Can cats eat wet and dry food at the same time

Wet Cat Food vs. Dry Cat Food: Which Is Better?

A common question that veterinarians get asked is whether cats should eat canned or dry food.

The good news is that most commercial cat foods provide an excellent source of nutrition, whether its dry cat food or wet cat food. But finding the best food for your cat will depend on several factors, including:

Whether to feed dry, canned, or a mixture of both is a decision that you and your veterinarian can make together to provide the best health for your cat. Heres some insight on wet vs. dry cat food.

What Are the Main Differences Between Wet Cat Food and Dry Cat Food?

Here are a few big differences between wet cat food and dry cat food.

Moisture Levels

The main difference between dry and canned cat food is the amount of water that the food contains.

Dry cat food contains approximately 10% of water, and the other 90% consists of dry matter such as carbohydrates, fats and vitamins. Canned food contains much more waterapproximately 70%compared to dry matter.

This can be important to consider when choosing which to feed if your cat has certain health conditions that may benefit from more water intake.

Manufacturing Process

Given the higher moisture content in canned foods, these foods are typically made with fresh or frozen meats in combination with a protein source that comes from grains. The meats are blended with water, fats, and vitamins and placed in a can, where a heating process ensures that foodborne pathogens are destroyed.

Dry food is made by combining and then cooking meats, vitamins, minerals, and fats at a high temperature and pressure, which makes the starches more digestible. Fat may then be sprayed on the food to ensure that its palatable.

Nutrients

Dry cat food typically contains more carbohydrates than canned food. The protein and fat in canned vs. dry can vary based on the type of diet. Certain formulations of dry cat food may also contain probiotics.

Should I Feed My Cat Dry or Wet Cat Food? Or Both?

Whether to feed your cat dry food, canned food, or a mixture of both depends on several factors. Here are some benefits and drawbacks of both types of food.

Canned Cat Food Benefits

The largest benefit of feeding a canned diet is the higher water content. Cats with certain health conditions that require a higher-than-normal water intake, such as kidney disease, diabetes, or lower urinary tract disease, may benefit from the additional water in these diets.

Canned food is also highly palatable, and some cats will eat a canned diet over a dry diet, particularly if they are picky eaters.

Canned Cat Food Drawbacks

Canned food is often more expensive than dry food, so this may play a role in your decision.

Once opened, canned food has a shelf-life of 24 hours and must be stored in the refrigerator. If your cat does not finish their wet food, it should be properly stored in the refrigerator or discarded. Leaving canned food out for longer than a few hours can run the risk of contamination and cause gastrointestinal upset.

Dry Cat Food Benefits

Dry cat food is less expensive than canned food, so people who are on a strict budget or those that feed community cats may choose this option.

Dry food also does not have to be stored in the refrigerator and can be left out much longer than can food. This is a good option if you free-feed your cats, but any portion not eaten by the end of the day should be discarded.

You can also use dry cat food in automatic feeders or in puzzle feeder toys.

Dry Cat Food Drawbacks

Studies have shown a correlation between obesity and feeding dry cat food. This could be because a lot of cats that eat dry food are often free-fed, and owners do not realize how much their cats are actually eating in a day.

It can also cause the opposite problem because its hard to notice that your cat is not eating when they are free-fed. The amount your cat eats in a day should be monitored or measured out for both reasons.

Older cats with dental disease or those who have had some of their teeth removed may also have a harder time chewing dry food.

Feeding Both Canned and Dry Cat Food

To balance the benefits and drawbacks of both options, you may choose to feed a combination of both. This may be particularly useful with cats who require a higher water intake but enjoy eating dry better than canned.

By either mixing them together or giving canned at one feeding time and dry at the other, you may be able to get the benefits of both diets.

If you are looking to mix wet cat food and dry cat food, talk with your veterinarian to find the best balance. Your veterinarian can help you calculate how much your cat should be eating and how to portion out the two food options.

Every cat is different, and the amount you feed a day will depend on the age of your cat, your cats current body condition, and the presence of any underlying diseases.

What Wet and Dry Cat Food Do Veterinarians Recommend?

Regardless of whether you choose to feed a dry or canned cat food, it is important to feed a well-balanced, commercial diet to ensure that your cat gets the vitamins and minerals they need.

