Cats use wet food in their pets’ daily diet. However, what are the benefits of combining cat food and wet food? The nutritional needs and food preferences of felines are intrinsically linked to their nature. Meeting these needs and preferences is feasible through complete and balanced commercial foods.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN COMPLETE FOOD AND COMPLEMENTARY FOOD
In the world of cat food, we can distinguish between complete food and complementary food. This distinction is relevant for the following reasons:
Complete foods provide felines with all the necessary nutrients, eliminating the need to incorporate other foods into their diet.
On the contrary, complementary foods are not nutritionally complete and do not satisfy all the daily requirements of cats. For this reason, they should be offered exclusively as a supplement to their main diet, for example, as treats, and should be combined with another food to ensure that their nutritional and energy needs are comprehensively met. To identify if a food is complementary, simply check the product label.
BENEFITS
Wet food:
Weight Control: By having fewer calories per serving, it is ideal for cats with obesity problems or for those who need to control their weight, as it promotes satiety without excess calories.
Optimal Hydration: Due to its high moisture, it provides an additional amount of water in the cat’s daily diet, which is essential for the health of the urinary tract, especially for those cats that do not drink much water, reducing the risk of urinary stones.
Varied Palatability: offers a wide range of textures and presentations that are highly appealing to the most demanding cats, which stimulates them to eat and enjoy their food.
Dry food:
Dental Hygiene: Promotes cat dental health by encouraging chewing of the kibble, providing a brushing effect that helps reduce plaque and tartar build-up.
Natural Eating Rhythm: Allows the cat to eat small portions several times a day, mimicking its natural behavior, as the dry food can remain in the feeder without deteriorating, offering flexibility in the feeding schedule.
Practical Storage: Its durability and ease of storage without the need for refrigeration make it a convenient option, maintaining its freshness for long periods once opened, allowing it to be kept for months.
How to introduce wet food into their diet?
If your cat has been used to exclusively dry food up until now, gradually introducing wet food is key. Ideally, start this transition when they are young, exposing them to different textures, which gives them flexibility in their diet as they grow.
To make the transition, simply leave some wet food in their regular bowl, especially if they have had previous contact with wet food. If it’s the first time, the key is to try different textures, flavours and aromas until you find one that appeals to them. Sometimes combining a little wet food with dry food in the same dish can be helpful in observing their reaction.
It is important to remember that if wet food is exposed for more than thirty minutes, it is best to refrigerate it and offer it later. Avoid trying to force the food into the cat’s mouth, as this will cause the cat to reject it.
CONCLUSION
The combination of both wet and dry foods offers a range of benefits from health to dietary preferences of felines, allowing for a holistic approach to their nutrition and overall well-being.
