Is it just as healthy to feed your cat dry food than it is to feed them canned food (ex Fancy Feast)?

Question

I am deciding whether i want to feed her dry food for breakfast and maybe some canned food for dinner. I just want to make sure that is healthy for her. Thanks

Answer 1

Trust me on this, it is a myth that it is OK to feed just dry food. Yes some cats are ok on it, but I have seen to many cats come into the vet I work at with renal(kidney) issues due to lack of hydration due to a dry food only diet. Dry cat food actually does nothing for cats teeth as most cats swallow the kibble pieces whole...if you hear them cruch it is probably the rare time they actually took to much in their mouth to swallow and had to chew. Cats mouths are not meant to chew...they are meant to tear...why do you think they dont have flat grinding molars like us? Because theirs are sharp to tear their soft meat into peices to swallow whole.

I understand your dislike of wet food, it is yicky. However, it IS essential for your pets health. Cats need the extra water in the food to get their recommended amount of fluid intake. Since cats are desert creatures by nature, they dont drink water all that often....as in nature they get all their water from the animals they eat.

Wet food does not cause obesity, cats only gain weight if they are on a grain filled diet since that many carbohydrates are not good for their system. As long as you free feed them a high quality dry food and supplement it with wet food the cat will stay slim. I have 16 rescue cats and ALL of them stay slim on this diet.

To prevent renal failure and other health issues down the line you need to feed your cats wet food. However, stay away from fish based foods, besides popular belief it is NOT good for them as it is not a natural food item. Good luck

Answer 2

Both dry and wet are good for your cats.
Most people I know feed their cats mainly dry food, and then give them wet food every once in a while as a treat.
If you decide to give your cat only dry food remember to give it more water than you think it needs because the dry food doesn't have the necessary moisture.

Answer 3

I have owned many cats in my lifetime. Knowledge comes with experience. My experience is this....if you love your pet as one of the family, then feed it the best food you can afford. Not all cat foods are equal, just as all human food is not considered healthy. Nowadays pet nutritionists work hard to ensure that dry food is as healthy as canned. Keep in mind however that dry food is much more concentrated in those nutrients so you need less of it to get the same benefits as canned food. Think of the cat though...alot of dry food can be a bit "dry" on the digestive system so make sure the cat has plenty of fresh water to drink. The occasional can of food can be given as a treat if you like...and leave the cat purring happily in your lap.

Answer 4

Dont use IAMS ( iamscruelty.com ) and its ok the feed your cat friskies or fancy feast wet food as long as they are getting a healthy dry food like Natural Balance, or Chicken Soup for the Cal lovers Soul.

Answer 5

My cats only eat dry food, sometimes they get Fancy Feast as a treat. They're healthy and chubby on the dry, lol.

Answer 6

Dry food helps with better dental care. Since most cats don't chew like dogs I feel it is the better choice. Some foods like "Fancy Feast" can cause urinary blockages in male cats. They look like crystals under the microscope. I don't think a specific food has been pointed out as the problem, but that is a commonly fed food.

Answer 7

My cat loves her healthy for teeth-fur-eyes dry food breakfast which is mixed with dry food against hairballs. Later she gets
1 small Fancy Feast -divided into two meals.

Answer 8

Dry food by itself is perfectly healthy. The people who tell you otherwise have been fooled by the packaging and advertising associated with canned food. We've been feeding our cat nothing but dry food for years, and her health is perfect.

Canned food stinks up the house, and contributes to greater litter box odor. Dry food is nutritionally complete, doesn't stink, and you don't have to clean a bunch of cat slobber off of dishes after each feeding.

Answer 9

Dry food is best.
Never feed Iams, Purina or Science Diet. They are all but poison. Read "Foods Pets Die For" by Ann N. Martin if you don't believe me. You will be shocked and amazed at what the put in pet food. It's making our pets sick.
Look into Innova Evo, California Natural, Artemis, Wellness and Felidae.
Good Luck

Answer 10

I had my cat for 15 years and all he ever ate was dry food for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I know some other people who's cats only eat soft food, and other who mix both the soft and dry food. It really depends on what your cat prefers. As long as you feed them appropriate portions regularly your cat should be fine.