Question:
Dry food or Wet food? Which is better to feed my cat?
Minny715
2008-03-06 08:14:26 UTC
I have an 11 month old kitty. I currently feed him 1 cup of dry food per day, broken up into 2 feedings, 1/2 a cup in the morning and 1/2 a cup at night and I give him 1 can once a week sort of like a treat. I was wondering if this was the healthiest option? Which is better for him? The dry food or the wet? Why? And how much should I feed him of each?
Twenty answers:
Kat
2008-03-06 09:14:55 UTC
Let me share with you what I have learned about feline nutrition to help you make an informed decision on what diet you should feed your cats.



Many brands of manufactured cat foods claiming to be "healthy" really are not. In fact they are made of the lowest ingredients possible. I'm not saying that a cat can't live off them... just the same as you could live off hot dogs and Mac and cheese forever, but better choices can and should be made for your feline friends. I would not venture to say that any manufactured food is "best" for a cat but a grain free organic wet food would be a good start. Feeding canned is certainly better than feeding dry in all cases.



Cats were never meant to eat dry food, also known as cereals or kibble. We, humans, make them eat it for convenience to us. It has nothing to do with them or their nutritional needs. It's completely species inappropriate.



In the wild, cats derive their entire liquid intake from their prey. They do not have a thirst mechanism because they don't need it when eating a species appropriate diet. They get all they need from what they eat. So they do not drink water. Regular ol' house cats have descended from those same wild cats.



So in a home environment, your kitty does not get the moisture it needs from dry food and it’s almost always in a constant state of dehydration. Water fountains are encouraged to TRY to get your cat to drink more and your kitty may even enjoy it, but it will never meet its water intake needs drinking from a bowl.



Deadly feline illnesses such as diabetes, kidney failure, obesity, Irritable Bowel Disease (IBD), bladder stones, kidney stones, urinary tract blockages and Urinary Tract Infections (FLUTD), with and without deadly crystals run rampant these days. Cats are not taking in enough water to stave them off. Proper water intake through a species appropriate diet alone can prevent most of these conditions.



Overall, wet is all around better for any cats diet, be it canned or Raw and they should never be fed dry cereal kibble if we wish to most closely match their wild nutritional and dietary needs. Kibble meets our needs… not our cats.



It is also bogus that kibble cleans teeth. DRY FOOD DOES NOT CLEAN TEETH. It's an old myth that has been scientifically disproved for years, but old-school vets drilled it into people's heads for so long (and sadly still do) that people still believe it. Cats can not “chew”. They do not have flat “chewing” teeth. Their molars are not for grinding food. They have meat ripping pointy carnivorous teeth. You may see them “crunch” a piece of food once to crack and break it… but they are absolutely unable to chew a hard piece of food. Want your cat to have clean teeth? Give them an appropriately sized raw bone. :o)



I personally feed a Raw Meat and Bones based diet to my cats and they are very healthy on it. I HIGHLY recommend it. Once I got the hang of it and felt comfortable with it it's a snap to prepare. It's something you might want to consider someday. Cats are obligate carnivores after all and must derive ALL their nutrients from meat based sources. They are unable to absorb them from any other source. Despite thousands of years of domestication they remain strictly carnivorous. True and honest meat eaters and that is what they need most. Protein from meat!



If you are interested in feeding a raw diet some great places to start learning are http://www.catinfo.org/ , http://www.catnutrition.org/ , and http://www.felinefuture.com/nutrition/ .



If you would like to try raw with your cats and don’t want to get all technical about it but want to try a trusted, time tested and balanced raw diet you can order from http://www.felinespride.com/products/catfood.aspx . I purchased this myself when I first started and my cats loved it!



Another premade Raw you can try is Natures Varity. I personally have never used this but know many people that do and it’s pretty easy to find http://www.naturesvariety.com/content.lasso?page=1507&-session=naturesvariety:D04EC9250597c11908GJS417647E.



If raw is not an option for you please be aware that there are three Categories of manufactured Pet Foods:



-"Grocery store" foods – (Generic Brands and cheap name brands) Those foods found in grocery stores and mass-market retailers are made with lower-quality, less-digestible, inexpensive ingredients and are therefore a cheaper alternative. While easy on the pocketbook, "grocery store" foods normally do not provide your cat with the healthiest, most nutrient-dense ingredients.



