Should you feed your cat wet food on a daily basis? Yes, you can feed your cat wet food every day!. Wet food has more meat and more water, therefore you’re giving your cat extra water which they really need. Cats were not designed to eat dry food, thus they don’t obtain water from eating it.
Naturally, Cats consume wet foods rich in protein (fresh meats and fish) but they are now been fed commercial dry foods with too many carbohydrates, causing them to develop metabolic problems as humans do. Give your cat a carnivorous diet. If you know how to make it yourself, then go ahead and do so.
Wet foods have not been proven to cause health issues but dry foods can cause health problems. However, most vets say it’s a good idea to feed your cat a mixed meal. At different periods of the day, feed your cat both wet and dry foods. Dry food lacks the necessary moisture, but it does help in the prevention of tartar and other dental issues, so I recommend providing both wet and dry food at different times of the day. This ensures that your cat gets enough moisture in her diet, as well as the dental advantages of dry food, while also providing variety to keep her engaged.
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Cats are neophiliacs which means they enjoy trying new things. They may become bored if they consume the same meal, in the same way, every day. Combining wet and dry cat food for a meal or feeding them separately is a fantastic approach to provide your cat with the variety she not only craves but also needs.
Why Do Cats Need Wet Food?
Many vets advise that cats primarily or entirely live on wet foods. This is due to a number of factors. To begin with, cats are obligate carnivores and were not designed to consume large amounts of carbohydrates (if any). Dry food will always have a higher carbohydrate content than wet food. Dry food eating contributes to obesity and other health challenges in many cats.
Secondly, most cats aren’t large water drinkers and are constantly on the verge of becoming dehydrated. Water is naturally found in wet foods, which benefits the kidneys, urinary system, and overall health.
5 Best Wet Food brands For Your Cat
Feeding your cat wet food every day is very necessary. Here are some of the best and most recommended wet cat food brands on Amazon:
Personally, I use Purina wet foods for my cat. I also try to introduce other high-quality wet foods to my cat from time to time.
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Why Wet Foods Are More Beneficial To Your Cat Than Dry Foods?
Some cat owners avoid giving their cats wet food because it can be messy, and the fact that the opened package must be refrigerated. However, apart from being delicious, there are numerous advantages to eating wet food:
- Wet food have a lot more moisture in it. Cats have a low thirst drive in general, and when fed primarily dry food, many cats can develop chronic dehydration.
- Wet food is more similar to a cat’s “natural” diet in terms of composition. Domestication hasn’t changed cats nearly as much as it has other animals (such as dogs), and their digestive tract and food requirements are similar to those of their wild counterparts.
- Because wet food is exposed to less heat during preparation, it has less nutritional and protein breakdown. Which means wet foods contain more proteins and nutrients! Wet food often outperforms dry food nutritionally when dry matter/moisture content is taken into account (as far as fat, protein, and the like are concerned).
- Along with reducing the danger of dehydration, greater moisture content of wet food reduces the likelihood of urinary tract infections.
- Because they don’t have to be molded into pellets, wet feeds tend to have fewer “fillers”.
- Obese cats usually respond better to a wet food diet than to a dry food diet. Wet food is generally associated with being rich and luxurious, however a good (or even average) quality wet food will give more nutrition and include fewer fillers than your ordinary dry food.
The only benefit of dry food is that it is cheaper, can help clean your cat’s teeth and produce less plaque/tartar; otherwise, moist food is preferable for all of the reasons described above. However, you can always brush your cat’s teeth by yourself.
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How Much Wet Food Can I Feed My Cat?
The caloric requirements of your cat are determined by a number of factors. Your cat’s weight can help you figure out how much to feed him. However, determining your cat’s bodily condition is critical. A healthy weight for a lean, muscular cat with a huge frame is 15 pounds. To stay at a healthy weight, this cat will need more calories. A 15-pound cat with a more petite build, on the other hand, will be overweight and require fewer calories. The overweight cat should be fed based on her desired weight rather than her current weight.
The amount of calories required is also determined by your cat’s age and level of activity. An adult or senior cat requires far more calories than a growing kitten. An active cat who runs and plays regularly will require more calories than a cat who is mostly inactive. A nursing cat requires additional calories in order to make milk and maintain her health. Check out the image below:
If you want to be precise when estimating how many calories to feed your cat, start by determining how many calories your cat requires. A broad nutritional guideline for cats is provided by the National Research Council:
Kittens
- Young kittens (2-6 months old) are growing rapidly and have high nutritional needs. General guidelines for this age group are outlined in the chart above.
- Be sure to feed a diet formulated for kittens since they have different requirements for calcium and other minerals than adult cats.
- Nutritional needs will begin to drop off after 6 months of age for most kittens as growth slows.
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Lean Domestic Cats
- A 5-pound cat with a lean body type needs about 170 calories per day.
- A 10-pound cat with a lean body type needs about 280 calories per day.
- A 15-pound cat with a lean body type needs about 360 calories per day.
- A 20-pound cat with a lean body type needs about 440 calories per day.
Overweight Domestic Cats
- An overweight 5-pound cat needs about 180 calories per day.
- An overweight 10-pound cat needs about 240 calories per day.
- An overweight 15-pound cat needs about 280 calories per day.
- An overweight 20-pound cat needs about 310 calories per day.
Pregnant Cats
- Pregnant cats should consume their usual diet and number of calories until 4-5 weeks after breeding. They can then be switched to a kitten or growth diet and the amount fed should be increased.
- A 5-pound pregnant cat needs about 240 calories per day.
- A 10-pound pregnant cat needs about 390 calories per day.
- A 15-pound pregnant cat needs about 510 calories per day.
- A 20-pound pregnant cat needs about 610 calories per day.
Nursing Cats
- Nursing queens should be free-fed a growth or lactation diet.
- The queen’s calorie intake will be determined by the number and age of the kittens.
- Some queens with large litters may need to eat 3-4 times their usual number of calories.
- Unlike dogs, cats will consistently lose weight while nursing their kittens despite eating as much as they can.
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Conclusion
Can I feed my cat wet food every day? The answer is YES!. Wet foods are needed by cats on a daily and they are more beneficial to your cat’s health than dry foods. Naturally, cats were created to eat wet foods in the wild and the same thing applies to domestic cats. Feed your cat less dry foods as they can cause metabolic problems.
It is always recommended by vets that you feed your cat different foods each day. You can feed him wet food in the morning, dry food in the afternoon, and wet food in the evening. Sometimes, you can mix both dry and wet food together and serve your cat. Giving different foods each day ensures your cat gets all the nutrients they need to function optimally. Always discuss issues concerning your cat with your Vet.
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The medical information provided in this article is provided as an information resource only. This information does not create any patient-physician relationship and should not be used as a substitute for professional diagnosis and treatment.