Is Dry Food Better or Wet Food?

Both dry and wet cat foods have their own benefits and drawbacks. The best choice is a combination of both and also often depends on your cat’s specific needs and preferences.

Dry Food (Kibble)

Pros	Cons
Convenience: Easy to store, measure, and serve (Buffington, 2008).	Hydration: Low moisture content, which causes dehydration in cats even if they drink a lot of water (Zoran, 2002).
Cost-Effective: Generally cheaper than wet food (Buffington, 2008).	Quality: Dry foods tend to contain more fillers and carbohydrates, due to the nature of their texture and the ingredients required to make it (Buffington 2008).
Feeders: Can be used in an automatic feeder when a pet parent is outside the home for longer periods of time (Buffington 2008).	Overfeeding: Since lot of cats self nibble on dry food, there is a high tendency for them to over eat the dry food

 

Wet Food (Canned)

Pros	Cons
Hydration: Higher moisture content helps keep your cat hydrated, which is especially important for urinary and kidney health (Zoran, 2002).	Cost: More expensive than dry food (Buffington, 2008).
Taste : Often more appealing to cats due to its texture and aroma (Buffington, 2008).	Storage: Requires refrigeration after opening and has a shorter shelf life once opened (Buffington 2008).
Nutrients: Typically contains more protein and fewer carbohydrates making it a better choice for weight management and preventing diabetes (Zoran, 2002).	High involvement: Since wet food can't be left open in air, it needs the availability of cat parent to open it and pour to feed

 

Combination Feeding

Many cat owners opt for a combination of both dry and wet food to balance the benefits. This approach can provide variety, ensure hydration, and help with dental health. The good thing about combination feeding is also that it provides a difference in textures to the cat which can make meal time more appealing for finicky cats. It can also increase their curiosity and make meal time more enriching for the cat, which has positive effects on their mental health. 

Key Considerations

• Health Needs: Cats with urinary issues, kidney problems, or diabetes may benefit from the higher moisture content of wet food (Zoran, 2002). 

• Palatability: If a cat is a picky eater, wet food might be more appealing (Buffington 2008). 

Smylo ensures both hydration and palatable food by formulating fantastic wet cat food in conjunction with veterinarians and doing palatability testing with various cats to fine tune the food to its ideal version. Ultimately, some things to keep in mind are:

Feeding only dry food can cause dehydration in cats long term, and due to the high heat process that dry food undergoes during production, the nutritional value in dry food is reduced as well (Zoran, 2002). However dry food also has certain benefits; a well-formulated dry food recipe with the appropriate texture can also benefit dental health by mechanically removing plaque.

On the other hand, wet food is beneficial in terms of high protein and moisture content, but also is more cumbersome to feed and expensive. Therefore either feeding a combination of wet food and dry food will prove to be beneficial, or solely wet food as it provides the level of moisture needed to maintain cats’ hydration levels and can be more appealing for cats as well (Zoran, 2002).

Note: Please consult your vet before making any major diet changes.

References 

1. Buffington, C. A. T. (2008). Dry foods and risk of disease in cats. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 10(2), 110-119.
2. Zoran, D. L. (2002). The carnivore connection to nutrition in cats. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 221(11), 1559-1567.