Cat house owners usually ask the query, is dry or moist meals higher for cats? The reply isn’t black and white. Each kinds of cat meals have upsides and disadvantages. On this article on moist versus dry cat meals, we’ll go over all the professionals and cons that will help you resolve which is greatest in your cat.
Whether or not the meals is dry or moist, search for meals that meet AAFCO requirements. All industrial cat meals—whether or not dry or moist—present all of the vitamin cats want, so long as the meals meets the requirements established by the Affiliation of American Feed Management Officers (AAFCO). The AAFCO label on a bag of cat meals signifies that the meals is nutritionally full and balanced for the cat’s life stage.
The life phases embrace grownup, kitten, pregnant and lactating females, and all life phases (any cat of any age).
Is Moist or Dry Meals Higher for Cats?
In idea, it shouldn’t matter if a cat eats dry meals or moist meals, however every kind has its advantages and disadvantages.
Additionally Learn: The ten Wholesome Finest Dry Cat Meals of 2024
Dry cat meals, often known as dry kibble, is a extremely processed, shelf-stable meals. Dry cat meals is sweet for a very long time (typically a yr or longer) within the unique sealed bag. Search for a “greatest by” or “use by” date on the bag to seek out out if an unopened bag continues to be recent.
As soon as opened, it’s greatest to make use of dry cat meals inside about six weeks. Though you is likely to be tempted to switch your dry cat meals right into a plastic container, it’s greatest to maintain it within the unique bag, which has a particular liner designed to maximise the freshness of the meals. Fold the highest of the bag down all the way in which, squeezing out as a lot air as you’ll be able to, and clip it closed, then retailer the bag in a cool, dry place.
Moist cat meals, often known as canned meals, is usually much less processed than dry cat meals, but in addition very shelf-stable. Unopened cans, trays, and pouches of moist cat meals final a very long time, often a number of years.
Additionally Learn: The ten Finest Canned, Delicate, & Moist Cat Meals of 2024
As with dry meals, search for a “greatest by” or “use by” date on the can, tray, or pouch to find out if unopened moist cat meals continues to be good. As soon as opened, moist cat meals is very perishable. Moist meals will be overlooked for only some hours earlier than it’s going to spoil, and leftovers should be refrigerated. Use moist cat meals inside 5 to seven days of opening it.
Dry Cat Meals Execs and Cons
Dry cat meals is handy to retailer, simple to serve, and nutrient-dense. Kirsten McCarthy / Cats.com
On the flip aspect, in contrast with moist cat meals, dry cat meals is often greater in carbohydrates and has much less protein (particularly animal protein). Though cats can digest and take in helpful vitamins from carbohydrates, cats haven’t any minimal dietary requirement for carbohydrates.
Cats are obligate carnivores, which means that they require animal protein of their weight loss plan. Wild cats eat little or no carbs, if any, as their weight loss plan consists primarily of consuming small prey animals.
These small prey animals have excessive quantities of protein and reasonable quantities of fats. Dry cat meals is a much less pure kind of weight loss plan for cats, though home cats have advanced to dwell and thrive on dry cat meals.
Though you will have heard that dry meals is best in your cat’s tooth as a result of it scrapes the tooth clear, that is typically unfaithful for a number of causes. For instance, the kibble is so small that it crumbles simply in a cat’s mouth. Additionally, cats swallow quite than chew their meals, in order that they’re not munching on dry meals.
On the whole, dry cat meals is not any higher in your cat’s tooth than moist meals, and it no extra retains a cat’s tooth clear than consuming crackers or cereal would hold your tooth clear.
Learn Extra: Finest Dental Cat Treats
Nonetheless, some dry cat meals have been specifically developed to assist take away tartar from a cat’s tooth. These particular dental well being meals, which have obtained the seal of acceptance from the Veterinary Oral Well being Council (VOHC), embrace these listed right here:
An enormous plus of dry meals is that you may hold it out all day. That is nice for cats that wish to nibble all through the day. Nonetheless, cats don’t precisely have a way of portion management, so free-choice feeding can simply add on further kilos. Cats which can be obese mustn’t have their dry meals overlooked all day.
Dry Cat Meals Execs
- Reasonably priced
- Lengthy shelf life
- Handy (simple to serve and will be overlooked)
- Extra energy-dense than moist meals
- Many cats love the crunch and style
Dry Cat Meals Cons
- Decrease water content material than moist meals
- Accommodates much less protein, particularly animal protein, than most moist meals
- Accommodates extra carbohydrates than moist meals
- Could also be troublesome for cats with dental points or lacking tooth
- Cats could overeat if the meals stays within the bowl all day
Moist Cat Meals Execs and Cons
Moist cat meals provides many well being advantages, together with excessive water content material and extra protein than dry cat meals. Kirsten McCarthy / Cats.com
Due to further water content material, moist meals is nice for cats that want to extend their water consumption, resembling cats with urinary tract illness like kidney illness, urinary crystals, or cystitis (irritation of the bladder). Low-carbohydrate diets are typically advisable for diabetic cats, and moist cat meals typically meets that requirement.