-Premium foods – (Iams/Eukanuba, Purina One, Hills Science Diet, Nutro and such) Foods often found in grocery stores, pet stores, and veterinarian offices that contain higher-grade ingredients, but still include many elements of "grocery store" food, such as artificial colors, artificial flavors, chemical preservatives, and "filler" ingredients such as corn and wheat products, by-products and even animal digest. Yuck! Premium foods are usually more expensive than "grocery store" foods because their ingredients are sometimes of a higher quality, and are therefore somewhat more beneficial and digestible. But don’t be fooled, some of those same so called Premium brands are sometimes worse than grocery store foods, but they charge prices like they are better. They aren’t!



-Healthy foods – (Wellness, Merrick, Eagle Pack, Drs Foster & Smith) The newest addition to the pet food market - provide pets with the highest quality, healthiest, and most nutritious ingredients. They are typically available for purchase online or direct from the manufacturer. Some better retailers are starting to carry them now. Complete Petmart carries a few healthy brand foods. Foods in the Healthy class contain nutrient-rich ingredients. Formulated to provide optimum health benefits for pets, these foods often use real meat as the primary protein source, carbohydrate-rich whole grains like brown rice and barley and whole, fresh fruits and vegetables. They should not contain artificial preservatives, flavors, or colors. They will almost always be fortified with additional vitamins and minerals, and will use the best natural sources for fatty acids to help build healthy skin and a beautiful coat. Because healthy foods use high quality ingredients, you should expect to pay a little more than you would for other types of pet food. Remember, though, with healthy foods you can feed less since healthy foods are more nutrient-dense than other types of food so it often evens out or cost’s les than feeding foods filled with cheap non-nutritional by-products fillers.



With all that information in mind, when you are choosing a new cat food, study the ingredients. All ingredients on pet food labels are listed by weight. Meaning whatever ingredients are listed first on the list, there is more in there. The first ingredients listed should be whole meat ingredients, protein sources, such as Chicken or Turkey. NOT just the word “meat”! Who the heck knows what that is? The word Chicken Meal is ok, but it should be a secondary ingredient, not first. Meal is the meat dehydrated and ground into a powder.



The ingredients also should NOT include any by-products or animal digest whatsoever. Those are disgusting left over animal parts that are scraped off the filthy floors of meat and poultry plants. They should just go into the trash but they put them into pet food instead. EW!!!! Also make sure there are no artificial colors or flavors. And make sure there is no BHA and BHT used preservatives. These preservatives have been shown to cause cancer in both cats and dogs. Bad Bad stuff and it’s in almost every cat treat on the market. :(



So, in summery of the ingredients… if you see the words by-products, Animal Digest, the word “meat” alone, Corn, Corn Gluten, Wheat Gluten, or BHA or BHT… stop reading, put down that product and move on to the next.



Be aware that when switching to a Healthy, Holistic or Organic food, you will pay for what you get. Good foods are not cheap. They are pricey and will cost you more than cheaper products, just like steak costs more than hotdogs. But again, you will be feeding a better food and improving the over all health of your pet. This in turn leads to less vet visits for illness now and more importantly later in life in their geriatric years. You will also feed less of this food on a per animal basis because a smaller amount of food contains what your cat needs. Overall healthy wet foods are well worth it, if only for the piece of mind that the ingredients are better for your cat than cheap crap.



You can start your research for a healthy cat food here if you are not ready to try feeding a Raw diet:

http://www.onlynaturalpet.com



If you want to buy in a store, Complete Petmart is a good store and carries quite a few natural, organic, and holistic blends. Also check with your local feed/grain stores.



I highly recommend you take the time to research for yourself, but the information I have given should get you off to a good start. Good luck choosing a new healthy food!



********IMPORTANT*******Don’t forget to switch your Pets food slowly over a period of 10 to 14 days, if you can. Mixing 25% new to 75% old. Then 50/50… then 75% new to 25% old. And finally switch over to 100% new. Take it slow as not to upset their digestive system.



