Dogs and cats may both be beloved family pets, but when it comes to nutrition—especially raw nutrition—they’re actually very different animals. Although they’re both members of the Carnivora order, dogs belong to the Canidae family while cats belong to the Felidae family. That means they’ve evolved with different bodies, different eating habits, and different nutritional needs.

Different Histories, Different Jobs

Dogs were originally bred for herding, hunting, guarding, and even going to war. Today, they take on all sorts of roles—from loyal companions to working dogs in customs and search-and-rescue.

Cats, on the other hand, first earned their place by keeping farms free of rodents. While they still have that natural hunting instinct, most cats today are cherished companions (and sometimes the rulers of the household!).

How Their Senses Shape Their Diets

Both dogs and cats are built to detect prey. They see well in low light and have eyes that pick up even the smallest movements.

• Dogs see colour slightly better and have a wider field of vision.

• Cats win when it comes to night vision—they’re true nocturnal hunters.

Their teeth also tell a big story.
Dogs have 42 teeth, including grinding molars, which reflect their ability to eat a more varied, omnivorous diet.
Cats have 30 teeth designed for pure carnivory—sharp, slicing tools perfect for tearing meat, not chewing plants.

Taste is another major difference.
Dogs have around 1,700 taste buds and can enjoy sweet flavours.
Cats have only 470, and no sweet taste receptors at all—they’re far more tuned in to rich, fatty, umami tastes.

Built Differently on the Inside

Even their digestive tracts show how their diets evolved. A dog’s intestines measure about 4.5 metres, while a cat’s are only 2.1 metres long—ideal for digesting fresh, high-quality animal protein quickly and efficiently.

Why Their Nutritional Requirements Differ

When it comes to feeding raw, understanding these differences is essential.

Cats:

• Have higher protein needs than dogs.

• Require the same essential amino acids plus extra taurine, because they can’t produce enough of their own.

• Need more methionine and cysteine.

• Are highly sensitive to arginine deficiency.

• Have naturally higher fat requirements.

• Need significantly more of certain B-vitamins (like B1, B3, and B5), folic acid, and choline.

• Have minimum requirements for vitamin K and biotin.

Dogs:

• Have stricter upper limits for several minerals, including calcium, phosphorus, iodine, and selenium.

• Need tighter control of vitamins A and D.

• Have higher minimum requirements for certain individual fatty acids.

• May also need diets designed for performance, depending on breed and lifestyle.

The Bottom Line

Dogs and cats don’t just look different—they function differently. Their bodies, metabolisms, and evolutionary histories shape what they need nutritionally. That’s why a well-formulated raw diet should always be tailored specifically to the species you're feeding.

Feeding raw the right way means giving dogs and cats what they’re built for—real, species-appropriate nutrition that supports their biology, not ours.