Dry vs. Canned

Which cat food is better?

Many cat owners prefer dry cat food, which stores easily and makes litter boxes easier to clean up. Dry cat food is great in terms of cost and handling (some people can't stand the smell of canned cat food), but canned cat food is closer to raw food and contains a lot of water, which helps cats get the hydration they need. Canned food also generally contains less filler and carbohydrates, though reading the labels carefully is key.

For certain cats with kidney or bowel problems, dry food can exacerbate the condition, and if your cat has urinary issues, the water content in canned food can be especially valuable. According to an excellent article we read at Max's House, a great website for health information on cats, wet food comprises a better diet for cats because it more accurately reflects the nutrient and water-to-protein balance a wild cat would consume in nature. So while dry cat food is more convenient for pet owners, and many cats seem to like the "crunch" of dry food, wet food is an important part of a cat's diet. Experts, including those at Max's House and About.com's Franny Syufy, emphasize that wet food should be your cat's main food. Some, such as Dr. Lisa A. Pierson at CatInfo.org, go even further, saying that dry food should be eliminated altogether. Still, most experts say that small amounts of dry food can be used for variety and convenience. On the positive side, small amounts of dry food can be a slight help in keeping cats' teeth clean and because wet food generally costs more than dry food, supplementing with dry food can help with pet food expenses.

Premium cat foods and cost

Although the best cat foods cost more due to their premium ingredients, experts note that premium cat foods are so densely packed with nutrients and calories (a good thing for animals) that your cat can be satisfied with smaller servings, which benefits your pet's digestion and weight, as well as your wallet. Because these foods contain less filler, your cat absorbs more of the food consumed as nutrients, so less is passed as waste.

Premium cat foods may initially appear to cost significantly more, but the amount of food your cat actually needs to eat can be reduced with higher-quality meals -- your cat will need to eat less to be satiated. You may be paying more per pound of food, but you will get more feedings out of each of those pounds. Natural Balance recommends feeding one 6-ounce can of its Ultra Formula (*Est. $1 per 6-ounce can) per eight pounds of body weight per day. A supermarket brand such as 9Lives (*Est. 50 cents for a 5.5-ounce can) is initially much less expensive. However, according to the can's feeding guidelines, a 6- to 8-pound cat should be fed two 5.5-ounce cans per day. That difference in recommended feeding size narrows the price gap between the two foods.