Cats, as independent and freedom-loving as they are, still require our utmost care for them to live their lives to the fullest. One way for them to get really healthy is for us to provide them with the best wet cat food. In this review, we’ll be presenting to you some reasons why only wet or canned cat food is the best for your pet. But before that, let us look first at some of the best cat food brands in the market today and what makes them truly special for the tabbies in our lives.
The Best Wet Cat Food
1 Fancy Feast Grilled Seafood Feast Variety Pack
- Brand: Fancy Feast
- First 5 ingredients: Wheat Gluten, Liver, Meat By-Products, Chicken, Corn Starch-Modified
- Primary Proteins: Tuna, Seafood, Chicken & Salmon
- Calories: 70 kcal/can
- Flavor: Tuna, Seafood & Salmon
- Life Stage: Adult
Nobody knows exactly where the famous notion that cats love eating fish comes from, but they sure do. And that’s what Purina’s Fancy Feast Grilled Seafood Collection Wet Cat Food Variety Pack brings to the table for your favorite tabby. Dubbed as the best wet cat food, one can always satisfy the discriminating palates of today’s felines with real meats from tuna, salmon, and other ocean fishes combined with chicken and other high protein ingredients.
It does contain wheat gluten, however, so you’d have to be cautious if your kitty is known to be allergic to gluten. Nevertheless, with substantial amounts of calories and proteins plus as much as 80% of moisture in each can of these seafood feast varieties, whose kitty is not going to grow healthier?
You may also like our Fancy Feast Cat Food Review.
Grilled Seafood Feast in Gravy:
Fish Broth, Ocean Fish, Wheat Gluten, Liver, Meat By-Products, Chicken, Corn Starch-Modified, Artificial and Natural Flavors, Corn Oil, Shrimp, Salt, Tricalcium Phosphate, Soy Protein Concentrate, Added Color, Minerals (Potassium Chloride, Magnesium Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Potassium Iodide), Choline Chloride, Taurine, Red 3, Vitamins (Thiamine Mononitrate [Vitamin B-1], Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin [Vitamin B-3], Calcium Pantothenate [Vitamin B-5], Vitamin A Supplement, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex [Vitamin K], Pyridoxine Hydrochloride [Vitamin B-6], Riboflavin Supplement [Vitamin B-2], Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Biotin [Vitamin B-7], Folic Acid [Vitamin B-5], Vitamin D-3 Supplement). D-6928.
2 Meow Mix Tender Favorites Poultry & Beef Variety Pack
- Brand: Meow Mix
- First 5 ingredients: Fish Broth, Tuna, Chicken, Chicken Liver, Modified Tapioca Starch
- Primary Proteins: Tuna, Chicken
- Calories: 59 kcal/cup
- Flavor: Turkey, Chicken & Beef
- Life Stage: All
The sauce in this collection of Meow Mix Tender Favorites Poultry & Beef Wet Cat Food Cups in Sauce soft cat food is sure to keep your feline pet licking its bowl. Not only are these kitty chow delectable, they’re highly nutritious, too, providing just the right amounts of calories, proteins, and fats to growing kitties.
Meow Mix comes with an exceptional blend of premium quality real meats that include some of the feline world’s favorites such as tuna, chicken, and beef. Like the Fancy Feast, however, the Meow Mix Tender Favorites also comes with wheat gluten. Although gluten allergy is quite rare in cats, you should still have to make sure that your kitty is not susceptible to developing gluten allergy before giving it this kind of healthy cat food. Meow Mix Tender Favorites Poultry & Beef is one of 5 recipes included in our review of the Meow Mix Cat Food.