Reputable brands such as Science Diet and Royal Canin have been quality-controlled and specially formulated to meet a cats nutritional requirements. Your veterinarian can give you more specific recommendations based on your cats health history.

Avoid feeding a home-cooked or homemade diet unless it is specially formulated by a veterinarian who is specialized in making these diets. If you dont have help from a qualified vet, these diets can be deficient in vitamins and minerals such as taurine, which can cause heart disease in cats.

Involving your veterinarian in your decision of what to feed your cat can be very helpful in ensuring they get the most appropriate nutrition.

Here are some other things to consider.

AAFCO Approval

Basic minimum nutritional requirements for cats have been established by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). This is important because all pet foods that carry an AAFCO statement or AAFCO-approved nutritional guarantee are considered to be nutritionally complete and well-balanced diets for your cat.

Ingredient List

Its important to read the label on the back of the package to ensure that the main ingredients, which will be listed first, consist of meat and meat by-products. This is because cats are carnivores and require a high-protein diet that supplies the appropriate amount of essential amino acids and fatty acids.

Your Cats Particular Health Needs

The best cat food for your cat will be unique to their lifestyle and nutritional needs.

For example, if your kitten or cat is of normal weight and healthy, then a kitten or adult maintenance diet should be sufficient. If your cat is overweight, it may be best to look for a low-fat diet.

If your cat has a health condition, your veterinarian may prescribe a specific diet formulated for that disease. For example, kidney diets are recommended in most cats who develop kidney disease, or a urinary diet may be more appropriate in cats who have lower urinary tract disease.

Your Cats Preferences

At the end of the day, you may not have a choice in what type of diet you feed your cat. Some cats can be very picky and only eat dry or only eat wet food.

Featured image: iStock.com/Nils Jacobi

WRITTEN BY

Cathy Meeks, MS, DVM, DACVIM

Veterinarian

Dr. Cathy Meeks started her veterinary career as a veterinary technician while getting her Master's degree in Veterinary Medicine, Forensic...

Is Variety the Spice of Life?

How do you feed your cat? Is it the same thing day in and day out, or do you spice it up a little and offer different foods from time to time? There is no right answer to this question. As with most aspects of cat care, it depends on the individual.

Some cats definitely do better when they eat the same thing every day. Reasons can vary from diet-responsive health problems like inflammatory bowel disease or food allergies, to a more generic sensitive stomach that rebels to change, to extreme finickiness. If your cat is thriving on a nutritionally complete and balanced diet that satisfies her whims and medical needs, Im certainly not going to recommend making a change. If it aint broke, dont fix it, right?On the other hand, a diet that includes some variety does have its benefits, as long as your cats gastrointestinal tract can handle it. Any life-stage appropriate, commercially prepared food that is labeled as being nutritionally complete should meet all of a cats basic (emphasis on the basic) dietary needs even when it is that individuals sole source of nutrition. But to paraphrase Donald Rumsfeld, There are unknown unknowns. Things we don't know we don't know.Our knowledge of feline nutrition is not perfect, and commercially prepared foods are not identical. One brand may contain a little more of this, another, a little less of that, and a third, something completely missing from the other two. One way to hedge your bets is to rotate through several different types of cat food in the hopes that, in the aggregate, they will supply just what is needed.If you offer both canned and dry food on a daily basis, you are already doing this to some extent. You can mix things up even more by mixing two or more types of dry food together in the bowl, which also works if you feed dry food only. To maintain freshness, make sure you buy smaller bags of food since youll be going through them more slowly.I dont recommend offering a different variety of foods, either canned or dry, at every meal, however. Frequent flavor rotation has been implicated in the development of finicky eating behavior, probably because cats fed in this way learn that if they arent thrilled with whats in front of them, they can just wait for something better to come along. If you feed primarily canned food or dont like the idea of having multiple bags of kibble lying around, you can still provide your cat with variety by rotating through different products on a more gradual basis. Every few months, as you are running out of one type of food and are due to purchase more, switch brands. Take a few days to mix the old and new together to minimize the risk of gastrointestinal upset.Of course, all of the foods that you offer should be of the highest quality possible, or you cant expect to see much of a benefit from mixing things up a bit.

Dr. Jennifer Coates

Image: buildscharater / via Flickr

WRITTEN BY

Jennifer Coates, DVM

Veterinarian

Dr. Jennifer Coates is an accomplished veterinarian, writer, editor, and consultant with years of experience in the fields of veterinary...

