How to properly feed your cat wet food: basic tips

Dry food - pros and cons

Dry food is cheaper than wet food.
It is available in both small and large packages. You can easily take it on the road or to the country house. Opening the package does not affect its shelf life. Dry food is produced in the form of hard croquettes of different shapes and sizes, depending on the age of the animal.

In addition, not all cats’ bodies accept dry food favorably.

Dry food is intended for consumption in dry form. But there are times when you can’t do without soaking it.

You need to soak dry food if:

1. You are not sure that your cat is drinking enough water. Manufacturers of dry food expect that the cat will drink it. But pets don’t know this, and often simply don’t feel thirsty after eating.
2. The cat's teeth are chipped. As cats age, they develop dental problems and have difficulty chewing hard, dry food.
3. The cat swallows food. Poorly chewed food may not be digested and cause intestinal problems.
4. The cat spits up food. If every time after eating a cat regurgitates its meal in whole kibble, this means that the body is not accepting the food and is not digesting it.

Wet food comes in canned form and consists of pieces of meat and vegetables with gravy. Wet food looks and tastes more like natural food. And even picky pets like it.

But wet food should be consumed the same day after opening. The product cannot be stored without refrigeration, and over time it loses its taste, which does not go unnoticed by the cat.

If the food is of high quality, then nothing threatens the cat’s health, even if you constantly feed it only wet food. But put yourself in your pet's shoes.

Could you eat the same dish every day? I think that the cat will also not like the idea of ​​​​eating only wet food, and she will protest. In addition, canned cat food is much more expensive than dry food, so such feeding will cost the owner a pretty penny.

Natural cat food, like all natural things, is of course better. But not every owner will be able to provide it to their pet.

A cat's natural diet should include:

• boiled or baked meat;
• dairy products;
• complex of vitamins.

At the same time, you will have to create a balanced menu for your pet every day and independently, armed with methodological literature and measuring all the ingredients by gram.

As for the cost of such food, it will not be significantly cheaper, taking into account the time spent on cooking and purchasing food.

Let's start with the fact that this is a completely pointless idea. If you know how to prepare a balanced diet for your pet and have time for it, then is it worth feeding your cat dry food? And giving your cat fresh milk along with dry food will not be beneficial for her. After all, she will receive the necessary complex of vitamins and nutrients from the food.

Best wet food

The price of packaging is high, so you should be careful when choosing a cat food brand. Information to review when purchasing a product:

• composition: type of meat (fish, chicken, rabbit, etc.), meat by-products, their description, complex of vitamins and minerals;
• balance of natural ingredients and non-protein extracts;
• price.
• physiological characteristics of the animal. An important selection criterion. The composition and nutritional value differs for sterilized cats, adult pregnant and lactating cats, and kittens.

By type of packaging there are: pouch bags, tetra packs, lamisters, jars.

1. The weight of the Pouch package is 100 g and includes pieces of natural meat, vegetables, cereals in jelly or sauce. Such spiders contain 50% humidity, are sterile, and have a long shelf life.
2. Canned ones have the consistency of stew or pate. The composition includes meat, fish, vegetables, vitamins. Humidity is 80%. In terms of nutritional value, they can replace natural food.
3. Lamisters are suitable for travelers and are used once.
4. Tetra-pack packaging preserves the nutritional and taste qualities of the product.

Eats appetizingly

Which type of food should you choose – dry or wet?

Today, the industrial feed industry is growing rapidly. Brands offer a variety of types of both dry and canned food for cats. Owners prefer to purchase wet food, since it is more reminiscent of natural food, and “crackers” are not associated with normal food by most consumers.

It is also important to take into account the condition of the animal itself. Therefore, whether cats can be fed only dry food depends on their well-being and physical characteristics. For example, for young healthy individuals, granules are a completely suitable option, but it is better to give soft pate to small kittens, as well as to sick, weakened and old animals.

Myths and truths about industrial feed

The choice of food for pets today is very wide. Some owners believe that feeding cats only dry food can harm their health, so they prefer to treat their pets with natural food. But it is important to understand that table food is harmful to animals, as it contains salt and spices that are dangerous for the pet.

