sticks aren’t toxic to cats, you should only let your dog chew on them. For cats, bully sticks are a choking hazard.

This is a difficult question to answer as it depends on how it’s been processed and the behaviour of your cat. If it has been heat dried, it will have a highly likeliness of splintering. If a cat or dog swallowed a treat that splintered, it has a chance of piercing or getting lodged in your pets throat or digestive system.

Something that has been freeze dried like our pet treats will re-hydrate easily through the saliva of the animal as they chew the treat.

Bully sticks are a tough consistency, and your feline’s tiny teeth just aren’t equipped to break them down properly.

If your cat manages to consume a bully stick, there’s no need to worry. However, you definitely don’t want to make them a regular part of their diet. Too many bully sticks can cause an intestinal blockage due to the difficulty cat’s have digesting them.

 

 

Can cats eat bones and dog chews?

We are so accustomed to throwing a dog a bone that you might be wondering if you can treat your cat to the same delicacy. For the most part, the answer is no no.

Cats are natural predators and carnivores, so there is no problem with them eating a mouse that they catch, for example. However, large bones that are sold specifically as dog chews are usually a choking hazard for cats.

You should especially avoid feeding your cat cooked bones, such as those left over after a meal. They are too brittle and may become a choking hazard as your kitty gnaws them to splintery bits.

 

 

What treats are good for cats?

As we’ve learned, most dog treats are okay for cats. However, there are some exceptions, and it’s always important to check ingredients when using dog treats for cats.

But what if you don’t want just “okay”? What if you want your feline friend to have the best treats possible? Here are some sure ways to keep your cat happy and healthy.

Choose treats that are mostly meat

Many cat treats are composed mostly of rice or other grains. Scant amounts of meat (or worse, meat flavouring) are used to make the treats enticing, but they really aren’t a healthy option. Cats are naturally carnivorous, so the best treats for them should almost always have meat as the number one ingredient. As a rule of thumb, the less ingredients, the better the treat.

 

 

some ingredients that are found in various types of dog treats such as blueberries could benefit your cat’s health. – excitedcats.com

 

Try a variety of flavours and textures

As the saying goes, “Variety is the spice of life”. Cats tend to be picky eaters, so why not spice up their diet with different types of treats? Freeze-dried cat treats are a particularly good option because you have lots of ways to serve them.

They can be fed to kitty straight from the bag. Alternatively, you can sprinkle a few on top of your pet’s usual food. Or, for a wet treat, you can serve them with a little bit of warm water for a softer texture.

As far as flavour goes, you can try the standards, like chicken, beef and fish. Or go for something a little more exotic like freeze-dried crocodile bites.

Freeze dried treats are ideal

The freeze drying process makes for a better treat for a variety of reasons. Chief among them include:

• Healthier ingredients. Freeze dried foods don’t need preservatives to keep out bacteria or fillers to bind them together.
• Better nutrition. Other methods of preservation can cause pet treats to lose as much as 60% of their nutritional value. Freeze drying, on the other hand, preserves around 97% of the nutrition.
• More flavour. Freeze dried treats are usually 100% meat or mostly meat. This makes for a tasty snack that your pets will love.
• Raw diet without the risks. Raw diets are a natural way to feed your pet. However, maintaining a steady supply of raw meat is often inconvenient and runs the risk of exposing your pet to E. coli or other harmful bacteria. Freeze dried food gives you the benefit of a raw diet in a safer, simpler form.

 

 

Feeding your cat with freeze-dried food is arguably the most nutritional and complete diet you could get for your furry friend, as it’s rich in vitamins, nutrients, and enzymes – Vetstreet

 

Don’t treat your cat too much

Remember that treats are treats. They shouldn’t be a huge part of your cat’s diet. Ideally, they should only account for 5 to 10 percent of your pet’s calories. Use them for training, the occasional reward or just a way to make kitty purr. But don’t let your cat overindulge.

Too many treats can lead to feline obesity, which comes with a range of other health issues. Furthermore, your cat might just end up too picky and reject their usual food.

 

 

Shop Freeze Dry Australia for safe, healthy cat treats

So, can Can My Cat Eat Dog Treats? We’ve seen that the answer is usually a yes, but sometimes a no.

If you want to make sure that you are only letting kitty snack on the right foods, just shop from Freeze Dried Australia.

We source premium ingredients from all over Australia and never use grains or preservatives. Our pet treats are manufactured locally in our state-of-the-art facility, and we ship throughout the country and even to some international locations.

Browse our pet treats and find something your pet will love today!