Tender Favorites with Real Chicken & Beef In Sauce:
Fish Broth, Tuna, Chicken, Beef, Chicken Liver, Modified Tapioca Starch, Wheat Gluten, Calcium Sulfate, Vegetable Oil, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Guar Gum, Salt, Dried Egg Product, Carrageenan, Sodium Tripolyphosphate, Titanium Dioxide (Color), Caramel Color, Vitamins [Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Supplement, Pantothenic Acid, Riboflavin Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Biotin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Source of Vitamin K Activity)], Minerals (Ferrous Sulfate Monohydrate, Zinc Oxide, Manganese Sulfate Monohydrate, Copper Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, Potassium Iodide), Tricalcium Phosphate, Sodium Nitrite (To Promote Color Retention).
3 Royal Canin Mother and Babycat Canned Cat Food
- Brand: Royal Canin
- First 5 ingredients: Water Sufficient For Processing, Chicken, Chicken Liver, Pork By-Products, Wheat Gluten
- Primary Proteins: Chicken, Pork
- Calories: 133 kcal/5.1-oz can
- Flavor: Chicken
- Life Stage: Kitten, Adult
Giving cat mums the right nutrition as well as feeding new kits to give them the best start in life is essential for any cat owner. And Royal Canin aims to make the job easier with this lush wet formula for both mothers and baby cats. Specifically formulated for pregnant or nursing queen cats, the carefully chosen ingredients are also beneficial to kittens between the ages of one to four months.
In a delicious and easy to digest mousse texture, this wet cat food is the perfect way to ease kits on the transition from mum’s milk to solid cat food and can also be used as a mixer for the range’s dry cat food as they get older. With quality chicken protein, the ingredient list has been created to give kittens all they need to build a healthy immune system and to support their rapidly growing bodies. Highly digestible, there are also added probiotics, vitamins, and minerals to keep kit and mum on the right nutritional track. Royal Canin Mother & Babycat Ultra-Soft Mousse is one of 8 cat food recipes mentioned in our review of Royal Canin Cat Food.
Water Sufficient For Processing, Chicken, Chicken Liver, Pork By-Products, Wheat Gluten, Powdered Cellulose, Modified Corn Starch, Pork Plasma, Natural Flavors, Vegetable Oil, Brewers Rice Flour, Fish Oil, Hydrolyzed Yeast, Calcium Carbonate, Carrageenan, Sodium Tripolyphosphate, Guar Gum, Potassium Phosphate, Taurine, Vitamins[Dl-Alpha Tocopherol Acetate (Source Of Vitamin E), L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (Source Of Vitamin C), Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Niacin Supplement, Biotin, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Folic Acid, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement], Choline Chloride, Potassium Chloride, Trace Minerals[Zinc Proteinate, Zinc Oxide, Ferrous Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Sodium Selenite, Calcium Iodate], Marigold Extract (Tagetes Erecta L.), Magnesium Oxide, Carotene.
4 Wellness Complete Health Pate Chicken Entree
- Brand: Wellness
- First 5 ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Liver, Turkey, Chicken Broth, Carrots
- Primary Proteins: Chicken & Turkey
- Calories: 182 kcal/can
- Flavor: Chicken
- Life Stage: Adult
Everyone knows that cats don’t really love eating grains or veggies, for that matter. In the wild, they’re known to be obligate carnivores: it’s meat or nothing. But, we cannot discount the fact that vegetables and fruits contain some vitamins and minerals that we sometimes don’t see in animal products alone. As such, a well-balanced nutrition is also needed by these felines.
With the Wellness Natural Complete Health Natural Grain Free Canned Cat Food in Pate Recipe, your kitty is bound to get the right amounts of animal-based proteins in a truly yummy treat plus all the nutritious goodness of healthy veggies and fruits for a more well-balanced feline nutrition. Omega 3 fatty acids are included to help in the promotion of overall feline health.
Read here our detailed Wellness Cat Food Reviews.
Chicken, Chicken Liver, Turkey, Chicken Broth, Carrots, Natural Flavor, Guar Gum, Cranberries, Ground Flaxseed, Potassium Chloride, Taurine, Salt, Cassia Gum, Xanthan Gum, Choline Chloride, Iron Proteinate, Zinc Proteinate, Beta Carotene, Vitamin E Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, Niacin Supplement, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Biotin, Potassium Iodide, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid.
