Okay, so I saw this thing online about dog food that supposedly tastes like cat food, and I just had to try it. My dog, Buster, is the pickiest eater ever. Seriously, he turns his nose up at everything. My cat, Whiskers, on the other hand, will eat anything that even remotely resembles food. So, the idea of finding something they could both theoretically enjoy? Mind-blowing.
The Search Begins
First, I hit up the pet store. I felt kind of silly asking the employee, “Uh, do you have any dog food that tastes like…cat food?” They gave me a weird look, naturally. I explained my situation, and they kind of just shrugged and pointed me towards the “gourmet” aisle. No luck. Lots of “salmon surprise” and “chicken and rice medley,” but nothing that screamed “cat-approved flavor”.
Going Down the Rabbit Hole
Next step? The internet, of course. I spent a good hour scrolling through forums and blogs. People were recommending all sorts of crazy things. One person swore their dog loved tuna-flavored anything. Another said their picky pup would only eat food with a strong “fishy” smell. This was getting complicated.
I decided to do some experimenting the following steps.
- Step 1: Get some basic food.
- Step 2: Find some fishy flavor.
- Step 3: See what they like.
- Step 4: Make some record.
The Taste Test
I ended up buying three different kinds of dog food: one with a strong salmon smell, one with added tuna oil, and one regular kibble just as a control. I also grabbed a can of Whiskers’ favorite tuna in water (for science, obviously).
First, I offered Buster the regular kibble. Nope. He sniffed it and walked away. Predictable. Next, the salmon-smelling food. He took a tentative bite, then looked at me like I was trying to poison him. Sigh. Finally, the one with tuna oil. He actually ate a few pieces! Progress!
Then, for the real test, I mixed a tiny bit of the tuna water from Whiskers’ can into the tuna oil kibble. Buster went nuts. He gobbled it down like it was the best thing he’d ever tasted. Whiskers, meanwhile, was trying to climb my leg to get to the bowl. Success…? I guess?
The Verdict
So, does dog food that tastes like cat food exist? Maybe not in a pre-packaged form. But, with a little bit of “creative mixing,” you can definitely trick your picky dog into eating something that appeals to a feline palate. Will I be doing this every day? Probably not. It’s a bit of a hassle. But it’s good to know I have a secret weapon in my arsenal against Buster’s picky eating habits. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go stop Whiskers from trying to eat Buster’s dinner again.
