For Cats, Wet Food is a Natural Source of Water–a Critical Nutrient

Wet (canned) food is beneficial because it provides moisture. Cats in the wild get most of their water from the prey they consume, with little or no need for water on the side. In fact cats have evolved with a very low thirst drive as compared with other species. When eating an all-dry diet, their water intake easily falls short of their actual needs.

1. Wet food is about 75 percent water, which is roughly equal to the percentage of water in cats’ prey in the wild. Dry food is only about ten percent water.
2. The average cat who eats only dry food needs to drink several ounces of water a day to make up for the lack of water from food.
3. Studies show that cats fed solely dry food have a lower water intake and lower urine volume than cats on a wet food diet even if they have constant access to fresh water.^1,2
4. Studies also suggest that regardless of cats' total food and water consumption, the proportion of water in the diet is higher for cats fed wet food than for cats fed dry food.³
5. Some veterinarians warn that insufficient moisture in the diet may increase the risk of crystals, or stones in the urinary tract. An ample volume of urine is necessary to dilute solid materials that could otherwise accumulate and form stones. Stones can cause painful, sometimes even life-threatening urinary tract blockages.
6. A recent study showed that switching from dry to wet food decreased the incidence of cystitis (inflammation of the bladder) in cats.⁴ Make sure your cat has fresh clean water every day. If your cat eats predominantly dry food, you may want to invest in a pet water fountain to encourage more water consumption.

To continue reading, please visit CatHealth.com

1
Gaskell C. J. The role of fluid in the feline urological syndrome. In: Burger IH, Rivers JPW, eds. Nutrition of the Dog and Cat. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 1989; 353-356. "http://grande.nal.usda.gov/ibids/index.php?mode2=detail&origin=ibids_references&therow=426490
2
Gaskell, C. J. (1985) Feline urological syndrome: a United Kingdom perspective. Feline Medicine: Proc. Seminar Eastern States Veterinary Conference, Orlando, pp. 27-32. Veterinary Learning Systems, NJ.


3
Nutrient Requirements of Cats, Revised Edition, 1986, Committee on Animal Nutrition, National Research Council http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=910


4
Markwell PJ, Buffington CA, Chew DJ, Kendall MS, Harte JG, DiBartola SP. Clinical evaluation of commercially available urinary acidification diets in the management of idiopathic cystitis in cats. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1999 Feb 1;214(3):361-5. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10023397


5
Logan, et al., Dental Disease, in: Hand et al., eds., Small Animal Clinical Nutrition, Fourth Edition. Topeka, KS: Mark Morris Institute, 2000, p. 487 http://www.amazon.com/Small-Animal-Clinical-Nutrition-Michael/dp/0945837054
-->
Disclaimer: This website is not intended to replace professional consultation, diagnosis, or treatment by a licensed veterinarian. If you require any veterinary related advice, contact your veterinarian promptly. Information at SuperHappyPets.com is exclusively of a general reference nature. Do not disregard veterinary advice or delay treatment as a result of accessing information at this site.

< Prev		Next >