The Big
Debate: Is wet or dry food better for cats? Cats can get about four ounces of
water from eating one can of food. But why else should you invest in cans?
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According to the 2019-2020 National Pet Ownership survey, approximately 42 million US households have feline family members!
Tons of questions about cat ownership circulate within the
cat-loving community. Should cats be allowed outdoors? Are they social
creatures or do they prefer solitude?
We’re going to talk about a question that’s on every cat
owner’s mind, one that must be considered from the angles of both health and
preference.
Is wet or dry food better for cats? Read on to find out
everything you need to know to make an informed decision.
What Should Cat Food Contain?
In the wild, cats would eat a moisture-rich diet of meat. Unlike
dogs, humans, and many other animals, cats are obligate carnivores. What that
means is that their bodies are less capable of converting non-meat proteins
into the protein they need to function.
Whether you’re feeding your cat dry or wet food, the first
ingredient should be muscle meat. This could come from fish, poultry, or even
beef, but it should be front and center. Muscle meat is the primary source
of taurine which contains an amino acid that cats need to maintain their
health.
Oftentimes, wet food wins when it comes to muscle meat
content. However, be aware that high-quality dry food is going to be healthier
than low-quality wet food.
What Shouldn’t Cat Food Contain?
Cats are able to process many veggies and grains, but these
aren’t crucial to a cat’s diet. In fact, carbohydrate-rich veggies and grains
can actually lead to digestive problems as well as obesity in cats.
Lower quality cat food, especially lower quality dry cat
food, often contains a carb-heavy filler that you don’t want your cat consuming
in large quantities. Cat food manufacturers use fillers to shape dry food into
pellets and to reduce their production costs. These fillers, in other words,
are cheap.
Many vets will also warn about the dangers of meat
byproducts. Realistically, some meat byproducts, such as organ meats like
livers, spleens, and stomach are rich in nutrients and can enrich your cat’s
diet. The issue, however, is that the list of ingredients on cat food often
fail to specify what those byproducts are.
A good rule of thumb is to avoid any cat food that lists a
meat byproduct as the first ingredient.
Dry Food vs. Wet Food: Hydration
Perhaps one of the biggest pros of wet food is the hydration
factor since it has a higher water content than dry food. Cats need to consume a
lot of moisture and, as we mentioned earlier, this is something they’d get
naturally from their food source in the wild.
If your cat doesn’t drink enough water from her bowl, you
may need to give her wet food once a day to ensure that she’s hydrated. However,
you may also want to consider her source of water. Cats, by nature, are averse
to stagnant water and you may want to invest in a cat water
fountain to attract her attention and convince her to drink more.
Dry Food vs. Wet Food: Dental Health
There’s an ongoing debate surrounding the dental benefits of
both dry and wet food.
Some argue that dry food helps to prevent gingivitis and
plaque buildup. The argument is that dry food leaves behind less residue than
wet food, keeping your cat’s teeth cleaner from the get-go. Some even claim
that dry food will scrape the plaque off of your cat’s teeth as they chew.
However, you may want to observe the way your cat eats when
you feed her dry food. Cats’ teeth are designed for gripping prey and shredding
food more than they are for chewing. When your cat eats dry food, she’s
probably swallowing a lot of pieces whole rather than chewing them up
individually.
This may seem to reinforce the argument that dry food leaves
behind less residue, but that isn’t necessarily true. Dry pieces of kibble are
designed to break into tiny pieces under slight pressure. Any pieces she is
cracking into are quickly pulverized and those tiny pieces can easily get
caught around the gumline.
In other words, there’s not much evidence that either kind
is better for your cat’s dental health. They’ll need
occasional dental cleanings no matter what they eat. The only time you might
argue one over the other is if your cat has weak or missing teeth, in which
case wet food may be easier on the mouth.
Dry Food vs. Wet Food: Weight Watching
If your cat is in a position to lose weight, you may want to
consider switching to a regimented diet of mostly wet food.
Because of its high water content, wet food tends to help
your cat feel full without eating as much. (That means she’ll be less likely to
pester you mere hours after eating her last meal!) Plus, wet food contains
fewer of the carb-heavy fillers that can contribute to weight gain.
Wet food also requires more active participation in feeding
time on your part. Many people practice a passive feeding schedule, keeping a
bowl full of dry food available throughout the day. Wet food gets a little
funky after sitting out for a while which means you’ll need to pay more
attention and, as a result, monitor the amount your cat is eating.
However, if your cat is in a position to gain weight, dry
food may not be such a bad idea. Leaving food out 24/7 will increase the
chances that your cat will wander over for a bite when she’s hungry and not
just when you tell her to. Consider offering a mixed diet of both dry and wet
food, since some cats actually prefer the flavor and texture of one over the
other.
So, Is Wet or Dry Food Better for Cats?
You may still be wondering, “Is wet or dry food better
for cats?”
The answer will come down to your cat’s specific needs. Wet
food does have a lot of undeniable benefits that dry food can’t quite match.
That doesn’t mean that dry food is bad for your cat and in the end, quality is
what matters most!
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