Wet or dry cat food?
Both dry and wet food is suitable as a complete food and usually meets the guidelines that have been drawn up for cat food. However, wet food is the closest to the original feline diet of mice, birds and other small animals that are eaten with skin and hair. It contains everything a cat needs, including plenty of fluids. That is why a cat naturally hardly ever needs to drink.
Wet food is, therefore, preferred for cats. Optimal cat food contains a lot of moisture, a lot of protein and as little as possible vegetables, herbs and carbohydrates such as starch. According to experts, dry kibble is also fine in principle but it is not the ideal food for a cat. Dry food may be slightly better for the cat’s teeth.
Wet cat food pros
- Similar to the natural diet
- High moisture content
- Low in carbohydrates such as starch
Wet cat food cons
- Odor
- Spoils faster, so you can't leave it out for long
- Creates a lot of mess
Dry cat food pros
- Little mess
- Little smell
- Spoils less quickly, so you can leave it out for quite a long time
Dry cat food cons
- Low moisture content (this allows cats to become dehydrated faster)
- High carbohydrate content
- Looks less like the natural feline diet
Cat food composition
In addition to a lot of moisture, your cat mainly needs high-quality proteins and fats because it is a carnivore.
Grains and vegetables are unnecessary. Cats naturally ingest very little on none of these because they only eat their prey.
In terms of protein composition, the amino acids (building blocks of proteins) taurine and methionine are especially important. A taurine deficiency can lead to blindness and heart failure in the long term.
Furthermore, a number of vitamins and minerals are essential. For example zinc, vitamins A and E, calcium and phosphorus. However, too much calcium or phosphorus can also be harmful.
Check feces, coat and allergies
To check whether your cat is getting the right nutrition, it is best to look at the feces. Is it too thin or too strong? Then it may be wise to switch to another feed. Do this gradually. In the long run, coat quality is also an indicator of good nutrition. A bad coat can indicate a vitamin or mineral deficiency. If your cat has itching or gastrointestinal complaints, this may indicate an allergy.