Dry vs. Wet Cat Food: Pros and Cons for Your Feline’s Diet

Key Differences Between Dry and Wet Cat Food

The biggest difference is water content. Dry cat food (kibble) contains only about 10% moisture, whereas wet canned food contains around 70–80% water​

• That means a can of wet food helps hydrate your cat as they eat, similar to a cat’s natural prey which is high in moisture. Dry food, on the other hand, is very low in water – so cats who eat mainly kibble need to drink more from their water bowl or fountain to stay hydrated. If you have a cat that’s not a big drinker, incorporating wet food can be beneficial for their hydration and kidney health​
• There are other differences too in terms of calories and nutrients. Wet food tends to be higher in protein and fat (and lower in carbohydrates) on a dry-matter basis, while dry food often contains more carbohydrates (starches are needed to form those crunchy kibble pieces)​
• Both types can be nutritionally complete, but the texture, storage, and feeding style vary. Let’s break down the pros and cons.

Dry Cat Food – Pros and Cons

Pros of Dry Food:

• Convenience: Dry food is very convenient to feed. It can be left out longer without spoiling, so cats can free-feed or graze on it through the day. If you work long hours, you can leave kibble out or use an automatic feeder. It won’t dry out like wet food.
• Storage & Shelf Life: Kibble is easy to store and has a long shelf life unopened. Even after opening, it stays fresh for a few weeks if kept sealed. You can buy bigger bags for value (just don’t go so big that it goes stale before you finish it).
• Cost-Effective: Generally, dry food is cheaper per serving than wet food​

. This can help if you’re on a budget or feeding multiple cats.

• Dental Convenience: Some folks believe the crunch of dry food helps keep cats’ teeth clean. However, this benefit is minor – standard kibble isn’t a substitute for dental care. (There are specific dental diets with larger kibble that can help scrub teeth, but normal kibble often isn’t crunchy enough to significantly clean teeth.)
• Toys and Puzzles: Kibble works well in food-dispensing toys or puzzle feeders. I often put some in a treat ball for my cat to chase around, turning mealtime into playtime​

Cons of Dry Food:

• Low Moisture: The biggest downside is the lack of water. Cats naturally have a low thirst drive and get much of their hydration from food. On an all-dry diet, a cat must drink water regularly. Some cats simply don’t drink enough to compensate. This can contribute to urinary tract issues in susceptible cats (like urinary crystals or stones) because their urine becomes more concentrated. Studies have found that cats eating only dry food tend to have lower total water intake than cats eating wet food​. So, if you feed dry, be sure your cat is a good drinker or add a fountain/wet food to help.
• Free-Feeding & Overeating: Because kibble can sit out all day, it tempts us to keep bowls filled. Many owners free-feed, which can lead to overeating. It’s hard to tell how much your cat eats in a day when you just keep refilling the bowl. This is one reason dry-food-fed cats can become overweight. Measuring portions is important, even with dry food.
• Carb Content: Dry foods often have more carbohydrates than wet. Cats are obligate carnivores and don’t nutritionally require carbs. While quality dry foods are formulated for feline needs, a high-carbohydrate diet could contribute to weight gain or blood sugar issues in some cats.
• Hard for Some Cats to Chew: Senior cats or those with dental problems (missing teeth, gum disease) may find hard kibble difficult to chew​. They might swallow it whole or avoid eating enough. Wet food or softened dry food would be easier for them.
• Less Palatable for Picky Eaters: Many cats simply find dry food less yummy than wet. Dry food smell and taste is milder. If you have a finicky eater, they might not eat enough kibble to stay healthy, whereas they might wolf down a tastier wet food.

Cons of Dry Food:

• Low Moisture: The biggest downside is the lack of water. Cats naturally have a low thirst drive and get much of their hydration from food. On an all-dry diet, a cat must drink water regularly. Some cats simply don’t drink enough to compensate. This can contribute to urinary tract issues in susceptible cats (like urinary crystals or stones) because their urine becomes more concentrated. Studies have found that cats eating only dry food tend to have lower total water intake than cats eating wet food​. So, if you feed dry, be sure your cat is a good drinker or add a fountain/wet food to help.
• Free-Feeding & Overeating: Because kibble can sit out all day, it tempts us to keep bowls filled. Many owners free-feed, which can lead to overeating. It’s hard to tell how much your cat eats in a day when you just keep refilling the bowl. This is one reason dry-food-fed cats can become overweight​. Measuring portions is important, even with dry food.
• Carb Content: Dry foods often have more carbohydrates than wet. Cats are obligate carnivores and don’t nutritionally require carbs. While quality dry foods are formulated for feline needs, a high-carbohydrate diet could contribute to weight gain or blood sugar issues in some cats.
• Hard for Some Cats to Chew: Senior cats or those with dental problems (missing teeth, gum disease) may find hard kibble difficult to chew​. They might swallow it whole or avoid eating enough. Wet food or softened dry food would be easier for them.
• Less Palatable for Picky Eaters: Many cats simply find dry food less yummy than wet. Dry food smell and taste is milder. If you have a finicky eater, they might not eat enough kibble to stay healthy, whereas they might wolf down a tastier wet food.

