Wet or Dry Cat Food: Which to Choose?

Wet or Dry Cat Food: Which to Choose?

The cat food market offers a wide variety of products, providing diverse options in terms of texture, form, and flavor. Cat owners have a multitude of choices. Before selecting a quality food that satisfies their feline without being too costly, beginners often ask: should I choose canned food, kibble, or both? What are the health benefits of wet and dry cat food? Ready-to-eat food is undeniably popular. High-quality foods, whether canned or kibble, meet strict standards to provide all essential nutrients for your companion.

Canned or Kibble: What’s the Difference?

Wet cat food, often referred to as “cat pâté,” is available in cans, trays, or pouches. This food can be either fully wet or semi-wet. On the other hand, dry cat food is dehydrated: the ingredients used are devoid of water, making these foods denser and allowing them to be preserved longer.

Canned or Kibble: Health Impact

The quality of cat food is crucial for your companion’s well-being. Whether it’s pâté or kibble, it’s essential to choose high-quality products. Low-quality kibble may contain too many plant components like carrots or peas, while grain-free kibble often has an excess of carbohydrates. Cats, being carnivores, require a diet rich in protein. The ideal protein percentage varies based on several factors, including your cat’s age, breed, and lifestyle. It’s also important to monitor the amount of plant-based kibble, as too much can be harmful to your feline’s health.

Cat Food Preferences: Kibble or Canned?

Like humans, cats have varied and unique tastes. Their preference for kibble or canned food often depends on the flavor rather than the texture. Both types of food offer similar flavors, but each cat may have distinct preferences.

Economic Aspect

Dry and wet cat foods come in a range of quality levels and prices. Dehydration of ingredients allows the food to be transformed into kibble, creating high-quality dry foods. However, these products are not necessarily cheaper, especially if intended for daily consumption by your feline.

Storage of Cat Food

Dry cat food, due to its lack of moisture, has a long shelf life. It stays fresh in your cat’s bowl for several days! Wet food, on the other hand, keeps well as long as the cans or pouches remain sealed. Once opened, it’s advisable to remove canned food from your cat’s bowl after two to three hours.

Natural Cat Food

What foods are best suited to cats, respecting their natural diet? Small rodents and birds, which are their natural prey, contain about 80% moisture. This moisture helps meet their water needs without seeking a water source, a trait shared by domestic cats, who often ignore their water bowl. Even if their food is less liquid than that of their wild cousins, it doesn’t mean cats will drink more water spontaneously.
Cans and pouches for cats, rich in moisture, closely resemble their natural diet, thus compensating for their low water intake. In contrast, kibble is dry food; if cats don’t drink enough, their urine becomes more concentrated, increasing the risk of kidney and bladder stones.

It’s clear that no type of food is inherently better than another. Whether dry or wet, each type can be of high quality, meeting the necessary standards for your feline companion’s well-being.