Moist cat meals additionally accommodates extra protein than dry cat meals, particularly animal protein. Cats, being obligate carnivores, are made to eat and digest excessive quantities of animal protein, reasonable quantities of fats, and minimal quantities of carbohydrates. Moist meals checks all of these containers properly.
Many cats love the style of moist meals, particularly choosy eaters and older cats. Older cats with dental issues profit from the mushy texture of moist meals.
One of many largest disadvantages of moist cat meals is price. Despite the fact that moist cat meals’s excessive moisture content material is an effective factor, all that further water weight makes the meals much less nutrient-dense. So, it’s important to purchase and feed extra moist meals to verify your cat will get all the vitamins they want. Additionally, ounce for ounce, moist meals prices greater than dry meals.
One other draw back of moist meals is that it’s rapidly perishable. It’s a must to decide up your cat’s meals after a number of hours or it’s going to spoil. This may be exhausting for cats that desire to nibble all through the day, particularly for those who’re not dwelling and may’t feed three or 4 small meals a day.
Leftovers should be promptly refrigerated. When saved within the fridge in an hermetic container, some industrial meals firms state that opened canned meals would possibly final so long as 5 to seven days. Nonetheless, it’s greatest to make use of up leftover moist meals inside 72 hours, so keep on prime of what’s left within the fridge. Marking the date on the can of meals may help you try this.
Moist Cat Meals Execs
- Larger water content material than dry meals
- Extra protein, particularly animal protein, than most dry meals
- Fewer carbohydrates than dry meals
- Lengthy shelf life when unopened
- Superb taste
- Good for cats with dental points or lacking tooth
Moist Cat Meals Cons
- Costly
- Much less energy-dense than dry meals
- Rapidly perishable as soon as opened (should be refrigerated)
Mixing Moist and Dry Cat Meals: The Better of Each Worlds
If you happen to’re torn about whether or not to feed your cat dry meals or moist meals, contemplate providing each. You would possibly serve one meal of dry meals within the morning earlier than you permit for work, then provide moist meals within the night as soon as you come dwelling. Or, in case your cat tends to eat her meals suddenly, combine the 2 sorts collectively. Any quantity of moist meals can increase your cat’s general weight loss plan with further water and protein.
You probably have a kitten, provide dry and moist meals early on. Cats often develop preferences for style and texture early in kittenhood. In case your kitten eats solely dry meals, she would possibly flip her nostril up at moist meals sooner or later (and vice versa).
Additionally Learn: The ten Finest Kitten Meals of 2024
For all cats, at all times provide loads of recent, clear water.
Ask your veterinarian for recommendation if you’re nonetheless questioning about the perfect meals in your cat, particularly in case your cat has particular well being points like kidney failure or diabetes.
Often Requested Questions
Do cats want moist meals every single day?
Whether or not dry or moist, wholesome cats get all of the vitamins they want from any type of cat meals, supplied that the meals has the Affiliation of American Feed Management Officers (AAFCO) label on it. This label signifies that the meals is nutritionally full and balanced for the cat’s life stage (the life phases embrace upkeep for an grownup cat, kitten and pregnant/lactating females, or all life phases).
Nonetheless, moist cat meals does present the advantages of additional water and protein in a cat’s weight loss plan, so it is helpful to feed moist meals every single day for those who can.
Can cats dwell on dry meals solely?
Sure, so long as the pet meals is high-quality and is labeled full and balanced in line with AAFCO requirements.
Ought to cats eat each moist and dry meals?
As a result of there are professionals and cons to each moist and dry cat meals, feeding each kinds of meals could provide the perfect of each worlds: the additional water and protein from the moist meals and the comfort of dry meals.
Is moist meals unhealthy for cats’ tooth?
The oft-told idea that dry meals is best for a cat’s tooth than moist meals is generally unfaithful. Dry cat meals cleans a cat’s tooth no higher than crackers or cereal clear a human’s tooth. Feeding a cat solely moist meals isn’t unhealthy for the tooth. Nonetheless, particular dental diets that include the Veterinary Oral Well being Council (VOHC) seal have been confirmed to assist dental well being and hold the tooth cleaner. All cats ought to have their tooth brushed each day, or at the least a number of occasions every week, with a pet-safe toothpaste and cleaned professionally by the veterinarian at the least annually.