Wet Cat Food – Pros and Cons

Pros of Wet Food:

• High Moisture = Hydration: Wet food’s top benefit is its high water content. It helps keep your cat hydrated, which supports their kidney and urinary health. For example, cats with kidney disease, diabetes, or lower urinary tract disease often do better when some or all of their diet is wet food, because of the extra water intake​. Even healthy cats benefit from good hydration – it can help prevent constipation and urinary issues. My cat rarely drinks from her bowl, but she stays hydrated because she eats wet food daily.
• Great Taste and Palatability: Most cats adore the taste and texture of wet food. It’s closer to the consistency of real meat. The strong aroma can entice cats who are picky or have a poor appetite. If your cat turns up their nose at kibble, offering wet food can stimulate their appetite. For kittens just weaned, the soft texture is easier for them to eat.
• High Protein/Low Carb: Wet foods are typically formulated with a lot of animal protein and fewer carbs. This is more biologically appropriate for cats. For overweight cats, a high-protein, water-rich wet diet can help with weight loss since it’s less calorie-dense (all that water means fewer calories per ounce of food)​. Cats often feel satiated with a wet food meal and are less likely to overeat compared to grazing on kibble.
• Easy to Chew: The soft, pate or stew texture of canned food is easy on the teeth. Senior cats, or cats with missing teeth, can lap it up without struggle. Even kittens (after about 6 weeks old) do well on wet food as they transition from milk.
• Variety of Flavors and Formulas: There’s a huge variety of wet foods – pates, shreds, chunks in gravy, etc.​. You can find many flavors (chicken, fish, rabbit, etc.), which is great if your cat has specific preferences or if you want to rotate flavors for variety. This can help prevent your cat from getting fixated on just one food.

Cons of Wet Food:

• More Expensive: Cost can be a factor. Wet food is generally more expensive per meal than kibble​. Those small cans add up, especially if you have a big cat or multiple cats. However, many owners find the health benefits worth it. You can also compromise by feeding a mix of wet and dry to manage cost.
• Short Shelf-Life Once Opened: You can’t leave wet food sitting out all day. It will dry out or spoil after a few hours, especially in warm weather. Any unfinished portion should be refrigerated and used within about 24 hours. (My trick: if my cat leaves some wet food, I cover the dish and pop it in the fridge, then warm it slightly later for her.) Opened cans need to be covered and refrigerated too. This means wet feeding requires a bit more attention to meals, rather than the “fill the bowl and forget it” approach.
• Messier Feeding: Wet food can be a bit messier. Cats who are enthusiastic eaters might fling bits of food or track gravy onto the floor. You’ll need to wash their bowl after each wet meal to keep things sanitary. Also, the smell of an open can of cat food is not pleasant to us humans (though cats love it!).
• Requires Storage (and Can Opener): You’ll need space to store cans, and if you buy in bulk it’s heavier to carry home. Minor inconvenience, but worth noting. Also, if your cat doesn’t finish a can, you have to store leftovers in the fridge with a lid. A picky cat who only eats fresh from the can might turn away leftovers that have been refrigerated (because it loses that yummy smell when cold). Warming it up can help.
• Possible Food Waste: If your cat doesn’t eat all their wet food, you might end up throwing some away (can’t leave it out too long). This can feel wasteful given wet food’s cost. Finding the right portion to serve, or using smaller cans/pouches, can minimize this.

Which One Should You Choose?

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Some cats thrive on dry, some on wet, and many do well with a combination. Consider your cat’s individual needs and your lifestyle:

• For hydration or urinary issues: Wet food has a clear advantage. It keeps kitty hydrated and produces more dilute urine, which can help prevent urinary problems. If your cat has had FLUTD (bladder inflammation or crystals), vets often recommend incorporating more wet food for this reason. In fact, a wet diet can meet most of a cat’s water requirement by itself​ – cats in the wild get much of their water from prey, and wet food mimics that.
• For weight management: Wet food can help chubby cats slim down because it’s high-protein and filling with fewer calories. That said, you can manage weight with dry food too by carefully measuring portions. Just avoid free-feeding large amounts of kibble. Some studies suggest cats eating predominantly dry food may be more prone to obesity​, but the main issue is typically how much they eat rather than the dry food itself. As an owner, you have to be a bit more strict with measuring when feeding kibble.
• Budget and convenience: If you’re on a tight budget or frequently away, a high-quality dry food may suit your situation better. You can always supplement with a bit of wet food as a treat or in evenings so your cat gets some variety and moisture. I often leave dry food for my cat during the workday and give her a wet food dinner – it’s a nice balance.
• Your cat’s preference: Some cats simply show a strong preference. My friend’s cat only licks the gravy of wet food and leaves the rest, but happily crunches kibble – that kitty clearly prefers dry. Another friend has a cat that refuses kibble entirely after getting a taste of wet. Pay attention to what your furry boss (I mean, cat) likes. You might offer a bit of each and see which one excites them.

Tip: You can absolutely do a mixed feeding approach – many pet owners do. For example, wet food morning and evening, and a small portion of dry for grazing midday or as a bedtime snack. This can give you the benefits of both. If you do mix, be sure to account for total calories to avoid overfeeding. It can be as simple as cutting back a little on the kibble when you add a wet meal. Your veterinarian can help calculate how much of each to feed if you need help​.

Final Thoughts

Both dry and wet foods have their place in a healthy cat diet. Wet food shines for hydration and palatability, while dry food wins on convenience and cost. Many cats enjoy a combination. The most important thing is that whichever you choose, it should be a high-quality, complete cat food that meets all of your kitty’s nutritional requirements (check for an AAFCO statement on the label indicating it’s complete and balanced). Always introduce any dietary changes gradually to avoid tummy upsets.

As a pet owner, I’ve found that observing my cat’s habits and health is the best guide. If your cat is maintaining a healthy weight, has good energy, a shiny coat, and is happily chowing down, you’re likely on the right track! If you still can’t decide, consider talking it over with your veterinarian – they can offer guidance tailored to your cat’s age, health, and needs. In the end, the best diet is one that keeps your feline healthy, hydrated, and happy. 😸❤️ (Feel free to experiment within reason and see what works for your cat – they’ll “tell” you what they like!)