Best Cat Food Debate: Should You Go with Dry, Wet, or Raw?

Having a cat is like having a younger sibling or even your very own child whom you want to give nothing but the best. That includes providing her with the best cat food possible.

However, for relatively new cat owners, that can be challenging since the market is filled with numerous brands and food types that all promise to make your cat healthy, energized, and more beautiful (in terms of coat length and shine).

That’s why today, we will be discussing the pros and cons of the most common cat foods.

Which Is Really the Best Cat Food?

Basically, all cat foods available can be placed under these three categories:

Dry Cat Food

This is the best cat food for those under a strict budget since it’s the most affordable. Dry cat food is easy to store and doesn’t spoil fast, even when left for hours or days in the open. It can also keep your cat feeling full longer and reduce tartar as it scrapes your cat’s teeth during feeding.

Unfortunately, dry cat food tends to have less protein, which is vital for an active lifestyle, and more carbohydrates, sugar, and other fillers, which can lead to obesity and other diseases. Furthermore, dry foods can be dehydrating and even detrimental to older cats and those with serious illnesses.

Wet Cat Food

Given its nature, wet cat food may produce mess during feeding and may leave stains on and bits stuck between your cat’s teeth, consequently requiring more attentive dental care. It’s also more expensive, so if you have a limited budget, you can only buy it in small quantities. Additionally, once opened, canned wet cat food must be carefully stored. It must be covered, refrigerated, and immediately consumed as it spoils quickly.

On the upside, wet cat food contains more water, fats, and protein—all of which are necessary to maintain your cat’s good health. Some cats are susceptible to drinking sparsely, so it will keep them hydrated. The richer scent and softer bits also make wet food easy for older and ill cats to consume.

Raw Cat Food

Just like their bigger cousins—the lions, tigers, and leopards—cats are natural carnivores and can digest and process raw meats. This is perhaps the foremost reason why more people are considering changing to a raw cat diet. Given that a raw cat diet allows you to have full control over the ingredients, it will be easier for you to offer meals that don’t trigger allergies or aggravate your cat’s illness.

However, it’s important to remember that a raw cat diet requires some level of meticulousness to ensure that the food remain clean before consumption. Cat food under this category is also quite difficult to prepare (in terms of finding and combining nutritionally balanced ingredients) and get your cat accustomed to at first, so you must be patient and persistent to truly follow this diet.

As you can see, all three types of cat food are good in their own way. Choosing which one is the best for your cat will generally boil down to your and your cat’s actual preferences and state of health. We do suggest that if you favor dry cat food, consider offering wet foods to your kitty at least once a week to fulfill his nutritional needs.

Now, which do you really think is the best type of cat food? Do you have specific brands or recipes to recommend? Don’t be shy, and share your thoughts with us in the comment section below!