It’s an age-old debate. Whether you should feed your cat dry food or wet food. This can cause cat owners to begin spinning in circles, but before you get all worked up about it, here are some basics to consider when trying to decide.
Advantages & Disadvantages of Dry Cat Food
Dry cat food certainly has its advantages and disadvantages. For convenience sake (the convenience of the owner, that is), dry food is by far and away the more efficient option. Just plop down a big old bowl and let your cat eat at its leisure. However, this added convenience for you might (no certainties) amount to detracted nutrition for your cat. Most (but, again, not all) dry foods have a balance of meat to vegetable that is heavier on the latter. Your cat, on the other hand, is a carnivore at its core, which means that its digestive system is not ideally equipped to handle the excessive amounts of plant material and carbohydrates found in most dry foods. Additionally, cats require a certain amount of water in their diets to remain properly hydrated, and dry food contains only a slight modicum of their necessary water. This forces all of your cat’s hydration needs to be met through drinking water, which can often be a difficult, sometimes unachieved, goal.
Advantages & Disadvantages of Wet Cat Food
Like dry cat food, there are also several advantages and disadvantages to feeding your cat wet cat food. The primary benefits for your cat are what we mentioned above as the key shortcomings of dry food. The primary ingredient in wet food is regularly some type of meat, and there is a significantly greater amount of water found in most wet foods, both of which mean a healthier and better-nourished cat. Though these may seem like case closing facts, there are still some drawbacks to wet food. First and foremost, wet food puts a heavier burden on the owner to oversee each meal, not to mention foot the bill, as wet food can be a bit more expensive. It can also lead to feline dental issues without the proper precautions.
So, Which Type Of Food Is Best For Your Cat?
So, which type of food is best for your cat? It might look like wet food has what your cat needs to live a healthy and enjoyable life, but generalizations can be hazardous. What Catster tells us is that, “whether you choose canned food or kibble, it should be a premium cat food with quality ingredients.” The best dry food is certainly going to be more nutritious for your cat than the worst wet food, so, when it comes to your little kitty, don’t spare the expense for premium food, because it will only wind up returning in the form of veterinary costs. Ultimately, feeding your cat good, wholesome ingredients is what is most important, and you’ll be able to learn whether your cat prefers dry or wet food, so don’t force anything. It will all happen naturally.
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