5 Weruva BFF Rainbow A Gogo Variety Pack Wet Cat Food
- Brand: Weruva
- First 5 ingredients: Tuna Broth, Tuna, Tapioca Starch, Sunflower Oil, Guar Gum
- Primary Proteins: Chicken, Beef, Salmon, Lamb, Turkey & Duck
- Calories: 53 kcal/pouch
- Flavor: Chicken, Beef, Salmon, Lamb, Turkey & Duck
- Life Stage: Adult
One of the healthiest wet cat food you could ever give to your feline friend is the Best Feline Friend Grain-Free Canned Cat Food & Pouches from Weruva. Each pouch contains just the right amounts of energy from a good combination of proteins and fats.
But what really separates Weruva from the rest is that it has one of the highest proportions of water or moisture in its formulations, ranging anywhere from 84 to 86 percent of the total food volume. Whereas other soft cat food can only manage at most 80%, Weruva’s high moisture content is perfect for kitties that are especially averse to drinking even from a feline drinking fountain.
Take a look at our Weruva Cat Food Review.
Tuna & Chicken – Charm Me:
Tuna Broth, Tuna, Chicken, Tapioca Starch, Sunflower Oil, Guar Gum, Calci um Sulfate, Tricalcium Phosphate, Potassium Chloride, Celery Powder, Salt, Vitamin E Supplement, Ferrous Sulfate, Niacin Supplement, Zinc Oxide, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Taurine, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Manganese Sulfate, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement (Vitamin B2), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Biotin, Copper Amino Acid Complex, Sodium Selenite, Folic Acid, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Source of Vitamin K3), Potassium Iodide.
Tuna & Beef – Baby Cakes:
Tuna Broth, Tuna, Beef, Tapioca Starch, Sunflower Oil, Guar Gum, Calcium Sulfate, Tricalcium Phosphate, Potassium Chloride, Celery Powder, Salt, Vitamin E Supplement, Ferrous Sulfate, Niacin Supplement, Zinc Oxide, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Taurine, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Manganese Sulfate, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement (Vitamin B2), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Biotin, Copper Amino Acid Complex, Sodium Selenite, Folic Acid, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Source of Vitamin K3), Potassium Iodide.
Tuna & Salmon – Sweet Cheeks:
Tuna Broth, Tuna, Salmon, Tapioca Starch, Sunflower Oil, Guar Gum, Calcium Sulfate, Tricalcium Phosphate, Potassium Chloride, Celery Powder, Salt, Vitamin E Supplement, Ferrous Sulfate, Niacin Supplement, Zinc Oxide, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Taurine, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Manganese Sulfate, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement (Vitamin B2), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Biotin, Copper Amino Acid Complex, Sodium Selenite, Folic Acid, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Source of Vitamin K3), Potassium Iodide.
Tuna & Lamb – Luv Yas:
Tuna Broth, Tuna, Lamb, Tapioca Starch, Guar Gum, Calcium Sulfate, Tricalcium Phosphate, Sunflower Oil, Potassium Chloride, Celery Powder, Salt, Vitamin E Supplement, Ferrous Sulfate, Niacin Supplement, Zinc Oxide, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Taurine, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Manganese Sulfate, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement (Vitamin B2), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Biotin, Copper Amino Acid Complex, Sodium Selenite, Folic Acid, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Source of Vitamin K3), Potassium Iodide.
Tuna & Turkey – Tickles:
Tuna Broth, Tuna, Turkey, Sunflower Oil, Tapioca Starch, Guar Gum, Calcium Sulfate, Tricalcium Phosphate, Potassium Chloride, Celery Powder, Salt, Vitamin E Supplement, Ferrous Sulfate, Niacin Supplement, Zinc Oxide, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Taurine, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Manganese Sulfate, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement (Vitamin B2), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Biotin, Copper Amino Acid Complex, Sodium Selenite, Folic Acid, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Source of Vitamin K3), Potassium Iodide.
