Difference Between Dry And Wet Cat Food | Which Is Better For Cat?
If you have a cat at home then, no doubt you’ve already bought dry food, wet food, and treats for your pet. Yet, in the pet store where you buy pet products, you may wonder why the aisles of cat food have so many choices. Well, the biggest differences between these cat foods are their price, the percentage of water, and the ages of the pets.
Food for cats varies according to its level of water content. Today we are going to discuss the difference between dry food, wet food, and treats that you feed your pet cat so you can understand which food to feed your pet and when. With this, you’ll be able to take better care of your precious little fur buddy. So, without further ado let’s start-
Dry Cat Foods
First of all, we are going to talk about dry cat foods. Despite the fact that dry foods contain less than 14% water, you may think it is not enough for your cats and it might cause harm. But you’ll be pleasantly surprised to hear about the benefits of dry cat foods. Millions of cats around the world eat dry cat food and live long and healthy life. Dry catfood’s convenience, cost, and accessibility have made it the preferred food of pet owners.
Grazing may be preferable to some cats than doing specific meal times when they are using wet food. Cats eating dry food graze over a long period of time and can leave the food out for lengthy periods. Cats love to play with their food. With dry food, cats can play with the food for a bit before eating. Also, as a means of mental stimulation and environmental enrichment, dry food is better used with food dispenser toys. So, you don’t need to buy many extra toys for your cat.
Another advantage to dry foods is that some of them have beneficial dental effects by reducing tartar accumulation and plaque accumulation with mechanical scraping the common method to lower plaque levels. Some dry pet food will have adequate kibble texture for treating plaque, though not all and it might not act on all tooth surfaces. Despite the debate, there isn’t enough conclusive evidence to support the argument that dry food is superior to wet food for oral health. In spite of this, tooth brushing is the gold standard in promoting dental health.
Obesity and overweight prevalence in cats is high enough to suggest that many cats are incapable of self-regulating their energy intake, and obesity/overweight prevalence in cats is high enough to suggest that many cats are unable to do so. Dry food has a higher energy density than wet. A dry food diet will provide energy for thin or picky cats. While it has been observed in healthy cats, it has also been observed in cats with arthritis and nutrients in concentrated, small amounts, maximizing the supply of nutrients.
Wet Cat Foods
Now, about the benefits of wet foods: Usually, cats consume less than 60% of moist foods in their daily food chart and they are very little fan of water. That is why they are likely to suffer from dehydration. However, it is not clear whether feeding dry food results in less hydration in cats, compared to feeding wet, but it has been suggested that dehydration is associated with many diseases, including kidney disease. So, it is better to feed them wet food to fulfill their need for minerals and fluids instead of feeding them direct water.
Wet foods for cats contain 70–80% water. Therefore, cats will not need to drink water separately if they consume enough wet food. However, other than this, wet foods are helpful in promoting adequate urine output which reduces the presence of pro-inflammatory molecules in the bladder and therefore may help prevent urinary tract problems. It is hypothesized that venous urine such as this will reduce the number of inflammatory elements in the bladder.
Water-based food can also control the weight of your cats because it contains much water and doesn’t supply the cats with calories; therefore, wet food is always calorie-less than dry food. Dry diets typically contain more than 3–4 calories per gram, whereas wet food contains only 0.8–1.5 calories per gram, with some weight loss diets providing even less. Therefore, wet foods are on the whole much bulkier than dry foods, so they can also be helpful for weight loss plans or weight prevention programs.
However, in spite of all the benefits of dry foods, if your cats are always fed with dry food, they will be prone to convulsions. Feeding cats only dry foods can result in dehydration and is a risk factor for constipation, and it is commonly recommended to give them canned food to ease their discomfort. Or you can also feed them enough water if you only feed the cats with dry food.
Treats
Treats are semi-wet foods for cats which means, that treat consists of more moisture than dry foods but less than wet foods. But treats should only be a very small part of the diet.
Treats bring many benefits to your cat like- repairing dental plaques, training, hairball ready, and many more. Most cat treats work well in supplementing your cat’s diet by providing additional nutrition and benefits that she cannot easily get from her regular food. The bond between you and your cat can be strengthened by sharing treats, and this can provide important one-on-one time. Also, giving regular treats can comfort your cats as they find it to have a really great taste.
If your cat has teeth problems, you should feed it a treat that freshens his breath; make sure it has chlorophyll in it, but you need to remember that dental treats don’t replace your regular oral care program. You can practice good behaviors with treats, such as providing cat treats when going through the cat flap, snuggling with you on the couch, or coming into the house when called. However, it is best to stop treating once your dog has learned certain behaviors, as otherwise, he will grow accustomed to them. Instead, please keep them pleased by giving them praise and enjoyable ear-scratching.
It’s vital to give treats in moderation, as over-treating cats can result in weight gain or the feline turning its nose up at its regular kibble. So stick to occasional treats about two to three times per week unless you’re using food from their regular kibble.
Final Verdict
So, that was all about the difference between the three kinds of cat food you feed your pet. No matter what you prefer most, the debate on this topic is not easy to conclude. Cats are unique, and so are their food choices. Contact your veteran to consult your cat’s food habits.
