If you already own a cat, you might be wondering if it needs wet food every day. Do they even like it? Is it good enough for their health? Well, the good news is that cats prefer having wet food as it makes chewing easier for them. But should you feed your cat wet food everyday?
It is recommendable to feed a cat wet food every day as it contains 78% more moisture than regular cat food. Since cats also do not always prefer plain water, wet food can be a solution to keep them hydrated every day. It adds more variety to the cat food, so it makes eating interesting.
However, the feeding habits of every cat may be different. Your cat may have other preferences and requirements. Thus, understanding its food habits is essential for you. Give this article a quick read to know whether your cat needs wet food every day or not!
How Much Wet Food Does Your Cat Need?
On average, a cat will need around 410 calories of wet food per day. It is measured at almost 1.4 cups. However, it will still depend on the weight and growth of the cat.
The weight of the cat will mainly determine how much wet cat food it needs. Along with the weight of the cat, you also need to take into account its physical condition. It matters whether your cat is healthy or skinny. For instance, a muscular cat with less body fat will require more wet food than an overweight cat. It is because it needs to maintain that ideal weight.
On the other hand, a small-boned overweight cat of the same weight requires comparatively fewer calories of wet food. A cat with a weight exceeding its optimal weight range needs to be fed according to its ideal weight.
Age is another significant factor when feeding cats wet food. To support the growth, kittens will need more wet food than a fully grown cat. It will help absorb the highest level of nutrients. Similarly, playful cats will need more wet food as they often get thirsty. High amounts of wet food will ensure proper hydration and strength.
In particular, kittens will require 200 calories of wet food per day. House cats with a little body fat and a weight of five to twenty pounds will require around 170 to 440 calories of wet food per day. With the same weight calculations, overweight house cats will need 180 to 310 calories of wet food.
Pregnant cats, on the other hand, require a greater amount of wet food to sustain their kittens as well as themselves. A pregnant cat of 10 pounds will need at least 600 calories of wet food a day. Double the amount for a 20-pound pregnant cat; it will need 1200 calories of wet food every single day. Particularly, the Sheba Perfect Portions Paté of 1.8kg is a good option for pregnant cats.
What Are the Benefits And Negatives Of Wet Cat Food?
Feeding your cat with wet cat food every day comes with both benefits and negatives. Before starting a wet food diet, it is necessary to consider the negative sides. It will prepare you for the consequences.
The main advantage of wet cat food is that 78% of it is water. Usually, cats tend to avoid drinking water. If this is the case, wet cat food can be the only source of moisture and protein. Feeding them wet food will keep them hydrated. It will keep their kidneys and bladders clean, which eventually maintains a balanced urine pH level.
Wet cat food has textures and ingredients cats like. Unlike dry cat food, it has a uniform texture throughout the whole meal. There are shredded pieces of meat in the wet food can, which contains a strong smell and flavor. It enhances the taste of the cat food. Thus, cats get more interested in having wet food.
It is also easy to chew. It is especially beneficial for older cats that have weak gums. Other than just older cats, it will also be better for cats with dental issues or cats that lack a few teeth. They can easily swallow the food without having to chew them.
However, it comes with few disadvantages. Since it contains 65% to 80% moisture, it may get damaged if kept outside the refrigerator. Thus, you cannot keep it out for more than 30 to 60 minutes. Bacteria start to grow after 60 minutes, which will make the food harmful and inedible.
Feeding it to cats can prove to be messy. It may make the house dirty, for which you might need to clean the place more often. In addition, it is also more expensive than dry food. Thus, it may not be affordable if you’re tight on budget.
Should You Mix Wet and Dry Cat Food?
It is safe and healthy to mix wet and dry cat food to maintain a balanced nutritious diet. Both of them have distinctive benefits that will fill your cat with protein, vitamins, etc.
Dry cat foods contain more nutrients and vitamins than wet food. On the other hand, wet food contains more protein that can help improve the level of activities cats perform.
Customizing a meal plan according to the cat’s needs fulfills the necessary health requirements of cats. For example, feeding an overweight cat with a 70:30 wet to low-calorie dry food ratio will aid faster growth.
The combination of dry and wet cat food will provide both hydration and a high energy density. Since wet cat food contains about 78% moisture, it will fulfill a cat’s need for water. Feeding it only wet food will not provide enough energy. Thus, it needs dry cat food as well. It will add enough calorie intake to the diet, providing energy to the cat.
Feeding cats only wet food will make it easy for them to swallow. But it will leave a stain on their teeth. This is why a cat needs dry food. Dry cat food cleans their teeth by removing plaque, which avoids the need of brushing their teeth frequently. Hence, feeding them both will allow them to swallow quickly and remove plaque from their teeth.
Do Cats Prefer Warm Or Cold Wet Food?
Cats prefer warm wet food as its temperature is close to the body temperature of their prey. They also prefer wet food at room temperature as it suits their body temperature the best. Having cold wet food causes vomiting and stomach issues, so most cats will avoid it.
They mostly prefer warm wet food because the body temperature of their prey is usually warm. Wet food at room temperature is close to their body temperature, so it takes less time for the food to digest. It avoids stomach irritation.
Moreover, warm wet cat food attracts the cats as they offer more flavor. Warming up cold wet food will also release more smell and flavor. As a result, the food will taste better for cats.
Kittens prefer warm wet food as well. It is because they are used to having their mother’s milk, which is at body temperature. The body temperature of the mother cats is usually warm. Thus, providing them with warm wet cat food would be a better option.
However, some cats may prefer cold wet food over warm wet food. Although they might vomit after consuming it, it will not harm them as it may only irritate their stomach lining.
Final Thoughts
If you were wondering about, should you feed your cat wet food everyday, the answer should be well understood by now. Cats are delicate creatures; they need moisture from wet food every day.
Regularly feeding them nutritious food will only improve their health. Thank you for stopping by; wishing you and your cat good health.
If you are looking for ideas on what to feed your cat in the morning you may want to checkout our post on what do cats like to eat for breakfast.