Reasons Why Kitchen Scraps Are Bad for Pets

One: Imbalanced Nutrition or Severe Destruction During Cooking

Cats and dogs are primarily carnivorous omnivores, which means they are quite versatile in their eating habits. However, the human diet, rich in fats and carbohydrates, can lead to weight issues for these pets, who no longer need to worry about finding food.

Two: Human Cooking Seasonings Can Be Harmful to Pets

Chefs often enhance the appearance, flavor, and texture of dishes with salt, soy sauce, vinegar, and MSG. These highly concentrated extracts, derived from essential oils, can be too much for pets, leading to excessive intake. For instance, if a dog's food contains more than 1.5% salt, it can pose a serious health risk.

Three: Incongruent with Digestive Routines, Leading to Chronic Diseases

The human diet is high in roughage plant components, which can be challenging for them. Cats, in particular, require a diet rich in protein. Despite the many nutrients these foods offer, pets lack the digestive capacity to properly process and absorb these ingredients.

Some may wonder why, before the advent of dog food and pet nutrition science, pets were often fed human leftovers without apparent issues. This is a common misconception. Their expected lifespan is around 13 years, but before the field of pet nutrition emerged, their average lifespan was significantly shorter. It wasn't until the recent widespread use of commercial pet food that their average lifespan began to approach this expectation.