From her precious little toe beans that you love to kiss to her sparkling eyes, you adore every possible thing about your kitty. Even as she swiftly sprints her way up the curtains and then takes a super-sonic flying leap for the ceiling light, swings precariously for several long seconds and lands up tangled in it on the coffee table you exclaim what a superior, sprightly feline she is! Of course, she’s most at home on your lap loudly purring away as you stroke her while watching a movie or reading your book. Whether she’s airborne or lap-borne she’s your baby and you love her enough to be reading this article about answering the dry cat food vs wet cat food debate.
Cat food has come a long way since the days when it was one size fits all. Today, between the different brands, every variation of a cat’s nutritional needs is catered for. This puts you and your kitty in the driver’s seat when it comes down to choosing what to feed her or him or the whole pack of felines you’ve got ruling the roost!
Kitten Power: Why Kittens Need a Nutritional Mega Feast
The first thing to take into consideration is the life stage your cat is in. For kittens, you’ll find their dry food is higher than cat food in calories, protein and fat to support their growing bodies and their playful antics. Added to this are all the vitamins and minerals they need for developing their immune systems. Plus, there is DHA for vision and brain development as well. It’s an all-around nutritional mega feast designed to give your kitten the best start in life.
From Tuna to Tailored: The Best Cat Food Choices for Every Adult Feline
The second stage in the life of our feline fur babies is adulthood (1-7 years). For this age group, the number of choices for food simply explodes. It’s designer all the way, baby! Here’s a brief look at what’s on offer: skin & coat, dental care, sterilisation support, outdoor vs indoor, hairball control, sensitive stomach, food for fussy felines, and the list goes on for both wet and dry food.
Then there’s the breed specific food for, you know, those special cats in our midst, the Persians, Siamese, Maine Coons, British Shorthairs and the like. Of course, there is your regular cat food sporting the following protein sources: Tuna, salmon, turkey, lamb, beef, mackerel, shrimp and other tasty catto-licious combos.
Crunching the Numbers: Fat, Protein, and Fibre Explained—Now Your Cat’s in the Know!
It’s a dizzying array of choices but take heart, at bottom most of these dry foods average the same amount of fat (9-15%), protein (26-32%), fibre (4-6.5%) and moisture (10%). It’s only for the super-premium brands like Acana Grain-Free Pacifica Cat and Farmina where we see a big difference in the numbers. They feature 18-20% fat and 37-44% protein and are designed as superfoods for felines.
From Wild to Wise: How to Feed Your Senior Cat for Optimal Health
Mature (7+) or senior cats (10+) - now that they have graduated from youthful wild cats to dignified house cats - have somewhat different nutritional needs. As their bodies slow down and their activity levels decline, they need adapted calorie levels, more taurine, more antioxidants and higher protein and fibre. Most wet and dry food for senior cats meets some or all of these needs. Click on the following link for more information: https://www.purina.com/articles/senior-cat/nutrition/senior-cat-nutritional-requirements
Moisture Matters: The Wet Food Advantage
While there is wet food available for most of these variants of foods, the nutritional makeup is different from dry food. Usually, it is made up of give or take 78% moisture, 3%+ fat and 20% protein plus all the added vitamins and minerals that make it ideal for your cat’s life stage and lifestyle considerations. Bear in mind if you choose to feed your kitten just wet food you’ll need to feed her several times a day so that her protein and fat needs are met.
How does this relate to answering the dry cat food vs wet cat food debate?
Having looked at what both types of cat food are made of and at what your cat may need, let’s take a gander at what the advantages and disadvantages are and answer this vital question for you. Read on and let's navigate the pros and cons together.
Wet Food Pros:
- It’s very high in moisture and will keep your cat hydrated especially those cats who don’t drink a lot of water.
- It’s high in protein, which is, after all, a cat’s natural food source.
- It contains all the vitamins and nutrients that dry food contains.
- It’s soft on problematic teeth.
