Can you mix wet and dry cat food? Benefits and optimal ratio
Cat owners often ask us about mixing wet and dry cat food, questions like “Can you mix wet and dry cat food?” and “Can I mix wet and dry cat food for my cat?” The answer is yes. Many cats enjoy the mix-and-match. Dry cat food can help clean teeth and prevent the formation of dental calculus, while wet cat food provides more moisture and helps prevent urinary tract disease.
The emergence of dry and wet cat food has given pet owners more choices, but it has also created a lot of confusion. In this article, Hsviko will discuss the common problems of mixing dry and wet cat food and introduce the benefits of mixing and the optimal mixing ratios for cats!
First, we must understand the characteristics and differences between dry and wet cat food.
Differences between dry cat food and wet cat food
Characteristics of dry cat food
Dry cat foods are usually dry pelleted foods with less moisture content. They are rich in protein, fat and other essential nutrients.
The high-calorie density of dry food and the possibility that cats may overeat can lead to weight problems, especially for less active cats.
The moisture content of dry food is usually only 6 to 10 per cent, about 70 per cent lower than wet food. Feeding cats dry food over a long period may lead to insufficient water intake and increase the risk of urinary tract and kidney disease.
When cats eat dry food, the food’s hardness helps clean the cat’s teeth. Chewing removes some of the tartar from the surface of the teeth and reduces the risk of dental calculus formation.
Dry food is easy to store, usually has a long shelf life, and can be stored without refrigeration, reducing the risk of food spoilage.
Characteristics of wet cat food
Wet cat food, conversely, refers to canned or bagged moist food, which tends to have a higher meat content. The texture is closer to a cat’s natural dietary preferences, so many cats prefer the texture and flavour of wet food.
Wet food is high in moisture content, usually containing about 75 to 80 per cent water, which helps increase your cat’s water intake. Adequate hydration helps prevent urinary tract and kidney disease, especially for cats that dislike drinking water.
Wet food is more expensive than dry food and is consumed faster, especially when feeding more than one cat. The cost can be significant.
Wet food takes work to store. Once opened, it is prone to spoilage and needs to be refrigerated immediately and consumed quickly. Otherwise, it may cause food safety issues. The best way to store cat food
Long-term single feedings of wet food, especially snack cans, may cause cats to become picky eaters and unwilling to accept other types of food.
Wet food’s softer texture may not be conducive to cleaning teeth. This leads to plaque and tartar buildup, increasing the risk of oral health problems.
The different water content means dry cat food has a more concentrated energy! Cats on wet food need more grain to meet their energy needs than those on dry food. That’s why many cat owners who feed dry food worry that their pets are eating too little. However, this is not the case due to the increased energy density. Your cat only needs a little dry food.
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Can you mix wet and dry cat food?
The answer is yes. Many cats prefer this mix-and-match because they can enjoy the crunchy texture of dry cat food and the fresh flavour of wet cat food.
Benefits of mixing wet and dry cat food for cats
Balanced nutrition
Dry cat food is high in energy and fibre, while wet cat food is high in protein and moisture. Mixed feeding can combine both advantages to provide your cat with more complete nutrition.
Moisture supplementation
Dry cat food contains very little moisture, while wet cat food is highly humid. Mixing can help hydrate cats, especially those who dislike drinking. Can Wet Food Hydrate Your Cat?
Oral Health
The chewing process of dry cat food helps clean your cat’s teeth, reducing plaque formation and calculus and maintaining oral health. Meanwhile, the high moisture content and soft structure of wet food can help cats avoid oral dryness caused by eating dry food.
Improved palatability
Cats tend to be more interested in the aroma and texture of wet cat food, while cat owners favour dry cat food for its ease of storage and feeding. Mixed feeding can satisfy your cat’s taste preferences and increase its eating pleasure and motivation.
Meeting the needs of different stages
The wet-to-drywet-to-dry cat food ratio can be flexibly adjusted for cats of different ages and health conditions. For example, kittens and older cats may need more easily digestible wet cat food, while growing or active cats may need more dry cat food for energy.
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Benefits of mixing wet and dry cat food
Complete nutritional supplementation
Combining wet and dry cat food ensures your cat receives complete and balanced nutrition. Damp food is typically high in animal protein and moisture, while dry food is rich in fibre and other essential nutrients. Mixing the two can make up for the nutritional deficiencies of a single grain.
