Is wet food or dry better for cats

Wet vs. Dry Cat Food: Vet-Approved Facts & Key Differences

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When it comes to choosing between dry cat food and wet cat food, the decision can get confusing on which one you should select. Is dry cat food the better option, or should you choose wet food for the moisture content?

Some cat owners may find it hard to influence their cats to drink water, and wet food provides more hydration. On the other hand, dry food keeps longer than wet food, and it doesnt require refrigeration once opened. Nonetheless, the intention of this article is to examine the differences between the two to help you make an informed decision based on your cats nutritional requirements. Lets explore this topic more in-depth.

Visual Differences

At a Glance

Wet Cat Food

• High water content
• More difficult to measure servings
• Fewer calories
• High-quality wet food may be harder to find
• Highly palatable
• Can contain more protein
• More expensive

Dry Cat Food

• Low water content
• Easier to measure
• Free feeding can cause obesity
• Widely available
• Some cats may not enjoy the taste
• Can contain more carbohydrates
• More affordable

Overview of Wet Cat Food

Wet Cat Food Benefits

Wet cat food has a few benefits worth considering. First, wet cat food has a much higher water content (roughly 65%) than dry kibble, which is beneficial if your cat does not drink as much water as needed to stay hydrated. However, you should still provide fresh water 24/7 for your cat regardless if he eats wet food or dry food.

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Wet food is also highly palatable, which is a perk for picky eaters. Wet food is also easier to eat, which is most beneficial for young or senior cats or cats with dental issues. You also have a variety of flavors that will surely please your kitty and the odor of wet food usually draws more interest.

For overweight cats wet food can be a better option due to the lower amounts of calories compared with dry food. Wet foods can also be helpful for cats prone to certain health conditions such as urinary tract problems and constipation- speak to your vet for advice to choose the right food if your cat has underlying health concerns.

Wet Cat Food Drawbacks

One drawback to wet food is the shelf life; once a can or packet is opened, any remaining food requires refrigeration. Uneaten wet food should not be left out for longer than about an hour to avoid bacterial growth, this may not be ideal for cats who like to graze throughout the day. In addition, wet food is typically more expensive than dry kibble.

Wet food may contribute to periodontal disease due to having no crunch to aid in removing tartar; however, this is disputablesome experts conclude that dry kibble does not help prevent periodontal disease unless it is a specially formulated dental food kibble. In fact, the only proven method is regularly brushing your cats teeth.

Pros

• Higher water content
• Highly palatable for picky eaters
• Easier to chew for seniors or cats with dental issues
• Better option for overweight cats (lower calorie and carb content)

Cons

• More expensive
• Shorter shelf life
• May contribute to periodontal disease

Overview of Dry Cat Food

Dry Cat Food Benefits

Weve lightly touched on the benefits of dry cat food; however, in this section, lets explore the key benefits of dry cat food. A key difference is the convenience factor. Dry food is easy to measure to ensure youre providing your cat with the appropriate daily amount required for optimal nutrition. The moisture content in dry cat kibble is less than 20%, which gives it a longer shelf lifethis is also more cost-effective.

Also, due to the lower moisture content, there is a lower chance of bacterial growth, which allows you to leave the food out for longer. Unlike wet food, you can also leave dry cat kibble in automatic feeders or puzzle toys. Refrigeration is also not required with dry kibble, but keep in mind that its recommended to pick up any uneaten dry kibble within 24 hours to prevent overeating.

Dry Cat Food Drawbacks

Even with the convenience of dry cat food, there are still a few drawbacks. For starters, dry kibble may be harder for some seniors to chew or cats with dental issues. Dry cat food is usually more calorie-dense, which can contribute to obesity when you free-feed. It can also be difficult to gauge how much your cat is eating if he doesnt eat the entire portion in one sitting. Dry cat food is also usually higher in carbohydrates since starches are needed to form the kibble pellets.

Pros

• Convenient
• Longer shelf life
• Budget-friendly
• Widely available
• Less chance for bacterial growth

Cons

• May be harder to chew for some cats
• Free-feeding can lead to obesity
• Higher in carbohydrates

Other Factors to Consider

Can I Mix Wet and Dry Cat Food?

This question is common among cat owners, and the answer is, yes, you can! Since both types of cat food offer particular benefits, why not mix the two? Mixing the two consistencies, or feeding one at each meal, gives your cat more options for texture and flavor, which may prove beneficial if you have a picky eater.

Its also more cost-effective to provide a mixture of the twoyou wont be spending a ton of money on solely wet food, and the wet food will last longer this way.

Your cat will still need a complete and balanced diet of protein, fats, vitamins, and minerals, and its important to note it can be easy to overshoot how much to feed when mixing wet and dry kibble. If you have any concerns or questions, your vet can help you determine the best course of action for feeding your cat to ensure nutritional needs are being met when combining the two.

Do Vets Recommend Wet Food Over Dry?

