Dry cat food often sparks debate among pet owners, with plenty of myths surrounding its nutritional value, impact on hydration, and effect on feline health. Some believe it's bad for digestion, while others argue it's the best option for dental health. Misinformation can make it difficult to know what’s best for your cat. Separating fact from fiction is key to making informed feeding choices that support long-term well-being.
Is Dry Food Healthy For Cats?
Dry cat food is healthy for your cats. According to board-certified veterinary nutritionists, there is no consistent evidence that eating dry food puts healthy cats at risk of disease. What is known is that giving your cat wet food forces them to have a higher fluid intake, which can be beneficial for certain health conditions.
Should You Add Water to Dry Cat Food?
If your cat prefers dry food, you can try adding water to their kibble. If you add a small amount of water gradually through meals, they are more likely to get used to the texture. A combination of dry food and wet food is also an option. Whichever method you choose, it is important to encourage your cat to drink water.
Should I Add Anything To My Cat’s Dry Food?
You can add water to your cat's dry food, as it helps with hydration, makes the food softer, and can improve palatability for some cats, especially older ones with dental issues.
Debunking Myths About Dry Cat Food
There is, unfortunately, a lot of misleading information out there when it comes to dry cat food, which can confuse cat owners. Because of the vast array of advice, it can be easy for both owners and veterinary professionals to be misinformed when trying to select the most appropriate nutritional choices for pets. This article dives into just a few of the many myths about pet food nutrition.
High Protein Diets Are Hard On Your Cat’s Kidneys
This is only the truth for high-plant protein diets. These diets can be extremely hard on your pet’s organs since a plant protein diet can lead to deficiencies in crucial nutrients. However, high animal protein diets are healthy for your cat and also essential since cats are obligate carnivores. Poor quality cat food is packed with plant protein like soy and corn. Even though cats can safely digest this, it doesn’t meet their nutritional needs.
Dry Cat Food Is Healthier Than Canned Food
Even though dry cat food is healthy for your cat and won’t cause any issues, good quality wet cat food with a high protein content does provide additional health benefits. This is simply because wet cat food with a high protein content has better nutritional properties, provides greater hydration, and is not cooked at such high temperatures as dry cat food, which removes a lot of its goodness.
The Better Foods Are the Most Expensive
A survey of dry cat food for sale at a popular internet pet site found a huge variation in the price and quality. As expected, generic and grocery-store-type dry cat foods were cheaper, while “organic” and many “grain-free” foods were more expensive. However, the most expensive foods were not grain-free, organic, or natural. This means that as long as you check that the dry cat food has a high protein content and has all the essential nutrients, the price does not matter.
