Great thread! And this is a really fantastic summary:
Quote:
Originally Posted by OsnobunnieO
I think feeding a mix is just fine.
To sum up what I believe to be true about the two:
Feeding ONLY dry food tends to leave many cats slightly dehydrated because they rely on food to get their moisture, most cats don't drink enough water on their own. This can put some stress on their internal organs, like kidneys. Also, it can lead to a more concentrated urine and possible UTIs and maybe even blockages in male cats (females too, but less common).
Most dry foods contain a high amount of carbs and other fillers that cats don't really need. They are carnivores who do best when they eat meat, or mostly meat meals. A lot of lower ended dry foods contain little meat at all (some you really have to search to find it!).
A lot of cats tend to overeat when free fed dry. This leads to a lot of weight issues, as well as a "need" for food all the time... you can read lots of stories about cats who stress out and scratch, pee, and poop all over the house at the sight of an empty bowl.
Wet foods provides moisture. It hydrates them, and keeps the urine a good concentration to provide a healthy urinary tract. It usually keeps them fuller longer since they get more nutrition from the food and are not just "filled" with grains and such. It also tends to keep cats a healthier weight and has been helpful for many people in getting their cats to lose weight.
I personally feed an all wet diet now and have been very pleased. While I tend to scoop about 3-4 clumps of urine every day, I usually get a small amount of poo once a day. His coat is beautiful and soft, and he just seems all around healthy.
I think you'll do fine on the combo you're starting. Natural Balance is one of the high end dry foods, good choice! Basically, the best diet for your cat is going to be one that he does the best on. If he refuses to eat canned food (some do!) feeding him the best dry you can find is just as good... I mean, it can't be good for him if he doesn't eat it right?
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I used to feed my cat wet food but he lost interest in it. At first, he'd lick the gravy off and then come back later to eat the meaty bits. As time went by, I noticed there were days where he didn't eat it at all and seemed satisfied with just dry food. So I just stopped buying the wet food. However, since reading through this entire thread, I will certainly give the wet food another go.
I always have a bowl of water and dry food available for my cat and he eats only when he's hungry. He weighs what he should and has had no health problems. Once in a while, as a treat, I buy him a can of tuna (in water) or some shaved turkey from the deli. I have yet to research this forum to see if these treats are OK to give a cat, so if anyone has an opinion or advice about the occasional tuna/turkey treat, I'd love to hear what you have to say.
