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With so many food options available for cats, you might wonder, do cats need wet food? Whether wet, dry, freeze-dried, or commercially cooked, all cat foods that meet the nutrition standards of the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AFFCO) are complete and balanced, providing appropriate nutrition for cats for their stage of life.
However, wet food offers many health benefits for cats, and many veterinarians recommend feeding cats wet food as all or part of their diet, especially if they have certain health conditions.
The Benefits of Wet Food for Cats
Wet food contains a lot of water, which can help cats stay hydrated. Kirsten McCarthy / cats.com
Although cats can obtain all the nutrients they need from dry food, consuming wet food provides many benefits for cats. “Wet food is really important for cats because it’s a great source of hydration and is considerably lower in carbohydrates than dry food,” said veterinarian Chris Vanderhoof, DVM, of Washington, D.C.
The upsides to serving your cat wet food include:
1. Extra Moisture in the Diet
Canned cat food contains much more water than dry food. Wet cat food, whether pate or chunks in gravy, contains at least 75% water, compared to dry cat food, which contains between 6% and 10% water. Maintaining hydration levels is really important for cats, so eating wet food is a great way to get more moisture into their diet.
This is especially important for senior cats, as well as cats that suffer from certain health conditions, including lower urinary tract disease, kidney disease, and diabetes.
2. High in Protein and Low in Carbohydrates
Due to the nature of how dry food and wet food are made, wet food is naturally higher in protein and lower in carbohydrates than dry kibble. Cats are obligate carnivores, which means most of their diet should come from animal-based protein. Because wet food provides much more animal protein than dry food, it’s also great for weight management and preventing obesity.
3. Better Taste
Canned food is often tastier than dry food because of its high meat content and stronger odor. For cats with low appetites, or those recovering from surgery or illness, wet food might tempt them to eat more. Some cats have very specific food preferences, and only want to eat wet food.
4. Soft and Easy To Eat
Wet food is a great option for cats that are missing teeth or have painful problems with their teeth or mouth, such as dental disease or stomatitis. Wet food is also a great food to start with kittens that are weaning.
Common Concerns About Wet Food for Cats
Wet food offers many benefits for cats, but there are some disadvantages as well. These include:
1. It’s More Expensive Than Dry Food
Because wet food contains so much water, it’s less calorie-dense than dry food. Cats need to eat a lot more wet food to get their daily nutrition, so it costs much more to feed a cat 100% wet food compared to eating only dry food.
2. It’s Highly Perishable
Although unopened cans or pouches of wet food are shelf-stable, once opened the food becomes perishable. You can’t leave wet food out all day like dry food; it must be consumed, thrown away, or refrigerated within a few hours or it will spoil. Consuming spoiled wet food can make your cat very sick. A can of wet food stays good in the fridge for about three days, after which time it needs to be tossed.
Also Read: How to Keep Cat Food Fresh for Longer
3. It Might Be Worse for Teeth
Some studies have shown that cats that eat only wet food have worse dental health than cats that eat dry food. “Personally, I do feel that many cats I see who are on wet foods exclusively also have noticeably more dental tartar,” Dr. Vanderhoof said.
Theories for why this might be true include that the abrasive texture of dry food scrapes plaque from the teeth, or that cats that eat dry food produce more saliva in their mouths, which can improve oral health. Regardless of the type of food they eat, brushing your cat’s teeth daily with a cat-safe toothpaste is the best way to keep their teeth clean and healthy.
How To Choose the Best Wet Cat Food
Many cats think wet food is tastier than dry food, so it can tempt a cat that’s not eating enough. Kirsten McCarthy / cats.com
Dr. Vanderhoof recommends that cats get a combination of both wet food and dry food. “It’s ideal to feed cats small, frequent portions, and many cats are grazers and snackers,” he said. “I feed my cats wet food as hallmark meals in the morning and evening. Dry food they get more as a snack in the early afternoon if we’re home or just at night.”
When looking for the best wet cat food, look for foods with high-quality proteins in the first few ingredients, such as chicken, turkey, lamb, or salmon. Carbohydrates in the form of grains, potatoes, and other plant-based ingredients should make up a much smaller part of a wet cat food. High-quality cat foods are free from artificial colors and flavors, and often include healthy supplements like fish oil for omega fatty acids, as well as vitamins and minerals.
Do Cats Need Both Wet and Dry Food?
It’s a yes and a no! Although cats can survive and even thrive on complete-and-balanced dry cat food alone, wet cat food offers many health benefits for cats. Its high moisture content can help prevent dehydration, and it provides lots of animal-based protein with minimal carbs, which meet a cat’s nutritional needs better than dry foods, which are much higher in grains and other carbohydrates.
Wet food is a great choice for cats, whether you feed it as 100% of your cat’s diet, or supplement it with some dry cat food.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it OK to feed cats only dry food?
Yes, it’s OK to feed cats only dry food as long as the food is complete and balanced for your cat’s life stage according to the guidelines of the Association of American Feed Control Officials. However, many veterinarians recommend including wet food in your cat’s diet due to the health benefits it offers, such as increasing water intake.
Is it OK to not feed your cat wet food?
Yes, it’s OK to not feed your cat wet food, especially if your cat doesn’t like eating wet food or if it’s too expensive or difficult to feed due to its perishable nature.
As long as your cat’s food is AAFCO-certified as complete and balanced, your cat will get the essential nutrients they need regardless of whether the food is wet or dry.
Should cats get wet food every day?
Although cats don’t strictly require wet food every day, wet food provides additional moisture to your cat’s diet due to its higher water content, and is packed with the protein cats need. Most cats also find wet food extra tasty.
Whether every day or a few times a week, feeding wet food as frequently as you can offers your cat many health benefits.
