Can I add water to dry cat food instead of wet food
Adding Water to Dry Cat Food
Adding water to dry cat food may sound a bit odd, especially when you can simply go for wet food options. But it is still a common practice among cat owners and there are many more benefits to it than you think. While adding water to dry cat food does not replace the need for wet and canned food in cats, it is still good for your cat in many ways.
So in this article, we will look through all the reasons you should add water to dry cat food, as well as some drawbacks of this practice that you should be wary about.
Lets get started.
Adding water to dry cat food
Some people think that if they add water in the dry cat food mixture, it will change up the composition of the food and make it less impactful on the cats health.
This is entirely untrue. While yes, water does usually dilute the food and may also decrease the flavor at times, it does not mean you should just never add water to cat food.
Cats do need water for survival after all, and if your cat is not having the recommended amount of water daily, then you may need to add it into its diet in different ways.
We usually advise you to check with your vet for the perfect amount of water to add in your cats food.
A guide is provided below to help you figure out the optimal amount of water to add, but a consultation with your vet will allow you to see if your cat really needs this.
Now that we have cleared the common misconceptions about this practice, lets look at the different reasons why you should add water to dry cat food.
Reasons why you should add water to dry cat food
For one or all of these reasons, you should add water to dry cat food. Do keep in mind that this does not replace the benefits of dry cat food all by itself, but it may just amplify them if done correctly.
Lets look into the different reasons now.
Speeds up digestion
Dry cat food, as the name suggests, can have a bit of a dry and grainy texture. Due to this, some cats have difficulty in chewing and swallowing it.
Even if they manage to swallow it, most cats lose their appetite after a few bites. All this does is cause problems in their schedules and health.
In order to stay healthy, they need to eat the stated amount each day. This is where water comes in.
The addition of water will improve the texture of dry cat food and make it easier to swallow for the cat. This will also make digestion easier and put less stress on your cats gut.
Hence, this is an important point to consider when adding water to its food.
Reduces problems in cats
If your cat does not have enough water throughout the day, it can feel sick and nauseated. This is a common problem with cats that are used to having dry food.
There are a few things you can do to make it drink water regularly like having multiple water bowls at different locations in your home.
You can also add water in the mix of its dry food or kibble. Not only will this avoid your cat getting nauseous, but also reduce chances of UTIs and hormonal imbalances etc happening.
It also prevents kidney stones. If you have an older cat, it is even better that you wet the food up with some water before feeding it.
Increases water intake
A dehydrated cat is going to be very weak and sluggish. It is very easy to spot whenever your cat has a water deficiency.
So other than forcing your cat to drink a lot of water, there is not much you can do.
When you add water to the kibble, both the water and food simultaneously enter the cats stomach and will nourish its body.
Dehydration itself can give way to a number of diseases, so adding a bit of water to your cats food really can not hurt!
Your cats electrolytes will stay balanced, keeping it healthy and active throughout the day.
Makes your cat have a good appetite
Does your cat eat food way too fast or too slow? Or maybe it has a habit of overeating?
These are all issues that usually are rectified with adding water to dry food. If your cat eats too slow, then it is likely having difficulty in chewing and swallowing the food.
If it is overrating, then adding water will improve the consistency and volume of the food and make your cat feel much fuller than without it.
You can always try a small test of water with dry cat food to see if your cat enjoys it.
What is the perfect amount of water to add in dry cat food?
If we mention wet cat food here, it is worth noting that most of the moisture present in it is from water.
This is also why a lot of cat owners simply go for wet cat food instead of moistening dry cat food. Cats on a wet food diet just need around 26-30ml of water for the day.
But for cats on a dry cat food diet, it may need around 150+ ml of water to complete its daily water intake. This is quite a large amount, so you may need to portion out water in every meal.
For example, you can add around 50ml of water to the dry food every time you feed it a meal. So if it is 3 times a day, add water to its diet each time.
You also need to make sure you dont completely boil the water. If you can make it warm or almost boiled, then add it to the dry food and let it soak.
This will name sure you do not get a gravy of dry food, but rather a mixture of warm, soaked kibble. Hopefully, your cat will enjoy this.
Lastly, if you add more water than 50ml, then you may get a consistency like wet food. But again, it does not replace the wet food diet.
Reasons why you should not add water to dry cat food
Now lets look at some common criticisms of adding water to dry cat food.
Wet things attract bacteria. One issue that you may face when you feed your cat moistened dry food is that you can not leave it out for too long.
Bacteria comes on wet things and if your cat ingests it, then a line of diseases could start. Therefore, it is best to dispose of any kibble that has been out for more than 30 minutes.
Another issue with this technique is that it can get pretty messy especially if your cat is used to the dry diet.
Also, do remember that the benefits of dry food come from it being dry. You can add water all you want, but there is a reason that dry kibble exists. Your cat needs the nutrients from it.
The bowl is tough to clean as well after your cat is done with the kibble. These are all some reasons to go for a wet diet altogether.
But in our opinion, if you are ready to accept these lifestyle changes and your cat likes the food, then you should stick to wet dry kibble. If your cat coughs while drinking water go through our article before adding water in food.
Conclusion
In conclusion, should you add water to dry cat food?
There are a number of reasons why cat owners give their cats hydrated dry kibble. It helps with the texture of the dry food so that it will be easier for your cat to chew and swallow.
The softened texture will also make it easier for your cats gut to digest it, meaning less gut problems to worry about.
Especially for older cats, this is a great technique for easier food intake. Moreover, your cats water intake will be maximized, since you are adding a significant portion of water in its diet.