Tuna & Duck – Devour Me:
Tuna Broth, Tuna, Duck, Tapioca Starch, Sunflower Oil, Guar Gum, Calcium Sulfate, Tricalcium Phosphate, Potassium Chloride, Celery Powder, Salt, Vitamin E Supplement, Ferrous Sulfate, Niacin Supplement, Zinc Oxide, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Taurine, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Manganese Sulfate, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement (Vitamin B2), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Biotin, Copper Amino Acid Complex, Sodium Selenite, Folic Acid, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Source of Vitamin K3), Potassium Iodide.
6 Blue Buffalo Wilderness Kitten Salmon Canned Food
- Brand: Blue Buffalo
- First 5 ingredients: Salmon, Chicken, Fish Broth, Chicken Liver, Pea Flour
- Primary Proteins: Salmon, Chicken
- Calories: 105 kcal/can
- Flavor: Salmon
- Life Stage: Kitten
BLUE Buffalo has always been known for formulating pet food that closely mimics their natural food in the wild. That’s exactly what you get with its Wilderness High Protein Salmon Recipe for Kittens.
Considered as one of the healthiest wet cat food, the Blue Wilderness comes with substantially higher proportions of proteins and fats plus just the right amounts of moisture and calories to help ensure the optimum development of kittens. It’s formulated with taurine and DHA, too, both of which are beneficial substances in the continuing development of the young feline brain and eyes.
Check out our guide on Blue Buffalo Cat Food.
Salmon, Chicken, Fish Broth, Chicken Liver, Pea Flour, Natural Flavor, Guar Gum, Fish Oil (Source Of Dha-Docosahexaenoic Acid), Flaxseed, Potassium Chloride, Taurine, Salt, Dried Potato, Choline Chloride, Carrageenan, Cassia Gum, Magnesium Sulfate, Iron Amino Acid Chelate, Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Vitamin E Supplement, Copper Amino Acid Chelate, Manganese Amino Acid Chelate, Sodium Selenite, Niacin Supplement (Vitamin B3), Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B5), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Riboflavin Supplement (Vitamin B2), Vitamin A Supplement, Biotin (Vitamin B7), Potassium Iodide, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid (Vitamin B9), Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols.
7 Tiki Cat Luau Wet Cat Food
- Brand: Tiki Cat
- First 5 ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Broth, Sunflower Seed Oil, Calcium Lactate, Dicalcium Phosphate
- Primary Proteins: Chicken
- Calories: 225 kcal/10-oz can
- Flavor: Chicken
- Life Stage: All
With its grain-free and low carb formula, Tiki Cat have put quality protein at the heart of this wet food to tempt fussy eaters or more sensitive cats. But if the user reports are anything to go by, it is tasty enough to be a go-to for most other cats! With its high moisture content, this wet food is easy to eat and digest, so is good for senior cats too.
With real chicken as its protein source and added sunflower oil for the essential fatty acids, you get no gluten or vegetables, just a rich, meaty taste, packed with all the right protein goodness without too much added fat. The grain-free formula means it is also gentle on potentially reactive digestions, meaning life after mealtime is a whole lot more pleasant. Add in all the essential vitamins and minerals your cat needs for energy, immune system and general good health and we think Tiki Cat have created a delicious menu that your feline should love.
Chicken, Chicken Broth, Sunflower Seed Oil, Calcium Lactate, Dicalcium Phosphate, Potassium Chloride, Taurine, Choline Chloride, Salt, Magnesium Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin (Vitamin B3), Zinc Oxide, Vitamin A Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Pantothenate, Copper Amino Acid Chelate, Riboflavin Supplement (Vitamin B2), Sodium Selenite, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Folic Acid, Potassium Iodide, Vitamin D3 Supplement.