Therefore, “natural” food should be prepared for your pet separately from human food and not contain various additives typical for human dishes. In addition, vitamins will need to be added to the animal’s diet. This requires certain skills and time, and many owners prefer to switch their furry friends to industrial food, since it is already fully balanced by manufacturers.

Veterinarians and breeders advise feeding your pets ready-made food, as it contains all the necessary substances for their full life. Manufacturers offer various types of prepared food for animals. Is it possible to feed cats only dry food? Will this be harmful to health? These questions are asked by many owners of tailed friends.

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There are several myths about industrial feeds. One of them says that granules can cause diseases of the genitourinary system in cats. This is partly true, but the development of urolithiasis is provoked not by “drying” itself, but by poor nutrition and lack of water. Cheap food, irregular and infrequent drinking, as well as table food are the main causes of problems with the genitourinary system in a pet.

Another common belief is that industrial food causes allergies in the pet and makes the coat dull and brittle. Here everything also depends on the quality of the feed. Super-premium and holistic foods, on the contrary, do not contain substances that can provoke such reactions.

Also, many believe that various wastes are used in the production of granules and canned food, for example, bones, hooves, tumors, and animal corpses. However, companies producing high-quality food, super-premium class and higher, care about their reputation and make “dried” and canned food only from meat and do not add aromatic and flavoring components.

Reviews from veterinarians about food

Hello, I can recommend FarminaMonge for good food, although Royal Canin is also a good food. If your pet continues to have inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract, then you can use Gaster food for life, or if a food allergy is confirmed, then the appropriate food.

Irina Sergeevna Startseva

https://www.zoovet.ru/forum/?tid=7&tem=1069331

The kitten only needs food for KITTENS!!! Strictly by weight + water (Royal Canin, Hills, Pro Plan or Eukanuba).

vczd

https://www.veterinarka.ru/forum/t19552.html

Is it possible to feed cats dry and wet food at the same time?

It is better not to change the chosen diet. Animals don't have as developed taste buds as humans, so they don't need a lot of variety. Therefore, when asked whether it is possible to feed a cat different dry foods, many professionals give a negative answer.

Pellet-fed animals must have constant and unlimited access to fresh water. If an animal drinks little fluid, there is a risk of developing urolithiasis.

Some owners feel sorry for their pet, who is forced to eat only “crackers” and pamper them with canned food. Is it possible to feed a cat only premium dry food or any other type and sometimes treat them to spiders? There is no clear opinion here. Some experts believe that it is absolutely impossible, since the cat’s stomach does not have time to rebuild. Some people don’t see anything wrong with this, but advise giving canned food of the same brand as dry food.

You must also follow the dosage indicated on the package. However, it is important to understand that the amount of food depends on the condition of the animal.

Very often, owners with several pets ask whether it is possible to feed their cat dry dog ​​food. Veterinarians and manufacturers are categorically against such nutrition. Murki and Shariki are completely different species, and their needs are different. Of course, if a cat eats a few pellets from its four-legged companion, nothing bad will happen to it. But if you constantly feed her food intended for dogs, the health consequences can be unpredictable.

Felines are classified as carnivores, so a healthy diet includes 70% protein, 20% fat and no more than 10% complex carbohydrates.

It is advisable to feed an adult ward 2-3 times a day, but a kitten much more often (up to 8-10 times). A single serving is calculated depending on the weight, age and breed of the pet.

Important! Representatives of the cat family are strictly prohibited from giving fatty meat, raw river fish, spices, salt, smoked meats and sweets.

If we talk about meat, then the best option for them is rabbit, turkey, beef, chicken. The fish must be sea fish: hake, salmon, flounder, and so on. Don't forget to include vegetables (carrots, beets, potatoes) and cereals (oatmeal, barley, rice) in your diet. Dairy products are also good for your furry friends, but don't give them milk. Kefir, homemade yogurt, soft cheese, yogurt, cottage cheese, quail eggs, herbs are irreplaceable products for representatives of this family.

