Is it OK to give my cat both wet and dry food

Wet vs. Dry Cat Food: Which Is Best?

Making decisions for your cat isn't always as easy as picking out a new feather toy. Perhaps you've just brought home a fluffy bundle of joy, or maybe you're reassessing your longtime pal's nutrition needs. Whichever camp you fall in, deciding between wet vs. dry cat food can be difficult. Ultimately, both are excellent sources of nutrition as long as you serve the appropriate amount for your cat. Some pet parents even decide to blend the two. Of course, each type of food has its advantages and disadvantages, and many factors can help determine what's best for your cat. Here's what you need to know.

Wet Food

Upsides

Sold in cans, pouches and trays, wet cat food is usually beloved by cats for its aroma and taste. Picky cats may find wet food more enticing, and it comes in a variety of flavors and textures, including pates and stews, to suit a range of palates. Canned food is often lower in calories than dry food, which can be helpful if your cat needs to shed a few pounds to reach a healthy weight. Under a veterinarian's supervision, cats diagnosed with certain medical conditions urinary health issues, for example may also benefit from the high moisture content in wet food.

Downsides

Cats who eat exclusively wet food may accumulate plaque and tartar on their teeth more quickly than cats who eat dry food, and it can be more difficult to accurately portion out. Wet food is also perishable. This means one more dish in the sink it's important to wash your cat's dish after each meal since any leftover remnants can breed bacteria. Because portion sizes are often smaller than what's in a can, you'll also want to consider storage. Once opened, cans need appropriately sized airtight lids to keep them fresh. Some cats dislike cold wet food, so you may need to warm their meal on a microwave-safe plate for four to six seconds before serving. According to The Spruce Pets, you should toss any food your cat leaves behind after 20 to 30 minutes. Finally, wet food generally costs more per volume, so if you're on a strict budget, this may affect your decision.

If you have a long-haired or light-colored cat, you might be averse to feeding them wet cat food because it can get on their whiskers and nose. Healthy cats are meticulous groomers, however, and will typically keep their faces clean. If you happen to have a messy cat, try serving them food on a flat plate or in a puzzle feeder. You can always wipe their face with a cat-safe wet wipe or a warm, damp washcloth if needed.

Dry Food

Upsides

Dry cat food is available in conveniently sized bags and keeps well up to its best-by date as long as you reseal or clip it tightly after opening. Pound for pound, dry food is more economical than wet food and, because it stores for longer periods of time, it can be gentler on your budget. Some cats are perfectly content with dry food left as free-choice feeding, where you leave a bowl of food out for your cat to nibble on throughout the day. Other cats gorge on whatever's in front of them and must be fed portion-controlled meals. Luckily, it's easy to weigh your cat's dry food with a standard measuring cup or a gram scale. While food can never replace dental care, dry foods can help reduce plaque and tartar accumulation and promote dental health.

Downsides

The main drawbacks to dry food are that it's lower in moisture and generally higher in calories and carbohydrates than wet food. If your cat has urinary health issues, obesity, or frequent dehydration, ask your veterinarian whether they are best served by wet or dry food. Cats who need to drink more water may also benefit from a water fountain, as some cats prefer drinking running water. Keep in mind that older cats may have a harder time eating dry food than wet food, especially if gum or dental issues have set in. Canned cat food's soft consistency may be easier for older kitties to eat than the crunchy kibble they enjoyed in their youth.

Blended or Mixed Feeding

Mixed feeding routines can offer the best of both worlds, helping to solve the wet vs. dry cat food dilemma. One example of blended feeding is to serve your cat dry food in the morning and wet food in the evening. This way, they can graze on their dry food throughout the day and you can dispose of any dried-out wet food before going to bed. Another option is to mix your cat's dry food with wet food or add water or low-sodium chicken broth to their kibble. This can also help them get additional moisture with their meal. Avoid overfeeding your cat with blended feedings by measuring out their daily portions to help ensure they're getting the right amount of calories and nutrients for optimum health.

