Wet Food Vs Dry Food for Cats: Which is Better?

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Last Updated on December 8, 2023

Cat owners are often overwhelmed with options when choosing wet or dry foods for their cats. It’s the common question asked by cat owners whether to feed wet or dry food to their pets for better health and life. If you also wonder about choosing between wet and dry cat food, both are good for your cat. 

Both dry and wet foods are available in a variety of flavors, but pet owners should choose the ones that offer complete nutrition. Cat owners need to consider the nutritional requirements for their cat while choosing wet or dry foods. Let us explore more about wet food vs dry food to determine which is better for your kitty. 

Wet Cat Food Vs Dry Cat Food

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Let us first know about the differences between dry and wet food for cats. 

Moisture Content

The amount of water content in the food is the primary difference between canned and dry cat food. Almost 90% of dry cat food is made up of dry ingredients including vitamins, lipids, and carbs, and only 10% of it is water. 

Compared to dry foods, canned foods have 70% higher water content, which makes them better for hydration. If your cat has a medical condition that would benefit from drinking more water, you should offer her a veterinarian recommended wet cat food. 

Nutrients

Dry cat foods contain more carbohydrate content than wet foods. Dry cat foods consist of plenty of fillers containing high carbs while wet cat foods usually contain meat or fish that is closer to a cat’s natural diet.

The majority of the moisture has been removed from the ingredients in dry food because it was manufactured using an extrusion and drying process. This indicates that whatever is left is particularly calorie-dense. Wet food has far more moisture than dry food does, which results in less calories per unit of dry food. 

Wet food is typically better for animals that need to shed weight because the cat consumes the same amount while getting fewer calories. Many wet food formulations are higher in protein, fat, salt, and phosphorus than dry food. 

So, the difference in nutrients in both types and the nutritional requirements of your cat are important to consider while choosing between wet and dry cat food. 

Production Process

Given the higher moisture content of canned goods, fresh or frozen meats and a protein source derived from cereals are often used in their preparation. The meats are combined with water, lipids, and vitamins before being put in a can. A heating procedure is used to eliminate any foodborne germs.

Meats, vitamins, minerals, and fats are combined and then cooked at a high temperature and pressure to form dry food, which also makes the starches easier to digest. The food may subsequently be sprayed with fat to make it more appetizing.

Texture

While some cats enjoy the kibble’s gritty texture, others favor the lickable texture of canned food. Learn about your cat’s feeding preferences, and you can choose wet or dry food based on whatever your cat likes.

Convenience

Dry cat food can be kept in the cat’s bowl all the time so that it is always available for consumption. When opened, it does not deteriorate.

Once opened, wet cat food has a shorter shelf life and is messier and more offensive to the nose. The maximum amount of time it can be left in the bowl is a few hours.

Should you feed Wet or Dry Food to your Cat?

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Your cat will ultimately choose between dry and wet food. However, most nutritionists advise providing a mixture of wet and dry food. This keeps her interested and ensures she consumes enough fluids in her diet, while also providing the dry food’s benefits for her teeth. 

Cats enjoy trying new things because they are neophilic. Eating the same thing every day, in the same way, could get boring for them. Giving your cat the variety she not only desires but also requires can be accomplished by mixing wet and dry cat food for a meal or by serving them at separate meals.

Cats Stay Hydrated with Wet Food

Because kibble, or dry food, has so little moisture, your cat will need to visit the water bowl more frequently to stay hydrated. Because wet food has so much more moisture, it keeps your cat hydrated. This is crucial for cats that have health issues such renal illness, urinary tract infections, bladder stones, or crystals in the urine. 

By consuming more water through their diets, people may keep their kidneys and urinary system cleansed and hydrated, which improves the efficiency of the overall system. If your cat has one of these ailments, your veterinarian may even suggest a prescribed wet food.

Blending or Mixing Wet and Dry Cat Food

You can offer your cat the best of both worlds with blended or mixed feeding schedules. You can feed wet food to your cat in the evening and dry food in the morning. You can feed her  dry food all day, while you can get rid of any dried-out wet food before bed. 

You can also combine wet and dry cat food for your cat, which can help her consume more fluid with each meal. To ensure your cat is getting the required amount of calories to maintain a healthy weight, you must practice portion management while planning the meals.

Summing Up

The argument over wet or dry cat food is difficult to resolve, regardless of the brand of cat food you select. Every cat is different, with its own preferences and tastes. If you have any concerns about selecting wet vs. dry cat food, speak with your cat’s veterinarian. Otherwise, let your little friend’s preferences guide you to choose between wet and dry cat food.