Your cat should always have access to clean water to avoid the risk of dehydration. If the patient receives the required amount of nutrients and vitamins with food, then there is no need to additionally feed him vitamin supplements. A healthy cat has shiny and silky fur, strong teeth and a cheerful appearance.

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But it is difficult for working people to provide their pets with complete natural nutrition, so many people use ready-made industrial food.

Note! You cannot feed your cat dry or wet economy class food. Low-quality products contained in them lead to disruption of the digestive system.

Premium or super premium dry and wet food contains the required amount of nutrients for daily consumption.

It should be noted that 1 gram of compressed ready-made food contains 4 times more calories than wet food. It remains to find out the key question: is it possible to feed a cat dry and wet food at the same time? There are several nuances here that should be taken into account so as not to harm your furry pet.

You can alternate dry and wet food from the same manufacturer.

What is the difference between these types of prepared foods?

The production of dry food has its own nuances. The prepared ingredients (meat, cereals, vegetables, fruits) are thoroughly chopped, mixed, pressed and placed in a special dryer.

Dried pads clean the teeth of animals well, but can damage the esophagus or stomach, so experts recommend adding a small amount of water to the dry food before serving.

Is it possible to feed a cat only dry food? Of course, but only high quality. Manufacturers add a large amount of grains and vegetables to nutritional substances of average quality, which is not very beneficial for the predator. That is why breeders prefer to alternate dry feeding with wet feeding.

The process for preparing wet food differs significantly. The ingredients are not dried, so the necessary moisture content of the products is maintained. However, there is one feature - high humidity is attractive to bacteria and mold, so special inhibitors are added to such feeds. They are practically harmless to the body, but experts recommend not to get too carried away with canned food.

Also take into account the taste preferences of your ward, as some cats do not like pads, while others do not touch canned food.

Is it possible to feed a kitten only dry food? As for small animals, there are special lines of ready-made food for kittens. The daily requirement for nutrients of a growing organism differs significantly from the daily requirement of an already formed pet. Therefore, you should not feed your kitten dry food for adults.

Important! It is strictly forbidden to alternate natural food with ready-made industrial food. A sharp change in diet disrupts the regulation of body functions, leading to diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and genitourinary system.

Veterinarians recommend initially choosing a certain type of food for your ward. If you decide to give your pet natural food, then buy only fresh food for him and watch his diet.

How to properly feed a cat dry and wet food?

1. Choose only high-quality premium or holistic foods.
2. Do not overfeed your ward. Remember that compressed food is much higher in calories than wet food (50-100 grams per day is quite enough).
3. Provide your pet with enough drinking water. Lack of moisture can cause urolithiasis.
4. The optimal ratio of ready-made food: 70% nutritional pads and 30% pouches or canned food.
5. Do not store opened canned food in a jar; pour the contents into a glass container.
6. Follow your meal schedule.
7. After feeding, do not disturb your ward, let him rest a little.
8. Do not mix food from different manufacturers, as they differ in composition.
9. Observe storage conditions and periods.

Be sure to take into account the individual characteristics of your pet’s body, since he may have an allergic reaction to some components. Only a veterinarian can identify the allergen and select the appropriate diet. Remember that your pet's health depends on nutrition.

Video on the topic

You can feed your cat only dry and wet premium and holistic food. Most popular brands of cat food are economy class, which means they are made from meat industry waste that is not used to prepare human food.

Interestingly, the cat would also not eat these foods in their natural form. Therefore, the cunning manufacturer adds special food receptor stimulants to the food, which awaken pets’ appetite and cause addiction, thanks to which the pet no longer recognizes other food other than its “favorite” food.

Industrial food, both dry and wet, is designed to provide a balanced diet for cats. Each manufacturer has its own recipe and recommendations for feeding the animal.

After all, to digest feed and natural food, the cat’s stomach produces various enzymes.

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Alternating food is a good way to diversify her diet without compromising her health. But you should not give your cat both dry and wet food at the same feeding. You can’t mix them, they don’t go together!