Your cats overall health and preferences will determine which food is appropriate. Your veterinarian may suggest dry over wet, or vice versa, or, your vet may recommend a combination of the two. Regardless of whether wet or dry, it is important to always feed a high-quality, complete, and well-balanced diet. This means it will contain all the essential nutrients required for your cat to thrive. Your vet can give advice on the best option for your cat, and direct you on the required daily amounts to prevent overfeeding your feline.

Can I Add Water to Dry Cat Food?

Yes, you absolutely can! Adding water to dry kibble is a way to enhance the flavor and make a gravy, if you will. This is most beneficial if your cat loves the kibble but needs more hydration or if your cat is starting to show less interest in the dry kibble and you dont want to add wet food. Simply add cup of filtered water to the top of the kibble to moisten it for easier chewing and to enhance the flavor.

Remember that you shouldnt leave this out for more than an hour or two to prevent bacterial contamination (as with wet food).

When to Feed Wet Cat Food

• For hydration
• When more protein is needed
• If you have a picky eater
• For health conditions (diabetes, kidney disease, FLUTD)

When to Feed Dry Cat Food

• When on a budget
• Free-feeding
• For the crunchy texture
• When more calories are needed

Conclusion

With so many options, we know it can get extremely confusing regarding the best form of nutrition you should feed your beloved kitty. As you can see, both dry kibble and wet food have advantages and disadvantages, and the appropriate food type will depend on your cats overall health and individual preferences. Your veterinarian is an excellent resource to utilize when trying to determine the best route to take, and we recommend doing so before changing your cats diet.

Not every cat has the same nutritional needs, and your vet can help you find that perfect balance for optimal health.

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Featured Image Credit: (L) New Africa, Shutterstock | (R) Ekaterina Minaeva, Shutterstock

Wet vs. Dry Cat Food: Whats Better for Cats?

Cat owners often ask the question, is dry or wet food better for cats? The answer is not black and white. Both types of cat food have upsides and downsides. In this article on wet versus dry cat food, well go over all of the pros and cons to help you decide which is best for your cat.

Whether the food is dry or wet, look for foods that meet AAFCO standards. All commercial cat foodswhether dry or wetprovide all the nutrition cats need, as long as the food meets the standards established by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). The AAFCO label on a bag of cat food indicates that the food is nutritionally complete and balanced for the cats life stage.

The life stages include adult, kitten, pregnant and lactating females, and all life stages (any cat of any age).

Is Wet or Dry Food Better for Cats?

In theory, it shouldnt matter if a cat eatsdry foodorwet food, but each type has its benefits and drawbacks.

Also Read:The 11 Best Dry Cat Foods

Drycat food, also known asdrykibble, is a highly processed, shelf-stable food.Drycat foodis good for a long time (sometimes a year or longer) in the original sealed bag. Look for a best by or use by date on the bag to find out if an unopened bag is still fresh.

Once opened, its best to usedrycat foodwithin about six weeks. Although you might be tempted to transfer yourdrycat foodinto a plastic container, its best to keep it in theoriginal bag, which has a special liner designed to maximize the freshness of the food. Fold the top of the bag down all the way, squeezing out as much air as you can, and clip it closed, then store the bag in a cool, dry place.

Wetcat food, also known ascannedfood, is generally less processed thandrycat food, but also very shelf-stable. Unopened cans, trays, and pouches ofwetcat foodlast a long time, usually several years.

Also Read:The 10 Best Healthy Canned, Soft & Wet Cat Foods

As with dry food, look for a best by or use by date on the can, tray, or pouch to determine if unopened wet cat food is still good. Once opened, wet cat food is highly perishable. Wet food can be left out for only a few hours before it will spoil, and leftovers must be refrigerated. Use wet cat food within five to seven daysof opening it.

Dry Cat Food Pros and Cons

Dry cat food is convenient to store, easy to serve, and nutrient-dense.

On the flip side, compared withwetcat food,drycat foodis usually higher in carbohydrates and has less protein (especiallyanimal protein). Although cats can digest and absorb beneficial nutrients from carbohydrates, cats have no minimumnutritional requirementfor carbohydrates.

Cats areobligate carnivores, meaning that they requireanimal proteinin their diet. Wild cats eat very littlecarbs, if any, as their diet consists mainly of eating small prey animals.

These small prey animals have high amounts of protein and moderate amounts of fat.Drycat foodis a less natural type of diet for cats, although domestic cats have evolved to live and thrive ondrycat foods.

Although you may have heard thatdry foodis better for yourcats teethbecause it scrapes the teeth clean, this is generally untrue for several reasons. For example, thekibbleis so small that it crumbles easily in a cats mouth. Also, cats swallow rather than chew their food, so theyre not munching ondry food.

In general,drycat foodis no better for yourcats teeththanwet food, and it no more keeps acats teethclean than eating crackers or cereal would keep your teeth clean.

