Is canned cat food bad for cats?

Answer 1

No! In spite of the recalls, the answer is no.

I glanced at the list of recalled foods, and none of them are on the list of the best canned foods you can get.

I haven't yet heard what exactly the problem was, but somehow I got the impression it was with filler. The canned foods I recommend contain high quality ingredients - you could probably eat them yourself in a pinch!

I've linked the recall URL, and also my list of articles about cat nutrition.

In short, dry food is not particularly good, does NOT clean their teeth, and the only real benefit of it is to the humans who find it convenient!

Please take a few minutes to read the articles and look at the list of recommended foods.

I personally feed Natural Balance Venison & Green Pea, and both my girls and doing great!

Answer 2

Canned food is much healthier for cats than dry food, though how much healthier depends on the ingredients in the canned food. Dry food is too high in carbohydrates and plant ingredients for cats, who are obligate carnivores (meat-eaters). Dry food often contributes to obesity and digestive problems in cats - quality canned food is much more appropriate.

Since I switched my cats over from dry to mostly canned food (Wellness), my overweight cat slimmed down effortlessly, when on previous 'diet' dry foods he'd never lost weight and always seemed hungry. My cat who used to vomit all the time stopped vomiting, they don't get hairballs anymore, and their fur is amazingly soft & shiny. The difference has been dramatic. An added bonus: less poop. If your cat is eating a high-quality canned food, more of the food will be digested and less eliminated, resulting in less poop in the litterbox.

Read these links for info about canned vs. dry:
http://www.catinfo.org/
http://www.catnutrition.org/obesity.html
http://www.littlebigcat.com/index.php?action=library&act=show&item=whycatsneedcannedfood

People often suggest that dry food is better because it cleans the teeth, but that isn't entirely true. Most cats don't really chew their food. My cats' teeth are actually healthier now than when they were on a dry-only diet.
http://www.littlebigcat.com/index.php?action=library&act=show&item=doesdryfoodcleantheteeth

The only time canned food would be bad for cats is if it's tainted (as in the recent recall: http://www.menufoods.com/recall/) or if the ingredients are poor quality.

Answer 3

It certainly is not "good" for their teeth and neither is commercial dry food. I feed my cats quality canned food so I support that way of feeding strongly. Cats were meant to eat meat and not "cereal". Their digestive tracts just didn't evolve to process grains - that's why there is so much talk of hairballs, vomiting, urinary problems etc.

My cats eat the highest quality canned food available with wholesome human-grade meat (not by-product meat). There are many quality brands available nowadays for you to choose from.

My cats eat Natural Balance, Lick Your Chops, Felidae, Wellness, Innova, Avoderm, By Nature's Organic. Blue is also an excellent food. It is not readily available where I live. PetSmart carries it.

Answer 4

Too much can be bad for cats. It can give excess fatty intake that cats don't really need. They should be getting dry kibble to help keep the tartar off their teeth, but a "treat" of canned food every now and then is OK.

Too much of anything can be bad for their health. Fat cats are more at risk for diabetes, fatty liver disease and other health problems.

Answer 5

Go to www.menufoods.com and it will show you what is on the list not to feed your cat. The foods that are on the list are recalled for a reason . It can make you cat very sick and they could die.

Answer 6

No it is not bad, in fact they love it!
Just make sure you limit the amount you feed them.
Also if you are thinking about feeding your cat canned food now make sure it is not on the recall list. I dont know if you heard but recently a bunch of pet food companies(for wet food) have been recalled and are making animals sick.

Answer 7

my cat seems to be doing fine on canned food,no i think canned food is ok for cats,no worries at all.

Answer 8

No it's not. Everything in moderation though. Cats also need fresh water and dry food. Too much canned food can lead to their teeth rotting...

Answer 9

it isn't bad as a treat but if your cat eats only canned food his teeth will rot......cause there is nothing to clean the tarter off there teeth.....i spoile my cat with treats once and a while and like once a week he gets a can of cat food .......but when i do give it to him i mix it with dry food..........

Answer 10

It is not bad for them, but it does not help them with the tarter that they get on their teeth. If you give them dry food it will help them get it off. But if you dont want to give them dry food, give them a dry treat everyday or brush their teeth, if not it will result in a tarter build up and BAD breath I dont like using wet because it smells really bad!
Christen