Can a cat live off dry food only

Is It OK To Give A Cat Only Dry Food?

Updated April 13, 2021

Listen to this rubbish.

If your cat only eats dry food, she is likely to be getting less nutrition than a cat eating wet food. Many low-quality dry foods contain a lot of fillers.

Throwaway lines like these are typical of the overly simplistic advice you find online about feline nutrition. The truth takes a deeper look. To know whether wet, dry or both are best for your cat, we need to talk about:

• nutritional adequacy & completeness
• fillers in wet & dry cat food
• the risk of obesity
• diseases associated with wet & dry foods
• other alternative cat diets

Lets dive in!

Complete vs Unbalanced Cat Foods

The main reason why the opening statement misses the point is that more than half of available wet foods are severely lacking in essential ingredients. Ive listed Aussie examples here and shown you how to tell from the packaging. Therefore, while plenty of good, balanced wet foods exist, if you feed the others, your cat risks suffering a nutritional deficiency.

Dry diets, on the other hand, are almost always balanced for all essential nutrients. If you then feed an unbalanced wet food with these, it generally doesnt matter so much. And yes, for nutritional completeness you can just feed a dry diet. But that still isnt the whole story.

Fillers In Cat Food

Now lets clear up some myths about fillers. By this, most people mean carbohydrates from grain sources. Here, three things are clearly true:

1. High levels of carbohydrate in cat foods are not natural
2. Despite this, most cats tolerate high levels of carbohydrate
3. Many wet foods are as bad as dry foods

I have written before about the problematic levels of carbohydrate in cat foods, and Im not going to make any excuses for the companies. However, despite being a vet who regularly trials sick cats on low carbohydrate diets, its actually rare that I get a positive response.

Similarly, theres no evidence that high carb levels are by themselves dangerous to cats. And before going on, I want you to notice that most dry diets sold as grain-free have just swapped the carbs out for another source, such as sweet potato. This is marketing, not nutrition.

So lets relax a bit about carbs. While not great, theyre mostly a minor evil. If you still want to feed a low carb diet, and why wouldnt you, Ive made a list of carbohydrate levels in Australian wet cat foods. Theres an online calculator you can use if your food isnt listed.

Do Dry Foods Cause Obesity?

If you research the risk factors for feline obesity, youll find that dry foods dont get a mention. So the answer is no. Instead, its much more important how you feed.

The reason dry foods get such a bad name is that they are so often left out for a cat to graze on. This whole concept of free feeding is severely frowned upon by vets, because very few cats can be trusted to regulate their food intake.

Click here for advice on converting a free feeder to accepting timed regular meals. Once you do it, youre at least three-quarters of the way to fixing feline obesity.

Disease Risks With Wet vs Dry Foods

There are only two evidence-based risks based on the food type.

Firstly, lower urinary tract disease in cats is more common on dry diets. These are the cats that get cystitis regularly, or have urinary obstructions. If a cat starts showing symptoms, I will always recommend a wet-only diet. However, as less than 5% of cats experience this problem, my opinion is that this advice doesnt need to apply to all cats.

Dental disease, on the other hand, is more common on wet foods. However, the difference, while real, is small. Where it gets significant is when you choose the dry dental foods made by Hills or Royal Canin. These can be extremely effective in preventing tooth and gum disease.

Any other diseases you might read about are only in the authors overly fertile imagination. That includes diabetes, liver, gastrointestinal and skin diseases. And in all the years of performing wellness blood testing, I have yet to find a healthy cat thats dehydrated just from eating dry foods.

Alternatives To Commercial Cat Foods

What about following some of the advice that says you can make a raw diet for your cat instead?

When I read this I get very, very cross. Cats arent little dogs. Theres almost no way a normal person without specialised training and equipment can make a reliably balanced cat food.

You can either have a cat literally eating wild foods, or you have to accept the safety of manufactured cat foods. The only in-between might be found on my recipe for a wild-type cat diet which takes a bit from each. However, like all compromises, it wont satisfy everyone.

So Are Wet Or Dry Diets Better?

The reality that for most cats, a 100% dry diet will be perfectly adequate, and no reason to feel guilty. I recommend spending as much as you can, as its clear that urinary problems go down as quality goes up. I also need you to understand feline water needs.

Dry foods are incredibly convenient, which is why I rely on one for my kitty (thats him here). However he also gets cat grass, a raw chicken neck a day, and as you can see I keep his weight under control. All these factors increase my sense of security.

You may feel guilty and want to add a tasty wet food, and in theory thats OK. My complaint is that when people who already choose a high quality dry get a wet food, its often a low quality one. Thats because wet foods need to be bought frequently, and so most people get them with their supermarket shop.

In the end, if the quality of your wet and dry cat foods are similar, it makes very little difference which one you choose.

Related: Supermarket vs Pet Store: Whats The Difference?

Have something to add? Comments (if open) will appear within 24 hours.By Andrew Spanner BVSc(Hons) MVetStud, a vet in Adelaide, Australia. Meet his team here.