- There are multiple choices available to cater to most of your cat’s needs.
- It can also be beneficial for problems like obesity, urinary tract infections and constipation.
- And at the end of the day, and I think most cats will unanimously agree – it’s uber tasty! (Can be a little spendy too – but they’re worth it.)
Dry Food Pros:
- Dry food is easier to store and lasts considerably longer.
- It can sit out all day without going off, it’s less messy and clean-up is easier.
- It doesn’t need to be refrigerated.
- It’s higher in fat.
- There are a greater number of tailor-made food choices.
- It’s a great feeding choice for underweight cats.
- The kibble works to keep teeth plaque-free.
- It’s generally cheaper.
Dry Food Cons:
Cats can find it hard to adjust to dry food after only eating wet food and may have slight difficulty digesting it. Try adding a little hot water to soften the kibble and bring out the flavour.
Cats with dental issues and senior cats with chipped or broken teeth may find it hard going.
The moisture content is limited to 10%. Always make sure there’s fresh water available.
So, Which One Wins the Debate? You'll Have to Ask Your Cat!
Now that we’ve taken a closer look at your cat’s food choices it’s easy to see that there are reasons to be on Team Wet and Team Dry. But ultimately, it’s the third kid on the block that wins the debate, i.e. Team Mix. With the referees being your very own kitty-cats themselves. Yip it all comes down to your dearest, darling fur baby deciding what’s what on the food front!
Feline Foodie? How to Cater to Your Cat’s Unique Preferences
Mix the wet and dry together and see how she likes it. Does she wander off or tuck in like there’s no tomorrow? Test her breakfast and dinner preferences, does she like dry in the mornings and wet at dinner time or perhaps the other way around…? You can also ask your cats whether they like it heated in the microwave or with a little warm water added. Like most things when living with cats, it’s all entirely up to them… or so they like to think.
The end-game solution?
Decide which advantages are most important to you and feed them both for taste and texture variety. Viva le catto-mix!
Level Up Your Cat’s Meals with Food Puzzles and Toys!
Let’s not forget the most important aspect of food for our tomcats, tabbies, tortoiseshells and other frisky felines, there are games to be played with their food! If you haven’t already introduced your cat to food puzzles, licking mats and food toy dispensers (Catit Senses 2.0 Digger) don’t wait a moment longer. You’re both going to love it!
Dry, Wet, or Hoo-man Food: The Best Choices for Interactive Play
For interactive playtime use their dry kibble or treats to reward and entice them to play. For lick mats use wet food or mix it up with some human food. For peace of mind and to know you’re only giving your cats nutritious and healthful human food, please check out this list of appropriate foods:
- Chicken & Carrots: Small, cooked chicken pieces and shredded carrots make for a fun, interactive snack your cat can chase or bat around.
- Tuna & Cucumber: Canned tuna in water and sliced cucumber can serve as a refreshing, crunchy treat to entice your cat to play.
- Cheese & Turkey: Small cubes of cheese paired with turkey slices can create a tasty, snackable duo to encourage your cat to chase and pounce.
- Egg & Spinach: Scrambled eggs mixed with small pieces of cooked spinach can be a fun, healthy snack for playtime.
- Salmon & Blueberries: Cooked salmon and fresh blueberries provide a protein-packed treat that can also be tossed around for playful enjoyment.
From Cattoroo to Catster: Finding the Purrfect Food for Every Stage
Whether you’re feeding your frisky kitten, dignified catster, or mature cattoroo, one thing’s clear—feline dining should be a feast of fun and flavour! From wet food that keeps your kitty hydrated to dry food that works wonders on those teeth, there’s a world of choices to explore. Don’t forget the games—food puzzles and treat-dispensing toys are a must to keep your furball entertained while munching away. At the end of the day, it’s all about finding what makes your cat purr with joy. So, let the culinary adventures begin, and watch your purrfect pal thrive with every bite!