8 Hartz Delectables Stew Senior 10+ Cat Treat
- Brand: Hartz
- First 5 ingredients: Water, Chicken, Tuna, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Modified Tapioca Starch
- Primary Proteins: Chicken, Tuna
- Calories: 14kcal/40g pouch
- Flavor: Chicken & Tuna
- Life Stage: Senior
If you have a kitty that is already reaching its golden years, then you have to try HARTZ’s Delectables Stew Senior 10 Yrs+ Lickable Treats. This wet food for senior felines comes with significantly reduced amounts of calories, proteins, fats, and fiber, but with substantially greater proportion of water or moisture. This is a reflection of the changing physiologic needs of elderly cats.
The functioning of most of their body organs would have already started declining by this stage. Providing them increased proteins, fats, and fibers may exact unnecessary toll on their kidneys and digestive systems. They do need plenty of water because of the risk of dehydration in the elderly. This is what HARTZ’s Delectables provide, making it one of the best wet cat food specially designed for seniors.
You may also like our review of the Best Cat Food for Older Cats.
Water, Chicken, Tuna, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Modified Tapioca Starch, Guar Gum, Tuna Extract, Vitamin E Supplement, Carrageenan, Xanthan Gum, Locust Bean Gum, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement.
9 Instinct Original Grain-Free Pate Real Duck Recipe
- Brand: Instinct
- First 5 ingredients: Duck, Turkey Liver, Duck Broth, Ground Flaxseed, Montmorillonite Clay
- Primary Proteins: Duck, Turkey
- Calories: 106 kcal/3 oz can
- Flavor: Duck
- Life Stage: All
Ninety-five percent of the ingredients packed into every canned cat food of Nature’s Variety Instinct Original Grain Free Recipe are sourced from pure animal proteins and healthy oils. Only 5% are sourced from fruits and vegetables as well as other wholesome ingredients without having to include gluten or grains. This makes the Instinct one of the healthiest wet cat food around. Its near-ideal ratio of essential fatty acids plus the inclusion of other nutrients make this pate something that cats will love.
It also has an amazing calorie, protein, and fat profile, although its fiber percentage can be considered quite higher than most. Nevertheless, Nature’s Variety still manages to get our nod as one of the best for your cat.
Read in-depth Nature’s Variety Instinct Cat Food Review.
Duck, Turkey Liver, Duck Broth, Ground Flaxseed, Montmorillonite Clay, Peas, Potassium Chloride, Carrots, Salt, Minerals (Iron Proteinate, Zinc Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, Potassium Iodide), Choline Chloride, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Niacin Supplement, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid), Taurine, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate, Menhaden Fish Oil (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Artichokes, Cranberries, Pumpkin, Tomato, Blueberries, Broccoli, Cabbage, Kale, Parsley
10 Hill’s Science Diet Adult Savory Salmon Entree
- Brand: Hill’s Science Diet
- First 5 ingredients: Water, Pork Liver, Salmon, Pork By-Products, Wheat Flour
- Primary Proteins: Pork, Salmon
- Calories: 185 kcal/can
- Flavor: Salmon
- Life Stage: Adult
Featuring precision formulated nutrition especially designed for today’s kitties, the Adult Minced Canned Cat Food in Savory Salmon Entrée by Hill’s Science Diet is an exceptional soft cat food that provides the correct balance of proteins, calories, and fats. While it doesn’t list the maximum percentage of moisture present in each preparation of this healthy cat food, it nevertheless lists water as its 1st main ingredient.
This is in combination with salmon, pork, and wheat flour. The use of animal-based proteins helps ensure your kitty is able to fully digest these macromolecules. And if salmon is not your kitty’s favorite, you can always try the other flavor variants like chicken liver, ocean fish, turkey, and beef.
You might also be interested in a detailed look at Hill’s Cat Food.
