Emma Jones
Is your cat listening to the enticing rattle of a food box or the magical sound of a can being opened? The sound not only makes the music for cats, but it also announces the time to eat. Because in addition to all the different flavors that the cat food market has to offer, there is a difference between dry food and wet food. Both types of feed have their own advantages. Find out here how to ensure a balanced diet.
What does a well-mixed feeding look like?
The principle of mixed feeding provides that the velvet paw is offered both dry and wet food. This works if the respective food is available in a separate bowl at a certain time of the day. For example, divide the total amount of food for the day – for an adult, healthy cat – as follows: wet cat food in two portions, for example for breakfast and in the evening, the dry food portion is freely available throughout the day. Eating lots of small bites throughout the day corresponds to natural eating behavior and can be easily covered with dry cat food. Also, dry and wet food have different digestion times, so this type of feeding keeps the cat’s stomach busy throughout the day.
It is important that both types of feed are accepted. This has the advantage that the animal develops fewer mannerisms that make feeding difficult if, for whatever reason, only one of the two types of food is available or if this is necessary for medical reasons.
When feeding the cat, you should pay attention to a balanced balance of nutrients and ingredients in the daily food ration. Calculating this for mixed feeding with dry and wet food, possibly fresh food and a few treats can be a bit complicated if the respective manufacturer does not provide any explanatory information on the food packaging. In such cases, the specialist salesperson in the pet supply store or the veterinarian will help; there is also extensive literature on the subject.
If you bring a cat into the household that was only given either wet or dry food in its previous home, you will get the animal used to the unfamiliar food by mixing it with the usual food bit by bit until both are accepted.
How many treats can it be?
The selection of cat snacks and treats is almost as diverse: from stuffed cushions to cat sausages and dried fish, there is something for every gourmet cat. With such a large offer, there is no reason to feed the house tiger with little things from the human table: if the animal is successful, your dinner plate has lost its taboo status. However, cat treats are like sweets: too much is anything but healthy. Therefore, include a daily amount of treats in the feed rations and use cheese rolls and the like to reward the cat or simply treat it to a treat. It is ideal if you can use the treats as an incentive for the tiger to exercise, for example as a reward in hunting games or as the content of a snack ball for playing. In this way, the cat converts the energy content of the treat into movement and works off the calories again.
What is better – wet food or dry food for the cat?
If you’re wondering whether dry or wet food is better for your cat, the answer is neither. Because both are possible. When combined, dry and wet food compensate for the respective weaknesses of their nature and double the plus points.
Feeding concepts for the cat
Find out all about the optimal care for your cat in all situations, from young animals to seniors, from dry to wet food and BARF.