A common dilemma faced by cat owners is about whether to feed them dry or wet cat food. Your cat’s diet is very integral to his/her overall health and it is important to pay close attention to its preparation/contents. Dry food is generally preferred to wet food for cats, however, a mixture of both is also a popular choice for cat food.
There are a host of commercial products that comprise both dry and wet cat food and it is important to choose wisely for your cat. In addition, some manufacturers also prepare ‘moist’ food, which is in between the dry and wet cat food. Feeding your cat dry food or wet food has been an ongoing debate.
You should therefore also weigh your cat food options in terms of your pet’s needs. Your cat may be better suited to a dry diet and may not make the change to wet food as easily and vice versa. There are also a considerable number of advantages for both dry and wet foods for cats that should be taken into account.
For instance, dry food is best suited for the good dental health of your cat. Dry food requires chewing and this helps satisfy your cat’s natural chewing urge. Dry food also helps exercise your cat’s jaw muscles, by making him/her chew dry cat food. Your cat’s teeth may be filled by tartar and plaque that can effectively be removed with dry cat food. Pet dental disorders happen naturally and can be treated with proper care. The dry food scrapes against your cat’s teeth and helps dislodge accumulated plaque and tartar. Dry food therefore also helps in preventing food from lodging itself in your cat’s teeth. Food particles, tartar and plaque are serious dental problems that may cause decay or severe pain for your cat. Dry food is therefore essential for your cat’s health. Dry food also makes your cat thirsty, thereby making him/her drink more water. It has also been argued that wet food is healthier for a cat. Wet food is closer to the natural cat diet. For instance, wet food is usually high in fats, protein and moisture and this is very similar to the cat’s natural diet. The natural cat diet thus includes food that is low in carbohydrates and high in protein. Wet cat food is also beneficial in the treatment of dehydration and helps retain moisture in the body.
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