Diseases like UTIs, kidney stones, and gut problems may be reduced, and your cat will not be dehydrated anymore. Say goodbye to weakness and sluggishness.
Slow eating and overeating problems can also be solved with this technique. However, there are some issues that can be argued.
Your cat could be infected if the hydrated kibble is left out for too long. Leave it out for 30 minutes maximum, remember this. And dont forget to clean the bowl well, as the kibble will stick to the bowl and be hard to remove for the next serving.
You must know the right amount of water to add in your cats food. Use the guide we mentioned above.
Finally, do consult a vet regarding this if you have any doubts. He/she will guide you about what water quantities are best in your cats food.
Can You Mix Wet Cat Food With Water?
You may have heard that cats do not drink enough water because they have a low thirst drive. If so, you are probably also aware that this can lead to health problems, and you might be wondering what you can do to help. Of course, wet food is a good start, but can you mix wet cat food with water to increase the amount your cat drinks?
Can You Mix Wet Cat Food With Water?
You can add water to your cats wet food, which may help ensure that your cat drinks enough fluid, especially if it is fond of dry biscuits or rarely seems to drink. However, this could lead to problems with your cat feeling full too quickly, and it should be done with a bit of care.
Why Might I Add Water To My Cats Food?
Many of us are becoming increasingly aware that many cats dont drink enough water because they have a relatively low thirst drive. Cats take in much of the water they need from their food, but this requirement is not necessarily met by commercial foods, especially if your cat likes dry food.
Cat biscuits are suitable for your cat because they help keep your cats teeth clean and strong, but they do not contain nearly enough moisture to keep your cat healthy. Giving your cat wet food is the first step to combating dehydration, but you might decide to take it further by mixing water into the food.
So, lets find out why this may be a good idea and the possible drawbacks!
What Are The Advantages Of Adding Water?
The most significant and obvious advantage of adding water to your cats food is that this ensures they are taking in an increased amount of liquid. So if your cat eats a lot of dry food or doesnt seem to drink, no matter how many different vessels you offer water in, you might want to do this.
Constant dehydration can increase the cats chances of suffering from urinary tract infections. It also puts increased strain on the kidneys, leading to renal failure if not addressed promptly.
Renal failure is difficult to control in cats, and its crucial to make sure your cat is drinking enough so you can avoid this problem.
Other issues can include poor blood circulation and an imbalance of electrolytes. The imbalance can affect almost every single one of your cats organs, and its imperative to avoid it if possible.
As a final benefit, is an increase in water can improve your pets digestion. Cats have shorter digestive tracts than humans, meaning that food is not digested for as long, and adding water can make the digestion process easier for them.
Therefore, adding water is helpful in many ways, and it should keep your cat healthier. However, note that unless your cat is suffering from dehydration-related health problems, you may not want to add very much water to your cats regular meals because it can also cause some issues, which we will look at next.
What Are The Disadvantages Of Adding Water?
Some people say that adding water to a cats wet food is unnecessary because it already contains quite a high water content. This may be particularly true if you are feeding your cat soups or gravy foods that have a very liquid sauce in with the meat.
However, you might be left wondering whether there are any specific disadvantages associated with doing this.
One of the first potential problems is that many cats do not like it when you mess with or change their food. So what might seem like a minor addition of a few drops of water to you could put them off the dish entirely, and once a cat has rejected a meal, it may refuse to go back to it, even if you increase the meat to liquid ratio.
However, the second problem is that extra liquid in the meal could cause your cat to feel full before it should. If your cat is not used to having its stomach full of water, it might not recognize that it still needs nutrients, and in this case, it might not eat enough.
This could, in extreme cases, lead to deficiencies and weight loss. However, this is quite unlikely, especially if you only add water in small amounts. Nevertheless, you should keep an eye on your cats food intake and make sure that it is consuming as much as it should be over the course of a day.
Theres no problem with including additional water in its diet as long as it is, provided it will still eat the food.
How Do I Add Water To My Cats Food?
The easiest way to add water is to keep a dedicated knife or fork near your cats bowl. When you have served up some food for your cat, add a small amount of water to the bowl, and use the knife or fork to mix it around and incorporate it into the food.
PetMD suggests that you should add about a quarter of a cup of water to a bowl full of cat kibble, but they are explicitly talking about dried food. You will probably find that you need significantly less for wet food.
Its a good idea to start with a small amount so you can check that your cat does not object to this. You can then slowly increase it, until you feel happy with the amount that the cat is getting. There isnt a risk of over-hydrating your cat as with people. It will just urinate out excess liquid.
That isnt to say that you should drown your cats dinner in water, but you dont need to worry too much about quantities. If in doubt, chat to your vet.
Different cats have different needs. If your cat has had issues or is at risk (male cats are much more likely to suffer from urinary tract issues than females, for example), you might feel it is safer to add quite a lot of water, whereas other cats may only need a small amount of water adding.
Should I Also Provide Water Separately?
Yes, your cat should always have access to a bowl of clean, fresh water. It should not be placed by the food bowl, as many cats dont like this. Instead, put it in a different area and remember to refresh it regularly to avoid dust or hairs in it.
Even if you add lots of water to your cats food, you should provide it with a separate drinking dish. This will ensure the optimum setup where your cat has access to the water it needs and is getting its natural water requirements met by additional moisture in its food.
Final Word
You certainly can mix wet cat food with water, and your cat will benefit from you doing this. Cats are at risk from multiple health issues due to dehydration. An increasing number of people are becoming aware of this problem.
So give your cat a boost by adding more liquid to its wet food!
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