Wet vs. Dry Cat Food: Which is Best for Your Cat?

You want to feed your pet a nutritious diet. But is wet cat food a better choice than dry cat food? It depends! The right answer takes into account a variety of individual factors, such as your cat's weight, preferences and overall health. Consider the points outlined below befoFre choosing a diet for your cat.

Do Cats Need Wet Food?

Adult cats and wet food

Most healthy, normal adult cats do not need wet food as part of their diets. The choice to feed wet food or dry food is entirely up to the owner's and the cat's preferences. However, wet food is a healthy, nutritional addition to the diet for many cats struggling with health issues such as:¹

• Obesity.
• Diabetes.
• Urinary problems.
• Kidney disease.

Your veterinarian can help you decide if your cat would benefit from including wet food in his or her diet.

Kittens and wet food

Kittens can — and should — eat wet food as a part of their regular diets. Cats are very texture-based eaters and should be exposed to both canned and dry food as kittens so that they will be familiar with and willing to eat both types of food as adults.² Choose a canned food made specifically for kittens, and offer small amounts at first to make sure your kitten is able to tolerate it. Watch out for any gastrointestinal upset, such as vomiting and diarrhea. If your kitten has no ill effects, you can continue to offer more wet food.

Dry cat food has a higher caloric density than wet cat food

Because the ingredients in dry food have been through an extrusion and drying process during its manufacture, most of the moisture has been removed. This means that what is left behind is very calorically dense. Compared to dry food, wet food has much more moisture and therefore fewer calories per the same volume of dry food. For pets that need to lose weight, a wet food is usually best because the cat eats a similar volume of food while receiving fewer calories.¹

Wet cat food can help keep your cat hydrated

Dry food, or kibble, has very little moisture, which means your cat needs to make more trips to the water bowl to stay hydrated. Wet food has a much higher moisture content which helps your cat stay hydrated. This is especially important for cats with health problems such as urinary tract infections, bladder stones, urinary crystals or kidney disease.² By taking in extra moisture through their diets, the kidneys and urinary system stay flushed and hydrated, keeping the entire system functioning better. Your veterinarian may even recommend a prescription wet food if your cat is suffering from one of these conditions.

The Pros and Cons of Wet vs. Dry Cat Food

The choice to feed dry or wet cat food is largely a matter of personal preference. But there are some other factors you may wish to take into account.¹

Dry cat food: the pros

• Less expensive than canned foods.
• Mess-free.

Dry cat food: the cons

• Typically has a higher calorie and carbohydrate content, meaning an increased risk of weight gain.
• Less moisture can be problematic for cats with health concerns.

Wet cat food: the pros

• High moisture content is great for cats with conditions like kidney disease.
• Low calorie and carbohydrate content makes it great for maintaining a healthy weight.
• More natural texture and smell may stimulate cats to eat.

Wet cat food: the cons

• More costly than dry food.
• Messy, cannot be left out longer than 20 minutes.

How Much Food to Feed a Cat

Whether you choose wet or dry pet food, it's important to feed the right amount. Too much food in your cat's diet and your cat will gain excess weight, putting him or her at risk for health problems such as diabetes and arthritis. Too little food and your cat will lose weight, causing him or her to lose muscle strength and immune function. For an ideal weight, your cat needs to be fed based on his or her individual weight and body condition score. Your veterinarian can calculate your cat's required daily calorie intake for you using these numbers. For example, according to the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA), a healthy 10-pound cat needs approximately 240 to 270 calories per day to maintain a healthy weight.²

Once you know how many calories your cat needs in a day, check the back of your dry food bag or your cat’s wet food can to see how many calories are in the foods you feed your cat. Use this as your guide for how much to feed per meal. Don't forget to include any treats, table scraps or other foods into your daily calorie count as well! These little extras should make up no more than 10% of your cat's daily calories — any more than that and you risk weight gain and obesity.

CareCredit Financing for Pets

Remember that the CareCredit credit card is an easy way to pay for your cat’s annual checkups, food and products at participating veterinary practices nationwide.* Use the Acceptance Locator or download the CareCredit Mobile App to find a nearby vet that accepts the CareCredit credit card.

Author Bio

Dr. Elizabeth Racine is a small animal general practice veterinarian and freelance writer. She covers both human and veterinary medicine with a special interest in nutrition, internal medicine, and veterinary behavior.