Is Whiskas good for dogs?
No, Whiskas is not a suitable food for dogs to eat regularly. It is formulated specifically for cats' nutritional needs, which differ from a dog's in several important ways, and feeding it as a dog's main diet risks an imbalance over time. A dog stealing a mouthful once is very unlikely to cause harm, but it should not become a habit.
Why cat food and dog food are not interchangeable
Cats need taurine, an amino acid they cannot produce enough of themselves, so cat food is fortified with it specifically. Dogs make their own taurine and do not need it added the same way, which is one clear example of why the two diets are built differently rather than one simply being a richer version of the other.
Cat food is also generally higher in protein and fat than dog food, reflecting a cat's needs as an obligate carnivore. Fed to a dog regularly, that extra richness can contribute to weight gain and an unbalanced diet over time, even though none of it is dangerous in a single serving.
What happens if a dog eats it occasionally
A dog who steals a mouthful of Whiskas from the cat's bowl now and then is very unlikely to come to any harm. It is not toxic, and one incident is not a reason to panic, though it is worth keeping the cat's food somewhere the dog genuinely cannot reach if it keeps happening.
The concern is with a regular pattern rather than a one-off. A dog eating cat food as a habitual extra, on top of or instead of their own complete diet, is the scenario that can lead to excess weight and a diet that is not properly balanced for a dog's needs.
What to feed instead
A complete dog food, matched to your dog's age and size, gives them everything Whiskas is not designed to provide. If your dog is repeatedly going for the cat's bowl, that is often more about access and mealtime routine than a genuine preference worth accommodating.
If your dog is repeatedly going for the cat's bowl out of genuine hunger rather than simple curiosity, it is worth checking their own portions are matched properly to their size and activity level, since a dog who is not getting enough at their own mealtimes is more likely to go looking elsewhere for it.
From this brand
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Forthglade Cold Pressed Natural Turkey
Cold-pressed turkey kibble for dogs from 2 months, soft enough to mix with water for young pups
£45.99
Forthglade Cold Pressed Grain Free Salmon
Cold-pressed grain-free dry food for dogs, built on fresh and dried salmon
From£16.99
Forthglade Cold Pressed Grain Free Duck
Cold-pressed grain-free duck food with fruit and botanicals, in two bag sizes
From£16.99
Forthglade Cold Pressed Grain Free Chicken
Cold-pressed grain-free chicken food with fruit and botanicals, in three bag sizes
From£16.99
Forthglade Complete Meal Lightly Baked Turkey
A lightly baked complete dry food, 50% turkey, for adult dogs of any breed
From£12.49
Forthglade Complete Meal Lightly Baked Chicken
A grain-free complete dry food for adult dogs, lightly baked and built on 50% chicken
From£12.49
Forthglade Cold Pressed Small Dog Turkey
Cold-pressed grain-free dry food for small dogs and puppies, built on turkey
£16.99
Forthglade Complete Meal Lightly Baked Lamb
A lightly baked complete dry food, 50% lamb, for adult dogs of any breed
From£12.49
Forthglade Cold Pressed Grain Free Turkey
Grain-free cold-pressed turkey kibble for dogs, gentle on sensitive stomachs
£69.69
Forthglade British Classics Chicken Family Lunch
Complete Forthglade wet dog food with 75% chicken in a 395G tray
£2.45
Harringtons Puppy Turkey & Rice
Complete turkey puppy food with 30% protein and feeding bands by adult weight
£6.49
Harringtons Adult Dog Turkey Veg
Complete dry food for adult dogs with turkey, chicken and salmon oil, 21% protein
From£3.39
Common questions
- Will Whiskas harm my dog if they eat it once?
- A single mouthful from the cat's bowl is very unlikely to cause any harm to a healthy dog. It is not toxic, though a very rich or unfamiliar food occasionally causes a mild stomach upset in a sensitive dog.
- Why does my dog prefer the cat's food?
- Cat food is often more strongly flavoured and higher in fat than dog food, which many dogs find more appealing. That preference does not mean it is a better diet for them, only that it tastes richer in the moment.
- How can I stop my dog eating the cat's food?
- Feed the cat somewhere the dog cannot reach, such as up on a surface or behind a cat flap fitted into an interior door, and pick up any leftover cat food promptly rather than leaving a bowl out between meals.
- Is it the other way round too, can cats eat dog food?
- Regularly, no. Dog food does not contain the taurine level a cat needs, so a cat fed dog food as a main diet over time can become deficient in it, which is a genuinely serious problem for a cat rather than a minor issue.
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Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.