The debate between wet and dry cat food doesn't have one right answer. Each cat is unique with their own preferences and health needs. These may also change over time. Consult your trusted veterinarian if you have any questions about which food is best for your feline friend, and let your cat's tastes guide you to their preferred flavors.

Contributor Bio

Dr. Sarah Wooten

A 2002 graduate of UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Sarah Wooten is a well-known international speaker in the veterinary and animal health care spaces. She has 10 years experience in public speaking and media work, and writes for a large number of online and print animal health publications, such as chewy.com, petMD, Vetstreet, Hill's Education Blog, and DVM360 print and online publications, Healthy Pet Magazine, and the Bark. Dr. Wooten has spoken in the veterinary education space for 5 years, and speaks on leadership, client communication, and personal development. Dr. Wooten is also a certified veterinary journalist, a member of the AVMA, and has 16 years experience in small animal veterinary practice. In addition to being a speaker, author, veterinarian, and co-creator of the wildly popular card game 'Vets Against Insanity', she co-owns Elevated Eateries Restaurant group in Greeley with her husband of 21 years, and together they are raising 3 slightly feral mini-humans. When it is time to play, she can be found skiing in Colorado, diving with sharks in the Caribbean, or training kenpo karate in her local dojo. Go big...or go home.

Learn more about Dr. Wooten at www.drsarahwooten.com

Mix Wet and Dry Cat Food? 6 Things To Know When Combining Cat Food

We tend to feed our cats with either dry or wet food almost their whole lives. This is where combining different types of cat food comes in to add variety to your cats diet.

When done right, mixing wet and dry cat food in a natural way can boost hydration, dental health, and nutrition for optimal feline health.

Today, youll learn expert tips on mixing ratios, transitioning foods, and creating the purrfect wet-dry combo to bring out your cats inner hunter.

Well show you how to mix wet and dry cat food in a natural way that matches your cats true dietary needs for a balanced diet.

Key Takeaways

• Wet food provides more moisture and hydration, while dry food offers convenience and some dental benefits. Both have pros and cons.
• Aim for a 50/50 ratio when mixing wet and dry food. Adjust amounts based on your cats needs.
• Add 1/4 cup wet food to 1/4 cup dry food as a typical single meal portion to mix together.
• When mixing food types, keep the brands, flavors, and ratios consistent to avoid upsetting your cats stomach. Slowly transition mix proportions.

Mix Wet and Dry Cat Food; Is It Ok?

Yes, you can safely mix wet and dry cat food together in the same bowl. Choose each food based on quality and what your cat will eat. Remember to check the daily intake amount for each type of cat food individually before combining them so that you do not overfeed your cat.

Is Mixing Cat Food Bad?

While combining wet and dry cat food together is not a problem, what about mixing your cats food with other things?

There are some basic things that its certainly ok to mix in your kitties food and then there are things that you should stay away from, so be careful with the culinary experiments such as mixing with human foods that may not be beneficial to your cat.

Also, instead of mixing the cat food, try heating it up. Your cat may find it quite palatable just dont get it hot enough to burn them.

Mixing wet and dry cat food can also help if your cat is throwing up their food.

Key differences between wet and dry food for cats

Both wet and dry cat food have advantages and disadvantages give and take so to speak. This table gives you a quick breakdown of advantages an disadvantages of wet vs dry cat food.

How to mix Wet and Dry Cat Food- Food Ratio Balance

Many cat owners like to mix wet and dry cat food. But if your new to the concept (thats why your here right?) and want to give it a whirl heres a few tips to get you started:

• General ratio Aim for around 50% wet food and 50% dry food in your cats diet. This provides a good balance of the benefits of each. You can make adjustments from there.
• Meal ratios When mixing for an individual meal, use around 1/4 cup of dry kibble mixed with 1/4 cup of canned wet food. Adjust amounts based on your cats size, age, and activity level.
• Mixing method First, place the dry kibble portion in your cats bowl. Then take the canned wet food and spoon it on top of the kibble. Lightly mix or fold together until evenly distributed.
• Feeding schedule Most cats are fed 3-4 times per day (depending on weight). You can mix wet and dry for just one or two of those meals. Many cats prefer wet food for dinner time.
• Proportions For overweight cats, tip ratio toward wet food. For underweight cats, use a little more dry food. Kittens may need more frequent wet food for hydration.
• Consistency Keep brand, flavors, and mixing ratios consistent. Cats dont like abrupt food changes.
• Storage Refrigerate unused wet food. For dry food, reseal bag and store in cool, dry place.
• Dental hygiene Brush cats teeth regularly since both wet and dry food are not sufficient for full dental care.
• Monitor health Schedule annual vet checkups to ensure diet is supporting good health and weight, adjusting ratios if needed.

