Benefits of Wet Cat Food

Do you have a cat who needs more water in her diet? Are you having difficulty getting her to drink water? How can you help your cat stay hydrated?

We've talked about the importance of hydration in your cat's life several times in the past. We live in the Deep South where it is hot and humid for several months out of the year. Truffle also had bladder stones which required surgery, so she needs to get a lot of water in her diet. 

Both Truffle and Brulee were exposed to pet fountains since they were kittens. I have a minimum of 3 pet fountains placed throughout the house. I watch the girls drink from their fountains on a regular basis. However, after Truffle's surgery to remove bladder stones, the veterinarian stressed that she must have a lot of water in her diet. In addition to eating her prescription kibble, both girls are fed a wet diet of cat food. 

Why Feed Wet Cat Food

Graphic credit - Purina®

I've read so many posts and comments on social media about what one should feed cats. There are debates about feeding dry kibble, wet cat food, raw food, and homemade food. Truffle is fed some dry kibble that is prescription because I don't want more stones forming in her bladder. Brulee came to me and preferred kibble. After a lot of research over the past 8 years the girls have lived with me about the importance of keeping them hydrated with high-protein food, I've transitioned them to more wet cat food. Why? Wet cat food assists with hydration, complete nutrition and lean body mass.

Hydration

Brulee knows the importance of staying hydrated

Did you know that cats need approximately 20 teaspoons of water per day, but she only gets about 3/100 of a teaspoon for each lap of her tongue? Cats need 1 ounce of water per pound of body weight. Truffle and Brulee would need approximately 8 ounces of water a day. There is no way they can lap enough water to meet this need, so wet cat food is an additional source of hydration. Water is essential for chemical reactions in a cat's body, temperature regulation, digestion & elimination, joint health, and mobility. Some people may think that the only way to keep their cat hydrated is through water. However, wet cat food has at least a 65% moisture content (and often more than that.) By ensuring your cats have wet food available to them you’re helping to improve their overall hydration.
 
Cats evolved naturally to get most of their hydration from prey, so it makes sense that they need a high-protein wet diet to help stay hydrated. Wet cat food has at least 65%+ moisture content, so it's important to not leave the food out for more than 30-60 minutes at a time to prevent bacterial growth.

Complete Nutrition and Variety

Brulee is getting accustomed to eating wet cat food

Wet food offers complete nutrition for cats, is highly digestible and contains all the same essential nutrients as dry food, including vitamins and minerals such as iron (healthy blood and tissue), zinc (immune system, skin, eyes, bones), and biotin (energy from food and healthy skin).

Cats can be very finicky about what they eat and a wet cat food provides different tastes and textures to keep meal time interesting. I tend to rotate the texture, protein, and recipe of wet food each day so my cats don't get bored. 

Promotes Lean Body Mass

Truffle knows the importance of water and wet cat food

According to Purina, "Wet food is high in protein, which supports strong muscles. Wet food helps maintain muscle mass through adulthood and into her senior years. A cat's total body weight is comprised of lean body mass (LBM) and fat mass. Muscles, ligaments, bones, organs, and more are all considered LBM. Organs and muscles are the main source of metabolic activity, helping to support many vital functions like immunity and mobility. As cats age, they tend to lose LBM, so feeding a wet cat food with high protein content can help to maintain LBM as they age."

Cats are obligate carnivores, which means they need nutrients that can only be found in animal products. Cats in the wild will find these nutrients through their prey, but indoor cats (which we highly recommend) depend on us to provide the appropriate food to help them stay healthy. Feeding a wet cat food can ensure your cat's daily protein requirements are met. 

Feeding My Cats

Truffle and Brulee are both eating wet cat food

As I said earlier, my cats eat both dry kibble and wet cat food. There are two reasons I feed them kibble (in limited quantities): prescription diet for bladder stones and Brulee's preference for kibble. I know there are wet cat food products for urinary issues, but the girls don't really like them. Each day the girls split a can of wet food between them. I vary the recipe, protein, and texture each day so they don't get bored. My cats don't really like beef recipes and I rarely give them fish. They are fed a variety of textures and recipes of chicken, turkey, duck, and rabbit. Brulee prefers wet food that has more gravy in it because she eats her food by picking it up with her tongue (stereotypical for flat-faced Persian cats).  Truffle tends to like all types of wet food. It's taken me a while to find wet food that both cats will eat, but the benefits are worth the time and effort.

What type of food to you feed your cats? Do they have a favorite flavor and texture? Tell us in the comments.

Giveaway

Thanks to the generosity of our friends at Purina, three of our lucky readers will each win five coupons, each for a free 12-pack of Fancy Feast. The giveaway is open to U.S. residents, 18+ years of age, except where prohibited by law. The winners will be selected randomly by Rafflecopter and contacted via email and will have 48 hours to claim their prize. Failure to do so will result in forfeiture of the prize, and a new winner will be randomly selected by Rafflecopter. Please note that to qualify for the prize a comment must be left on this post. Giveaway closes on Tuesday, August 6, 2019 at 11:59 pm Eastern Time. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck to everyone who enters! To stay up to date with Purina, make sure to follow them on social media. 

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Sources:

Purina: Do Cats Need Wet Food? Benefits of Including it in Their Diet
Purina: How Much Wet Food Should I Feed My Cat?

Purina: Wet vs Dry Cat Food: Which is Better?