Why should I give wet food to my cat?

"What are the benefits of giving wet food to my cat? Why should I give my cat wet food?". Many of you have asked us about the benefits of wet food, and we feel this requires a complete answer.

It's a divisive but important topic. Should I give my cat dry food or wet food?

Wet Food versus Dry Food

Don’t be fooled by their charming ways; beneath their cute facade, our cats are true predators. Born to hunt rodents, birds, and even some reptiles.

Although their lifestyle has evolved over the years, our little fluffy friends still have the same nutritional needs.

Accustomed to the creature comforts of our modern homes, our couch tigers now depend entirely on us. So it now falls on us to provide them with a diet that satisfies their nutritional needs.

With a massive range of options out there, you'd be forgiven for feeling lost. Not least because the labels on the back of the packets are often indecipherable.

We no longer know how to feed our furry friends!

Our cats’ nutritional needs are very specific. They are strict carnivores, meaning they cannot live without meat in their diet. They need it in significant and sufficient quantities to meet their amino acid needs. 

"Grain-free" does not mean "carb-free"

Let’s look into "grain-free" dry food.

Carbs, and more precisely starch, found in all dry food and many wet foods, are anything but essential to our cats’ diet.

"Grain-free" is a big food trend for cats, which many brands have well understood.

And yet, "grain-free" does not mean "carb-free".

Starch is essential for the manufacturing process of dry food, so manufacturers have started using other sources of starch such as potatoes, tapioca, or even lentils which are grain-free but not carb-free.

Good hydration is a must

Finally, it's important to understand that in the wild, cats drink very little, as they are originally desert animals! The water that their bodies absorb comes mainly from their prey. But proper hydration remains extremely important for their health and the proper functioning of their organs.

A cat that eats wet food will “drink” twice as much water as a cat that eats solely or primarily dry food.

That's a big advantage, wet food wins this round.

Is giving wet food to my cat an alternative to home-cooked meals?

Home-cooked meals are one of the healthiest options in terms of quality and freshness of ingredients. But it’s not easy for everyone to provide a 100% homemade diet to their cat.

Not least for practical reasons, as meat must be kept in the fridge and used relatively quickly. This also means making the time to cook, developing recipes and finding space to store portions.

Avoid nutritional deficiencies AT ALL COSTS

Finally, it's not always a good idea to don an apron if you’re not familiar with your cat’s exact nutritional needs. Our cats have unique nutrient requirements: arginine, taurine, niacin, tyrosine, cysteine, valine, leucine, isoleucine, lysine, threonine, tryptophan, histidine, pyridoxine, vitamins A and D.

To avoid deficiencies you should seek advice from a vet/nutritionist. There's a science to looking after your fluffy friend’s health, and it starts by providing them with all the right nutrients in their diet.

This is why we have created wholesome wet foods that meet a cat’s energy needs while coming as close as possible to what they would find in nature.

A range of wet foods formulated with love by Veterinarian Dr. Géraldine Blanchard

Many veterinarians, nutritionists, and scientists, both in France and around the world, agree that wet food is the best diet for our cats' health. Among them is Veterinarian Dr. Géraldine Blanchard.

Our recipes have been developed by feline nutrition expert Veterinarian Géraldine Blanchard. We prefer to rely on her knowledge and expertise rather than chasing marketing slogans.

You’ll understand, you can't go wrong with our recipes.

To sum up the benefits of wet food for cats

The benefits of wet food for cats are numerous and its good reputation is well-earned.

However, some are MISTAKENLY convinced that wet food is too rich and is just for treats.

Quite the opposite, feeding your cat primarily wet food has many pros.

• Although not all wet foods are created equal, it's important to remember that by weight, wet food is less calorific than dry food.
• Wet food helps our cats feel full after eating. Feeding your cat primarily with wet food reduces the risks of him becoming overweight, obese or developing diabetes.
• Thanks to wet food, their urine is less concentrated and more diluted, limiting the likelihood of urinary problems.
• It's worth mentioning that the nutrients present in wet food also help maintain a healthy, beautiful coat.

Finally, by choosing quality wet food, you are investing in your cat’s health and saving on vet bills.

Wet food yes, but it must be quality wet food

As you'll have gathered from this article, we're not pushing you to jump on cheap, low-quality wet foods, like some found in supermarkets.

Complete Wet Food vs Complementary Wet Food: what’s the difference?

Choose healthy, balanced, and grain-free wet food. And, of course, make sure to check the label for the term "complete" (and not "complementary").

Complete wet food must cover all of a cat’s nutritional needs. Complete food is ideally suitable as a sole diet. In contrast to complete wet food, complementary wet food cannot be given as a sole diet as it does not cover all nutritional needs of a cat. Do not hesitate to contact the manufacturer to find out the recommended daily portion size as part of a balanced diet.

Grain-free wet food with quality proteins: that's the GOAL.

At Ziggy, we don't compromise on our core values: transparency and honesty.

Every ingredient in our wet food is selected for its specific nutritional purpose, from the premium organ meats to the vegetables which provide the fibres required for good digestion.

You won’t find any grains in our wet food (rice, wheat, corn...), nor tubers (tapioca, potatoes...), nor legumes (lentils, peas...).

You'll not find MSM (mechanically separated meat) or animal meal (bone, blood or feather meal...) which can be found in many cat foods.

We consider cats to be part of our family, and we feed them accordingly, with the best healthy food tailored to their needs.

To learn more about wet food, feel free to check out our article: what is the best wet food for my cat.

Are you an expert in feline nutrition? Test your knowledge with our quiz !