Choosing the right food for cats can be a source of great stress for owners, as there are many options, but cat food directly affects their health, well-being and quality of life.
Dr. Audrey Cook, a professor at the Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, explores the factors owners should consider when choosing between wet and dry cat food while emphasizing the importance of meeting nutritional needs regardless of food type.
Health Benefits
A cat’s health can be a deciding factor in choosing a type of food.
According to Cook, wet food, in particular, is beneficial for managing and improving cat urinary health.
“Wet food has more moisture, and this is a huge advantage because most cats don’t drink enough water, which sets them up for urinary issues,” she says. “In fact, there are some conditions where wet food is preferred over dry, such as when a cat has kidney disease or bladder stones.”
For cats that need to lose or manage their weight, wet food can also be a viable food option.
“Wet foods tend to be less energy-dense, meaning that cats need to consume more food to get the same amount of calories,” says Cook. “So if you have a cat that tends to gain weight, they may be more content with wet food if you’re limiting calories, simply because their stomach feels fuller.”
While wet food can promote healthy hydration levels and address certain health issues, adding dry food to the diet is closer to a cat’s natural eating habits.
“Cats don’t like to have just two ‘meals’ a day because they are designed to eat about 12-20 times in 24 hours,” explains Cook. “It’s also not hygienic or pleasant (pleasant tasting) to leave wet food out for hours, so using dry food along with wet is often a very effective option. My own cat gets about 70% of her calories from canned food but also likes to nibble on dry.I can leave small, measured amounts of dry food for her to snack on, but then I feed her wet food three or four times a day.”
Nutritional Needs and Preferences
Before buying cat food, however, Cook strongly suggests that owners should prioritize the nutritional value of the food over the type of food.
“An owner is better off choosing an established brand that can be trusted rather than thinking in terms of wet versus dry because the overall quality of wet and dry pet foods varies. -different based on the actual ingredients and formulation, or the amount of protein, carbohydrates and fat the manufacturer puts into the food,” explains Cook. “I’d rather see a cat on a high-quality dry food than a poor quality one. documented canned food.”
Owners should also consider their cat’s preferences, such as texture and taste, while making sure their cat is eating a variety of quality foods. Otherwise, because cats that don’t like their food can have health concerns, owners should always talk to their veterinarian about food options and issues.
“Feeding different flavors and brands from kittenhood can be beneficial so that the cat learns to accept a range of diets and not be locked into just one,” says Cook. “It can be very difficult to introduce a new food to a cat that has lived for years on one food. Cats that have lived on one brand of dry food for years usually won’t eat wet food; they may bite into wet food , but they don’t take in enough calories, they lose weight quickly.”
If a cat continues to choose not to eat, owners should consult with their veterinarian to rule out any potential health problems before offering more types of cat food.
“A cat not eating their food depends on whether they don’t feel hungry or don’t like that particular food,” says Cook. “Not being hungry indicates a medical issue; not liking food is just a personal choice.”
Understanding the differences between wet and dry food can help owners make smart choices that meet their cat’s needs. Ultimately, a balanced and nutritious diet is key to ensuring a cat’s health and well-being.