The reality that for most cats, a 100% dry diet will be perfectly adequate, and no reason to feel guilty. I recommend spending as much as you can, as it's clear that urinary problems go down as quality goes up. I also need you to understand feline water needs.
Ideally, give them dry food only – this means you don't have to worry about it being out all day, as it doesn't go stale. As they get older, reduce their meals to three times a day. By six months, you can be feeding a kitten two meals a day.
Kittens 3 to 5 weeks should be given baby cat kibble. Kittens 5 to 6 weeks should be given kitten kibble and kibble should be mixed into the wet food. Kittens 7 weeks and older should eat mainly dry kibble.
Some cats can live on dry food only. But most of the time they are overweight. Overweight cats are at high risk for health issues, and they also live shorter lives.
Both dry and wet food, if they are good quality and nutritionally complete and balanced, can provide everything a cat needs for optimal health.
Wet food is preferred for kittens as it contains the essential moisture needed to keep your growing kittens happy & healthy. Kittens should also be given free access to food during their first six months, and should be fed at least three times a day. After four months, feeding can be decreased to twice a day.
By six to eight weeks, kittens can eat wet or dry cat food at will. With wet food and/or dry food, you can provide a greater variety of flavors and textures, which will help support her adventurous nature. You can also feed a combination of wet and dry food or dry kibble by itself.
So, do cats need wet food? Not necessarily, but feeding a combination of wet and dry food can give your cat the benefits of both. The wet food will increase her total daily water intake and provide her the variety she wants and the dry kibble will help keep her teeth clean.
A cat not eating wet food they've previously enjoyed could be a sign of health issues, but it's more likely a signal to shake things up in the kitchen. Even if we feed them tailor-made meals, our feline companions can grow tired of a repetitive menu.
While cats who eat only dry food will generally drink more water, they still don't get enough moisture to support all their bodily functions. These cats essentially live in a constant state of low level dehydration, which can lead to bladder and kidney problems.
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.
Most kittens over six weeks old should eat ¼ to 1 and ¾ cups of dry food per day.
To soften the food for kittens, start with the right amount of dry food in a bowl. Add enough water to fill 1/4th of the bowl, but make sure that all of the food gets wet. Let it sit for a few minutes to soak it in. If needed add more water and stir.
Kitten food tends to be higher in calories, but it also contains some vital nutrients that a growing kitten needs. It won't harm the adult cat to eat kitten food, other than consuming the extra calories, but the kitten definitely shouldn't be eating food formulated for adult cats.
Some cats will take to the wet food right away; others may take a while. If you find your cat won't eat wet food, start by introducing a small amount first by mixing it with your cat's dry food. Then, slowly increase the ratio of wet to dry until your cat is eating all wet food.
Try switching it up! If they didn't seem to take a liking to any of the previous flavours or textures of wet food you introduced, you can also try a different type such as a stew or paté. If they don't eat it within 20 to 30 minutes of serving, take the meal away and try again later.
Try new options: In some cases, your cat might leave food behind because of the flavor or texture. If you notice that your cat isn't eating its meals anymore, it might be worth exploring new options. Try a new wet food pouch with a different texture or a variety pack of canned food in different flavors.
Soaking dry kibble with warm water will bring out the smell by warming the meaty fats within the food, an aroma which dogs and cats find appetising. Cats, as natural hunters may also prefer the warmer temperature (similar to body temperature).
Do consider mixing canned and dry pet food. Adding canned food to dry food is another way to increase the moisture content and enhance the flavor of the meal, while allowing you the flexibility of buying different types of food that fit your budget.
One reason that cats like dry food so much is because the pet food companies do not play fair when manufacturing this sub-optimal food source. They coat the kibble with extremely enticing animal digest sprays which are very pleasing to a cat - making a poor-quality diet very desirable to the target animal.
Grazing or free feeding is a term, which refers to allowing your cat access to dry food all day, everyday - can severely impact the longevity of their lives. It increases the risk of many health issues such as urinary tract issues, obesity, diabetes, kidney disease, and physiological issues.
Food temperature
To start, feed wet food at room temperature; cats don't like food if it is too hot or too cold. Once wet food is put down, it can be difficult to stop it drying out throughout the day, especially when the weather is warm.
Yes, kittens do need a special food. Kitten food is essential during the first year of life to support growth and development.