Do Cats Need Wet Food?
Cats don’t necessarily need wet food to survive as long as they’re getting enough water in their diet and are receiving the proper nutrients needed from other food sources, like a high quality kibble. However, canned or wet diets can offer many benefits to your cat’s health and overall wellbeing. We’ll explore some of the benefits to offering your cat wet food and look at how to choose a high quality wet cat food if you’re looking to incorporate it into their diet.
What are the Benefits of Wet Food for Cats?
Packed with moisture, essential nutrients, and a variety of textures and flavors, wet food is very palatable for cats and offers a delicious and nourishing way to help keep your feline companion happy and healthy, whether you feed them wet food exclusively or add it as a topper on their kibble.
Increased Hydration
Proper hydration is crucial for cats, but some cats have finicky drinking habits. Proper hydration supports vital functions like digestion, temperature regulation, and organ health. Whether your cat eats dry or wet food, a clean bowl of fresh water should always be available to your cat to help promote proper hydration.
A benefit to offering wet cat food is that it contains a high moisture content, typically ranging from 70-90%, which contributes to a cat’s daily water intake. If your cat isn’t drinking enough water directly from their bowl and does enjoy wet food, this difference can significantly impact how much hydration your cat is getting throughout the day.
Improved Nutrition
Cats, as obligate carnivores, have different dietary needs when compared to dogs. Obligate carnivores depend largely on meat because they require nutrients, like taurine, only found in proteins from animal flesh. Wet cat food is a great way to offer your cat the nutrients it needs, particularly in the content of protein, fat, and carbohydrates.
- Protein: Canned cat food generally contains 10-13% protein. This aligns better with a cat’s ancestorial diet as they require protein for muscle development and energy.
- Fat: Wet cat food contains 2-10% fat, providing essential fatty acids which promote healthy skin and coat and support steady energy.
- Carbohydrates: Wet cat food typically contains a lower carbohydrate content than kibble, typically less than 10%. This aligns with a cat’s biological makeup as they have limited ability to digest carbohydrates.
It’s important to note that not all wet cat foods are complete and balanced to meet a cat’s nutritional needs on their own. However, these foods are excellent sources of additional nutrients when used for supplemental feeding or as a meal topper.
Enhanced Palatability, Variety & Enrichment
Palatability of food is typically a big piece of the puzzle for finding the right recipe for your cat, and good news is wet food is generally very appealing to cats, because it offers:
- Stronger aroma: Wet food has a more intense smell due to the higher moisture content and presence of animal based protein, which cats find enticing.
- Flavor variety: Wet food recipes typically are available in a wide range of proteins and flavors, including chicken, duck & salmon, rabbit, and sardine, offering more choices to suit your cat’s individual preferences.
- Texture: The moist texture of wet food can be more appealing to cats than the dry, crunchy texture of kibble, especially for kittens or older cats that may have dental problems.
Situations Where Wet Food Might Be Essential
Canned cat food is a great option for pets with dental concerns, smaller mouths, picky eaters, and those who may have a hard time breaking down kibble.
Medical Conditions:
Wet food can be helpful for cats with certain medical conditions including urinary tract problems, kidney disease, diabetes, and digestive or dental issues. Additionally, canned food helps with hydration, nutrient absorption, and can be more appealing for cats with digestive issues or a reduced sense of smell. If you think your cat could benefit from wet food, consult your veterinarian.
Dental Problems:
While wet cat food doesn’t directly address dental problems, it can be helpful for cats with certain mouth issues that make eating dry food difficult or painful. Just like dogs, the best way to maintain good oral health in cats is to regularly remove plague build up by tooth brushing. It’s important to discuss your cat’s individual needs with a veterinarian to determine the best food for their overall health and ensure that your pet receives proper dental care.
Senior Cats:
Canned or wet recipes can be helpful for older cats as they can boost hydration, are easier to chew, and help provide essential nutrients to promote a healthy weight.
- Higher moisture content: Senior cats can be more prone to dehydration. Wet food provides them with much needed moisture, which is especially important for elderly cats with health conditions like kidney disease or diabetes which can cause increased thirst and urination.
