Sunday, March 24, 2024
HomeDryWet Food Vs Dry Food Cats

Wet Food Vs Dry Food Cats

For More Protein Fewer Carbs: Wet Cat Food

Wet vs. Dry Cat Food: Which is Better? (Pros and Cons)

Canned cat food in general, contains more meat than kibble diets, which is why it is typically more expensive. This is great news for cats, who are obligate carnivores, requiring few, if any, carbohydrates. To compare the protein levels of your canned and dry cat food, always convert to a dry matter basis.

Feeding Both Wet And Dry Food

To balance the advantages and disadvantages of wet and dry cat food, you may also combine them both for your cats diet. This is appropriate for cats who need a higher water intake and enjoy dry food than wet.

How can I combine wet and dry food in my cats diet?

Either by mixing both duets or giving wet food at a time and dry food at the other time, you may be able to achieve the benefits of both diets.

If youre willing to mix the wet and dry food, talk with your veterinarian to find the best balance. Your veterinarian will be able to determine the right portion of the two diets according to your cats present condition.

Remember, every cat is different and the amount of food you feed to every cat is different. Feeding manually when your cat is hungry is a lot better than free-feeding unless you have a busy schedule.

Did You Know Cats Need To Eat Meat To Survive

Remember also that cats are confirmed meat eaters and cats will go blind, suffer other debilitating conditions, and ultimately die if fed on a vegetarian diet. Meat is the only major source of arachidonic acid, and cats lacking the ability to synthesize niacin from protein. Cats need meat to survive!

Feeling lucky? Get a free Lucky Cat Keyring when you subscribe to Your Cat Magazine just £3 for 3 issues!

Read Also: Food For Kittens With Diarrhea

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.

Wet Food Vs Dry Food For Cats: What Is Best

Cat Food For Digestive Problems : Wet Vs Dry Cat Food Or Both Petmd

Factors such as quality and quantity of ingredients truly matter when it comes to food. An increased focus on a balanced diet has led us to make more informed decisions when it comes to food. But what about cat food? When shopping for your kitty, do you consider these same factors? Cat food generally comes in two forms: wet and dry. What are the differences between the two? Is one better than the other? Well, it depends. If you havent looked into the differences between wet and dry food and the importance of food quality, its not too late to start! Both dry and wet foods have their advantages, so which should you choose?

Read Also: How To Make Cat Ears With Your Hair

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.

To Convert Your Cat Food To A Dry Matter Basis:

  • First, find out the reported Protein Percentage. For example, we’ll compare two fictitious types of cat food. Food A is a chicken-based dry cat food that lists the Protein at 22% on the Guaranteed Analysis. Food B is a beef-based canned cat food that lists 18% Protein on the Guaranteed Analysis.
  • Then, find out the Moisture Content. It should also be listed on the Guaranteed Analysis. Subtract the moisture content from 100 to get the % of Dry Matter. Food A has a moisture content of 12%. The percentage on a dry matter would be 88%. Food B has a moisture content of 75%. The percentage of dry matter would be 25%.
  • x 100 = Dry Matter Protein Content According to our example: Food A: x 100 = 25% Actual Protein Content. Food B: x 100 = 72% Actual Protein Content.
  • While it may not make a big difference for a kibble food, wet foods can contain significantly more actual protein when you look at the Dry Matter Basis. Always check!

    For an easier option, use our dry matter calculator in How to Read & Understand Pet Food Labels.

    Don’t Miss: Why Is My Senior Cat Laying In The Litter Box

    Why Choose Dry Food

    • The friction created by chewing dry food will help keep your cat’s teeth healthy by preventing tartar.

    • Dry food is easier to store. Unlike wet food, it doesnt require refrigeration once open. Whats more, you can leave dry food out for longer, which means your cat can choose when to eat.

    • Cats can make a bit of a mess when they eat wet food, whereas dry food is generally easier to clean up.

    What Is Better For Your Cats Dental Health: Wet Or Dry Food

    Cat Food: WET vs DRY – What Is Better? | Facts About Cats

    When I first brought my cat, Wilbur the Wildcat, home five years ago, I had very little knowledge about the daily ins and outs of caring for a cat. I had been a vet for about three years at that point, so I had a broad knowledge base about feline diseases, cat behavioral problems, cat surgeries, etc.