How To Switch From Wet To Dry Cat Food

Kate Barrington / Cats.com

Are you in a position where you need to change your cats food from wet to dry? Are you wondering how to go about making this a safe and smooth transition for both you and your cat? Read on to discover some useful tricks on how!

Key Takeaways

Cat owners change their pet's food for many reasons, including medical issues, safety, convenience, and financial choices.

Switching a cat's food can be tricky, but a smooth transition is possible when you do it slowly.

When switching foods, it's important to monitor how much your cat is eating to make sure they are getting adequate nutrition.

If your cat won't eat the new food, or seems to have trouble eating it, talk to your veterinarian for advice.

Cats can be notoriously difficult to please in the food department. If you have found a food that they seem to enjoy, it can be a hard decision to initiate a diet change. Cat owners change their pets food for many reasons, including medical reasons, safety, convenience, and financial choices. If you are going to change your cats food there are a few things you need to know to make the transition process as smooth as possible.

How Do You Rotate Wet and Dry Food for Cats?

Switching your cats food should be a gradual process to help your cat get used to the new food. Kate Barrington / Cats.com

Rotating your cats food involves much more than just picking the bowl up one day and placing it down the next with the new food in. You need to make sure it is a gradual, slow, and gentle transition.

Your cat might not welcome the change, so it might take a while for them to accept their new food. They might be more or less receptive depending on whether they are a kitten or adult cat.

When making a change, you might need to explore different flavors of the new type of food. Remember, your cat is an individual with their own likes and dislikes. You might think that they are turning their nose up at the new dry cat food you present to them, but actually, they just dont like the new flavor. Its a tricky business!

How To Help Your Cats Transition to Wet Cat Food

So how do you actually go about changing their food? The key is to do this process gradually in steps.

Step 1: Offer The New Food Alongside The Original Food

Feed your cat their normal food as you usually would. Next to their regular bowl put a small portion of the new food down, too. This is a way of introducing the new food and letting your cat know this strange-looking stuff is food as well. Dont mix the food yet, its important to keep them separate for now.

Your cat might lick or eat the new food, if so great! If not, dont worry at all. Your cat might not show any interest but thats OK. Its important just to let them get used to the new smell initially. When your cat does start to eat the new food, continue putting the new food and the old food alongside each other for at least three days before moving on to the next step.

Also Read:Do Cats Have A Good Sense Of Smell?

Step 2. Decrease The Amount Of Old Food And Increase The Amount Of New Food

Still keeping the two types of food separate, start to offer more of the new food and slightly less of the old food. Its important not to mix the foods yet as the texture will be very different and you need to allow your cat time to adjust to the new texture.

If you mix the food too early, your cat might be put off and not eat any of it. Make sure that each time you increase the amount of new food, you wait until your cat is happily eating the entire portion before adding more.

Also Read:The 5 Best Elevated Cat Bowls

Step 3. Stop Using The Old Food

When your cat is happily eating the new food alongside the old food for a minimum of a week, you can phase out the old food completely. If your cat suddenly stops eating the new food, this might mean that you have gone through the steps too fast. If this is the case you go back a step or two for a while, then try again.

Reasons For Changing From Wet To Dry Food

There are many reasons you might switch your cats food from wet cat food to dry. Some of those reasons are listed below.

1. A Medical Reason

Certain medical conditions require or benefit from a specific diet. These include things like kidney failure, diabetes, arthritis, bladder stones or kidney stones, obesity, skin diseases, allergies, bowel problems, liver disorders, and hypo- or hyperthyroidism, or dental disease. Your cat might have a sensitive stomach due to a previous illness, too.

Your cat might have different metabolic requirements. For example, if they are pregnant, kitten food usually has a higher proportion of protein, fats, and carbohydrates compared to adult cat food and this is better suited to pregnant queens.

Also Read:The 7 Best Cat Food With Grains

2. Your Cats Tastes Might Have Changed

Your cat might suddenly decide they prefer a certain type of food. You might hear this from one of your neighbors who has spotted your cat eating their cats food for example. They might decide they just dont like the food you give them anymore. This is usually after the food has been put on sale and you have bought it in bulk!

Also Read: My Cat Ate A Chicken Bone: Should I Worry?