- More appealing taste & smell: Older cats may have a decreased sense of smell and taste, making dry food less appealing. Wet food often has a stronger smell and taste, which can help to entice them to eat.
- Promotes weight management: Senior cats tend to be less active and may need fewer calories. When served in proper serving sizes, wet food can help to promote a healthy weight for your senior cat, as it is in calories than dry food.
It’s important to remember that while wet food can be highly beneficial, consulting with a veterinarian is crucial to determine the most suitable diet for your cat’s individual needs and health. They can guide you on the appropriate serving of wet food to ensure your specific cat receives the nutrition they need to thrive.
How to Choose High Quality Wet Food
Choosing a high quality wet food for your cat starts with understanding the label. Deciphering a cat food label can feel daunting, but here’s what to look for:
- Check the Ingredient List: Look for cat food with high quality, all natural ingredients like Nature’s Logic cat food. Select recipes that list named proteins like beef, chicken, or rabbit as the top ingredient. Avoid foods with too many fillers, by-products, artificial additives, or synthetics. Choosing foods that offer healthy, all natural ingredients can help you feel confident that your cat is getting nutrition straight from their food source rather than synthetic or added ingredients.
- Review the Guaranteed Analysis: The guaranteed analysis or GA provides a snapshot of the nutritional composition of cat food. This section lists the inclusion levels of key nutrients such as protein, fat, fiber, and moisture. When reviewing, look for wet food recipes with high protein content (between 10-20%) as cats are obligate carnivores and require high levels of protein to support many of their natural bodily functions.
If you’re unsure about any ingredient or have concerns about your cat’s specific needs, always consult your veterinarian for personalized guidance.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much wet food should I feed my cat?
The ideal amount of wet food for your cat depends on your pet’s age, size, activity level and overall health. A feeding guide can help you understand how much your cat should eat each day.
In general, adult cats should have about ¾ a can per 6-8lbs of bodyweight per day. Kittens should be fed twice the adult amount to help supplement their rapidly growing bodies. Cats that are gestating or lactating should receive up to 3 times the normal adult amount.
Finding the Right Balance
You don’t have to feed all wet or all dry food to your cat. In fact, mixing wet and dry cat food can provide benefits for your cat. Benefits of mixing wet and dry cat food include variety of texture and flavor, added moisture, and higher calories.
- Enhanced palatability: Picky eaters may find the mixture more appealing due to the taste and texture of the wet food. Using the wet food as a topper to your dry food can be very enticing.
- Increased hydration: Wet food helps cats who are naturally poor drinkers get the moisture they need.
- Potential weight management: Wet food is generally less calorie dense than dry food, which can support maintaining a healthy weight.
Ultimately, the best food type (wet or dry) depends on your cat’s individual preferences and health needs. Consult your veterinarian for personalized recommendations.
As cats’ nutritional needs can change throughout their lives, transitioning to a different type of food may be necessary. This can also be helpful if you’re looking to introduce wet food to your cat. The key to successfully changing cat food is to transition slowly over 7-10 days and note how your cat responds. Here are some tips to consider when changing cat food.
- If transitioning from wet to dry food:
- Introduce the dry food by giving the cat a few pieces as a treat
- Slowly add dry food to the wet diet
- Reduce the amount of wet food as you add more dry
- If transitioning from dry food to wet:
- Introduce the wet food by using it as a meal topper
- Slowly reduce the amount of dry food in the meal
- Once you begin to add the wet food, do not leave food out for more than a day
Whenever considering switching your cat to a new food, it’s worthwhile to discuss the plan with your vet to confirm the best course of action for your feline family member.
Is Wet Food Better for Cats?
Incorporating wet food into your cat’s diet can enhance their wellbeing. From promoting hydration and providing essential protein to enhancing palatability and offering dietary variety, the best wet cat food caters to your cat’s specific needs. While both wet and dry food can play a role in a cat’s diet, consulting your veterinarian is crucial to determine the optimal feeding plan for your cat, ensuring they thrive on a balanced and nutritious diet.