Wet food classes

Depending on taste, nutritional composition, price category, wet food is divided into several types:

Economy class food

This class of nutrition is characterized by low quality raw materials, contains meat by-products or meat in small quantities, a high percentage of carbohydrates, etc. Additionally, vitamins and nutritional supplements will have to be introduced into the diet. Advantages of the product: low price.

Premium

A balanced feed with a normal content of meat protein, additionally containing corn, vegetable components, and minerals. Suitable for healthy animals without predisposition to diseases. Can be included in the diet on an ongoing basis. Variety of flavors: salmon, chicken, turkey, rabbit, lamb. Additionally, the composition includes probiotics and enzymes. Popular brands Purina, Royal Canin. Disadvantages include a small percentage of GMOs, the presence of complex carbohydrates, allergic components, flavors and preservatives.

Holistic

The food is made from natural ingredients and contains a complex of all necessary elements. The carbohydrate components are lentils, peas, and potatoes. Natural preservatives are used. Berries and dried fruits are added as fiber. Popular producers of this class are Almo Nature and Barking Heads.

Wet food

Owner reviews

Owners who prefer to give their tailed pet dry food write very different reviews. Many are satisfied with industrial food, as it saves time, and the owner himself is confident that his ward receives everything she needs. And therefore, when asked whether it is possible to feed cats only dry food, the answer is yes. The animal looks good and feels great.

However, there are also opponents of “drying”. In their opinion, it causes addiction in pets and also provokes various diseases. This is possible because some granules contain strong flavoring and aromatic components that force the cat to absorb only them. To prevent your animal from becoming a “drug addict,” experts recommend purchasing super-premium and holistic foods, since they are completely natural.

The main disease that manifests itself in cats who prefer “crackers” is urolithiasis. The risk of its occurrence is higher in castrated animals. However, for a cat to be healthy, he needs to drink a lot, so the owner must provide him with this opportunity.

Why is mixed feeding usually used?

Most often, the choice of this type of food is based solely on the desire of the owner. Many people believe that a cat, deprived of fragrant pieces from a jar or bag, feels disadvantaged. In fact, this is not entirely true. A cat feels happy if he is fed and healthy. Both the first and second are achieved with the help of a well-chosen diet.

Of course, there are circumstances when the introduction of wet food is required due to the condition of the animal, for example, in order to increase the amount of water in the diet, in case of undergoing surgery or loss of appetite.

If dry food is chosen correctly, contains a large amount of meat and fully provides the pet’s body with all the necessary substances, and the cat is healthy and looks good, there are no physiological prerequisites for introducing wet food into the diet.

However, there are no special contraindications to combining dry and wet food, provided that they are equivalent in nutritional content and meet the needs of carnivores. If you are already feeding Acana or Orijen food, then you need to be especially careful when choosing canned food that will be combined with them.

Transfer to dry food

The transition to dry food should be smooth and not cause stress to the animal. Professionals recommend adding granules to your cat’s usual diet, gradually increasing their quantity. On average, this procedure will take from 10 to 15 days.

For example, on the first day add 15 granules to your food. If the cat refuses to eat them, then the “drying” can be crushed and mixed with regular food. Some owners recommend soaking the granules; this advice is more suitable for small kittens.

Particularly picky people may refuse food if a little industrial food is mixed into it. In this case, you need to be firm, remove the food and try to offer it a few hours later, when the animal is hungry.

It is important to understand that when a cat is completely switched to dry food, she should not be given anything from the table, as this can cause irreparable harm to her digestive system.

What wet foods are suitable for Acana and Orijen?

Dry food "Akana" and "Origen" are characterized by a high meat content: 50–85% in diets for dogs and 75–85% for cats. If you want to supplement this menu with canned food from another manufacturer, choose an option based on meat and fish ingredients. It is also important to pay attention to the transparency of the composition: the components in it must be listed with a clear indication of the sources of raw materials. For example, “duck meat” is always better than an unknown “bird”, and “lamb tripe” sounds much more informative than some “offal”.