    What I did not know were basic things cat owners definitely do. For example, how do I keep him off the kitchen counter?You don’t. Is it normal that he meows randomly and sprints about like he’s on fire in the middle of the night?Yes. Will I ever be able to have a Christmas tree that’s not fastened to the wall again?Definitely not.

    Among these many questions, I also wondered what type of food I should feed him? Should I feed wet, canned food or dry kibble? Should I feed him on a schedule, with an automated feeder, or free feed?

    I was supposed to feed the small creature. I’ve always owned dogs who eat particular amounts of kibble to maintain their sporty waistlinesfeeding a cat was a whole new ballgame to me. As it turns out, “what and how much do I feed my cat” is a highly complex question that, you guessed it, doesn’t have a wholly right or wrong answer.

    Recommended Reading: How To Treat Cat Asthma Naturally

    Wet Or Dry Cat Food Tips

    1.) Enticing Factors to a Cats Palette: In essence, smell, texture, and taste ultimately decide if a cat will expressly eat their food.

    2.) The Food Doesnt SayComplete or Balanced? With this in mind, definitely select a cat food which states in brief, that its comprised of a complete and balanced feline diet.

    3.) Make Sure your Cats Diet Contains These Six Nutrients:

    • Water: The most vital nutrient, water lubricates tissues, and distributes electrolytes.
    • Protein: In general, protein upkeeps bones, blood, tissues, and the immune system.
    • Carbohydrates: Ultimately, carbs provides energy and helps with nutrient absorption.
    • Fats: Promotes healthy skin, and fur. Comparatively offers two and a quarter times the available energy per unit of weight, compared to carbs or proteins.
    • Minerals: Essential for nerve conduction, muscle contraction, acid-base balance, fluid stability inside the cells, and obviously, many other bodily functions.
    • Vitamins: Small amounts of vitamins are surely beneficial to a cats health. For instance, water-soluble B-Complex, and the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K.

    4.) Buy Tested Wet or Dry Cat Food: Test trials create complete and balanced diets. These trials determine not only the palatability, but also, if the nutrients are viable to a cat.

    5.) Check the Manufacturers Reputation: Obviously, a manufacturers history in nutritional research is essential. Especially when determining the quality control testing of wet vs dry cat food.

    Dry Foods And Risk Of Disease In Cats

    The recent pet food recall seems to have resurrected concerns about the suitability of feeding dry diets to cats. Recalls can be frightening for pet owners and veterinarians alike. One may need to act in the face of significant uncertainty about the extent of the threat, and the stakes, pets lives, are high. Many clients have a strong emotional bond with their pet and naturally want to do their best for their pets health and welfare. Since diet plays an important role in pets well-being, client concerns about pet foods are readily understandable, and their questions deserve honest, empathic responses. The purpose of this paper is to review some of the issues surrounding dry diets for cats.

    For a diet to be satisfactory, it must contain all of the necessary nutrients in the proper proportions , be sufficiently palatable and digestible for the pets consuming it to meet their nutritional needs in the volume consumed, and it must be safe . The pet food recall was the result of an inadvertent inclusion of a toxin that made the foods unsafe there was no evidence that the foods were nutritionally unsatisfactory in any other way. Despite the fact that the recall was for toxicological rather than nutritional reasons, it provided the opportunity for some to question the nutritional adequacy of pet foods.

    You May Like: How Long Do Cat Nail Caps Last

    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.

    Perfect For Weight Control: Purina One Dry Cat Food

    8 Best Dry and Wet Cat Food for Constipation

    The Purina One Dry Cat Food is geared toward weight control and helps this by using natural ingredients. This product relies heavily on its turkey content for a high protein percentage. Since only white meat is used, it is mostly lower in terms of fat, too. The brand even claims this particular food is 10% less fattening compared to other products from the same company. Other ingredients include chicken and a hefty dose of fiber to help maintain gut health. The brand also claims the formula helps boost immunity by including antioxidants. And vitamins, nutrients, and minerals have also been added, too.

    Key Features:

    Read Also: Why Do Cats Roll Around In Dirt

    Best Canned Food Vs Dry Food Best Food For Cats : Faqs

    In this portion, weve put together some commonly asked questions about the best canned food vs dry food best food for cats found on the internet. Answering these questions will give you a better idea about what people are thinking and solutions to some common concerns.

    Is the canned food vs dry food best food for cats worth the investment?

    This product is definitely worth the investment! It has a lot of features that are unique and helpful, and its easy to use.