Reducing Nutritional Deficiencies
Mixing wet and dry cat food can effectively reduce nutritional deficiencies caused by long-term consumption of a single type of cat food, such as diabetes, urinary tract disorders, and oral problems.
Ease of Digestion
Wet food is easier to digest than dry food, especially for older cats or cats with weaker digestive systems. Mixing wet and dry can help cats better digest and absorb the nutrients in the food.
Appetite Enhancement
The fresh taste of wet food can arouse cats’ appetite, and when mixed with dry food, cats may eat more favourably due to the variety and richness of the food.
Moisturizing
Wet food is high in water, making it especially suitable for cats who dislike drinking water. It can replenish the water needed by the body and reduce health problems caused by dehydration.
Reducing the risk of disease
Adding wet food to dry food increases your cat’s water intake, which helps dilute urine and increase urination, thus reducing the risk of urinary tract diseases such as stones and urinary tract infections. It also reduces your cat’s chances of developing diabetes, kidney disease and cystitis.
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How to mix cat wet and dry food?
Mixing wet and dry food is very simple, but you should always pay attention to feeding times, quantity of food and plenty of water.
In terms of quantity, you need to remember that dry food contains all the nutrients in a more concentrated form and is much smaller than wet food. It is easy for your cat to eat relatively little and still become too fat. Ensure you follow the package’s specifications to avoid obesity and the need for a strict diet!
Assessing your cat’s needs
Before mixing dry and wet food, consider your cat’s age, ideal weight, activity level, and other special health needs. If your cat has urinary problems, it needs more water, so the proportion of wet food can be higher. If your cat is overweight and needs to control its total calorie intake, the proportion of dry food may need to be adjusted at this time. If you feed your cat too much dry food, it may lead to obesity!
Observe feeding times
As with people, Hsviko recommends feeding your cat three times a day. Morning, noon and evening. Cats are creatures of habit, and they have their biological clock! When you feed your cat at a particular time for an extended period, you will notice a phenomenon where your cat will appear in the bowl at mealtime! If you don’t feed your cat when it’s time, it will take the initiative to call you! Please keep up the feeding routine and do not disturb this time!
Determine the ratio of dry food to wet food.
If this is your first time trying to feed your cat a mix of wet and dry food, we recommend starting with a 1:1 ratio—half dry food and half damp food—and gradually adjusting the mix based on your cat’s response and health. Change the ratio to two-thirds wet and one-third dry food if your cat prefers wet food.
To feed the quantity:
- Refer to the recommended daily amount on the cat food package.
- For dry food, choose just one-third of the daily requirement.
- For wet food, follow the recommended daily amount on the packet and offer two-thirds of the daily amount in two portions—the third portion being dry food.
All other kinds of food depend on the cat’s weight, size, breed, mobility, and whether it is neutered.
Any wet food not consumed after opening must be stored in the fridge to prevent spoilage.
Separate feeding
Although mixed feeding refers to combining dry and wet food as part of your cat’s diet plan, this does not mean physically mixing the two. Hsviko recommends serving dry and wet food in separate bowls to avoid the juices from the damp food soaking the dry food. Wet food can be fed once in the morning, and dry food can be in two separate feedings. Hsviko’s editors prefer to feed cats damp food in the morning and dry food in the middle and evening.
Monitoring Health
Mixed feeding is a well-tolerated and healthy option! We pet owners should monitor our cat’s health after adopting mixed feeding. For example, if your cat does not adapt well to switching between wet and dry food, eating only one type of food is advisable. For allergy sufferers, special care should be taken: make sure that the damp or dry food is free of allergenic substances and that there is a balanced amount of amino acids and fatty acids in both food sources.
Keeping it fresh
When feeding wet food to cats, wet food should be fed as soon as it is opened, and the remainder should be kept refrigerated to prevent bacterial growth. It is recommended to check the damp food for odours or signs of spoilage before feeding your cat.
Conclusion
In the world of cat food, combining wet and dry cat food is like composing harmonious music, incorporating nutrition, health and your cat’s taste preference. Hsviko is committed to providing you with high-quality cat food, treats and supplements to keep them energized and happy daily. Contact us today for Private Label and customization services. Start selling your brand of pet products.
Reference:
Mixed feeding for cats: How to mix dry and wet food correctly? | Chosera Pet Foods
Mixed feeding for cats – you should pay attention to this ❤
5 Reasons to Mix Wet and Dry Cat Food – NUTRO
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Can I Mix Wet and Dry Cat Food? Vet-Reviewed Benefits & Considerations – Catster
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