Dry Cat Food vs Wet Cat Food – Which One is Better

Ahh, the age-old question – dry cat food vs wet cat food that almost all purr-ents ask themselves and their vets, an everlasting debate that has been going for ages.

While both types of food have their own set of pros and cons, what may work for one furry baby, may not be ideal for another.

With that in mind, let’s take a deeper look into the advantages and disadvantages of each to help you make an easier decision for your furry little friend.

Dry Cat Food Benefits

Dry food is the go-to food for all cats, regardless of age, size, or breed. It is the best choice, especially for indoor cats, as it is lower in calories and allows for free feeding, meaning you can leave the food in the bowl throughout the day for your cat to nibble anytime it wants.

One of the biggest pros of dry food is its potential to aid with dental health in cats. The crunchiness of the dry food helps scrape away some of the tartar and plaque that may build up on your cat’s teeth.

However, dry food is not a substitute for dental care, but it can be a quite helpful part of your furry baby’s oral hygiene routine.

Keep in mind, though, that dry food helps with teeth but not with hydration. This is one of the biggest differences when comparing wet vs dry cat food. So to stay hydrated, make sure your cat drinks lots of water, because dry food does not have high moisture content.

Another very positive aspect of dry cat food is its shelf life. Dry food is super convenient as it can be easy to store, you can stock up large amounts, and you will never have to worry about spoiling it.

Wet Cat Food Benefits

Wet food is, probably, our cats’ favorite type of food because it is very juicy, moist, and overly tasty. It isn’t a magical fix, though, but it has quite a few benefits that are very important for cats.

Wet food is packed with moisture which is ideal for cats who do not drink a lot of water on their own. The extra hydration levels present in wet cat food, vs dry food in comparison, is excellent to improve the urinary tract health and may prevent issues like infections or urinary crystals.

With rich, soft, and savory flavors, this type of food is more appealing to cats and purr-ents alike. It is packed with protein and has low levels of carbs, although it has high levels of taurine as well.

That said, while there are many benefits to wet food, please be wary of feeding your furry babies too much wet food as it can quickly bulk them up and make them more aggressive than normal.

This is one of the most important disadvantages of wet cat food and it was the exact case with our Kiki as well. We noticed every time we gave her wet cat food, she’d then bulk up and become very aggressive. Once we consulted our local vet, we switched to dry food only with low levels of taurine, and then our Kiki turned back to the sweet little peach who was very calm, lovable, and affectionate.

How to Find the Right Balance

Like we said before, there is no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to choosing the type of cat food to feed your cat. It all comes down to your cat’s needs and preferences, as some cats thrive on dry food only, while others enjoy wet food or a mix of both.

What you can do is balance the foods out by mixing wet and dry cat food. To do this, start off by feeding your cat dry food only and every now and then put wet food on the plate and check how your cat reacts.

However, before you do anything, make sure to consult your local vet, especially if you have any specific health concerns about your cat. For example, if your cat has kidney issues and doesn’t drink a lot of water on its own, then it would be a wise choice to feed your cat more with wet food.

On the other hand, if your cat is like our Kiki and drinks a lot of water on its own, then feel free to feed it only dry food.

So, Which is Better – Dry Cat Food or Wet Cat Food?

Truth be told, both types of food have their own advantages and disadvantages. Dry food offers convenience and has many health benefits, while wet food provides hydration and wins every taste department.

Our verdict sways towards dry cat food, though, with wet cat food being given only occasionally. We have seen this in our two cats (Kiki and our newest kitten member, Lili), and the benefits of eating dry food only are immense.

Lastly, make sure to consult with your vet and test different types of food to see what your cat prefers as well. Hope you enjoyed our dry cat food vs wet cat food comparison article and it helps you to better understand and feed your furry little baby.

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