Side note… Please don’t feed Iams / Eukanuba. It’s ALL fillers, byproducts, animal digest and CRAP. Read the ingredients! There is nothing good for your cat in that food. Not to mention they conduct the most appalling animal testing you have ever seen. http://www.iamscruelty.com to see the terror they create.
2008-03-06 08:32:32 UTC
Wet is better.



You don't have to feed any dry food at all - it doesn't clean the teeth.



But if your cat doesn't have a weight problem and your budget requires you to be frugal, it's ok if you do feed some. But I would feed as little dry as possible, and don't go higher than 50% dry for the total daily meal.



It's just not appropriate food for cats. Obesity, kidney, urinary, diabetes, dehydration - all problems which can be exacerbated or contributed to by dry food.



As for how much to feed, start with the feeding guidelines on the food. Realize that they tend to be somewhat generous so you might want to feed a little less than they suggest. It's a big pain to put a cat on a diet so don't let him get fat in the first place.



Also know that you want to feed for the cat's IDEAL weight. So if you have a 20 pound cat who needs to shed some pounds don't feed what they suggest for that weight - that'll maintain it. If your kitty weighs 8 pounds, say, then feed a little less than they suggest for that weight.
MechanicalMan
2008-03-06 08:47:06 UTC
It would be preferable to feed him more wet food if you're able to. You should also keep in mind that there is a huge disparity in the quality of cat food, both wet and dry. I only feel comfortable feeding my cat quality, grain-free foods. Also FWIW, I concur with RuneAmok about recommended portion sizes being generous. My cat eats approximately 2/3 of the recommended amount.
ktrb
2008-03-06 08:36:23 UTC
My two cats get most of their food in canned form -- they share a can in the morning and another in the evening. I give them a scant 1/4 cup of dry food (I use a blend of a few different brands, all corn-free and all but one wheat-free) in the morning to snack on through the day, and another 1/4 cup before I go to bed.



They get far more moisture with wet food, which can prevent kidney problems, and since dry food is full of carbs the canned food helps keep the cats from gaining weight. It's a myth that dry food keeps their teeth clean.
after_butterfly
2008-03-06 08:20:43 UTC
We used to give dry food to our cat, until we went to the vet for an annual exam. And she told us that we should start giving her more can food, as cats are in nature carnivoirs, and that their digestive organs are made to eat meat. And she said that dry food can cause diabetes, so she advised to mix it up a little.



So our cat always has some dry food in her bowl, and then we give her a small can of food Mondays/Wed/Fridays.



She seems to be a very happy cat. And loves, loves her can food!
2008-03-06 08:36:52 UTC
Wet food is much better for your cat than dry food. Dry food is a man made food which might be cheap and convenient for us owners, but is lacking in water (essential for cats and they dont' have a strong thirst mechanism since they are designed to get their water with their food rather than drinking separately) and high in carbohydrates. Cats don't eat wheat and corn in the wild. The only carbs they eat are the stomach contents of their prey, and a bit of grass to help their digestion. Dry cat foods are full of cheap fillers such as corn and these things are difficult for cats to digest. As obligate carnivores, cats are best off getting their protein from meat. It is often claimed that dry food is good for dental health, but that is not true and there is no evidence to back up that claim. More and more vets are now recommending wet food over dry. Dry food can be convenient if we need to leave our cats for a while as it can be left out more easily than wet food, but I wouldn't personally feed more than a small amount of dry food.



Dry food is also blamed by many people for the rise in obesity in cats. Its very easy to overfeed and, as it's calorie dense, it's easy for cats to gain weight eating dry food. The high carbohydrate content can also cause weight gain.



If you want to feed dry food measure out how much you give and keep a close eye on their weight, make sure your cat drinks lots of water and try to choose a premium brand that is lower in carbohydrates and contains a reasonable amount of meat. But I would recommend all wet food or mostly wet food with just a bit of dry.



