Introduction
Veterinarians typically recommend dry food for cats, especially indoor cats, for several important health and lifestyle reasons. Dry food is considered superior in promoting dental health, maintaining a healthy weight, and providing balanced nutrition in an affordable, convenient form. However, it does come with some potential downsides to be aware of. This article will explore why vets emphasize dry cat food, its benefits over wet food, how to transition to it, and how to choose a high-quality dry food your cat will thrive on.
Dental Health Benefits
One of the main reasons vets recommend dry cat food is for dental health benefits. The crunchy texture of dry kibble helps clean cats’ teeth by reducing plaque and tartar buildup. As cats chew on dry food, it scrubs their teeth and provides abrasive action.1 This helps prevent periodontal disease and other dental issues.
Studies have shown that feeding cats dry food formulations, especially those designed for dental health, leads to significantly less tartar and gingivitis compared to wet food.2 The physical abrasion from chewing dry kibble removes plaque and delays tartar formation. As a result, many vets recommend feeding primarily or exclusively dry food to promote better dental health.
There are many dry cat food brands that offer dental health formulas containing ingredients to reduce plaque as well. These foods are designed to clean teeth even more effectively and prevent dental disease in cats.
Lower Calorie Density
One of the key differences between dry and wet cat food is calorie density. As pointed out by PetMD, dry food contains far fewer calories per bite compared to wet food (source). This is because dry food only contains around 6-10% moisture, while wet food can contain up to 78% moisture. With so much liquid, wet foods have a lower concentration of actual nutrients and calories per bite.
Veterinarians often recommend dry food for cats who need to lose weight, since the lower calories per bite can help them feel full while consuming fewer calories overall. As noted in an article from Hill’s Pet Nutrition, obese cats may need a diet with only 200-250 calories per cup, which is easy to achieve with dry food but more difficult with calorie-dense wet foods (source). By starting with dry food, it’s simpler to control portions and calorie intake.
Convenience and Affordability
One of the main reasons vets recommend dry cat food is for convenience and affordability. Dry food can be portioned out easily and left in the bowl without spoiling, unlike wet food which needs to be refrigerated and used within a few days after opening. This makes dry food an appealing choice for pet owners who don’t want the hassle of refrigerating and dishing out wet food multiple times per day.
Dry cat food also tends to be much more affordable, costing about half as much per ounce compared to wet food. For pet owners trying to keep costs down, dry food is usually the better option. According to one source, “Dry cat food costs $0.13 per ounce on average, while wet cat food is $0.27 per ounce on average” (source). With many high quality, nutritious dry foods available at an affordable price point, it’s easy to see why vets often recommend them.
The convenience and affordability of dry cat food makes it an understandable choice for many cat owners. As long as the food is high-quality and provides balanced nutrition, dry food can be an excellent option recommended by vets.
Helps with Weight Control
One of the main benefits of dry cat food is that it can aid with weight control and weight loss efforts. Dry food contains fewer calories per bite than wet food, so it can be easier to monitor and restrict calorie intake when feeding only dry food [1]. The kibble format contains up to 90% less moisture than canned wet food, allowing cats to feel satiated with smaller portion sizes [2].
By sticking to measured meal portions of dry food, cat owners can more accurately calculate and restrict their cat’s daily caloric intake. This portion control helps facilitate weight loss in overweight cats and weight maintenance in ideal-weight cats. Cats that graze on free-choice dry food also tend to consume fewer overall calories than free-fed wet food cats in a day. Dry food’s lower calorie density combined with the ability to precisely measure portions makes it an excellent choice for maintaining an optimal weight [3].
Promotes Hydration
Cats typically get most of their moisture from their food rather than drinking water. Wet cat food contains around 75% moisture while dry cat food only contains about 10% moisture. Although dry food alone does not provide enough fluids, adding some water to kibble can help promote better hydration.