Read More:Best Dental Cat Treats

However, some dry cat foods have been specially developed to help remove tartar from a cats teeth. These specialdental healthfoods, which have received the seal of acceptance from the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC), include these listed here:

A big plus ofdry foodis that you can keep it out all day. This is great for cats that like to nibble throughout the day. However, cats dont exactly have a sense ofportion control, so free-choice feeding can easily add on extra pounds. Cats that are overweight should not have theirdry foodleft out all day.

DryCat FoodPros

• Affordable
• Longshelf life
• Convenient (easy to serve and can be left out)
• More energy-dense thanwet food
• Many cats love the crunch and taste

DryCat FoodCons

• Lowerwater contentthanwet food
• Contains less protein, especially animal protein, than most wet foods
• Contains more carbohydrates thanwet foods
• May be difficult for cats with dental issues or missing teeth
• Cats may overeat if the food stays in the bowl all day

Wet Cat Food Pros and Cons

Wet cat food offers many health benefits, including high water content and more protein than dry cat food.

Because of extra water content, wet food is great for cats that need to increase their water intake, such as cats with urinary tract disease like kidney disease, urinary crystals, or cystitis (inflammation of the bladder). Low-carbohydrate diets are sometimes recommended for diabetic cats, and wet cat food generally meets that requirement.

Wetcat foodalso contains more protein thandrycat food, especiallyanimal protein. Cats, beingobligate carnivores, are made to consume and digest high amounts ofanimal protein, moderate amounts of fat, and minimal amounts of carbohydrates.Wet foodchecks all of those boxes nicely.

Many cats love the taste of wet food, especially picky eaters and older cats. Older catswith dental problems benefit from the soft texture ofwet food.

One of the biggest disadvantages of wet cat food is cost. Even though wet cat foods high moisture content is a good thing, all that extra water weight makes the food less nutrient-dense. So, you have to buy and feed more wet food to make sure your cat gets all of the nutrients they need. Also, ounce for ounce, wet food costs more than dry food.

Another downside ofwet foodis that its quickly perishable. You have to pick up yourcats foodafter a few hours or it will spoil. This can be hard for cats that prefer to nibble throughout the day, especially if youre not home and cant feed three or four small meals a day.

Leftovers must be promptly refrigerated. When stored in the fridge in an airtight container, some commercial food companies state that opened canned food might last as long as five to seven days. However, its best to use up leftover wet food within 72 hours, so stay on top of whats left in the fridge. Marking the date on the can of food can help you do that.

WetCat FoodPros

• Higher water content than dry food
• More protein, especially animal protein, than most dry food
• Fewer carbohydrates than dry food
• Long shelf life when unopened
• Very good flavor
• Good for cats with dental issues or missing teeth

WetCat FoodCons

• Expensive
• Less energy-dense than dry food
• Quickly perishable once opened (must be refrigerated)

Mixing Wet and Dry Cat Food: The Best of Both Worlds

To avoid picky eating habits later in life, offer kittens both dry food and wet food.

If youre torn about whether to feed your catdry foodorwet food, consider offering both. You might serve one meal ofdry foodin the morning before you leave for work, then offerwet foodin the evening once you return home. Or, if your cat tends to eat her food all at once, mix the two types together. Any amount ofwet foodcan boost your cats overall diet with extra water and protein.

If you have a kitten, offer dry andwet foodearly on. Cats usually develop preferences for taste and texture early in kittenhood. If your kitten eats onlydry food, she might turn her nose up atwet foodin the future (and vice versa).

Also Read:The 8 Best Kitten Foods

For all cats, always offer plenty of fresh,clean water.

Ask your veterinarian for advice if you are still wondering about thebest foodfor your cat, especially if your cat has specifichealth issueslikekidney diseaseor diabetes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do cats need wet food every day?

Whether dry or wet, healthy cats get all the nutrients they need from any form of cat food, provided that the food has the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) label on it. This label indicates that the food is nutritionally complete and balanced for the cats life stage (the life stages include maintenance for an adult cat, kitten and pregnant/lactating females, or all life stages).

However, wet cat food does provide the benefits of extra water and protein in a cats diet, so it's beneficial to feed wet food every day if you can.

Can cats live on dry food only?

Yes, as long as the pet food is high-quality and is labeled complete and balanced according to AAFCO standards.

Should cats eat both wet and dry food?

Because there are pros and cons to both wet and dry cat food, feeding both types of food may offer the best of both worlds: the extra water and protein from the wet food and the convenience of dry food.

Is wet food bad for cats teeth?

The oft-told theory that dry food is better for a cats teeth than wet food is mostly untrue. Dry cat food cleans a cats teeth no better than crackers or cereal clean a humans teeth. Feeding a cat only wet food is not bad for the teeth. However, special dental diets that contain the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) seal have been proven to support dental health and keep the teeth cleaner. All cats should have their teeth brushed daily, or at least several times a week, with a pet-safe toothpaste and cleaned professionally by the veterinarian at least once a year.