Canned vs Dry Cat Food, Which Is Better?

Cat Crazy Newsletter

Last week, I wrote to you about Betty – who thinks her cat likes junk food. She was pretty funny. It came down to this – she thought her cat liked junk food because her cat preferred canned and pouched food over dry.My response was – as long as she is feeding a good quality and nutritionally balanced food – then any food is okay – canned, dry, or pouched.

Junk food to me is a non-premium brand of food that is not nutritionally balanced. After that email – I got several emails asking: “What are the pros and cons of canned, dry, semi-moist and pouched food?”

Great question!

I think it is easiest to look at this in pros/cons.

Pros for dry food

•  Nutritionally balanced if you feed a premium food
•  Less expensive
•  May help minimize tartar
•  Long shelf life

Cons for dry food

• Cats don’t like it as much
• If you leave a full bowl down – it is hard to determine if your cat is eating

Pros for Canned or Pouch Food

• Nutritionally balanced if you feed a premium brand food
• Has more water content which is good for cats with urinary problems
• Cats love it
• Offering a small amount once a day can help you assess your cats appetite

Cons for Canned or Pouch Food

• Cost
• Limited shelf life once opened
• No abrasive activity to minimize tartar
• Cats can become “fussy” if this is all they eat

These are the major pros and cons. Personally; I think a mixture of the two is an ideal way to feed a cat.

Until next time,

Dr. Jon