What Is the Difference Between Puppy & Kitty Foods?

When feeding your kitten or puppy, you may think that letting him eat out of the other pet's food bowl isn't a big deal, but it is. Kittens and puppies need to eat their own food formulated for their particular needs. There are some reasons why.

  1. Protein Differences in Puppy and Kitty Food

    • Just as cats aren't tiny dogs, dogs aren't big cats. According to the guidelines set forth by the Association of Animal Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), growing kittens need much more protein than a puppy. Kittens need a minimum of 30 percent protein (by weight), compared to the minimum of 22 percent protein (by weight) in puppy food.

    Fat Differences in Puppy and Kitten Food

    • Kittens need a minimum of 9 percent fat by weight in their food, compared to puppies, which need 8 percent fat by weight.

    Taurine for Cats

    • All kittens and cats are what is called obligate carnivores, meaning that they must have animal protein to survive. All cats need taurine (an organic acid) in their diets--dogs and puppies have no such requirement. Taurine comes from animal sources only and must be at 0.1 percent by weight in dry food and 0.2 percent by weigh in canned food.

    Copper for Kitties

    • Kittens require 15 mg/kg (dry food) or 5 mg/kg (wet food) of copper in their diet compared to 7.5 mg/kg in puppy and dog foods.

    Careful Control of Magnesium for Kitties

    • Kittens require 0.08 mg/kg of magnesium, compared to 0.04 mg/kg for puppies. However, cats are prone to urinary problems and blockages and may need a special diet to prevent kidney and bladder stones, which requires lower magnesium.

    Variations in Other Vitamins and Minerals

    • Puppies and kittens have different needs when it comes to the other vitamins and minerals. For example, kittens need more vitamin A and puppies need more zinc and greater attention paid to the calcium and phosphorus ratios.