This morning I was doing my bi-weekly shopping at our Shelter Shop to pick up essentials for the dogs. As I was walking through the store, I was struck at just how many options there are in terms of pet food. It’s daunting!
Another customer was browsing the cat food options and asking our care associate her opinion about wet food versus dry food for the kitten she just adopted from us. It turned into a lengthy conversation about the pros and cons of each.
So I thought, “there’s my next column!” and promptly fell down a rabbit hole of articles online. From what I could tell, there are pros and cons to each – so rather than landing on a solid recommendation either way, I’m going to lay out all the facts and let you decide what makes the most sense for your feline friend.
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 you’re away, cat kibble is the simplest choice. Easy peasy.
But that doesn’t mean that you can’t make canned cat food easy, either. Next to dry cat food, it is certainly more convenient than homemade and raw diets.
For hydration: Wet cat food
Many cat nutrition experts warn against feeding cats a strictly dry kibble diet. Dry kibble diets average around 7-12% moisture content, making your pet prone to dehydration if they don’t drink a significant amount of water.
My cat Bailey never liked wet food, but fortunately he loved drinking water so he was able to stay pretty well hydrated with a kibble only diet.
Dry food also has a pretty high sodium content which causes water retention and more dehydration. Since most cats have a low thirst drive (again, Bailey did not have this problem, so maybe your cat doesn’t either), your cat is more likely at least mildly dehydrated if they are being fed a dry food diet only. Keep in mind even mild chronic dehydration can lead to urinary tract issues and health complications.
Fun fact: In the wild, cats would receive most of their hydration from the prey that they would eat, which is typically 60-70% water. At 70-80% moisture content, canned or wet cat food is very close to your kitty’s natural prey diet.
Pro tip: Try to choose a wet food that is close to 70% moisture content. While hydration is good, you don’t want to be paying for mostly water.
For urinary tract Issues: Wet cat food
Indoor cats, particularly neutered males, are prone to urinary tract issues. Urinary tract infections, kidney stones, feline idiopathic cystitis and lower urinary tract disease can all be a result of chronic dehydration in your cat.
Since canned cat food naturally contains more moisture than dry food, your cat is less likely to suffer from dehydration. It’s that simple. Switching from dry cat food to canned, or even including wet cat food as a part of your cat’s daily routine is the best thing you can do for your cat’s kidney health.
Any cats with health issues that strain their kidneys, such as hyperthyroidism, diabetes and cancer to name a few would benefit greatly from a switch from dry to canned.
For picky eaters: It’s a tie
Cats are a finicky bunch! While certain cats just love the strong flavors and aromas of wet cat food, others will balk at it. Bailey didn’t just balk, he hissed in protest.
If you are switching from dry to canned cat food (or vice versa), your cat may show some resistance – even a lot of resistance.
For more protein, fewer carbs: Wet cat food
This is Los Angeles after all, the capital of the low carb lifestyle.
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 voracious carnivores, requiring few, if any, carbohydrates.
For food safety: Dry cat food
Dry cat food can be poured into a bowl and left all day. Since many cats are grazers, this works just fine and makes it easy for cat owners with erratic schedules to feed their pets. Just be careful not to mix water in your pets dry kibble because mixing water with dry food can allow for bacterial contamination.
For weight loss: Wet cat food
Moisture is the winning factor here again for wet cat food. The high water content of canned cat food makes it perfect for your cat’s weight loss or maintenance since water helps your pet feel full. The high protein and low carb content help, too, since it promotes satiety, keeping your cat from returning to the bowl hungry after only a few hours.
For dental health: Dry cat food
Dry cat food can be better for dental health than wet food, but kibble diets are far from a complete dental care routine. Any diet is limited in how much dental benefit it can provide if you are not incorporating daily brushing (or any brushing at all).
Brushing your cat’s teeth is still the number one way to promote healthy teeth in your feline. Oral probiotics, such as Evorapet, which can be added to both dry and wet cat food, have also shown promise in reducing the bacteria that cause gingivitis and bad breath in cats.
For easy eating: Wet cat food
If you have a young kitten, a cat who has lost some teeth, or a cat with a sensitive stomach, wet cat food could be helpful. Wet cat food makes an easy transition from milk or formula to solids, as it is very easy to eat and easy on young kitty stomachs. Some cats who have lost many teeth and have trouble eating can only eat moist canned foods.
If your cat is new to wet cat food, it can cause stomach upset or diarrhea. The effect is usually temporary and a result of the transition. Try a slower transition and mix some of your cat’s previous food with the new food. You may have to experiment to find the wet foods that work best for your cat. Every cat’s system is a little different!
Best for total health: Wet cat food
Canned cat food is the clear winner when it comes to your cat’s best health. Your cat will benefit from including wet food in its diet, whether you choose to switch to all canned food or just to serve it a few times a week.
On top in terms of urinary tract health, meat protein content, and weight loss, canned cat food can provide numerous benefits to your feline. However, your pet’s best food choice must always be weighed against all pros and cons.
There’s no one-size-fits-all food solution for any pet. Choose what works best for your pet and your lifestyle. And above all else, always choose the best value food you can afford for your cat, whether dry or kibble, homemade, or raw.
Happy chewing!
The Link LonkJune 01, 2021 at 07:00PM
https://www.dailynews.com/2021/06/01/confused-about-what-to-feed-your-cat-some-ideas-on-dry-vs-wet-debate/
Confused about what to feed your cat? Some ideas on the dry vs. wet debate - LA Daily News
https://news.google.com/search?q=dry&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en
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