Do I really HAVE to give my cats wet food?

Question

Due to the recent pet food recall I've started to wonder if my kitties really need to eat potentially lethal can shaped meat.
Will my cats get the proper nutrition from quality dry food alone?

Answer 1

If you feed mainly dry food, be sure that your cats have enough water available since dehydration can cause serious health problems. I've fed my cats a combination of wet and dry food, but found that as cats age they seem to prefer wet food more. Some sources say that dry food is better for a cat's dental health because of the crunchiness.

There is also concern about the levels of carbohydrates, ash content and magnesium content in dry foods so if you do feed mainly dry food check the ingredients label to be sure you are getting a quality food.
The information from the last link provided is debatable, but it does give reasons why someone might not want to feed dry food to their cats. Essentially, the issue is up for debate whether "raw food" diets are healthier, or canned foods or dry foods are healthier.

Answer 2

No, you do not have to provide your cats with wet food. And yes, your cats can get the proper nutrition from quality dry food alone. However, if your cats are anything like my cats are, they will drive you nuts because they are used to the "good" stuff. I was feeding my cats Nutro Gourmet Classics until the recall. Since then I have ordered some cat gravy from PetSmart.com, I expect it any day now. I am not sure if they are going to like it, but there is not any type of gluten in the gravy, which was deemed the reason for the recall of so many different types of wet cat food.

I also took the recall list to the store with me looking for a wet food that was not listed - and did not contain any type of gluten in the ingredients. To my surprise, Whiskas Purrfectly Fish does not contain any gluten at all, so I bought some sardines and mackerel for my kitties and they just loved it.

So, bottom-line is what are your kitties tell you they want. Are they crying for the wet food? If so, maybe can find them something you trust - and give them what they want that way everyone will be happy :-)

Answer 3

Yes, certainly there are many complete pet foods that come in dry (biscuit) form. Just check it says 'complete pet food' on the packet, and she'll be getting all her nutrients. Feeding an all dry diet is also good for kitty's teeth, and can help with weight-control. Just make sure she's always got fresh water next to her biscuits - she'll drink more as she won't be getting water from the wet food.


I don't know much about the pet-food recall actually, I don't think it happened in England. Certainly I've heard that Iams is a pet food to avoid. If you're concerned, give a vet a ring so they can advise you on a high-quality pet food.

Chalice

Answer 4

My cats only get wet food as the occasional treat. They are on a prescription Purina food from the vet for bladder/kidney trouble. The vet said they are fine on the dry food as long as they drink enough water, which mine do. Dry food is best for dental health too.
Wet food can be used like I do as a treat, or for a sick cat that hasn't been eating well. But it is not always necessary to give it to them as their main food source.
If you fed your cat any of the recalled stuff, get the cat checked by the vet to be safe. And you can also ask the vet about switching your cats to an all-dry diet. Sometimes, switching foods can cause stomach upset and some cats will refuse the dry stuff altogether, so ask your vet for tips and recommendations on which dry food to buy.

Answer 5

I know many loving cat owners feed their feline freinds dry cat food as the main diet with probably an occassional "wet food" as a treat. Oh. they say... cat dry food has all the nutrients the cat needs, it is good for their teeth, blah blah blah, blah.... I have always wondered at the wisdom of this. Afterall, cats are carnivores and in the wild, the only carbohydrates they will ingest are carbs already eaten by their prey. And cat biscuits are between 30 - 45% carbs (from grains like corn, wheat, etc) and cheaper brands contain much more. Also, cats were meant to get most of their water needs from the live prey that they eat. In this aspect, wet cat food more closely resembles a cat's natural diet. As to dry cat food keeping tartar and plaque away - that is close to utter nonsense. A cat's teeth are made for tearing flesh, not grinding biscuits. If you watch your cat eat dry kibble, you will notice two things: (a) he will smallow most of the kibble in his mouth WHOLE; (b) he will bite down on a few kibbles but not to chew or grind or tear apart - he'll bite a couple of times then swallow. Little bits of the dry food get stuck in between his teeth; there eventually to attract palque and tartar.

Having said all that...

You CAN feed your cat dry food only - just make sure the cat drinks plenty of water to guard against kidney and bladder stones.

Answer 6

I weaned my cat off of wet food when she was a few months old. And since then she has been a healthy, and properly nourished kitty. She's about 5 years old now and the only time I give her wet food is around her birthday ( I look at it as though I'm spoiling her). I feed her dry food, if you are worried about it you can always ask the vet to recommend the best dry food that he knows of. I really hope this helps!

Answer 7

Absolutely 100% YES your cats will be fine on DRY FOOD.

Actually dry food is more nutritious for your cat then most the canned stuff out there. Alot of the canned stuff is filled with fillers and junk to make it smell & look more appealing to the humans who serve it. Dry food is also better for their teeth.

Some people also find that cat waste doesn't smell nearly as bad when their diets are dry food. (My cats had the stinkiest poo ever when we gave them some canned food as a treat once. No more canned food for them!)

I've owned cats all my life and they've all been very healthy & happy on their dry food diets.

Good luck and have a wonderful long, happy & healthy life with your cats!

Answer 8

I would say dry food is the way to go. Look at the nutrition facts and talk to your vet. Dry food is acctualy better for thier teeth though. And my 2 kitties live on dry food and they are just fine. No health problems. I'd go with dry.

Answer 9

No! We give ours canned food perhaps two or three times a week The rest of their food is dry (Purina in the blue bag). Among other things it helps keep their teeth clean. If you have any questions about the recall go to menufoods.com the brands are listed there.

Answer 10

I'm not an expert on this stuff, but it would be a good idea to continue feeding your cats the wet food as well. They probably could live off of dry food alone, but a little variety will make them happy.