Wet Or Dry Cat Food

A cat owner must choose how best to feed their cat. Most cat owners select between the two most common forms of cat food, canned cat food or dry cat food. There is some debate over which form of cat food is better. While dry food is convenient and less likely to spoil than canned cat food, it offers less nutritional benefits than canned food. Dry cat food is usually cheaper than wet cat food.

Some cats prefer eating dry, crunchy food. Some people say that dry cat food causes less dental problems than canned food. Some cat owners believe that tartar buildup and plaque is worse when a cat eats a diet that consists of only canned cat food. People believe that the dry food actually helps remove plaque as it scrapes across the teeth while the cat is chewing. The accuracy of this belief is under debate. Some feline diseases have been linked to dry food diets. The risks for feline diabetes, bowel disorders, urinary crystals, and renal failure are increased by a dry cat food diet.

One health concern with dry cat food is its carbohydrate content. Dry cat foods have a significant amount of carbohydrates. Most commercial dry cat foods contain rice, corn, or various forms of corn. A cat does not have a natural need for carbohydrates. The excessive amount of carbohydrates is blamed for the increased risk of feline diabetes that is associated with a dry cat food diet. The kidney disease and bowel disorders can be caused by dehydration which is more commonly a problem with cats that are fed dry food.

Wet cat food more closely resembles the natural dietary demands of a cat. Canned cat food is higher in protein than dry cat food. Canned cat food contains fats and higher water content that dry food does not. A cat eating a diet consisting of too much tuna and fish is at risk of developing a painful, potentially fatal disease called yellow fat disease or steatitis. Hyperthyroidism in cats may be caused by eating wet cat food in pop-top cans. A chemical that is in the coating on the lids of pop-top cans is the suspected cause.