Photo by David Yu by Nomi Berger
Does your favorite feline give her dry food a “paws up” one day and a “paws down” the next?
If so – particularly senior cats -- consider making mealtimes more consistently paw-leasurable by mixing wet and dry cat foods together. Different from adding a topper, which is often used to boost certain nutrients or to help cats gain weight, combining wet and dry foods both increases palatability and improves a cat’s appetite.
Because most cats seldom drink enough water in a day, this can cause dehydration which, in turn, can lead to health problems, including urinary tract and/or kidney issues. Wet food can help correct this. Studies have shown that wet canned food is typically made up of 75 percent water and semi-moist canned food is made up of 35 percent water. By contrast, dry cat food is made up of a mere 10 – 12 percent water. Therefore, adding wet food to your cat’s current dry food greatly increases her daily water intake.
Highly palatable for most finicky felines, canned wet food features fabulously fragrant meat combined with temptingly tasty ingredients – much like canned tuna for humans from the grocery store. And given the abundance of water that wet food contains, cats will feel fuller ever so much faster. Not to mention how much this helps them manage their weight since they’re consuming fewer overall calories.
The only drawbacks: wet food is more expensive than dry food and is harder to store once the can has been opened.
On the other hand, dry cat food is similar to dry dog food in that various ingredients are combined, extruded, cooked and then subsequently dried into bite-size chunks or small pieces of kibble. One of dry food’s major advantages is the price: it’s typically less expensive per ounce than wet food – depending, however, on the brand that you buy.
Dry food, with its crunchy kibble, especially some vet-prescribed brands, are formulated specifically to support cats’ dental health by helping clean their teeth and reduce the build-up of tartar and plaque. That said, these specially formulated brands should never replace regular, professional tooth cleaning and dental checkups.
Dry food is also easy to store and lasts longer than wet food once it’s been opened, making it ideal to leave out during the day for cats who prefer to graze.
Combining wet and dry foods gives cat owners the best of both worlds: the hydration and tastiness of wet food coupled with the dental benefits and cost savings of dry food. The key to success, however, is finding the right ratio of wet to dry food for your own feline friend.
The “rule of thumb:” Combine 70% dry food with 30% wet food, although very wet foods may call for a ratio of 75% dry and 25% wet. The ideal ratio may also depend on your own cat’s needs. Older cats, for example, may require extra wet food to keep them hydrated and entice them to eat. But, to err on the side of caution, it’s always best to follow the advice of your vet. Then, start making a slow transition to the dry/wet combination.
Begin by adding a smaller amount of wet food to your cat’s usual dry food and allow her several days to get used to the combination and prevent any possible stomach upset. Then, over the next week, gradually add more wet food to the dry food until you reach your targeted ratio.
And, paw-lease, always remember that patience pays off!
Does your favorite feline give her dry food a “paws up” one day and a “paws down” the next?
If so – particularly senior cats -- consider making mealtimes more consistently paw-leasurable by mixing wet and dry cat foods together. Different from adding a topper, which is often used to boost certain nutrients or to help cats gain weight, combining wet and dry foods both increases palatability and improves a cat’s appetite.
Because most cats seldom drink enough water in a day, this can cause dehydration which, in turn, can lead to health problems, including urinary tract and/or kidney issues. Wet food can help correct this. Studies have shown that wet canned food is typically made up of 75 percent water and semi-moist canned food is made up of 35 percent water. By contrast, dry cat food is made up of a mere 10 – 12 percent water. Therefore, adding wet food to your cat’s current dry food greatly increases her daily water intake.
Highly palatable for most finicky felines, canned wet food features fabulously fragrant meat combined with temptingly tasty ingredients – much like canned tuna for humans from the grocery store. And given the abundance of water that wet food contains, cats will feel fuller ever so much faster. Not to mention how much this helps them manage their weight since they’re consuming fewer overall calories.
The only drawbacks: wet food is more expensive than dry food and is harder to store once the can has been opened.
On the other hand, dry cat food is similar to dry dog food in that various ingredients are combined, extruded, cooked and then subsequently dried into bite-size chunks or small pieces of kibble. One of dry food’s major advantages is the price: it’s typically less expensive per ounce than wet food – depending, however, on the brand that you buy.
Dry food, with its crunchy kibble, especially some vet-prescribed brands, are formulated specifically to support cats’ dental health by helping clean their teeth and reduce the build-up of tartar and plaque. That said, these specially formulated brands should never replace regular, professional tooth cleaning and dental checkups.
Dry food is also easy to store and lasts longer than wet food once it’s been opened, making it ideal to leave out during the day for cats who prefer to graze.
Combining wet and dry foods gives cat owners the best of both worlds: the hydration and tastiness of wet food coupled with the dental benefits and cost savings of dry food. The key to success, however, is finding the right ratio of wet to dry food for your own feline friend.
The “rule of thumb:” Combine 70% dry food with 30% wet food, although very wet foods may call for a ratio of 75% dry and 25% wet. The ideal ratio may also depend on your own cat’s needs. Older cats, for example, may require extra wet food to keep them hydrated and entice them to eat. But, to err on the side of caution, it’s always best to follow the advice of your vet. Then, start making a slow transition to the dry/wet combination.
Begin by adding a smaller amount of wet food to your cat’s usual dry food and allow her several days to get used to the combination and prevent any possible stomach upset. Then, over the next week, gradually add more wet food to the dry food until you reach your targeted ratio.
And, paw-lease, always remember that patience pays off!
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