Dry or Canned Food - Which is Best for Your Cat?

One of the most common debates among cat owners is which food is best for cats – canned food (or any type of wet food) or bagged dry food. Before we begin looking at the pros and cons of each choice, we'll assume that all food considered contain the proper nutrients needed by cats. This doesn't necessarily mean that the cat food has to be one of the most expensive brands on the market, but it is a good idea to read the list of ingredients before making any purchase – just as you would for the food that goes on your own dinner table.

Many cat owners, especially those that own multiple cats, prefer dry cat food because of its convenience. Let's take a closer look at the advantages and disadvantages of this choice.

Advantages of Dry Cat Food

• Cost – Although not always the case, dry cat food is usually a lot cheaper than its canned, or wet, counterpart.
• Ease of Storage – Unless you buy single serving containers of wet cat food, the food will need refrigerated after opening. Dry cat food, on the other hand, can be kept almost anywhere. However, it is still best to keep the dry food in an air-tight container to make sure it stays fresh once you open the bag.
• Creates Less Mess – It's pretty easy to clean up dry cat food if spilled or scattered on the floor (unless you step on it and grind it into the rug!), whereas wet food can cause stains and be a bit more of a problem.
• Can Be Left Out All Day – If you're going to be out of the house all day or even for a couple of days, you can comfortably leave enough dry food out for your cats so you don't have to worry about them getting hungry or asking someone to check on them.
  
• Good for Teeth – Certain types of dry food help keep your cat's teeth clean and reduce tartar build up. It should be noted, though, that this type of food should be a supplement rather than a replacement for proper dental care for your cat.

While dry food might win out on the convenience factor, many proponents of wet cat food claim that it is much healthier for cats for a variety of reasons. Here are a list of these and other advantages.

Advantages of Wet Cat Food

• Higher Water Content – Obviously, wet cat food is... you guessed it - wet. In the wild, cats actually get most of their needed water from the prey they catch and eat. In this manner, wet food mimics a cat's natural diet.
• Less Carbohydrates – Cats are true carnivores and have no need for carbohydrates in their diet. While there are definite exceptions, especially in some of the cheaper canned cat food brands, wet cat food tends to have far fewer carbohydrates than dry food, making it a more natural choice.
• Proper Servings – Since wet cat food will go bad if left unrefrigerated too long, most of us are more likely to feed our cats the proper amount of wet food for any one meal. With dry food, it's far too easy to just leave it out all the time, and this could lead to obesity, particularly in older, less active cats.
• Closer to Natural Diet – Assuming that the wet food has the proper nutrients added to it by the manufacturer, it is much more similar to the type of food that a cat would normally catch and consume in the wild.

If your cat's diet consists solely of dry food, you're really doing your pet a disservice. While it's fine to supplement a wet food diet with dry food, especially during those times when you'll be away from home for a day or two and have no one to look after your cats, quality wet food should really make up the bulk of your cat's menu. Besides all of the health factors involved, think of it from your cat's point of view - would you want only dry kibble for dinner all of the time?