Separately, it is worth mentioning cereals. If their use in dry food is justified by the peculiarities of the production technology (thanks to starches, the granules keep their shape better), then they should not be in canned food for cats and dogs, since for predators this is not a physiological food, leading to disruptions in the functioning of the body.

Rules for feeding cats: advice from veterinarians

When choosing commercial food for your pet, you can consult a veterinarian. He will tell you, taking into account the characteristics of the animal, which ready-made food is best to purchase. Also, recommendations from experienced breeders on the relevant sites will not be superfluous. They will be happy to give advice on choosing the right diet.

When purchasing, it is important to pay attention to the composition of dry food. Cats are carnivorous animals, and their diet must contain a lot of meat. In super premium and holistic lines, this ingredient ranks first in the list of ingredients.

It is necessary to take into account the preferences of the animal itself. If Murka does not eat turkey, then it is unlikely that he will chew “drying” based on it with pleasure.

The condition of the animal itself is also important here. Many people are interested in whether it is possible to give dry food to a nursing cat. If she ate it before, then, of course, yes, you just need to increase the portion or purchase granules of the same brand, designed for the needs of a “young mother.”

After castration of an animal, the owner should reconsider the pet’s diet, because what the pet ate before the operation can cause problems after the operation. Owners often ask if it is possible to feed a sterilized cat dry food. Of course you can, especially if she has eaten industrial food before.

Video on the topic

When do you need to change the type or diet of feeding?

When the food suits your pet and does not cause allergies, there is no need to change it. It happens that a cat refuses to eat for a day or two, this is normal if there are no signs of illness: vomiting, fever, diarrhea. This is how the animal cleans itself.

During this period, you can offer him a different diet option; perhaps pate or pieces in jelly instead of the usual dry food will stimulate his appetite. You can change the type of food during the rehabilitation period after an illness, when a cat is feeding kittens, injuries, diseases that prevent you from chewing hard lumps.

Pets that constantly consume soft food may suffer from tartar, periodontal disease, insufficient load on the chewing muscles; predators are supposed to chew and tear. It is still advisable to alternate between foods of different consistency. The food should be changed in case of hair loss, redness of the ears and other manifestations of intolerance or allergies.

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A cat's taste preferences are formed in early childhood. Therefore, you need to start accustoming to the chosen diet as early as possible. But if you get an adult cat that has developed gastronomic preferences, then you don’t need to “starve” it out. If the cat is not fed at all in a new home, this will not lead to the desired educational effect, but to stress and digestive problems. Any changes in diet must be introduced to the animal carefully and gradually.

Do not forget about the freshness of food and drinking regime (the cat must have constant access to fresh, clean water). Any food (porridge or ready-made food) must be at the correct temperature; there is no need to offer your cat boiled meat or pate only from the refrigerator. The best temperature is room temperature.

Every cat owner has a collection of unusual stories with their tailed pet in the lead role. We have a lot of water related things in our family. For example, every time my cat bathes, she expresses her royal dissatisfaction with everything that happens, but silently endures the entire procedure. But she loves to splash under the tap on her own.

She also hates bowls that someone has touched with dirty hands. She will only drink from dishes that have just been washed with cold water (it is necessary that there are still droplets of water on the edges of the bowl). Her favorite drinking bowls are my mug, painting palette, and flower pot saucer. By the way, she also eats cat grass only after watering.

Dishes for cats must be correctly selected in size, volume and shape.

Almost every cat owner has come to the thought of whether it’s time to change food. Some people, without hesitation, choose food from other manufacturers and from the very first day give the cat new, unusual food. Such drastic changes are fraught with even more serious problems than they were with the old diet.

Others cannot decide for months to take such an important action, because the pet is already accustomed to one food. But sometimes we have to change food for reasons beyond our control:

• an allergy appeared to the usual food;
• the food has become worse due to a change in manufacturer;
• problems with purchasing (feed has become more expensive, the neighboring store has closed).

Veterinarians themselves often recommend changing food. In fact, this procedure is not that difficult. Proceed as follows:

1. For the first 3 days, add about a quarter of the new food to the usual food (you can mix the food so that the cat cannot choose).
2. For another 3 days, mix old and new food in a 50:50 ratio.
3. For the next 3 days, add 25% of the old food to the new food.

