There is nothing wrong with feeding a variety of brands and flavors of natural wet cat food. In fact, it is actually a good way to ensure they are receiving a well-balanced diet and supports cats with food sensitivities. It is not a good idea, however, to free feed the dry kibble, even natural dry cat foods.
Ultimately, your cat will decide whether she prefers dry or wet cat food. Purina nutritionists recommend feeding a combination of wet and dry food, though. This helps ensure she gets plenty of moisture in her diet, plus the dental benefits of dry food, all while adding variety to keep her interested.
The mix is key: The right balance between dry and wet food
Mixed feeding – that is, feeding wet and dry food – combines the advantages of both food types. However, instead of mixing wet and dry food in a bowl, you should offer each food type in a separate bowl at a certain time of day.
Although many cats are content to eat a single food, some cats may develop finicky eating habits and become very selective about what foods they'll accept. Feeding your cat two or three different cat foods provides flavor variety, and may prevent your cat from developing an exclusive preference for a single food.
Picky Eaters
Generally, a change in the brand or flavor is fine, as long as it meets the requirements for your pet's health and life stage. Some cats have other preferences. Some prefer kibble or dry food while others love wet, and some do well with a combination.
Answer: There is nothing wrong with feeding a variety of brands and flavors of natural wet cat food. In fact, it is actually a good way to ensure they are receiving a well-balanced diet and supports cats with food sensitivities. It is not a good idea, however, to free feed the dry kibble, even natural dry cat foods.
Does it matter which brand you choose when buying dog or cat food? The answer is absolutely, YES! Your pet's nutrition is just as important as yours, and not all dog and cat food is created equal. Some pet food is very poorly made with no quality ingredients in sight.
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.
It's important to only change your cat's food if there's a strong reason to do so — typically only if your veterinarian recommends it or your cat has reached a new stage in life.
There is no right answer to this question. As with most aspects of cat care, it depends on the individual. Some cats definitely do better when they eat the same thing every day.
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.
Whiskas are an average dry cat food and best as a sometimes choice for adult cats. Positives are the affordability, variety, and packaging clarity. Customers report great results, but our cat wasn't so sure. Negatives are the mixed taste, high carb content, and low protein.
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.
This number (in grams) depends on your cat's size, age and weight. There's a handy measurement table on the side of each bag of kibble. You can choose your own dry-to-wet food ratio, but we recommend a minimum of 1/3 wet food and 2/3 dry food.
That said, the general rule that I stick by is approximately 1/4 cup of dry food twice a day for adult cats, and approximately 1/4-1/2 can of canned food (grueled with more water) as a snack. Kittens typically require feedings 3-4x/day; consider weaning them to an adult cat food around 6-8 months of age.
Many cat owners feed only dry food to their felines. "Dry food is fine as long as it is complete and balanced," says Dr. Kallfelz.
You might want to change your cat's food to a new brand or type, either for preference or because you have been advised to do so for a medical reason, such as a special diet for kidney disease. It's always best to change the food gradually, over a couple of weeks.
There is no exact timing when it comes to how frequently you should change your cat's food—let your cat dictate what he can do. You can also rotate different types of food, such as varying from dry foog, to wet food, to raw food. This type of rotation enables the pet to receive the benefits of each variety of food.
The answer is that when left out, cat food can quickly grow bacteria. This bacteria can be harmful and can lead to digestive issues for your cat. Not only that, but when you leave wet cat food out, it will congeal into an unappealing texture, and your cat may not eat it anyway.
Cats are biologically programmed not to drink water which is near their food or near their toileting area - this is thought to be their instinctive avoidance of contaminating their water with potential sources of bacteria.
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.
Whiskas is a popular grocery brand, and if you shop carefully to take advantage of in-store promotions, it can be exceptionally good value, as well as offering tasty food that your cat will enjoy. Similarly, Felix can be a good choice if you take care to buy good-value multi packs from the right shop at the right time.
For cats with digestive issues or sensitive stomachs, veterinarian Jamie Freyer recommends this specially formulated food from Royal Canin. Such ingredients as easily digestible proteins, prebiotics, and fiber-rich psyllium-seed husks promote intestinal health and regular bowel function.
So, even though they may be cheap foods, if they're labelled as complete they should contain all the essential nutrients your cat needs. On the other hand, premium quality cat food has a good quantity of actual meat in it. Therefore you can expect to pay quite a bit more.