September 18, 2022, 6:57 am | Read time: 5 minutes
Cat food occupies several shelves in supermarkets, drugstores, and pet specialty stores. It’s not easy to choose the optimal food for your cat from this vast selection: chicken or fish? Cans or pouches? First, pet owners must make a fundamental decision: wet or dry food for cats?
Anyone who owns cats knows: These independent creatures can be quite picky about their food. What they enjoyed yesterday might remain untouched in their bowl tomorrow. That’s when it’s time to try a new variety or brand. But what is actually better for cats: wet or dry food? PETBOOK answers the most important questions about food choices.
Overview
Which has more calories: dry or wet food for cats?
Wet food consists of about 60 to 80 percent water, making it less energy-dense than dry food, which has had its moisture removed. This means dry food has significantly more calories than wet food. Cats need to eat less of it to meet their daily caloric needs.
Especially pets that are already prone to obesity can gain weight from eating dry food. This includes neutered cats or those living indoors. To prevent weight gain, food portions should be adjusted to the cat’s needs. It’s advisable to weigh the dry food precisely to avoid overfeeding.
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Can I feed my cat only dry food?
In principle, it’s possible to feed a cat exclusively with dry food. However, plenty of water should be available since the food contains little moisture. Cats that are reluctant to drink can be encouraged to hydrate with a drinking fountain or a bit of meat juice in their water. If a cat doesn’t drink enough water, it risks health issues like urinary stones or kidney damage.
Good to know: Dry food is primarily convenient for cat owners. It’s much lighter, easy to store, and usually cheaper than wet food. In multi-cat households, dry food is often preferred. Unlike wet food, the dried kibble isn’t very odorous and doesn’t attract flies and other insects as much. This allows the food to stay in the bowl for several hours–for instance, when the owners are at work.
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Is dry food good for dental health?
It’s often said that the dry kibble cleans cats’ teeth as they chew, reducing plaque buildup. However, this is a hotly debated topic among veterinarians and cat owners. Some cats only bite the hard kibble once and then swallow it quickly. There is no definitive medical proof of the dental cleaning effect of dry food.
The vigorous chewing required to break down dry food does strengthen the teeth, jaw muscles, and joints. Additionally, dry food usually doesn’t get stuck between the teeth. Thus, it can support dental health but doesn’t replace brushing or professional cleaning by a veterinarian.
Senior cats or those that have had teeth removed may struggle to chew the kibble or overstrain their jaws due to missing teeth. In such cases, it’s best to switch to wet food, ideally in consultation with a veterinarian.
Is only wet food good for cats?
Many cats enjoy wet food because it closely resembles their natural diet, such as small prey like mice and birds. Some particularly like to lap up the sauce or jelly in which the meat pieces are immersed. Wet food labeled as “complete food” is generally well-suited to provide a cat with a balanced diet. It contains all the vitamins and minerals a cat needs.
Due to its high water content, cats can largely meet their hydration needs through wet food. However, water should always be available–preferably in several bowls and not directly at the feeding station. Another advantage of wet food is that the soft chunks are easy to chew and digest.
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Conclusion: Best to combine wet and dry food
So, what’s better for cats: wet or dry food? This question can’t be answered universally. Several factors play a role in choosing the right cat food, such as the animal’s age, health status, and activity level.
Many cat owners opt for a mixed feeding approach. For example, wet food is given in the morning and evening, with dry food as a snack during the day. Regardless of whether it’s wet or dry food, the chosen product should always be high-quality and rich in protein. If you’re unsure what’s best for your cat, consult a veterinarian–preferably a specialist in animal nutrition.
Sources
- Tierschutzbund.de, “Proper Nutrition for Cats” (accessed on 7/28/2022)
- Tiermedizin.de, “Dry or Wet Food: What’s Better for Your Cat?” (accessed on 7/28/2022)