Cats and dogs are different. According to scientists, cats are considered to be carnivores and dogs omnivores. Both have evolved as hunters of other animals in keeping with their nature as meat-eaters, borrowing their nutrients form the prey they capture. But there is a difference, the cat cannot sustain its life unless it consumes animal derived tissue in some form. Many of the nutrients the cat requires to survive are obtained from a diet of captured prey. Cats for example, process little or no enzymes that will break down the plant-produced carotenoids. They require preformed active Vitamin A (that is, Vitamin A that already has been converted from carotenoids to its active form by some other creature such as a mouse or rabbit). This is a prime example showing why cats need to eat some other animal in order to "borrow" preformed nutrients.

Dogs, however, are able to survive on plant material alone; they do not have to consume meat. But always keep in mind that dogs do best, and by nature, are primarily meat-eaters. Just because by definition they are omnivores (can digest and utilize plant and animal food sources) does not mean that plant material alone makes a good source of nutrition for the dog. Far too many dogs have been undernourished by cheap grain-based dog foods. Grain-based cat foods are even worse!

So a good way to think of it is that cats are carnivores, dogs are omnivores, but they both have evolved as hunters of other animals in keeping with their nature as meat-eaters. They need to be fed a diet they have evolved to eat.

The amount to feed your pet varies depending on its age, level of activity and the environment that it lives in. As a basic guide the portion size should be approximately 2 per cent of its body weight per day. Just as athletes have different nutritional requirements to the average person, highly active pets, such as working dogs, will require more food than a more passive pet such as a lap dog. Food intake needs to be monitored and adjusted as required to keep your pet at an optimal healthy weight.

 Some manufacturers of processed petfoods suggest higher feeding quantities. When fed a processed food diet your pet may need to eat more in order to gain the nutrients it requires. Unfortunately this may lead to issues such as obesity in pets, increased stool volume and poor dental hygiene amongst other health problems.