You might be interested in these articles about feeding cats.



http://www.catinfo.org/



http://www.littlebigcat.com/index.php?action=library&act=show&item=whycatsneedcannedfood



http://maxshouse.com/feline_nutrition.htm
♥TaZ♥
2008-03-06 08:23:08 UTC
I allow my cat to have a full bowl of dry chow every day, it's left out so she can eat as she pleases, which she doesn't do unless i watch her eat (lol) but I also giver her canned food, Friskies sliced, a half can in the morning and the rest at night. I guess it is up to you. My cat eats a mix of chef's blend with fish, chicken and beef dry food and indoor formula food.
CF_
2008-03-06 08:31:24 UTC
BOTH..

I cannot tell you how much dry because I dont know what brand.. some are more nutrition than others so your cat needs to eat LESS - some use ALOT of filler so your cat will need to eat MORE (and poop more too)

as a rule ALL foods from grocery or Wal Mart are loaded with filler as are many from big box stores..



here is an easy to understand link that will tell you if your food is good or junk



http://www.gomestic.com/Pets/What-is-in-Your-Cats-Food.75821



better food = less poops



your cat should have FREE ACESS to dry food all the time



AND 1-2 helpings of canned a day



1 helping of canned is 1 teaspoon of food - ideally mixed with water to make a soup.. this helps their urinary tract.. NOT chucks with gravy - as gravy = carbs...



true story - I worked at a shelter, a guy brought in a purebred Siamese cat he couldnt keep and told us she was 2 years old.. when the vet tech checked her teeth the tech figured the guy lied about her age - her teeth were so bad she said the cat was at least 8yrs..and phoned the guy..

turns out the cat was 2.. the guy had her registration papers...

just he ONLY ever fed canned food



so your cat needs both

canned AND GOOD QUALITY dry.
old cat lady
2008-03-06 08:19:37 UTC
At http://www.littlebigcat.com Dr. Jean Hofve has many articles on cat nutrition, such as "What Cats Should Eat", "Why Cats Need Canned Food", "Selecting a Good Commercial Pet Food", etc.
Grandma Pat <><
2008-03-06 08:28:09 UTC
I leave dry food out all the time, but in the morning I always give him about 1Tbs. wet food. You have to work it out with how your cat. eats. Always make sure there is fresh water for him.
quantumrift
2008-03-06 08:37:08 UTC
wet canned food that is purchased commercially will generally give your cat bad breath (tartar build up), produce gas, and make generally bad smelling feces (yea, that big stink when kitty poos).



You need to find a decent DRY food that does not contain complex carbs (as cats do NOT digest complex carbs very well) with lots of protein and taurine, etc. The dry food will also keep kitty's teeth much cleaner and the poo from smelling really BAD.



Bil-Jac makes great dry cat food (PetSmart). You want something that does not have wheat, wheat products, wheat gluten, etc.



It's too bad we can't get mouse, rat, or grasshoper-flavored cat food....
2008-03-06 08:23:11 UTC
well dry foods more healthy but i feed my 2 little kittens dry food through the day and on a night time half a sache of wet food.
Kelsey T
2008-03-06 08:35:09 UTC
Your diet is very good.



the kitty is fine with the dry food, be sure you follow the instructions on the package.



in fact, the kitty is probaly better off WITH that wet food.

helps keep them strong!!



:) hope it helps
Two feathers
2008-03-06 08:26:58 UTC
Dry food for heathier teeth, and better breath., but change flavors every so often, they get tired of the same ole thing. In my opinion, a (self feeder) is the answer to how much.
2008-03-06 08:21:24 UTC
I give my cat one pouch of whiskas in the morning and then dry food - Too much wet food is bad for their teeth - the dry food will help clean they're teeth.
freckleface
2008-03-06 08:18:23 UTC
Wet food is very fattening... So I would pick the dry food.. Even though I feed my cat both..lol He's a fatty!
♥~Sleepless`n Seattle~♥
2008-03-06 08:24:44 UTC
I would stick with the dry food. with all the trouble they have been having with canfood. plus don't keep switching your cats food stick with one and see how that works out before switching again.
anonymous
2008-03-06 08:31:52 UTC
Dry food is better for their teeth. It helps to remove plaque and tarter build up.
:xnonamex:
2008-03-06 08:36:09 UTC
its better to mix both together or which ever one your cat prefers
2008-03-06 08:19:52 UTC
https://answersrip.com/question/index?qid=20060922125123AAFtt5W


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