The key is finding the right wet/dry balance for your cats needs. When in doubt, consult your veterinarian for personalized nutrition advice.

Adding water to Your cats food

For cats that Ive owned in the past whether I was feeding them with dry food exclusively or wet food, I always added a bit of water.

Adding water to each has the benefit of softening food to make it easier to eat (dry food) or adding a bit of volume to stretch your money and help with palatability (wet food). Just dont drown their food!

Mixing cat food with milk

This can be a little touchy, so consult your vet. It can be done, but youll want to mix the cat food with cat milk only and not the milk we drink from the store. Chances are if youre having to do this, your cat (or kitten) probably has some kind of medical issue.

Special caution applies to cats with digestive problems and allergy sufferers

For cats with digestive problems and allergy sufferers, its important to exercise special caution when mixing wet and dry cat food.

Some cats may have specific dietary needs or sensitivities that require a more tailored approach to their meals.

Before combining wet and dry food, its crucial to consult with a veterinarian or specialist dealer to ensure you are providing the right balance of nutrients for your cats health and well-being.

To help you better understand the considerations for mixing wet and dry cat food, here is a table outlining the pros and cons:

Therapeutic pet Foods

Be careful with this one. Remember that therapeutic pet foods are scientifically engineered or formulated to treat your pet and have dietary requirements.

Even if your mixing plain involves wet or dry cat food with a therapeutic food, tread lightly and consult your vet before adding anything.

Diluting a therapeutic cat food may counteract any benefits for your cat that the food was intended to treat.

Think of it this way;

If your doctor provided you with a prescription drug and told you to eat or drink something with it, would you do it? Of course not.

Did I mention to check with your vet?

Youre in control

When you work with your vet you can manage your cats diet needs that are unique to your kitty.

Its actually pretty simple to come up with a meal plan by combining wet and dry food that can encourage your cat to eat more or less of a type of food based on their activity and metabolism.

As example, if your cat is picky but not active you can encourage your cat to eat dry food that meets their caloric needs.

If your cat is a picky eater and like to hang out in their cat tree that you keep clean, consider giving them meals there, versus making them come down.

Think About This: Cats can get the water they need from wet food, not just drinking alone. This is helpful if your cat doesnt like water too much.

Combination of Wet and Dry Cat Food; Why Do it?

There are a lot of good reasons why you would want to mix your cats food.

Heres what we often forget;

Wet cat food and dry cat food each have their unique properties and drawbacks that help to offset one from the other. Mixing each together helps give the cat the best of both worlds.

Dry food tends to be less expensive, can be stored easy and can be loaded into an automatic feeder.

Does wet cat food help with Hydration?

Yes; Wet cat food is about 70% 80% water which helps your cat obtain 3 4 ounces per day from consuming one can of wet cat food. Cats need to consume about cup of water per 5 pounds of body weight per day. Pate style cat food may have less water or gravy than regular cat food.

Did you notice-

Above we mentioned consume not necessarily drink. Cats can either hydrate by drinking water the old fashioned way or by drinking the water (in other words consume) in wet food. You can check out more vet info here.

If you think your cat needs a little something extra, consider giving your cat water with electrolytes, but dont mix it in their cat food.

Mixing food helps with your cats weight management

Studies have shown (like this one) that there is a link between your becoming obese and feeding your cat dry cat food.

This may be due to cats being free fed dry cat food all day. If you stop free feeding and start mixing wet and dry food together youll be more aware of how much your cat is eating and start introducing some portion control.

