There are plenty of options when it comes to cat food. In contrast to dry food, which can be freely fed to cats, canned food contains water, and many cats do not drink water regularly.
- Why Cats Should Eat Wet Food?
- How Long Can We Leave Wet Food Out?
- How to Choose the Right Wet Food for Your Cat?
Why Cats Should Eat Wet Food?
A wet food diet is ideal for all cats, but especially for male cats where urinary obstructions are more likely to occur.
The pain associated with obstructions is tremendous, and if they are not treated promptly, it can be life-threatening, so any steps you can take to prevent in the first place – such as feeding your cat wet food – are extremely important.
Hydration is one of the main reasons cats benefit from eating wet food. It’s true that their kidneys are talented at concentrating urine during dry spells and they have good kidney capacity, but they don’t live in deserts anymore, so their kidneys don’t need to be put under that strain.
Sadly, many cats are dehydrated and are more likely to develop, or worsen, bladder inflammation, urethral obstruction, urinary obstructions, etc.
The cat normally drinks as much water as he needs at the moment, but in this case, more can be better.
In veterinary surgery, there is a saying, “The solution to pollution is dilution.”
In case a cat has an inflamed bladder, or has a high level of minerals concentration that could cause stones to form and inflammation or obstruction, drinking more water to pass through their kidneys, bladder, and urinary system can often help to flush that out and decrease those inflammatory mediators, grit, etc.
Like humans, water is essential for cats, and wet food is a convenient way to ensure your cats gets plenty of it.
“For cats, the ideal macronutrient composition is approximately 50-60% protein, 30-40% fat, and less than 10% carbohydrates.”
In addition to preventing and combating obesity, this type of diet can also prevent diabetes in cats.
How Long Can We Leave Wet Food Out?
Generally, wet cat food is packaged in sachets or cans, making them durable and long-lasting if left unopened. When you open a sachet or can of food, it is exposed to air, and potentially to bacteria. When the cat’s bowl is placed in a warm area of the house during the summer months, it can cause the food to spoil faster.
Depending on the room temperature, you can leave canned cat food out for a certain period of time. Most People recommend an hour or two at room temperature. Temperature and humidity can make a big difference, but 4-6 hours left out would probably be fine.
The Petoneer Two-Meal pet feeder is ideal for catering wet food for your cats. Its two ice packs can help control the temperature and humidity, preserving the freshness for a longer time.
How to Choose the Right Wet Food for Your Cat?
In fact, as a carnivore, the cat must eat meat. They prefer animal proteins to those found in plants (grains and vegetables).
A water-depleted diet is bad for your cat’s urinary tract and increases its chances of getting a painful and potentially fatal urethral obstruction, as well as cystitis.
Consuming a high-carbohydrate diet, cats are more likely to develop diabetes due to their high blood sugar levels.
While choosing a wet food for your beloved cats, compare the macronutrients ratio to ensure that you are getting the right amount of protein (50-60%), fat (30-40%), and carbs (10%).
Let’s enjoy a healthy and happy life with our fur-babies!