So within 9 days your cat will completely get used to it and switch to the new food. If the pet refuses to eat new food at all, then there are many other tricks: rewarding with a treat, a day of fasting, etc.

The cat can be fed natural food or ready-made store-bought food. The latter option is more convenient, but you should not get confused when choosing the best product. Veterinarians advise comparing food compositions, because this is the only way to evaluate the quality of cat food. But no matter what food you choose for your pet, this food should be suitable for your cat. After all, her health and longevity depend on proper nutrition.

All packages of ready-made food indicate the dosage of the daily portion in grams, depending on the age and weight of the animal.

The amount of wet food is considered normal at a value of 5% of the animal’s weight. That is, if a pet weighs 5 kg, then 175 g of wet food per day is enough for him.

Note! A cat with a calm lifestyle needs 70 ml of water per 1 kg of weight per day, and with an active lifestyle - 85 ml per 1 kg of weight. This is approximately 4-6 tbsp. spoons of water.

For adult cats, the daily intake of dry food is:

• weight up to 3 kg - 25 g;
• weight from 3 to 4 kg - 40 g;
• weight from 4 to 5 kg - 55 g;
• weight over 5 kg - 12 g per 1 kg of weight.

For a kitten this norm looks like this:

• weight up to 2 kg - 35 g;
• weight from 2 to 3 kg - 50 g;
• weight from 3 to 4 kg - 70 g.

A pregnant cat needs 55 g of dry food per day.

For large breed cats, the calculation is based on the rule: 12 g per 1 kg of animal weight.

For older animals, the norm is slightly reduced by 10-20%.

For active cats, the feeding schedule is free in large portions.

For sterilized cats, food is given 2 times a day in small portions, as they are prone to obesity.

Feeding standards for cats should be followed

• short shelf life when opened;
• You cannot feed your cat wet food straight from the refrigerator; you must wait for it to warm up to room temperature;
• high consumption. If you previously fed your cat dry food and now switched to wet food, the difference in product consumption will increase several times.

To find out which wet food is best for your cat, whether a mixed type of diet is possible for her, and how to feed her correctly in this case, you need to consult a veterinarian.

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Bottom line

There is no clear opinion in favor of one type of nutrition or another. Some people prefer to feed the animal the old fashioned way, from the table. Some people “work magic” in the kitchen and create a completely balanced meal for their pets on their own. But the majority still purchase industrial food, since it is completely tailored to the needs of the tailed beauty.

When choosing the type of feeding, it is important to consider your capabilities and the desires of your pet. If you want to cook Murka separately, then fine. If you don’t have the time and energy to create masterpieces of cat cooking, then it is better to purchase ready-made food, but always of good quality.

Helpful tips when choosing

When choosing liquid food, consider the following:

• — minimum premium purchase;
• — canned food from tin industrial containers should be placed in a glass or plastic container with a lid; possible oxidation of the food can lead to food poisoning and disorder;
• - open spiders and canned food are eaten and stored for 2 days;
• — an opened spider quickly becomes weathered and loses all its beneficial properties within 1-2 hours;
• - the first signs of unsuitable nutrition - itching, diarrhea, vomiting - their presence leads to the need to change food. If the cat stops eating liquid food, the owner will have to replace it.

All cats eat wet food with great pleasure. When the time comes for the transition to “table” natural food, the owner is faced with a problem - the pet is not ready for regular food and is accustomed to canned food.

Just stop buying and putting it from a jar into a bowl, wait (3-4 days) for him to start eating natural food. Do not give in to the cat and hold your line; the animal will definitely change its eating habits. Wet food can also be prepared at home. To do this, you can finely chop or grate lean chicken or turkey meat, pour in a small amount of boiling water and wait 10 minutes; if there is a side dish of rice or buckwheat left, add it. Once it cools down, you can serve it. If you don’t have time to prepare at all, you should buy baby meat or fish food (70 rubles per 100 g) - it is without spices, salt and completely safe.