Why Should I Feed Dry Cat Food?

Cat food is food for consumption by cats. Cats have specific requirements for their dietary nutrients. Certain nutrients, including many vitamins and amino acids, are degraded by the temperatures, pressures and chemical treatments used during manufacture, and hence must be added after manufacture to avoid nutritional deficiency. We talk a lot about cats’ need for wet food. That’s because cats are natural carnivores and have a naturally low thirst drive. This means they often don’t drink enough water. Feeding wet food, toppers and treats gives cats supplemental hydration. So, does that mean dry food is bad for cats? Absolutely not. A high-protein, low-carbohydrate dry food offers many important benefits such as:

Supports Cats’ Natural Grazing: In the wild, cats ate multiple small meals throughout the day. With dry food, you can leave their food out for cats to instinctively graze upon. This is not possible with wet food, which would spoil if left out too long.

Helps Promote Dental Health: Chewing hard kibble may help prevent plaque and tarter buildup on teeth. However, whether you feed wet or dry food, you can maintain your cat’s dental health with regular teeth cleanings by your veterinarian.

Easy and Economical: A bag of dry food typically costs less than the equivalent amount of meals in wet food. And, one bag can last a while. So, it can be a good option for cat parents on a budget.

Do Cats Need Wet Food?

If you’ve only ever fed your cat dry kibble, you may wonder if cats need wet food. In nature, cats derived most of the water their bodies needed from their prey. Because dry food has low moisture content, your cat needs to get water from a dish, fountain or wet food. Feeding a combination of wet and dry food, rather than just dry, is a great way to help your cat get more water. There are many benefits of including wet food in her diet.

Better Overall Hydration: Many cats don’t like still or standing water. In nature, cats tend to avoid standing water because it’s often a breeding ground for bacteria and insects. As a result, they may dislike drinking from a cat bowl or dish. Most felines prefer fresh, moving water from a cat water fountain or faucet rather than a dish. Cats may also feel vulnerable when drinking, and it’s not something they do efficiently. A single lap only gives your cat about 3/100 of a teaspoon. Despite this, water is essential for chemical reactions in the body, temperature regulation and joint health and mobility. It makes up about 60 percent of your cat’s body, so it’s vital to maintain proper hydration through adequate water intake. How do you get cats to drink more water? Providing plenty of fresh water or even purchasing a cat water fountain can help. Another way to up her water intake is by feeding wet cat food. While it can’t replace water altogether, it does help improve her overall hydration.

Promotes Lean Body Mass: Wet food is high in protein, which supports strong muscles. It also helps maintain that muscle mass through adulthood and into a cat’s senior years. A cat’s total body weight is comprised of lean body mass (LBM) and fat mass. Muscles, ligaments, bones, organs and more are all considered LBM. Organs and muscles are the main source of metabolic activity, helping to support many vital functions, like immunity, mobility and more. As cats age, they naturally lose LBM. Feeding wet cat food with high protein content can help maintain LBM as cats age.

Adds More Variety: Just as many people dislike eating the same foods every day, cats can get bored with their food, too. Some cats don’t just like variety—they crave it. Feeding dry food only may not always satisfy this craving. By including more wet food in your cat’s diet, you can satisfy her desire for new and exciting flavors and textures. Because cans of wet food are small, it’s easy to buy a variety to see what your cat loves. With so many flavors and textures to choose from, each meal will be a delightful adventure for your cat. Whether she’s drawn to seafood flavors in a creamy sauce, more traditional chicken pate or she likes her food in a hearty gravy, feeding wet food will satisfy her desire for variety.