Is it OK if My Cat Only Eats Dry Food? Pros & Cons of Kibble

When choosing food for your cat, there are two options: wet or dry cat food. Both have pros and cons, and many pet parents choose to feed their cats a combination. However, some owners prefer to stick with dry kibble, often due to its convenience when it comes to feeding and storage.

If this sounds like you, youve probably got one question on your mind: Is it OK if my cat only eats dry food? The nutrition of our cats is extremely important, impacting their health and lifestyle. Therefore, any dietary choice has to provide a healthy balance of all cats essential nutrients. So, can cats live on dry food only or not?

Youll be pleased to hear that, yes, they can! Kibble made specifically for cats contains all the nutrients needed to support the body. Yet there are concerns that cats on dry food diets are missing out on some of the nutritional benefits of wet food. In this article, we look at the risks and benefits of dry food on your kittys health to help you make the best choice for your cat.

Can Cats Live on Dry Food Only?

Anyone considering feeding their cat kibble only will be pleased to hear that healthy adult cats can live on dry food only. In fact, many owners swear that cat food is far superior to its wet food counterpart. It contains all the nutrients your cat needs to live a happy and healthy life, providing balanced nutrition so your feline can grow and thrive.

Nevertheless, you must make sure you choose a high-quality kibble if this will be your cats sole food source. Only then can you be sure that it provides balanced nutrition.

Look for commercial dry cat food that ticks the following boxes:

• Low total carbohydrate content
• Contains fiber-rich carbohydrates and no fillers
• Made using high-quality, real animal protein sources
• Contains added vitamins and minerals
• Additional fatty acids to support immunity.

Dry food typically contains more carbohydrates than wet food, which can make the food harder to digest. By choosing a quality brand, youll avoid carbohydrate fillers and instead provide your cat with fiber-rick, easily digestible options. These quality foods also contain as few carbohydrates as possible, making the kibble more like cats natural diets.

Dry kibble also always contains protein. Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they rely on protein for survival. Without protein in their diets, cats would die! However, protein comes in many different qualities. As long as you search for dry food that contains real animal protein (avoid by-meal and soy), there is no reason your kitty cannot obtain all the essential proteins from dry food.

If you want to give your cat a nutritional boost, you can also search for kibble that contains added vitamins and minerals. A healthy dose of omega fatty acids can also help to support immunity and vitality. These all contribute to a complete and balanced diet that your cat can thrive on.

What Are the Risks of a Dry Food Diet?

Although healthy adult cats can happily survive and even thrive on dry food diets, there are certain risks to be aware of. Below I run through the disadvantages and provide tips on mitigating these risks when feeding your kitty dry food only.

1. Higher Risk of Dehydration

Water is essential for cats; they need to keep their body hydrated to function optimally. Cats can obtain this water by drinking, but most felines are notoriously poor drinkers! Their food is a great way to get additional water into the body and boost their hydration levels.

Dry cat food contains around 10% moisture, far less than wet cat food. Therefore, cats on dry food diets are at greater risk of dehydration. They need to drink more water to compensate for the lack of moisture in their diet. For some cats, this is no issue! But many fail to consume enough liquids.

If youre feeding your kitty kibble only, I suggest investing in a cat water fountain. Most cats show a preference for running water, so a fountain can offset the risk of dehydration. You can also try adding meat broth to their water bowl to help encourage drinking if youre concerned.

2. Increased Risk of Obesity

Another risk of a dry-food-only diet is obesity. Many cats fed kibble are overweight, especially when compared to cats that eat wet food. However, this is due to portion control and grazing rather than the nutritional profile of the food itself.

Think about it most owners with cats on dry food diets do so for the convenience factor. They can pour the dry biscuits into the bowl in the morning and leave them out all day for their cat to graze on, known as free feeding. But this also makes it difficult to tell just how much your kitty consumes each day, and overeating is common.

Cats eating kibble get fatter because theyre left to free-feed, not because the kibble is making them fatter. Therefore, what you feed your cat is less important than how you feed your cat. Dont leave the dry food out in the bowl all day; practice proper portion control, and the risk of obesity disappears!

If youre not available to feed your cat throughout the day, you can provide one big portion in the morning and another in the evening. However, I recommend purchasing an automatic feeder that releases potions at set times throughout the day. Almost all automatic feeders work with dry food, and you can even find feeders with fancy cameras and additional smart features.

3. Higher Risk of Urinary Tract Diseases

Feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) is more common in cats on dry diets. This is because kibble contains an abundance of certain minerals like calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium. These are often referred to as ash on cat food packaging. When cats consume too much of these minerals, they can deposit inside the urinary tract and cause an obstruction.

The low moisture content of dry kibble also contributes to the formation of cystitis and other urinary problems. Nevertheless, urinary issues are relatively uncommon in cats. In fact, only around 5% of cats ever experience these issues, and they are usually triggered by stress.

