Can Guinea Pigs Eat Cat Food? Vet Approved Facts & Advice

Are you working low on guinea pig meals and questioning if there’s something in your cupboard they’ll eat as an alternative? Or maybe you have got a number of pets and wish to condense meals purchases? In that case, it’s a good suggestion to determine if guinea pigs can eat the identical factor as different home pets within the house.

In the event you’re questioning if guinea pigs can eat cat meals, the reply is a strict no. Don’t feed your guinea pig cat meals. It shouldn’t damage them in the event that they eat a small piece by chance, however don’t deliberately feed it to them. Guinea pigs and cats require vastly totally different diets, as one is an obligate carnivore, and the opposite is a strict herbivore. Let’s study extra!

Cat Meals Is Non-Poisonous

We wish to be specific- cat meals isn’t poisonous to guinea pigs however might trigger digestive upset. It’s simply not a food plan that’s full and balanced for long-term feeding. In case your guinea pig occurs to seize a chew or two of cat meals, chances are high it received’t damage them however do monitor them carefully over the subsequent 24 hours.

The issue with cat meals arises when your guinea pig eats an excessive amount of of it. It is because there are vitamins in cat meals which can be exhausting for a guinea pig to digest. Additionally, if a guinea pig frequently eats cat meals, it’ll take the place of their common food plan and result in an imbalance of vitamins and poor well being.

Guinea Pigs Ought to By no means Eat Cat Meals

Guinea pigs are strict vegetarians that can’t correctly digest animal proteins. So, they need to not eat moist or dry cat meals. 

Cats require a really excessive quantity of animal content material to remain wholesome. Their business meals are very excessive in protein, normally starting from 28% to 34% on the assured evaluation and reasonably excessive in fats. If cats ate an herbivorous food plan, it will deplete them of significant vitamins, making a laundry checklist of well being issues.

The identical is true in reverse. Guinea pigs do not need the digestive techniques essential for breaking down animal proteins. Subsequently, it’ll trigger additional stress on the digestive system and distribute pointless or dangerous extra proteins to the system.

Additionally, cat meals generally incorporates a whole lot of unnatural dyes, preservatives, and a few filler substances which can be unhealthy for guinea pigs to eat. So, we’re saying that cat meals is a “no” all the way in which round. Don’t voluntarily give your guinea pig cat meals.

What Is in Cat Meals?

The primary few substances of high-quality cat meals are normally animal sources, together with entire meat, meat meals, and animal fats. Then, it has a collection of veggies, fruits, and grains with different supplemental components and preservatives.

Every recipe will differ barely. Some could have heavy preservatives, synthetic components, and dairy. Your guinea pig can solely profit from the grain, vegetable, and fruit content material, however different substances severely overpower the kibble.

Will Guinea Pigs Eat Cat Meals?

Whereas guinea pigs don’t have any inner drive to hunt out animal-based proteins, they could pattern some cat meals out of curiosity. They could even be keen on cat meals due to the opposite substances included, primarily the carbohydrate sources.

Guinea Pigs Can not Digest Animal Protein

It’s our accountability as pet mother and father to supply a species-appropriate food plan. The underside line is that your guinea pig doesn’t have the right enzymes to digest and make the most of animal proteins of their system—together with dairy. Subsequently, diets which can be excessive in animal proteins, like cat meals,  can result in a number of totally different points.

Listed here are just a few:

Digestive Upset

Guinea pigs have very delicate digestive system that may get thrown off observe. This offset can result in intestinal troubles and upset stomachs. Just a few items of kibble may not drastically influence your guinea pig, however common consuming will definitely wreak havoc on the intestine. It is because it will probably upset the intestine’s pure intestine flora, a course of known as dysbiosis. It may well trigger a collection of uncomfortable side effects like diarrhea, constipation, bloating, and cramping.

Weight problems

Weight problems could be a actual downside in guinea pigs. It may well considerably influence their total well being and reduce their lifespan. Since cat meals is a high-fat meal, it will probably trigger guinea pigs to pack on the kilos shortly in the event that they eat it frequently.

Shortened Lifespan

Feeding your guinea pig an inappropriate food plan may cause nutrient deficiencies and intestine imbalances. Each of those can result in untimely dying.

Correct Guinea Pig Food plan

Guinea pigs in captivity require a commercial pellet that has all of the vitamins they should thrive. Guinea pig recipes in the marketplace are particularly designed to match the well being necessities of this species, and you shouldn’t substitute the food plan for anything. Different issues your guinea pig wants of their food plan embrace:

Hay

Guinea pigs additionally require a constant supply of hay to supply them with the correct quantity of fiber to maintain their intestine wholesome. Since guinea pigs have ever-growing incisors, chewing up hay additionally helps to file the tooth and maintain them at an inexpensive size.

Moderately than deriving their protein from animal sources, guinea pigs get all the protein they want from vegetation. Oaten, meadow, or lucerne hay are all very excessive in plant protein and can nourish your piggy’s physique.

Vitamin C

Like people, guinea pigs don’t make their very own vitamin C and require it particularly from their food plan. Many business meals have a supply of vitamin C, however some lack this very important part. So, providing contemporary meals containing vitamin C will assist their our bodies soak up this essential nutrient.

Fruits and Veggies

Along with hay, vitamin C-packed veggies, and business meals, you must also provide your piggy raw, delicious veggies and occasional fruits.

All the time be certain to scrub any veggies or fruits totally to take away pesticides or chemical compounds that may hurt your infant.

Conclusion

Guinea pigs are extremely delicate herbivores requiring a strict species-specific food plan to thrive. Cat meals was designed particularly for our feline companions and is by no means a correct dietary supply for the guinea pig—or any herbivore, for that matter.

It could be greatest in case you at all times feed your animals in keeping with their species to stop any detrimental well being points. Your guinea pig depends on you for correct care, and meat must be off the menu 100% of the time.

---

Featured Picture Credit score: Africa Studio, Shutterstock