According to veterinarians, adding water to dry food can increase the moisture content to around 40-60%. This extra fluid helps cats stay hydrated and may reduce the risk of urinary tract diseases. Even a tablespoon or two of water mixed into each meal can make a big difference.
Some cat owners make a broth by microwaving the water before pouring it over the dry kibble. This helps the kibble absorb more moisture. Cats tend to lap up the broth, ingesting more fluids. You can also try freeze-dried meat powders that reconstitute when water is added to the bowl. Getting your cat used to eating wet, hydrated food makes it easier to transition them to canned food later on.
While wet food is ideal, adding water to dry kibble is an affordable way to boost hydration if you cannot feed solely canned food. Just be sure to transition slowly by adding a bit more water each day. This allows the kibble to absorb the moisture rather than getting soggy in the bowl.
Sources:
https://www.cattipper.com/tips/2022/can-i-add-water-to-my-cats-dry-food.html
https://www.quora.com/Can-you-add-water-to-dry-cat-food
Potential Downsides
While dry cat food provides some benefits, there are also some potential downsides to consider. Many cats find dry food less palatable than wet food. Cats have a strong sense of smell and taste, and often prefer the aroma and flavor of wet food. Dry kibble can seem less appealing in comparison (Source).
Dry food also provides less moisture content than wet food. Cats have a low thirst drive and do not always drink enough water, which can lead to chronic mild dehydration when fed only dry food. Lack of moisture in the diet increases the risk of urinary tract diseases like crystals and bladder inflammation. Dehydration stresses the kidneys and can worsen kidney disease (Source).
Transitioning from Wet Food
When transitioning a cat from wet food to dry food, it’s important to do so gradually to allow their digestive system to adjust. Going too fast can cause vomiting, diarrhea, or your cat to reject the new food. Experts recommend transitioning over 5-7 days.
Start by mixing a small amount of the new dry food in with your cat’s regular wet food. The Wellness Pet Food guide recommends 25% new food and 75% old food for the first 2 days.
Gradually increase the ratio of new to old food over the next few days – 50/50 on days 3-4, then 75% new food on days 5-6. By day 7 your cat should be eating 100% new dry food.
Make sure to transition slowly enough for your cat’s digestive system to adjust. Going too fast can cause diarrhea, vomiting, or food rejection. Monitor your cat during the transition. Slow down if they show signs of digestive upset.
Choosing a Quality Dry Food
When choosing a dry cat food, it’s important to look for certain indicators of quality and nutrition. According to vets, some key things to look for include:
Whole Proteins – Meat, poultry, or fish should be the first ingredient listed. Whole protein sources like chicken, salmon, or turkey provide essential amino acids.
Limited Ingredients – Look for formulas with fewer, high-quality ingredients. This helps avoid fillers and ingredients that may cause allergies. Vets recommend limited ingredient diets.
Species-Appropriate Nutrients – Cats need certain nutrients like taurine, arachidonic acid, vitamin A, and fatty acids. Look for food specifically formulated for cats.
Digestibility – Highly digestible carbs like brown rice and digestible protein sources are recommended. This helps reduce stool volume.
Moisture Content – Dry food should have some moisture content (8-10%) to support hydration. Avoid food with less than 6% moisture.
Quality Control – Look for foods produced in facilities following FDA standards with rigorous quality control testing.
Vet Recommended Brand – Choosing a premium vet-recommended brand like Hill’s Science Diet ensures optimal nutrition.
Conclusion
In summary, there are several key reasons why veterinarians often recommend dry cat food for pet owners. First, dry food helps promote good dental health by scraping away plaque and tartar as cats chew. The crunchy kibble can also help reduce dental disease. Second, dry food is less calorically dense than wet food, so cats feel full eating less. This aids in weight management. Dry food is also more affordable and convenient to store and feed. Third, the lower moisture content requires cats to drink more water, helping to promote urinary tract health. While wet food has benefits too, many vets favor dry food for these reasons. Focus on choosing a high-quality brand and transition slowly when switching foods to help your cat stay happy and healthy.