Water, Pork Liver, Salmon, Pork By-Products, Wheat Flour, Chicken Fat, Whole Grain Corn, Corn Starch, Powdered Cellulose, Chicken Liver Flavor, Corn Gluten Meal, Natural Flavor, Guar Gum, Locust Bean Gum, Brewers Dried Yeast, Potassium Chloride, Calcium Carbonate, vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of Vitamin C), Niacin Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Biotin, Riboflavin Supplement, Folic Acid), Taurine, Carrageenan, Choline Chloride, Iodized Salt, L-Lysine, DL-Methionine, minerals (Zinc Oxide, Ferrous Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Calcium Iodate), Beta-Carotene.
Best Canned Cat Food Buying Guide
Buying wet cat foods used to be a pretty straightforward affair. However, as our knowledge of feline nutrition as well as feline behavior expands, so does our understanding of their unique nutritional needs. What was once a very simple process of picking wet cat food with the best possible ingredients no longer holds true. Here’s a guide for you to help you on that journey to determine the perfect wet food for your feline friend.
Why is Quality Wet Cat Food Essential to Your Cat’s Health?
Like the great divide in the dog world, there is also a polarizing division in the cat world where proponents of either dry cat food or wet cat food have been slugging it out for many years now. We don’t want to sound biased towards the use of wet cat food for our feline friends. So, we’re going to share with you some of the scientific explanations as to why your cat will thrive more on a diet that has naturally greater moisture content.
Take a look at our guide on Moist & Semi-Moist Cat Food.
Cats are obligate carnivores – the taurine link
It’s meat or nothing for our feline friends. The reason for this is not so much that they are choosy, but rather because they need one very particular amino acid to really thrive. Unfortunately, this amino acid can only be found in animal meat proteins. As such, while cats can technically feed on plant proteins, they are at an increased risk of developing a lot of potential health problems because of the absence of this one very important amino acid – taurine. Taurine is an amino acid that plays a very crucial role in the normal and healthy development of your cat’s cardiovascular system, skeletal muscles, its eyes especially the retina, and its central nervous system especially the brain and spinal cord. If you do not feed your feline friend animal-based proteins, then you are risking a whole lot of potential health problems.
Cats cannot effectively break down plant-based food
The digestive systems of carnivores are very short. It is this rather short length of their gut that prevents them from efficiently digesting cellulose- or fiber-rich cat foods. As such, if you put too much fiber or cellulose into their diet, you’re actually inviting a lot of trouble. Unfortunately, fiber is an essential part of fillers found in dry food.
Cats have very inefficient thirst drive
Cats don’t have the necessary thirst mechanism to make them want to drink when thirsty. They can only rely on the food they eat for water. The prey wild cats feast on typically contain 70 percent moisture. By comparison, wet food contains, on the average, 78 to 83 percent moisture. On the other hand, dry cat food typically contains, at most, 10 percent moisture.
So, if cats don’t have an efficient thirst drive and they eat dry cat food that contains a measly 10 percent of the food’s weight, the obvious result is dehydration. This can lead to chronic renal failure or, at the very least, urine crystals can form and obstruct the flow of urine.
The risk of obesity and diabetes in cats
We already mentioned that most dry cat food comes with substantially greater proportions of carbohydrates which can easily translate to glucose. You already know what this means. Increased glucose coupled with its underutilization can lead to feline obesity culminating in the development of diabetes in cats and its corresponding complications.
Check out our review of the Best Grain Free Cat Food.
Things to Consider When Shopping for Wet Cat Foods
Based on what we have discussed above, it is now clear what things we should consider whenever we are shopping for wet canned cat food. We’ve summarized the points here for your perusal.
Guaranteed analysis
While not absolute, this will give you a fair understanding of the composition of the wet food in terms of the 4 principal elements: proteins, fats, fiber, and moisture. At the very least, the moisture content should be at least 70 percent with the protein and fats making up mostly the remainder of the food composition.
