Hi there

We're hoping to get a couple of kittens soon and I want to ask about feeding.

In the past I've always fed cats canned food with dried as a treat or a little extra that's always there.

My last cat rarely ate all his wet food and I had to throw it away, which is wasteful... so I'm wondering about feeding the new boys just on complete dried food.

Is this ok?
Would it be best to still have feeding time (morning and when I'm home from work) and give them a "portion" or just have a bowl always there?

I have to say I enjoy feeding time as it's a great bonding time and it would be a shame to lose this just because I'm not opening cans.

Also, knowing how fussy cats can be, are they likely to get bored if I buy a big bag of food, on the basis that they have only ever had dried food.

What are the pro's and con's of dried food?

Hello there

These are the pros and cons of dry cat food:

Pros:

It's convenient to feed.

Cons:

• Dry food is one of the main causes of water infections. Because dry food contains so little water, the cat normally can't drink enough to make up for the deficit, which then leads to a very concentrated urine, which again leads to infections. Dry food 'for urinary tract health' leads to another type of UTI, but still it's an infection.
• The carbohydrates in cat food can lead to poor dental health.
• Dry food is the worst possible food you can feed your cat.
• Dry food does not clean teeth!
• Dry food taxes the kidneys and increases the risk of kidney failure.
• Dry food can cause IBD.
• Dry food contains grains, additives, fillers, questionable meat sources etc - and is not something a cat would naturally eat.

Keep in mind that cats are carnivores, which means they are designed to get everything they need nutrition wise from they prey they catch (mice, birds etc). A mouse for example contains mostly meat, some organ meat, bones and fur. You want to find a cat food that is as similar as possible to that. That means, for most people, a high quality wet food. By high quality I mean over 60% meat content, and no fillers, grains, etc. Some good ones are HiLife pouches, Bozita, Porta21.

I really do hope that you decide to feed your new cats wet food, as this is without doubt much better for them than dry food.

If there's leftovers after they've finished with the wet food, just cover it with some cling film and put it in the fridge, and feed it at the next meal

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Thank you so much for this information. I am so glad I asked now.

That's fine, if dried food really isn't good for them I'll keep it for treats only and make sure I feed them wet food.

What cost some wasted food against a baby's health eh?

Also Natures Menu - i give mine this with Hi-life, Tesco's finest and Applaws - they always seem to eat one or the other. Also just started raw with mine - the moggy has taken to it brilliantly and the lass is taking some persuading.

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