Ever considered the food options that can be fed to a cat? What are some of the foodstuffs that you give your cat daily? Well, there are different food types for your kitty. Among them are the wet food and dry food. Wet food is also referred to as canned food. Outdoor cats have an advantage of obtaining some food by hunting on rodents and other small creatures. Rats are the most common meal an outdoor cat can consume. Wet food for a cat seems to be the best option, but how much should it really consume in a day? Is it good or bad to feed the cat with wet food? What are the nutritional benefits of wet food? Read through this informative article for more details.
Are wet food good for the cat?
There are several beliefs about this. Many people think that feeding the cat with dry food is harmful to their health while feeding the cat with a wet food is healthy. That is something to argue about but it may not be true after all.
Generally, wet cat food is very good for the cat, with little or no side effects. However this will greatly depend on the type of the cat and the general health of the cat. Outdoor cats may not need a lot of wet food as compared to indoor cats. Since outdoor cats do hunt and eat a lot of fresh natural food, their need for wet food is minimal. On the other hand, indoor cats do not go for hunting hence their demand for wet food is quite high.
How much wet and dry food to feed a cat
This depends much on the weight of the cat as well as the age and the health status. For an adult, mid-sized cat, you need to feed him with a one 3 ounce can per 3 to 4 pounds of its weight. Should the cat be approximately 12 pounds, then 3 to four cans would be suitable to feed him per day. This, however should not be given in lump sum, but spread over all the meal times.
You can feed the cats with wet food daily, especially the indoor ones. However, as a precautionary measure, always read through the label so that you will know what you are feeding your cat with. When you are not sure of the nutritional desires of the cat, contact the vet.
Not all canned foods are healthy for the cat. You should, therefore, get to know the components of the potential wet meal for your cat.
What are the advantages of wet food to a cat?
There are many benefits that a cat derives from consuming wet food. Wet food has high moisture content which is quite beneficial for the cat. The moisture content is good in clearing the kidney problems, the urinary tract problems as well as reducing the effects of diabetes. Wet foods too aid in digestion of the food and improve the general health of the cat.
Does wet food have negative impact on the cat?
Wet can foods do not have many negative impacts on the cat’s health. The challenge arises when the food is contaminated from the factory or at home when it is being processed. Poisoned wet food can be harmful or even fatal to the cat.
Cats that consume a lot of wet food tends to produce a lot of urine, which may easily be confused for diabetes. However, the vet should be able to guide appropriately on this. A good pet owner should always seek the services of a vet for his pet friend.
How should wet food be served to a cat?
Even if you keep the food in a cold place such as a refrigerator to maintain its freshness, cats will love it warm. Serve the food at room temperature for maximum comfort. The cat will not likely have a bite of it should be served cold or frozen. On the other hand, should it be warmed, it may also avoid having a bite. Remove the food from the refrigerator and let it out for half an hour to get some warmth.
Another great way to serve is by mixing it with dry food. In fact, this is the best thing for your cat. Since the cat could have a challenge in eating dry food, it may be wise to mix the two food types. There are many benefits which a cat derives from consuming dry food. However, it is not always best enjoyed because of its hardness. Mixing them would enable the cat to derive the best nutrients out of the two meals.
Why do many people go for dry food despite it being hard for a cat?
The main reason as to why many people prefer dry food to wet food, is because of many factors, amongst them are:
- Dry foods cheaper to buy as compared to wet food.
- Storing dry food is easier and they can last for long even at room temperature. Wet food may not last long at room temperatures without going stale. You can put out the food all day long for the cat to enjoy without going to waste.
- Dry food is excellent in maintaining and strengthening the dental formula of the cat.
Despite the above advantages of dry food, it is also worth to note that wet food is excellent for developing and maintaining strong bones, muscles as well as the immune system. Since wet food is easily digestible, and with high moisture content, it highly suits the cat as compared to dry food.
How to store wet food for your cat.
An adult cat can consume a whole can of food without requiring storage unless you are stocking for the future. For the kitten, just give it some little food, put the rest in an airtight container and put it in a refrigerator till the next meal session.
Conclusion.
For a cat, wet food is more beneficial than dry food, however, this may not be a universal law. Factors such as sickness and the cat type may cause the rule to be in reverse. Wet food is a source of many-body nutrients. Outdoor cat do not need much of it since it has already consumed wet food from hunting. Indoor cats rely heavily on wet food on daily basis. Read the label of wet food can before feeding it to the cat, and finally, have the vet check your cat all the time.
If you want to know more expert review check on Saundra J. Graves blog Thepetnow.
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