If youre concerned, you can reduce the risk of urinary tract diseases by opting for low-ash dry cat food and encouraging your cat to drink plenty. However, if your cat regularly suffers from cystitis, a dry food diet might not be the best option. I suggest a wet-only diet in these cases but speak to your vet for a professional opinion.

When is it Not OK to Feed a Cat Dry Food?

Dry food is a perfectly healthy and balanced option for most cases, as long as you ensure you do all of the following things:

• Choose a high-quality food thats low in carbs and high in protein
• Encourage your cat to drink more to compensate for the low moisture content
• Never free-feed your cat dry kibble feed regular portions instead
• Look for low-ash dry kibble to reduce the risk of urinary tract diseases

Nevertheless, there are some exceptions to the rule! Below are some scenarios in which a dry food diet is not recommended. If any of these apply, youll want to switch to a wet food diet, even if that means sacrificing convenience your cats health is the most important thing!

1. Kittens Cant Eat Dry Food

Newborn kittens feed solely on their moms milk. However, kittens start eating food quickly! By three weeks old, you can begin to wean your kittens off their mom and make the transition to food. It is best to do this gradually, mixing a little food with kitten formula to help the transition.

Kittens need wet food when first making the transition to solid food. This is their first attempt to chew and swallow, so dry kibble is out of the question. The softer and more easily chewable the food, the easier it is for your kittens to eat, and the less likely theyll choke when trying to swallow.

Therefore, a dry-only diet is unsuitable for tiny kittens. Youll need to wait until your kitten is a little older (five or six weeks old) before you attempt to feed them dry kibble. Start with soft dry cat food by adding a little water, and gradually add less and less until they can comfortably eat dry food.

2. Unsuitable for Cats with Urinary Issues

As I have already mentioned, feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) is more common in cats that eat dry food. This is due to a combination of the high ash and low moisture content. It can cause mineral deposits to form in the urethra and cause all kinds of issues.

Some of the symptoms you might observe include:

• Straining when trying to urinate
• Going to the litter box frequently
• Only passing a little pee at a time
• Crying out in pain when urinating
• Urinating outside of the litter box
• Blood present in the urine
• Excessive grooming of the genitals

If your cat is experiencing any of these symptoms or has a history of FLUTD outbreaks, dry food might not be the best idea. I recommend feeding wet food instead. The higher moisture content helps to lubricate the urinary tract to improve its function. The lower ash content can also help to prevent more urinary crystals from forming.

You should also take your cat to the vet as your kitty may need medication for FLUTD. While at your appointment, ask your vet for dietary advice. They may be able to offer a prescription food that actively treats and prevents FLUTD flare-ups.

3. Not for Cats with Digestive Trouble

Some cats struggle to digest dry food and might suffer from vomiting or diarrhea. This is often the case when feeding poor-quality dry food that contains plant proteins rather than animal sources. Fillers and carbohydrates lurking in poor-quality brands also make digestion a more taxing task.

Choosing a high-quality food that is low in carbohydrates and rich in real protein can help to solve digestive issues. However, if youre still seeing your cat throwing up undigested food, it might have a more sensitive digestive system or digestive health problem. For example, maybe your cat has irritable bowel syndrome or suffers from bad food allergies.

In these cases, I recommend avoiding dry food and instead feeding wet cat food for sensitive stomachs. As wet food is more like to cats natural prey, it is generally easier to digest. Make sure youre choosing high-quality food if you want to make a real improvement.

4. Cats with Dental Diseases

Dry cat food carries dental health benefits. The hard texture of the food rubs against the surface of the teeth as your cat chews. This helps to remove bacteria and plaque that would otherwise accumulate and cause dental issues. Its beneficial for young cats to eat kibble for this reason, helping to keep their teeth clean and healthy throughout life.

However, cats that have already got dental issues often struggle to eat dry kibble. Dental conditions cause the gums to become swollen and inflamed, and the hard pieces of food can make eating painful! If your cat refuses to eat because of this discomfort, it can quickly become malnourished and wet food is a much better alternative.

There are several signs that your cat is suffering from a dental issue. My cat stopped eating dry food but eats treats, presumably because dry food hurt its gums. Other signs are:

• Pawing at the mouth
• Reduction in appetite
• Only chewing on one side of the mouth
• Red, swollen, bleeding gums
• Drooling from the mouth

MY FINAL THOUGHTS

So, is it OK if my cat only eats dry food? Assuming your cat is a healthy adult, you can absolutely feed it an all-kibble diet. Cat foods are made to be nutritionally balanced and provide optimal levels of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals. Ensure you choose high-quality food, encourage your cat to drink water, and avoid free-feeding, and you wont have any issues!

However, dry food is not suitable for all cats. Wet food is a better alternative if your cat has dental disease, a sensitive stomach, or urinary problems. Kittens should also be fed wet food initially and gradually transitioned to dry kibble. If in doubt, ask your vet for dietary advice.