3. Your Situation Might Have Changed

Your financial situation may have changed and you cannot afford the food you were giving them. Alternatively, you want to buy something of high quality for your cat that you previously couldnt afford.

Additional Tips for a Smooth Transition Your Cat From Wet to Dry Food

If a cat has eaten only one type of food for their entire life, switching can be confusing for them. Kate Barrington / Cats.com

1. Dont Rush

Imagine that its going to take about a month to do this properlythat way, you will be able to take your time and your cat wont feel overwhelmed. Remember, the important thing is to make the change from wet food to dry food, it doesnt matter how long this takes. Its a marathon, not a sprint! Any drastic change will cause your cat unnecessary stress.

Also Read:Why Is My Cat Not Eating? Loss Of Appetite In Cats

2. Be Patient

Patience is definitely a virtue in this situation. You have to give your cat time to adjust. They might not even recognize the new diet as food at first. After all, it is a big change in texture and consistency. Your cat might have been on the old diet for their whole life and simply not know anything else. Some cats might be confused about the new food you are putting in front of them and not understand where their old food has gone.

Also Read:Why Do Cats Eat Plastic? (And How To Get Them To Stop)

3. Monitor Food Intake

Make sure you monitor what your cat is actually eating, especially in multi-cat households. Ensure your cat is still eating regularly and getting their daily calorie intake. If cats dont eat for a couple of days in a row, they get something called hepatic lipidosis, also known as fatty liver disease. This is potentially fatal, so you must be careful.

Also Read:Can Cats Eat Lettuce?

4. Weigh Your Cat

It is very important to weigh your cat regularly during the process of switching their food. If they do not get enough nutrients and calories this will cause weight loss and will be detrimental to their health. By monitoring their weight closely, you can make sure they have a safe transition to their new cat food.

Also Read:Cat Weight Calculator

5. Prepare For Food Wastage

It might help if you resign yourself to the fact that you may well be wasting a lot of food while transitioning from wet to dry food. Your cat is very likely to leave some of their food each day as you change whats offered to them. If you are prepared for this, it will stop you from getting stressed and frustrated.

Also Read:Wet vs. Dry Cat Food: Whats Better For Cats?

6. Never Change The Food Suddenly

Do not change 100% of your cats food suddenly unless you have been instructed to do so by your vet. Sudden changes in your cats diet are dangerous as they can cause them to have an upset tummy with vomiting and diarrhea.

Also Read:What Can You Give A Cat For An Upset Stomach?

7. Keep An Eye Out For Health Problems

There are a few reasons why your cat might not want to eat dry food. For example, if they have dental disease present, crunching hard kibble may hurt their mouth. If you are at all concerned about your cats health, consult your veterinarian.

Also, keep an eye on your cat if their hunger level changes. If they have a reduced appetite this might be because they are unwell as opposed to not liking the food you are offering.

Should You Alternate Wet and Dry Cat Food?

Its beneficial for most cats to alternate between wet and dry cat food assuming your cat is accustomed to eating dry cat food and switching at once to wet cat food might be hard for her. This approach offers a smoother transition for your cat, and better control over dietary needs. Aim for a 50/50 ratio for the first few days, as wet food provides hydration, and dry food offers convenience and dental benefits. However, sudden changes might upset the stomach.

Cats are creatures of habit and usually resist changes in their diet. If you follow this guide with patience and give your cat all the time they need, you will be able to change their food from wet canned food to dry kibble even if they are the fussiest eater.

Also Read:How To Tell If A Cat Is Straining To Poop Or Pee

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it OK to mix wet and dry cat food?

The short answer to this is yes, you can mix dry and wet food. You have to be careful though as cats are very sensitive to texture. If you don't do it gradually, they might reject the food. Some cats might be more suited to wet or dry food, so consult your veterinarian before making any changes.

Can you switch cat food immediately?

It's very important not to make sudden changes to your cat's food unless your veterinarian has given you the green light. This is due to the fact that sudden changes can cause digestive upset and diarrhea. You may also give your cat an unwanted aversion unintentionally.

How many times a day should you feed a cat dry food?

It's usually normal for cats to eat two meals a day, spaced 12 hours apart. However, it's OK to feed around your schedule if you work shifts or have other commitments, as long as you stick to a routine for your cat. It's important to not go longer than 12 hours between feeds too as this can upset your cat's tummy.