Do Groundhogs Eat Cat Food? (5 Important Facts)

If your cat food has been disappearing, it is easy to suspect groundhogs of eating it (especially if there are lots of groundhogs around). But can groundhogs really eat cat food? Read on, for answers.

Do groundhogs eat cat food? Groundhogs don’t like eating cat food. They can eat it, especially if they have nothing else to eat. But it is certainly not their most preferred food. Grasses, fruits and vegetables are what groundhogs prefer to eat.

Much of the commercial cat food is designed for obligate carnivores, which is what cats are. Groundhogs, who are omnivores, are only likely to eat such food as last resort.

But it is understandable, if your cat food has been disappearing, to suspect groundhogs of being behind the disappearance. However, there may be other culprits behind the disappearance: not the groundhogs.

It is also understandable, if you like groundhogs, to consider giving them some of your cat’s food (in a bid to attract them to your property). However, such a strategy may not work well in attracting groundhogs.

Can Groundhogs Eat Cat Food?

Groundhogs usually find cat food unappealing. Yes, they can eat it, if it is the only thing available to them. But if they have any other option, they will typically refrain from eating cat food.

A diet of cat food is certainly not something that groundhogs can survive on in the long run.

Thus for anyone asking, can groundhogs eat cat food daily, the answer is more or less ‘no’.

But if the question is, will groundhogs eat cat food once in a while, then the answer may be ‘yes’. If the groundhogs are hungry, and they happen to chance upon cat food, they may certainly eat it.

Ultimately though, if you do a cat food for groundhogs pros and cons analysis, you find that the cons are more.

After all, the groundhog is an omnivore. The cat is an obligate carnivore. So they are worlds apart, in terms of diet needs.

Only if it has no better option will a groundhog eat cat food. Otherwise it prefers to stay away from cat food, which has very little appeal for it.

Incidentally, there are people who prefer to refer to the groundhogs as ‘woodchucks’. And if you research on do woodchucks eat cat food, you find that it is certainly not their first choice of food.

They will typically only eat cat food if they have nothing else to eat. Otherwise they prefer eating grasses, fruits and vegetables.

Do Groundhogs Eat Cat Food?

If groundhogs are very hungry, and they happen to find cat food, they will eat it. But under normal circumstances, groundhogs find cat food unappealing.

You need to understand that the cat is an obligate carnivore. The groundhog, on the other hand, is an omnivore, but with a preference for plant-based foods.

If you research on what is groundhogs favorite food vs what is favorite cat food, you notice a huge difference.

Do groundhogs like cat food? Certainly not. They can, however eat it: if it is the only thing available to them. That is what research on the do groundhogs eat cat food question reveals.

Thus if your cat food has been disappearing, there is very little likelihood of groundhogs being the culprits.

Before starting to research on how to keep groundhogs away from cat food, you need to think more. You need to think of what other animals may be responsible for the disappearance of the cat food.

Do Groundhogs Eat Dry Cat Food?

Groundhogs are capable of eating dry cat food. It is certainly not the sort of food they like though. But if it is the only thing available to them, and they are starving, they will just proceed to feed on it.

Nonetheless, dry cat food usually has carb fillers, which a rodent like groundhog may not like.

In any event, the makers of dry cat food design it with the diet needs of an obligate carnivore. Such food is unlikely to have much appeal for an omnivore like a groundhog, which prefers a more plant-based diet.

But in theory yes, a groundhog can eat dry cat food.

It is just that when you are thinking of a suspect behind your dry cat food’s disappearance, the groundhog shouldn’t be on the top of the list.

A groundhog will normally only think of eating dry cat food if there is nothing else for it to eat.

But the things that groundhogs like eating – grasses, fruits, nuts and veggies – are plentiful in most places.

How a groundhog would be hungry enough to think of eating dry food is quite hard to figure out.

Do Groundhogs Eat Wet Cat Food?

If your wet cat food has been disappearing, it is tempting to suspect groundhogs of eating it.

But do groundhogs eat wet cat food at all? The answer is that they are capable of doing so. However, it is quite rare for them to eat such wet cat food.

Normally, a groundhog will find wet cat food off-putting.

But if it is at risk of starving, a groundhog can still proceed and force itself to plow through the wet cat food.

Do Groundhogs Eat Kitten Food?

Kitten food is not very ideal for groundhogs.

Although groundhogs are omnivores, their preference is for a more plant-based diet. Things like grasses, nuts, fruits and veggies are what they prefer eating.

On the other hand, kitten food is obligate carnivore food. A groundhog will usually find very little appeal in such food.

Normally, a groundhog will only eat kitten food if that is the only thing available for it to feed on.

Why Is Cat Food Not Good For Groundhogs?

There are three things that make cat food not ideal for groundhogs.

Firstly, it doesn’t quite meet their dietary needs. The cat food is meant for an obligate carnivore: which is what a cat is. Yet the groundhog is an omnivore which, however, prefers a plant-based diet.

So cat food doesn’t meet the groundhog’s dietary needs.

Secondly, cat food has lots of carb fillers, which the groundhogs find unappealing. Those may actually harm groundhogs.

And thirdly, the groundhog generally doesn’t like eating cat food.

It is quite possible for a groundhog to pass by a nice package of cat food, without even getting tempted to eat it.

What Can I Feed Groundhogs, Instead Of Cat Food?

This question is likely to arise if you like groundhogs, and would love to have them around your yard.

And in answering it, you start by asking yourself, what food do groundhogs like the most?

In that regard, you come to learn that the foods groundhogs like the most include grasses, fruits and veggies.

Things like dandelions and clover are good for groundhogs. So are foods like alfalfa.

Groundhogs also enjoy corn, as well as certain berries. Carrots do them a lot of good, as does lettuce.

So those are the best things to feed groundhogs, instead of cat food.

Final Verdict – Do Groundhogs Eat Cat Food

Whereas they don’t like eating cat food, groundhogs are capable of eating it. They will certainly eat it, if they are hungry, and it is the only food available to them.

But if various grasses, fruits and veggies are available, groundhogs will prefer them over the cat food.

The problem with cat food is that it is made with the needs of an obligate carnivore in mind. That is because the cat is an obligate carnivore.

The groundhog, on the other hand, is an omnivore: but one that much prefers a plant-based diet. That is the basis for things like grasses, fruits and veggies being its most preferred foods.

Thus there is little likelihood the animal that has been raiding your cat food is a groundhog. A groundhog is more likely to raid your garden plants, rather than your cat food.

And if you like groundhogs, and you want to attract them to your yard, then cat food may not be the best thing to draw them in. For that, you need to use the likes of nuts, vegetables, grasses and fruits.

Normally, groundhogs will only eat cat food if they are very hungry, and absolutely nothing else is available for them to feed on.

As a pet lover, make sure to learn about pet more and give your pet groundhog a good and comfortable life!

Rajkumar Ravichandran

Welcome to Learn About Pet. My name is Rajkumar Ravichandran and I love all pets, travel, and amazing food. I write about my passion and personal experience caring for multiple pets in this blog! ❤️