Is Wet Food Bad For Cats – The Truth About Canned Food

When you visit a pet shop, you will most certainly come across a wide array of cat food options.

There is the wet cat food, dry and complementary foods.

The difficult part is usually choosing one type of cat food over the other.

Some people believe dry cat food is the best for their fur babies.

But others will argue wet cat food presents many advantages for them and their pets.

Similar to any other products, the varieties of cat foods are meant to cater for different lifestyles and nutritional benefits.

In that case should you feed your kitty wet food?

Is it the best choice or is wet food bad for cats?

Is wet food bad for my cat?

First and foremost, wet cat food is not bad for cats.

The most important thing is to check the nutritional analysis of the food.

The food should be complete and balanced, perfectly suitable for the age and life stage of your kitty.

The reason why wet cat food may not be very popular among many pet parents is because it’s pricy.

The food is cooked at quite high temperatures for sterilizations and then canned.

This is to ensure a long shelf life.

The wet cat food contains over 60% of moisture and it’s ultimately very perishable once opened.

The fact that its highly perishable after its opened and the cost of buying a high quality food, makes wet food an unlikely go-to option.

For most people, feeding wet food to their cats is more of an indulgent.

But this type of food should not be viewed only as a snack or occasional treat.

High quality wet food is perfectly capable of being an essential part of your kitty’s diet.

The food is balanced and designed to provide the nutrients your cat needs at the particular life stage.

Wet vs. Dry cat food: Which is better?

Dry food is more popular for a couple of reasons.

It is convenient and less expensive.

Furthermore, the food comes in larger bags and you don’t have to keep worrying about running out of cat food.

The moisture content is basically less than 20% and this gives it a longer shelf life even after you have opened it.

If you are a busy pet owner, you can leave dry food on a bowl for your cat to eat all day long.

But this doesn’t mean wet food lacks its merits.

There are plenty of benefits associated with your cat feeding on wet food.

For instance, the food has a higher moisture content and hence can help with combating issues such as constipation and dehydration.

Though ultimately, the choice between the two will come down to your kitty’s preference.

Let your cat decide what type of food she prefers.

You can even combine wet and dry cat food so that she gets the benefits of both foods.

It may also be a nice way to add variety to your cat’s usual diet.

The benefits of wet cat food

Each cat is different and may have a preference for a particular type of food and flavor.

But there are reasons why you might want to give wet food to your cat.

Let’s take a look at the advantages of wet cat food.

Helps with hydration

This is the most obvious benefit of wet food for cats.

In the wild, cats used to receive the required hydration from their prey, which would average to about 70% percent water.

Unfortunately, the strictly dry food diet food that contains only about 12% moisture content.

This is not enough for a typical household cat and can pose a risk for dehydration.

This is where the wet food comes into play providing at least 70% moisture content.

With wet food, you won’t have to worry about whether your cat is drinking enough water or not.

Best for cats with urinary tract issues

There is a good reason why it’s advisable to feed indoor cats’ wet food, particularly the neutered males.

Kidney diseases and urinary tract issues can all result from chronic dehydration in a cat.

Wet cat food contains naturally more moisture and this greatly reduces the likelihood of your cat suffering from dehydration.

According to PetMD, the high moisture content aids in flushing out toxins and urinary crystals more easily.

This in turn promotes kidney health.

Aids in weight loss and management

The moisture in wet cat food is a winning factor when it comes to weight loss.

The water content is actually perfect for weight loss or maintenance.

The truth is indoor cats tend to have less physical activity and hence more susceptible to weight gain.

The water makes your kitty feel full easily.

Furthermore, this type of food has a high protein and low carb content.

This also promotes weight loss by increasing satiety.

Your cat will not keep returning to the bowl to feed after just a few hours.

It’s easy to eat

If you have a kitten or a senior cat, the best food for them would be the wet food.

For starters, the food is easy to chew and your cats will have no trouble with eating.

Secondly, it’s easy on the tummy of the young cats and the older cats that have sensitive stomachs.

The moisture content makes digestion easier.

The demerits of wet food

The one thing that makes many pet parents avoid wet food is the fact that it costs way more for its volume.

If you are on a tight budget and wants cat food that will last a little longer, then dry food is often the best option in that regard.

In addition, wet food is perishable once opened and should be kept refrigerated to avoid spoiling.

For the pet owners who like to leave food on a bowl so that the cat can feed all day, wet food may not be a suitable option.

If wet food is left on a bowl or plate for hours, it should be thrown away since it might already be contaminated.

Conclusion

Wet food is good for your kitty since it meets their nutritional requirements.

This is what matters the most in any cat food.

Aside from that, it’s a best food for cats suffering from constipation, kidney issues and urinary issues.

That said, check with your vet when deciding which type of food is best for your kitty.