Principal ingredients
Equally important are the principal ingredients. Pet food manufacturers list their ingredients in decreasing level of importance with the first 5 ingredients occupying 80 to 90 percent of the total volume of the food. As much as possible, the principal ingredients should always include an animal based protein. The more meat proteins listed in the top 5 the better it is. However, it is also crucial to check for the quality of the meat protein. Getting salmon is different from salmon meal although both will come from the same fish.
Nutrients
You should not be confused between an ingredient and a nutrient. Ingredients are the actual food items such as chicken, beef, duck, and so on and so forth. On the other hand, nutrients are chemicals derived from food. So, chicken will contain vitamins and minerals as well as essential fatty acids and amino acids. It is important to differentiate an ingredient from a nutrient because the latter is a natural component of the former.
Preservatives
It is natural for companies producing wet food to use preservatives in their formulation. This is because the ingredients used in each preparation are not dehydrated and as such are subject to spoilage. Now, do take note that there is a great difference between natural and artificial preservatives. An excellent example of a natural preservative is salt as well as Vitamin E. If there is a substance in the label that you don’t understand, it’s okay to research it first. Examples of artificial preservatives you want to avoid include BHA, ethoxyquin, BHT, and propyl gallate.
Ingredients you have to avoid
While cats are not known to develop gluten allergies, you might want to confirm this first with your veterinarian and avoid foods that have gluten in them as much as possible if such an allergy exists in your cat. Also, the fiber, ash, and grain content should not be greater than 5 percent of the total volume of the food. Artificial coloring, flavoring, and preservatives should also be avoided at all cost. Also, look for fillers such as corn or wheat as these are some ingredients you want to avoid.
You may also like our detailed guide on Hypoallergenic Cat Food.
What Ingredients Should I Look For in Wet Cat Food?
If we have to consider the things that we have been talking about so far, we can easily come up with a list of the ingredients that we should be looking for in wet cat food. Here are the most important ingredients that you have to look for.
Clearly identifiable meat protein
We cannot stress this enough. Meat protein should always take precedence over any other kind of plant protein precisely because of the absence of taurine in the latter. Additionally, plant based proteins also contain fiber which we already know to be quite difficult to digest by obligate carnivores. It is important to look for a clearly stated meat protein such as chicken, tuna, or duck, just to name a few. If it says ‘poultry meal’ your guess is as good as ours as to what kind of poultry products are included in the food.
Moisture
At the very least you need to go for 75 percent moisture. The higher the moisture content the better it is, especially if you have an elderly feline or a feline that simply doesn’t drink enough water.
Taurine
We already mentioned that taurine is the amino acid that cats can never get from plant proteins. While taurine is naturally sourced from meat proteins it would also be important to look for cat foods that are enriched with taurine.
When and How Much Food Should I Feed My Adult Cat?
A healthy adult kitty will require, on the average, 30 calories for every pound of its body weight every day. So, if you have a 10-pound kitty, you’re looking at 300 calories to be given every day. But the point is that you are not going to give this amount in just one feeding. Ideally, you may want to divide it into 2 to 3 meals. Let us say you’ve decided to give your 10-pound kitty 300 calories per day in 3 meals, then you’re going to give your pet kitty 100 calories per meal.
For example, if a 3-ounce can of wet cat food contains 100 calories, then you are going to give your pet 1 can of this wet cat food every meal, 3 times a day. That also means you will be buying 3 cans of this particular food every day or 21 cans per week or 90 cans in one month.
Caring for your pet cat means giving it the best food you can ever find. These provide the necessary hydration felines need to support their optimum development. You can always start with our list of the best.
Sources:
- Should I Feed Canned Or Dry Food?, Cummings Veterinary Medical
- Charlotte H. Edinboro, DVM, PhDJ, Epidemiologic Study Of Relationships Between Consumption Of Commercial Canned Food And Risk Of Hyperthyroidism In Cats, AVMA
- M. D. Finke, Effect Of Food Intake On Urine pH In Cats, Wiley Online Library
