Referred to as coprophagia, eating feces occurs because dogs can smell food through the feces — in this case, cat food. Cat food is generally higher in protein than dog food, hence the appeal.

Sid the cat is a fussy eater and changes which brand ... So it may be that a battle of wills is the best approach. If he doesn’t eat, the food gets taken up and put down again later that day.

Shenaaz, who is a vegetarian, said it was not acceptable for dogs and cats, which are consider as pets, to be consumed. “I would liken it (eating dog and cat meat) to cannibalism,” she said.