How to properly feed your cat wet food
Whether →BARF, wet, or dry food – the topic of the right feeding method for cats always raises questions, and you need a certain level of know-how to be able to weigh the pros and cons of the different types of feeding. Wet food is generally considered a very popular way to feed, which not only offers many benefits but is also very well accepted by our four-legged gourmets. The range of different textures covers just about every taste , but is →wet food for cats also healthy, and how do you even find the right wet food for cats and kittens?
We are here to help and give you an overview of the most important info about wet food for your kitty and →also offer you free online advice on the right food for your cat and kitten.
Test: Which wet food is best for cats?
When choosing a healthy and species-appropriate wet food, you should especially pay attention to the composition. Price does not always indicate quality, but it is certain that the cheapest trays on the supermarket shelf rarely contain the highest-quality ingredients. Here, it's worth taking a critical look, because the reason for the high acceptance of conventional wet food is usually mainly one thing: lots of sugar, which makes the food attractive to cats but unfortunately also increases the risk of many diseases such as →obesity and diabetes.But why sugar? Cats are known as →picky animals that love to turn up their noses at the bowl and leave the food behind. By adding sugar, most cats would gobble up everything, regardless of the ingredients.
A good wet food for cats isn't always obvious at first glance. You need to take a closer look at the ingredients: sugar, grains, and artificial additives have no place there.
Likewise, grain has no place in healthy wet food for cats and kittens. Unlike dogs, cats are strict carnivores and need a high proportion of meat in their wet food to live healthily. Of course, fruit, vegetables, oils, and herbs also deserve a place – but the proportion for cats is rather small. The wet food should always be complete and contain all nutrients in the right amounts. Cats are especially dependent on the amino acid taurine, which they get from meat, need to live, and cannot produce themselves. So if you're looking for the best wet food for your cat, it's best to check for a clear declaration and healthy composition.
With different textures for the best taste experience!
The best wet food for cats: Criteria at a glance
From a veterinary and nutritional perspective there are a few aspects you should consider when choosing:
free from grain and sugar
without artificial colorings, flavorings, and preservatives
high meat content
low proportion of plant-based ingredients
negative animal by-products claws, horns, hooves, feathers, and wool
permitted animal by-products tripe, liver, lungs, and kidneys
Can you feed cats wet food every day?
Yes, your cat can have wet food every day, as long as it is a complete food which provides your cat with all the nutrients she needs. If you follow the feeding recommendations for quantity, your kitten and your cat will get everything they need for an active daily life. When feeding, keep in mind that cats like to have several small meals. So if you feed your kitten five to six small meals a day, you can theoretically continue this with an adult cat – after all, wild cats eat up to 20 portions a day!
Meets all needs, healthy in composition, and the queen of acceptance: Our sauce menu with extra moisture delivers an intense taste experience!
How much wet food can a cat eat per day?
How much wet food should be in a meal is easy to find out with complete foods by checking the feeding recommendation on the label. Here's what to do.
1. Weigh your cat and note the current weight. You'll need this in a moment to check the table on the wet food can to see how much your cat is allowed to eat.
2. If your cat is still a kitten and not fully grown, find out the expected adult weight of your cat. If your cat belongs to a certain breed, you can easily find out online what weight to expect. Otherwise, you can also ask the breeder. Typical house cats reach an adult weight of about 4–5 kg. Why is this important? In the →feeding recommendations for junior food, the rows and columns for feeding amounts match up for the current weight and the expected adult weight. For adult cat food, you only need the current weight. This way you know your kitten or cat is getting all the necessary nutrients .
3. As a last step, just check the feeding recommendation table and find the right amount for your cat. Note: This is the daily amount. Divide this by the number of meals you want to feed your cat.
On your cat's food, you will find precise information about the feeding amount, which you should always follow.
Wet food for kittens: Juniors have different needs
A special food for kittens and young cats is important because its composition meets the rapid growth of bones and organs. Junior food contains certain nutrients in higher amounts than adult food, for example, the protein content is up to 10% higher than in food for adult animals.
A healthy and delicious kitten food is very important. It provides your young kitten with everything it needs to grow and for an exciting everyday life.
Kitten food should be served until the 12th month – after that, the most important processes are complete and wet food for adult cats is now best. A good junior food already contains the perfect dose of nutrients and your cat is well equipped for healthy bone growth – so be sure not to add extra nutrients to the food. If you want to treat your young cat, you can provide her with our healthy kitten food to meet her needs and ensure the best taste in the bowl.
The Best Start to a Four-Legged Life: Discover Our Healthy Junior Food
How often should kittens and young cats get wet food?
Kittens and young cats should have five to six or even more small meals a day. Up to the age of 6 months, this feeding with several small meals is recommended, after which the number can be reduced and the portion size increased. But many adult cats are also fans of getting several small portions a day rather than just two or three large meals. As you've already learned, the reason is the natural eating behavior of cats, because even in the wild, cats feed on numerous small food rations.
Both mother cats and wild cats eat many small meals.
Advantages of wet food: Why is wet food good for cats?
For many cats, the →different textures of wet food are not only more attractive, but wet food for cats has decisive advantages for the water balance of cats – because they are often →poor drinkers. So wet food provides much more moisture and covers most of a cat's daily needs. Lack of fluids is a serious issue, as it can →promote urinary tract and kidney diseases . For perfect hygiene, it's important to always feed wet food fresh and store opened cans in the fridge. Unlike →dry food wet food has a higher protein content and needs to be fed in larger quantities due to its lower carbohydrate content. As a result, wet food, even in larger amounts, carries a lower risk of obesity.
Does wet food for cats also have disadvantages?
Since wet food for cats is only as good as its ingredients, any feeding method can have the disadvantage that poor composition may lead to malnutrition as a possible consequence.
While dry food is always at room temperature, wet food straight from the fridge can cause stomach aches for your cat. So you need to allow a little more time for feeding. Also, opened wet food can't be transported as easily and is less practical →for travel or outings. However, many cats also do well with mixed feeding , where they get part wet and part dry food . You just need to adjust the portions accordingly, i.e. halve them, so your kitty doesn't get too much food.
