Cardinals are small songbirds native to North America. With their bright red plumage and recognizable songs, they are a beloved backyard bird. Many people enjoy feeding cardinals and attracting them to their yards. A common question that comes up is whether or not it is okay to feed cardinals cat food. Cat food is readily available, so it may seem like an easy option. However, there are a few important considerations when it comes to feeding cardinals cat food. In this article, we’ll explore the nutritional needs of cardinals, look at the ingredients in cat food, weigh the pros and cons, and provide some better alternative food options for cardinals.
The Diet of Cardinals
In the wild, cardinals have a diverse diet. They eat a variety of seeds, fruits, and insects. Some of their favorite foods include:
- Sunflower seeds
- Safflower seeds
- Nyjer seeds
- Cracked corn
- Berries
- Fruits like cherries and raisins
- Peanuts
- Mealworms and other insects
- Suet
This varied diet provides cardinals with important nutrients like protein, fat, and carbohydrates. While they will occasionally eat grains, it only makes up a small part of their overall food intake in the wild.
The Ingredients in Cat Food
There are many different brands and formulations of cat food on the market. However, most cat foods contain a high percentage of grains as the main ingredient. This includes ingredients like corn, wheat, rice, soy, and oats. While cats are able to digest grains, cardinals do not do well on a diet that is high in grains.
In addition to grains, cat food contains animal proteins like chicken, fish, or beef. This animal protein is a good source of nutrients for cardinals. However, the proportion of animal protein to grains is usually skewed towards more grains in cat food.
Cat food also contains synthetic vitamin and mineral supplements. While essential for cats, these are often in concentrations that are too high for songbirds like cardinals. Excessive vitamins and minerals can potentially cause health issues in cardinals over time.
Overall, the makeup of most cat foods is not ideal for cardinals. The high grain content and vitamin/mineral concentrations cater to the specific needs of cats, which differ from the needs of cardinals.
Pros of Feeding Cardinals Cat Food
So why might someone want to feed a cardinal cat food? Here are some of the potential pros:
It’s convenient
Cat food is easy to find and purchase at any grocery store or pet supply retailer. There’s no need to shop at a specialized bird feed store or order food online. For many people, picking up a bag of cat food is simpler than locating bird-specific foods.
Cardinals may eat it
Cardinals are opportunistic birds. If hungry enough, they may eat cat food even though it is not optimal for their dietary needs. So you may be able to attract cardinals by offering cat food.
It’s affordable
Cat food is generally inexpensive, especially compared to specialty birdseed mixes. If someone is feeding a large number of backyard birds, the cost savings of cat food may be appealing.
It provides some nutrition
While not perfect, cat food does provide some nutrition in the form of animal protein and fat. So it’s better than offering no food at all.
Cons of Feeding Cardinals Cat Food
However, there are also some significant downsides to feeding cardinals cat food:
Nutritional deficiencies
As mentioned earlier, cat food is high in grains and low in the seeds, fruits, and insects that cardinals naturally eat. This can lead to vitamin and mineral deficiencies over time.
Weight gain
The high carbohydrate content in cat food, coupled with limited exercise for backyard birds, may cause cardinals to become overweight or obese. Excess weight impacts health and ability to migrate or avoid predators.
Digestive issues
Eating too much grain can potentially cause digestive upset in cardinals. Their systems are adapted to digesting a high protein and fat diet.
Lack of diversity
When cardinals fill up on cat food, they lose out on the diverse array of foods they would naturally eat. This diversity is important to support all aspects of health.
Dependency
Feeding cardinals inappropriate foods like cat food can make them dependent on humans. They may lose their natural ability to forage and feed themselves.
Health Risks of Feeding Cardinals Cat Food
In addition to the nutritional concerns, there are some health risks that come with feeding cardinals cat food long-term:
Metabolic bone disease
Cat food is relatively low in calcium compared to the insects and snails that wild cardinals eat. Calcium deficiency can lead to fragile, brittle bones that fracture easily.
Feather problems
A lack of nutrients like calcium, vitamin D3, and sulfur amino acids can cause stunted feather growth or brittle, frayed feathers.
Eye issues
Vitamin A deficiency, common with cat food diets, can harm cardinal vision and potentially lead to blindness.
Reproductive issues
Nutrient deficiencies may reduce fertility in cardinals and lower the chance of successful breeding.
Weakened immune system
Cardinals need a wide array of vitamins and minerals to maintain immune function. Deficiencies make them prone to illness.
Organ damage
Excess vitamin D in cat food can cause secondary calcium and phosphorus deficiencies. This damages organs like the heart and kidneys.
Ideal Foods for Cardinals
Instead of cat food, what are some healthier alternatives for feeding cardinals? Here are some great options:
High quality birdseed mix
Look for a mix formulated specifically for songbirds. Avoid cheap “wild bird seed” with filler grains. Good mixes have sunflower seeds, safflower, peanuts, dried fruit, and nyjer thistle seed.
Mealworms
Live or dried mealworms provide protein and fat. They mimic the natural insects cardinals eat in the wild.
Chopped unsalted nuts
Peanuts, almonds, cashews, walnuts – all are nutritious for cardinals. Just be sure they are unsalted.
Suet cakes or nuggets
These compact, high-fat bird feeds provide energy and calories during cold weather.
Fruit
Chopped apples, berries, grapes, cherries, etc. Fruit gives natural sweetness and vitamins.
Avoid anything moldy or rotting.
Bird feeders
Use specialized hanging feeders to serve birdseed mixes, suet, nuts, and fruit. Platform feeders work well for larger items.
Conclusion
To recap, while cardinals may eat cat food if extremely hungry, it should not be a regular part of their diet. Cat food is high in grains and missing key nutrients cardinals need. Offering cat food can cause health issues over time.
Instead, feed cardinals a diverse diet of seeds, fruits, nuts, insects, and suet. This mimics their natural diet and provides full nutrition. Use bird feeders to serve food and attract cardinals to your yard. Avoid cheap fillers like corn, wheat, rice, and oats. With proper diet, you’ll enjoy healthy, vibrant cardinals at your feeders for years to come.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some signs a cardinal is unhealthy from poor diet?
Look for dull, tattered feathers, sluggish behavior, weight gain or loss, poor vision, weakened bones leading to limping or inability to fly, and general lack of vigor.
Should I provide grit for cardinals to help digest cat food?
No, grit helps birds grind seeds and grains, but does not aid in digestion of cat food. The best solution is switching to more natural bird foods.
Is it okay to just feed cat food sometimes?
Feeding cat food occasionally as a treat won’t harm cardinals, but it should not make up the bulk of their diet. Stick to bird-specific foods for daily nutrition.
Are there any brands of cat food safe for cardinals?
No cat food is formulated to meet all the needs of songbirds. Even grain-free cat foods are still inappropriate as the main diet.
Can I feed cardinals cat food if I add vitamins?
Adding vitamins to cat food does not solve the issues of excess grains and lack of diversity. It’s better to simply feed quality birdseed, fruits, nuts, etc.
