Wet food, dry food, or BARF - what should I feed my cat?

Wet Food, Dry Food, or BARF - What Should I Feed My Cat?

Few topics are as polarizing for cat owners as the question of the one right feeding method for their furry friend.

We can reassure you and confirm: each type of food offers certain advantages and disadvantages, regardless of whether it is wet food, dry food, or BARF. What distinguishes the various feeding methods, what special features exist, and how to successfully mix-feed with multiple types, you will learn here.

Wet Food - A Can Full of Happiness

A can of wet food contains everything your house tiger needs to be optimally cared for. That’s why it is referred to as complete feed, meaning no addition of minerals or oil is necessary. Wet food contains pre-cooked ingredients and a high moisture content, which means your furry friend’s hydration is already optimally provided for with this feeding method. The intense taste and smell lead to a high food acceptance in many four-legged friends - and for picky house tigers, that’s a real advantage. Due to its relatively low energy content, wet food is ideal for cats prone to overweight.

To use wet food over several days, it must be stored airtight in the refrigerator. Unopened cans can be stored at room temperature.

How good a →wet food for cats is, is determined by the content. We use only food-grade raw materials for production and select our meat and vegetables based on high protein content. With our wet food, you can be sure that you are opening a can full of happiness for your furry friend.

Wet Food at a Glance

- a high-quality wet food contains all the nutrients your house tiger needs for optimal care (complete feed)

- the high moisture content ensures good hydration

- wet food is taste-intensive and usually stimulates appetite in cats

- high acceptance and pleasant consistency

- requires cool storage after opening and is only suitable for transport when closed

Dry Food - The Bag with Bite

When you choose a good dry food for your furry friend, it is also a complete feed and provides your pet with all the essential nutrients.

Different types of dry food are primarily distinguished by their manufacturing method. In extruded dry food, high meat proportions can be implemented, while in cold-pressed dry food, many natural nutrients are preserved. All types of dry food have a low moisture content and high energy content. Unlike wet food, it must be ensured that your cat drinks enough additional water. Dry food can be stored airtight at room temperature and is therefore easy to transport. The long shelf life is also a real advantage. Many owners swear by dry food for its dental care character. The high energy content in a small amount of food is also reflected in the costs, making dry food usually more economical than wet food or BARF.

Each of our dry foods is grain-free and has an extra high meat content of up to 80%. Because we usually use only one type of meat (monoprotein), our dry food is highly digestible.

Dry Food at a Glance

- all essential nutrients that your cat needs for a balanced diet

- promotes dental health through longer chewing, strengthens gums and teeth

- easy to transport and store, long shelf life with proper storage

- very economical and therefore often more cost-effective

BARF - A Piece of Nature in the Bowl

BARF is based on the dietary habits of wild cats - this means primarily: fresh, raw meat in your furry friend's bowl. In the wild, animals do not have cooked and pureed food - with BARF, this species-appropriate, natural eating behavior can be imitated and is therefore attractive to many owners. A balanced BARF menu consists of raw muscle meat, offal, bones, healthy fruits and vegetables, minerals, oils, and fats. A BARF menu must be always freshly prepared or requires storage of the ingredients in the freezer, which is generally only possible with a lot of space or time. Additionally, the fruits and vegetables used should be steamed or blanched to ensure optimal nutrient absorption.

To make BARF safe and easy for pet owners, we have created the Pets Deli Fresh Menus. The pre-portioned menus developed with veterinarians are already in the ideal mixing ratio. Furthermore, we use only food-grade raw materials for the Pets Deli Fresh Menus.

Your pet receives all essential nutrients with our special mineral mix, which is ideally tailored to the Pets Deli Fresh Menus. To ensure your house tiger can absorb all important nutrients, a high-quality oil must always be added. Particularly suitable are salmon, flaxseed, BARF, or omega-3 oil.

BARF at a Glance

- the most natural form of cat nutrition, transparent through raw ingredients

- individual adjustment to your four-legged friend's needs in case of allergies, intolerances, and exclusion diets

- valuable oils and vitamins are good for skin and coat and help with dandruff and excessive shedding

- requires more time for fresh preparation or a lot of space for storage in the freezer, transport only possible to a limited extent

Mixing Food Types - The Mixed Feeding

BARF, wet food, and dry food, that all sounds pretty good so far, you might be thinking. Why not just mix and take advantage of all food types? This means your cat gets both dry and wet food. This can - with attention to two things - look as follows:

Forms of Mixed Feeding

The most well-known method of combining different feeding types is to give different types of food separately. This could look like your house tiger getting wet food in the morning and dry food in the evening.

But also the mixing of food types is a possibility for mixed feeding. Wet food can be mixed with dry food. This method is tolerated differently by each cat, and you should gradually get your four-legged friend used to it.

Deviating Food Quantities

The correct food quantity needs to be well calculated. Wet food must be fed in larger quantities than dry food due to its high moisture content and thus lower energy concentration. The principle of mixed feeding generally works with all three feeding types for healthy cats. However, every furry friend is different, and perhaps your four-legged companion does not tolerate it immediately or possibly at all. Here, careful trial and patience help.

Quality Matters

As you can see, each feeding type brings certain advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, from our perspective, it cannot be said generally which is the one right feeding method. Important for this decision is your own view on feeding and the requirements that good food should meet.

In any case, cat food, regardless of type, should have high quality, meaning: high-quality raw materials, transparency in the ingredient list, and an optimal nutrient dose. Healthy food should also contain no fillers, no sugar, and no coloring and flavoring agents. We adhere to these fundamental ideas about healthy and high-quality food to provide your furry friend with healthy and delicious meals** every day.