When you discover a similar wet food, start combining its dry kibble meals with incremental amounts of it. Start with smaller quantities and gradually work your way to half, three quarters and eventually full wet food. Best case scenario, you should have your cat on an all wet food diet in a matter of weeks.
By three to four weeks, kittens can begin eating moistened dry kibble or wet food. Between six and eight weeks, kittens are fully weaned from their mother's milk and can eat dry or wet kitten food.
Switching foods too fast can leave your feline friend with digestive upset, diarrhea, and vomiting, so whatever you do, avoid abrupt changes. When planning food transitions, think seven days. On the first day, offer your cat a mix of mostly the current food with a tiny taste of the new food.
Wet food is more expensive and less easy to use but can be beneficial in cats prone to lower urinary tract disease, constipation and that are overweight. Dry food can be a very efficient way to provide calories in thin cats with food volume limitations and allows for the use of food puzzles and food toy dispensers.
"Dry food is fine as long as it is complete and balanced," says Dr. Kallfelz. Dry food may be less expensive than canned cat food and may stay fresher longer. Cats that eat only dry food need to be provided with lots of fresh water, especially if they are prone to developing urinary tract blockages.
How often should cats eat wet food? What do vets recommend? Wet food is not a special meal or an occasional treat. Cats can and should eat wet food every day because it agrees with the feline digestive system better than dry or semi-moist food.
Canned food is more expensive per energy calorie than kibble due to the high water content and the packaging. Another disadvantage to canned cat food is that for some cats, canned food may contribute to periodontal disease.
You can safely leave dry cat food out for several days and it won't spoil, but it's best to throw out leftovers and wash the dish on a daily basis, to keep Fluffy's food at its freshest. Keep in mind that dry food will grow stale within a day and may not be as appealing to your cat once this happens.
Blended or mixed feeding routines can offer the best of both worlds. With a blended feeding routine, you may feed your cat dry food in the morning, and wet in the evening. This way, they can graze on the dry food throughout the day, and you can dispose of any dried out wet food before going to bed.
Why do cats get bored of their food? While Mr Whiskers may like consistency in most areas of life, it is possible for your cat to feel bored of the same food. Part of this has to do with the innate nature of cats as apex predators.
You might have noticed your kitty is a bit of a fussy eater! One day he is happily munching away, the next he barely gives his bowl a sniff. Like people, cats get tired of their food.
Do cats hate when you change their food? Cats are sensitive animals and can be particularly sensitive about changes in their diet. So, if you don't follow a transition plan, your cat may become irritable or change their usual behavior. If you notice any changes in behavior, try to slow down the transition.
Unlike dry cat food, wet food has enough water in it to provide your cat with much of the hydration they need. You can then use a running source of water (like a pet fountain) to provide the rest of the hydration that they need.
Wet food is a great source of water for cats. If your cat is already on wet food, but still needs to increase their water intake, you can try adding a small amount of extra water to the food.
Mash up any chunks to get everything as smooth and liquidy as you can. This makes more "gravy" for your cat to lick up, which will often increase the amount of canned food that the kitty will eat. Start by adding just a tablespoon of water and work your way up until you find the consistency that your cat most enjoys.
Too much snacking in between meals may be the reason why your cat won't eat wet food. Complementary food isn't a problem when kept below 3% of the overall diet. Anything over that is not healthy or helpful. Giving cats treats willy-nilly can mess up their appetite and hinder their metabolism in the long run.
Often, we jump to the worst conclusions and forget the obvious reason why a cat might not finish their food: its stomach is full. Cats have small stomachs; on average about the size of a ping-pong ball, so their eating patterns can involve several breaks rather than eating an entire portion in one sitting.
Most cats need 4-5 ounces of canned food per day, total. Pate-style varieties tend to be higher in calories per can than the varieties that more resemble people food with chunks and gravies- this can be useful when trying to fine-tune the number of calories per day being consumed.
Because wet food is easy to chew, veterinarians often recommend it for older cats and those with dental issues, as well. Canned food can also be useful for weight loss. “Wet cat food can be helpful for cats who are overweight or obese because it is generally lower in calories than dry kibble,” said Savageau.
Even if your cat prefers to eat their food in a few sittings, don't be tempted to leave wet food out all day, as this increases the risk of disease-causing bacteria developing. After a maximum of four hours, throw out the old food and wash the bowl properly with soap and water before refilling with fresh food.
Wet Food: Pros – increased palatability, contains more protein and fat, easier to eat. Cons – contributes to weight gain, spoilage, greater cost, and dental issues.
If you let your cat eat when they choose to, a bowl of dry food left out overnight provides a snack if your cat feels peckish. However, most cats are happy to spend the night without food and wait until their breakfast the following morning.
Protein-rich, wet foods are best
Cats live longer and have less health issues when they eat optimal nutrition.
Urinary Tract Health — When you feed your cat wet food, it can increase your cat's water intake, resulting in more urine production.