Dry food, wet food or both? Find out about the advantages and disadvantages of the different types of food and how you can ensure a healthy, species-appropriate diet for your cat.
Wet versus dry food for cats
Every cat has its own preferences when it comes to choosing food. Some prefer wet food, others like it crunchy and dry. But there are also many cats that like both. Basically, cats can be fed a healthy and species-appropriate diet with both high-quality wet and dry food if it is a complete food.A complete food is a food that contains all the essential nutrients, including minerals and vitamins, that a cat needs on a daily basis. Feeding wet food has a number of advantages in cat nutrition. Find out what these are here.
Natural feeding: wet food resembles prey animals
Cats are carnivores and need high-quality proteins - but of course they also need liquid. The mouse, as the cat's natural prey animal, primarily provides proteins, fats and minerals and is regarded as a model for a species-appropriate cat diet.
Species-appropriate cat food should therefore contain a high proportion of meat with high-quality protein sources and taurine. Vegetable ingredients can be included in small amounts, but do not have to be. It is important that the food is produced without the addition of sugar, soy and flavor enhancers and does not contain any artificial colors or preservatives.
How much wet food should my cat eat?
In order to provide your cat with a species-appropriate diet, you should make sure that your cat's daily amount of food is divided into several meals. But: How much wet food should a cat eat every day? The packaging of the cat food always contains a feeding recommendation and information for the cat owner as to whether it is a complete food or a supplementary food.
The daily amount of food depends on the weight and temperament (activity) of the cat as well as the energy content of the food. The energy content of wet food can vary greatly. With Carny Adult Beef + Chicken, the amount of food for a cat weighing 4 kilograms - depending on temperament (activity) - is between 185 and 240 g per day if only this product is fed.
If you cannot find a feeding recommendation on the packaging, please contact the pet food manufacturer directly. Our vet, Dr. Radicke, will be happy to help you calculate the ideal amount of food. You can contact her using our vet form.
Wet food provides cats with fluids
Experience has shown that cats tend to drink very little. Unlike dogs, cats' bodies are designed to absorb fluids primarily through food. Wet food has several advantages in this respect.
Wet food has a much higher moisture content than dry food. It consists of more than two thirds water - similar to meat. Cats that mainly eat wet food therefore need to drink less water, which is very beneficial for animals that originally come from the desert.
Large selection of wet food: which is right for my cat?
Wet food is available in different textures such as pâté, pâté, chunks in sauce or jelly as well as in many flavors and suitable for every stage of life. But which food should end up in your cat's bowl? Cat owners should pay particular attention to feeding their four-legged friend a high-quality complete food that provides the cat with all essential nutrients and minerals and is also tailored to the needs of the respective life stage.
One manufacturer that takes this into account in its recipes is animonda. The products of the animonda CARNY brand provide cats with 100% fresh, meaty ingredients. The products of the animonda Vom Feinsten brand convince gourmets with a special variety of recipes. Both brands are free from flavor enhancers, artificial colors or preservatives, sugar and soy. In addition, the above-mentioned products have the high moisture content typical of wet food, which means that the cat is supplied with liquid as soon as it eats.
How to store wet cat food correctly
Wet food can be kept unopened for a long time - up to three years, depending on the brand. Once opened, it should be consumed as quickly as possible and stored in the fridge. Before you serve it to your cat, however, it should not be fresh out of the fridge, as cold food can irritate your pet's sensitive stomach lining. Take the food out of the fridge well before feeding so that it is at room temperature. Our tip: animonda offers practical, reusable lids for your cat's tins of wet food, so everything stays well sealed.
Advantages of wet food at a glance
- The wet food contains mainly meaty ingredients. The composition may resemble a prey animal, as is the case with animonda Vom Feinsten and Carny cat food, for example
- By feeding wet food, cats absorb liquid at the same time
- Wet food offers variety in the food bowl with different textures such as pâtés, pâtés and pieces in sauce
Dry food: crunchy cat food with benefits
Many cats love the sound of the dry food rattling around. For them, it means it's time to eat and they like to interrupt their outdoor roaming for a tasty meal. Dry food is a kibble consisting of meat and vegetable ingredients and, as a complete food, contains all the minerals and vitamins that cats need every day.
The advantages: It is particularly practical for working cat owners, as cats can help themselves to a full bowl of dry food. Wet food, on the other hand, should be eaten immediately by your cat and should not be left at room temperature or in a warmer environment for too long. Dry food keeps well if stored correctly and is ideal for the larder. Dry, cool, dark - this is the best way to store dry food. Once opened, it should also be consumed quickly or placed in a well-sealed container that is cleaned regularly to prevent food mites from settling in. Dry food is also unbeatable when it comes to your cat's dental care, as it cleans the teeth mechanically. Nibbling dry cat food stimulates saliva production - the abrasion caused by chewing can reduce tartar.
How healthy is dry food for cats?
If you feed your cat dry food, you should make sure that your cat drinks enough. In addition to the water bowl, drinking fountains for cats can also provide an additional incentive. Basically, it is important that the food for cats matches their individual preferences and nutritional requirements.
Advantages of dry food at a glance
- cats can help themselves to a bowl of dry food whenever they want during the day - ideal for working cat owners
- chewing dry food helps cats with their dental care
- dry food motivates cats to play in the fumble board
Mixed feeding: dry and wet food for your cat
If you feed your cat wet and dry food, it is important that you know the energy content of the products you are feeding so that your cat does not become overweight. A separate bowl of dry food can always be available for your cat while you feed it wet food from a different bowl in the morning and evening, for example. This model is particularly suitable for working cat owners. Just as a cat eats several meals throughout the day in the wild, it also wants to be able to eat small portions of wet and dry food again and again.
If you work but still want to spoil your cat with fresh wet food, an automatic feeder for wet food with a timer is a good investment. You fill the feeder with food in the morning, place a cold pack inside and the feeder opens at the desired time so that your cat can eat small portions.
Which is better for my cat: dry or wet food?
Whether dry, wet or mixed food - the best way to feed your cat depends entirely on your cat's individual needs and preferences. Mixed feeding could be a good way to offer your cat variety in its food bowl. Feeding wet food offers cats a wide selection of meaty ingredients and helps cats to consume enough fluids. Feeding cats dry food is convenient for the owner, but care should be taken to ensure that your cat drinks enough and that you always keep an eye on the amount of dry food offered.