New kittens eating dog’s food and vice versa

[Anonymous]

We just adopted kittens and I’m still trying to work out feeding. The kittens keep eating my dog’s dry food and my dog sneaks over to eat their dry kitten food. How big of a problem is this? I know it’s not ideal, but will either get sick from eating the other’s food? I have the kitties’ first vet appt. In a few days but I don’t know how urgent this issue is.

[Anonymous]

LOL, the other guy's lunch always tastes better

Feed your dog in a dog crate and keep the cat food in a cat-only accessible place. We used a little cat door cut into the wall or door to the basement stairs. You could put a gate over the door that has a gap at the bottom big enough for the cats but too small for the dog.

[Anonymous]

We feed the cats up on a spare desk we have in the kitchen so the dog can’t reach it. The cats have never wanted dog food, so I have no tips for the reverse.

[Anonymous]

It is best if the kittens are not allowed near the dog’s food because it does not contain all the necessary nutrients that the kittens need.

Plus if they start off eating canine food, will they never learn to enjoy feline food??

It sounds cute though.

[Anonymous]

As long as what they eat is mostly their own food, it won't matter if they eat a little of the other. If the kittens eat only dog food or the dog eats only kitten food, they'll end up with nutritional deficiencies. If you feed scheduled meals rather than free feeding it is a lot easier to control who eats what.

[Anonymous]

keep your dog out of kitty's food, I use Door buddy solutions that worked out for my pets: https://meowpassion.com/reviews/the-door-buddy/