Is Wet or Dry Food Better for Cats?

Choosing the right food for your cat can be challenging, especially with so much variety on the market and each brand promising their food is the best available. And when it comes to your cat’s health, their diet can have a significant impact. 

That’s why we’ve put together this guide to help you better understand the options available in terms of cat food, specifically whether or not you should be feeding wet cat food or dry cat food.

Many new cat owners will notice that cats don’t appear to drink a lot of water, which can be quite concerning as dehydration in cats can lead to a number of health issues. However, one of the reasons that cats may not drink is because they’re getting some of the moisture they need from the wet food. Wet food has up to 65 per cent more moisture than dry food, helping your cat to stay hydrated and nourished. 

There are a number of other benefits of wet cat food as well, including: 

• More variety in their diet 
• A more appealing scent and texture
• Easier to chew 

While wet cat food may seem like a delicacy, so long as you choose a suitable brand and recipe, then it can make the perfect and complete meal for your cat, meeting all their necessary dietary needs.

However, there are also some downsides to choosing a wet food diet for your cat. Wet cat food, due to its composition and scent, is more appealing to pets like flies and also spoils much quicker than dry food. 

Most wet cat foods can’t be left out for more than 30-60 minutes at a time, depending on the package guidelines, and any unused food can typically only be refrigerated for up to 2 days, meaning if your cat isn’t much of an eater, a lot of the food could go to waste.

This is especially troublesome for some owners as wet cat food tends to be more expensive than dry, and as it doesn’t keep as long, may work out far more expensive in the long run.

When choosing a wet cat food, you want to make sure you’re picking one best suited for your cat’s requirements and individual preferences. Unlike dry food, wet food can come in a variety of formulas including, but not limited to:

• Pouches in jelly
• Pouches in gravy
• Tins of wet cat food
• Mouse cat food
• Loaf cat food

While some cats are happy with any wet food that is put in front of them, others can be more particular when it comes to texture. If your cat doesn’t like one kind of food, then you can try them on other wet food recipes or flavours to find the one that fits. 

In some instances, wet cat food can be a good choice for cats with certain conditions, such as:

• Urinary issues — Due to higher moisture content, wet food promotes urine, which is more diluted, helping to avoid urinary tract problems. If your cat has urinary troubles, or you just want to improve their health, why not try a food like Royal Canin® Urinary Care Wet Cat Food?
• Weight Management — Wet cat food’s moisture content is also great for weight management in cats, as water itself doesn’t contain any calories. This means the food has a lower energy density than dry food, making it a popular choice for weight management diets. Many brands offer lower-calorie versions of their food recipes, like Hill's Science Plan Light Adult Cat Food, so it’s easy to find something your cat will love. 
• Diabetes — One of the key ways of caring for a diabetic cat is managing their diet, specifically how much carbohydrates they consume. Carbohydrates much up a significant component of many dry cat foods, so choose a protein-rich wet cat food like the Purina Pro Plan® Diabetic Wet Cat Food. 

If you’re trying to find the best wet food for your cat, then why not browse our great range of wet cat food available from the top brands on the market, including a fantastic selection of prescription wet cat food? 

Dry food is a popular choice when it comes to cats because many cats don’t like to eat large quantities of food in one go but prefer to eat smaller morsels throughout the day. Many dry cat foods are able to be left out for longer without spoiling, so less food goes to waste.

Some other benefits of dry cat food include: 

• Use in automatic cat feeders or puzzle toys
• Being more cost-effective as it’s typically cheaper than wet food and can be bought in larger, longer-lasting quantities. 
• Improvements in dental health as dry kibble is crunchy and can clean your cat’s teeth while being eaten. 

However, dry cat food may not be the best for some cats, particularly those who are older or have suffered dental disease or teeth removal, as it’s more difficult to chew. What’s more, there has been an observation of a higher chance of obesity in cats who eat dry food.

 On the other hand, free-feeding dry cat food can also make it harder to tell if your cat is eating enough, especially if it is in a multi-cat household, as you’re not monitoring your cat’s intake as much as you would if you were feeding predominantly wet food.

Mixing Wet and Dry Cat Food

There are plenty of great dry cat foods available on the market, so long as you know what to look for. To find the best dry food for your cat, choose one with a high protein level and not one bulked out with additives and fillers. You should be especially careful of finding food that doesn’t include any common cat food allergens or has easily digestible forms of carbohydrates, like the James Wellbeloved™ Dry Cat Food. 

If you struggle with brushing your cat’s teeth, then using a dental-specific dry cat food, like the  Hill's™ Science Plan™ Oral Care Dry Cat Food, can be an excellent way to better manage your cat’s dental health. 

Remember, cats fed on a predominantly dry food diet are likely to drink more than those who eat wet or a combination of the two as they don’t have the added moisture from their food. 

If you’d like to find the best dry cat food for your cat, then check out our range below, including recipes from the top brands on the market today.

As you’ve noticed, there are pros and cons for both wet and dry cat food, so why not give your cat the best of both worlds? Mixing wet and dry cat food has been a popular feeding device for cat owners for years and can provide your cat with the benefits of one food formula while also making up for the drawbacks of the other. 

Just make sure when feeding your cat wet and dry food that you are being proactive and attentive to how much your cat is eating and calculating a suitable portion of each to avoid the risk of overfeeding or other health concerns. 

When it comes down to it, the only way to find whether dry food or wet food is better for your cat is to try both and see which your cat prefers or is best suited to their lifestyle and health. Once you know the answer, you can continue to shop around and find the recipe that not only your cat enjoys but also one that meets all their nutritional requirements and needs. If you’re ever unsure about what you should feed your cat, you should speak with your veterinarian for advice. 

This post is an opinion and should only be used as a guide. You should discuss any change to your pet’s care or lifestyle thoroughly with your vet before starting any program or treatment.