Just like people, if the cat is taking in too many calories and not enough exercise, the kitty is going to gain some weight.

Cost effective combination

When you start shopping for cat food, youll notice right away that there is a difference between the cost of each type of cat food.

You guessed it wet cat food tends to be more expensive and dry is (on average) less expensive.This will help you to watch how much it costs to feed your cat each month.

Mixing cat food allows you to give you cat the awesomeness of wet cat food without having to break the bank. Think about this youll only be giving your cat about half a can which means one can last two days. At about .75 cents or more per can this can really help out.

Makes the food taste better

As they say, Variety is the spice of life and so it is with cats also. Having a wet and dry food combination for your feline gives them a little something to look forward to.

This is especially helpful if you have a kitty diva on your hands that cant be bothered with dry food. Mixing in wet food may be just the ticket to get them interested.

It Can Help Keep Their Teeth Clean

Dry cat food sometimes provides some basic dental hygiene by cleaning the cats teeth. Notice I said sometimes. Whether or not kibble style food can clean will depend on the formulation of the dry food in question. As long as the food doesnt have sticky ingredients in the food, the dry food can help scrape away tartar.

Wet Vs Dry Food

When it comes to establishing moisture content in either wet or dry cat food, there tends to be a range for both types of food. Check the food label to get the particulars for your food, but generally speaking the ranges are:

Wet cat food contains about 70% 80% moisture

Dry Cat food is about 10% 12%

Mixing Wet and Dry Cat Food Ratio

How much you should feed your cat can depend on a variety of factors. Keep this in mind;

Not only do you have to take into consideration the amount of food to give your cat, but the cats age and the amount of exercise its getting.

Each type and brand of cat food will have varying caloric and nutritional contents. As a starting point check the label on your cats food and look for a feeding guide.

As an example, if your cat weighs 10 pounds it may need up to a cup of food per meal. Mix cup of wet food and a cup of dry food (half of each). Monitor how many calories your cat is burning to see if its gaining or losing weight and make adjustments.

Check with your vet to help you calculate exactly how much food you should feed your cat.

Start with mixing half and half of each and adjust the ratio from there.

Is It OK To Mix Different Brands of Cat Food?

Its fine to mix two different brands of cat food together. Its best to ensure that they are of similar quality and nutritional value to each other. You may not want to mix junky generic food with a trusted name brand which could potentially negate nutritional value of the good stuff.

Dos and Dont of Combining Cat Food

Heres a few things to keep in mind when combining wet and dry cat food.

The Dos

Do: Cant stress it enough- speak with your vet and get info on the best cat foods and how many calories your cat needs based on its weight.

Do: Make sure you are measuring you cats food with a reliable measuring device

Do: Mix foods from the same stage of life. In other words, if you have an adolescent cat dont mix with senior cat food.

Do: Make sure both the wet and dry food have similar nutritional content

Do: Mix different aromas, shapes and textures

Do: Add water dry your dry cat food even if you dont mix it with wet food

Do: Try different combinations and create tasty recipes for your cat!

The Dont s

Dont: Mix therapeutic cat food without consulting your vet

Dont: Overfeed Measure your cats food carefully

Dont: Use cat treats instead of dry cat food. Cat treats can be like junk food and have empty calories with no nutritional value.

Dont: Think all cat food is created equal. Read labels carefully.

Dont: Mix cat food with Milk

Create Your Own Cat Food Recipe

Once you have a clear idea on how much your cat should be eating each day, what kind of wet and dry food theyll eat and flavors they love Experiment!

Mix and match different flavors and come up with your own tastes just like you would for yourself in the kitchen! Just be sure to write down these awesome new recipes so that you can recreate them later.

Mix Wet and Dry Cat Food Summary

Putting your cat on a combo diet that is a mix of wet and dry cat food is super easy to do, provides variety for your cat and can save you a few bucks.

Cats will tend to want to eat the wet food first, but if this becomes problematic, you can adjust the wet to dry ratio as needed. Even though wet cat food can provide some hydration, make sure you have a nice bowl of fresh water nearby.