Hedgehog food and cats/dogs?

AnnaB

I have just discovered a new adult hog is visiting my garden. Need to know that if I put out special hedgehog food for him/her it wont harm my cats or the dog if they sample it - cats have a cat flap which is also used by the dog (small JR terrier) at night if needed. Many thanks.

Dovefromabove

‘Our’ hedgehogs eat Purina meat flavored kitten biscuits. 

BobFlannigon

We give our hedgehogs the food that the cats don't want (Whiskers, Go-Cat, Supermarket own brand).  They did also have some proper hedgehog food (dry) which the cats didn't seem to eat when they went out.

If you're worried, put your hedgehog feeding station underneath a box with an entrance hole that a cat can't fit through (once your hedgehog knows where it is and visits daily).  It'll also keep the rain off it too. And possibly slugs.

AnniD

Anna, as far as l can tell, hedgehog food won't do any harm to dogs or cats. They tend to sniff it, and maybe nibble at it but that's all. I found the hedgehogs did the same !
You don't need to put out specialist hedgehog food, any meat based cat or dog food is fine, but 
if you are at all concerned, l would definitely do as Bob suggests, and put up a Hedgehog feeding station.  Apart from anything else, it will stop the hedgehog missing out on the food.
There are lots of hints and tips about constructing one, l have added a link below  

https://thehedgehog.co.uk/feeding-hedgehogs/how-to-stop-cats-dogs-and-foxes-stealing-the-hedgehogs-food/

purplerallim

The local cats have sniffed the "Spike" hog food and left it. Don't know about your dog as our hogs appeared after we lost our chihuahua to old age. The blackbirds and robins do love to pinch the leftovers in the morning,  if there is any.

AnnaB

Thank you all so much for your helpful comments. I would put out meaty cat/kitten biscuits but know my domestic animals will gobble them up, am just hoping that special hog food would not be so appetising (if it is not harmful). At present I am creating a completely new garden from a 'building site' and a hog house and feeding station is in the plan, but just not able to set it up right now. Again, many thanks, special hog food will be given a try.

AnniD

Let us know how you get on. Any problems , l could have a word with my local rescue lady and see what she suggests 

Gwenr

Hello Anna
We rescue hedgehogs and have several visiting as well as some residential, who come and go as they please. It's wonderful when a hedgehog arrives in your garden and you must feel very privileged, as you know they are under threat and numbers are falling rapidly. 
We feed all our hogs on Sainsbury's own Chicken in jelly dog food, but we remove the jelly as this can cause diarrhea. Never feed them anything with fish, this can also cause tummy problems as can the gravy in some dog foods. We also give them Spikes dry and moist food, which they eat, but much prefer the dog food. We have converted a couple of old rabbit hutches into feeding stations and you can get details online how to build a small one, which can be tucked under a small or large hedge, the hog will soon find it, they have very keen noses. 
Hope you continue to enjoy your new visitors. But do remember, dogs can harm hogs when they think they are being playful and sadly we have had to rescue a few from distraught dog owners. So please keep an eye on things.

Guernsey Donkey2

We give our visiting hogs Spikes dry hedgehog food, a dish of water and so far we have had many adults and young hogs - the food doesn't smell strongly and we have never seen any vermin eating the food.  We bring the food bowl in when we go to bed just to be certain that no other animals are eating it and the hogs seem to know they have to come early or the dish will have been brought in.

Fairygirl

I have specialist dried hog food. The cats here definitely eat it so I certainly can't leave it outside. It has to be inside a feeding station