Can I Add Water to My Cat’s Dry Food?

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We have all seen those adorable commercials about cats who get so incredibly excited about their wet canned food. Are cats without wet food missing out on something great? Maybe! While there are benefits to dry cat kibble, there are a few downsides that can be resolved by simply adding water.

Dry food tends to be a convenient option as it is easy to measure and store. You don’t have to worry about refrigerating any leftovers.

It also is a great way to help keep your kitty’s teeth and gums healthy! The chewing motion on the dry food helps massage the cat’s gums which can help reduce inflammation, and the dry food rubbing against the teeth helps reduce plaque/tartar build-up, leaving those teeth pearly white.

But sometimes our kitties can be rather particular about what they eat, and they just love their wet food, as we can see in those commercials!

Can I add water to my cat’s dry food?

Adding water to your cat’s dry food can surprisingly be really beneficial, so yes, you absolutely can!

There are tons of benefits like increasing hydration aided and improved digestion, and increased appetite. It can get even the most finicky eaters to chow down.

The next question is should you add water to your cat’s dry food? As we mentioned, there are several benefits, but it all boils down to the needs and lifestyle of you and your cat.

How much water should I add to my cat’s food? 

If you decide to add water to your cat’s food, consider how much food your cat eats at any given meal.

Some cats tend to graze throughout the day, while others may eat just a few bigger meals every day.

Most agree that a mixture of one part of water for every three parts of cat food is about the right amount.

Others suggest that adding about ¼ cup of water is just about the right amount for most pets.

You may have to experiment a little with what exactly is the right amount for your cat. Don’t forget to allow a little time for the dry food to soak up the water before giving it to your cat. Maybe five minutes or so and then bon appetit!

For cats that tend to graze, you may need to consider giving them smaller portion sizes more frequently throughout the day.

Unfortunately, leaving wet food out all day isn’t a good option. When left out, wet food can attract and harbor bad bacteria, making it unsafe for your kitty to eat. So only prepare what your cat will eat in one sitting.

Should I add warm or cold water to my cat’s food? 

Warm water is ideal for adding hydration to our cat’s dry food.

Cold water would look like kitty soup with kibble floating around in the water, whereas the food will absorb warm water more easily.

Make sure you don’t use hot water, though, since we don’t want to burn the kitty’s mouth accidentally!

The food should look soft to the touch and easily fall apart when touched.

Warm water also helps enhance that delicious aroma for the benefit of our most picky eaters!

Maybe it’s not actually the smell but the texture. Your cat may just like the wet texture more than the dry. It doesn’t hurt to try it out!

What are the benefits of adding water to my cat’s food? 

When wet food isn’t practical or if you’re in a pinch, add in some water to help soften the dry food. Doing so also adds in some extra hydration and helps boost the flavor to help make it more appetizing to your kitty.

Wild cats often get their hydration needs met by consuming their wild prey. They certainly aren’t known to lap up water as dogs do.

This trait of reduced water consumption can commonly be found in our kitties as well, which, when only eating a dry food diet, can lead to dehydration in kitties who aren’t good about getting their daily water intake.

Adding water to wet food can also help aid in the digestion process for our cats. Cats have relatively short gastrointestinal tracts, so their system must work just a little harder to break down dry food.

By softening it just a bit with water, we can make the process just a little bit easier on their digestive system, especially in the cases of cats who easily get upset tummies.

Since the food expands when wet, cats who have a tendency to eat their food in large mouthfuls have to eat fewer pieces of kibble in one mouthful when the kibbles themselves are oversized.

If your cat is notorious for gobbling her food down, adding some water may help slow them down a bit!

Kibble can also expand once it reaches the digestive juices in the stomach, and if your cat gobbles down lots of dry food, he can start to feel bloated and stuffed as the food expands. Having the food already expanded will help your kitty realize he’s actually full faster.

It also can stimulate appetite because it enhances flavor and helps make stinky dry food even stinkier (gross to us, but delicious for our cats!)

Conclusion

While dry food does definitely have its perks, adding just a little bit of water can be really beneficial to your cat as well.

You know your cat best so consider your cat to make the best decision. If your cat thinks meal time is a speed eating competition, adding some water might help slow him down and force him to actually chew his food!

Or, if your cat thinks drinking water out of a water bowl is a crime, consider adding some water to her food to sneak some extra hydration in there!

If you do decide to add water to your cat’s dry food, just remember to only prepare the amount that your cat will eat in one sitting, and don’t leave the food sitting out for too long. And make sure to clean up right away!

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