    Is there any retail shop to purchase Best canned food vs dry food best food for cats?

    You may get it around local stores since you can get it delivered to your door, why take the extra mile? Order it now.

    Should I Emphasize On After Sales Service Before Making my Purchase?

    As youre hunting for the best canned food vs dry food best food for cats, its important to ask whether the company has a good track record of providing after-sales service.

    If there are any complaints or service issues that have been reported in the past, it may be prudent to take a step back and reconsider purchasing from this company. Additionally, its important to ask about the companys return policy, as some companies will only allow for a certain number of returns per year and/or will require a receipt for reimbursement.

    Wrapping Up!

    Dry Cat Food And Cat Obesity And And Feline Diabetes

    Cats on dry food-only diets are slightly more prone to obesity and diabetes than cats who eat wet cat food. Part of this is due to the high carbohydrate levels in many kinds of kibble, and part is due to the free-choice feeding of dry cat food which gives cats 24-hour access to food.

    If your cat is getting a little pudgy, ration the dry food rather than serving it all-you-can-eat style. To avoid feline diabetes, stick to a premium dry food or switch to a canned food diet.

    Recommended Reading: When To Euthanize A Cat With Ibd

    Dry Food May Contain Too High A Percentage Of Carbohydrates

    Cats natural carnivorous diet includes only a small percentage of carbohydrates , mostly in the form of digested plant matter in the stomachs of prey. However, most dry foods contain several times that amount. Cats use dietary protein and fats as their primary energy source. They are poor at metabolizing carbohydrates. Excess carbs get converted into body fat and promote a sugar/insulin imbalance. This, in turn, sets the stage for obesity and raises the risk for diabetes.

    Changing From Commercial To Homemade Cat Food

    Dry Cat Food vs. Wet Cat Food | Cat Care

    If your cat has been on commercial cat food for most of its life, his digestive enzymes and digestive system has most likely acclimated to this unnatural diet. Slowly transition over to raw food, 1 teaspoon at a time, over the course of a month.

    You will want to follow the advice of your veterinary professional, but for many this will look like:

    Day 1-5: Mix 1 teaspoon of raw food into whatever your cat normally eats.

    Day 5-10: Increase the raw food by double.

    Day 10-15: Feed your cat half raw, half what they were eating before.

    Day 15 on: You may be able to switch to all raw food as your cat has had time for their digestive system to catch up. If your cat is fussy, continue the slow transition.

    Don’t Miss: How To Bandage A Cat’s Spay Incision

    For Convenience: Dry Cat Food

    Dry cat food wins hands-down in the convenience category. For storage and ease of feeding, dry cat food is the number one option. If you are looking for something mess-free and easy to take with you, have the kids help out with, or have your cat-sitter feed while youre away, cat kibble is the simplest choice. Wet vs dry cat food.

    But that doesnt mean that you cant make canned cat food easy, either. Next to dry cat food, it would probably rank second for convenience, ahead of homemade and raw diets. Mostly, all you need is a can opener and to practice good cleaning habits.

    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.

    Recommended Reading: Cat Started Peeing On Floor

    Tips For Feeding Raw Food To Your Cat

    A raw food diet is a great option for cats, but, as with any diet, youll need to make sure your cat is getting all the required nutrients they need to thrive. In some cases, you may need to add supplements, especially taurine, and include bones or eggshells for calcium and other minerals.

    With a raw diet, youll need to feed your cats whats known as a nose to tail diet, which means including bones, organs, and muscles in their meals. As obligate carnivores, cats need protein from meat or fish, along with the associated amino acids like taurine and omega fatty acids to thrive. They also need essential vitamins like B12 and minerals like calcium and phosphorus. While nutrients can be obtained from organ meats, muscle meats, and bones, the amounts vary a lot and it is necessary to supplement according to the recipe you choose. Cats have little need for carbohydrates, so the raw diet is species-appropriate because it passes on proteins and has a high moisture content.

    If youre making raw food for your cat at home, its vital to obtain the meat from a trusted source, and make sure to prepare it on a clean, preferably metal surface, and clean thoroughly again afterward. This is due to the very real risk of salmonella, both for you and your cat.

    Giving your pet the highest quality nutrition is a top priority, so why not give them a food and water dish to match? The Hepper Nom Nom Bowl is our product, but its too good not to share.

    RELATED ARTICLES

    Most Popular