Dry Cat Food to Wet Food Ratios

When switching a cat from wet food to dry food, or the reverse, owners should consult with a veterinarian. Cats are much more sensitive to food changes than dogs and it should not be assumed that a cat will "eat it later" if the cat does not care for the new food. Cats can and will starve themselves to death. Owners should also keep in mind the correct ratios of dry to wet food.

  1. Kittens

    • On the back of most bags of cat food is a chart that tells owners how much food they should use for their cat. For kittens or nursing mothers, the ratio of dry food to wet food is about 1 to 2.5. Dry food is usually very concentrated at this stage, while wet food may contain moisture that will simply rush out of their bodies.

    Adult Cats

    • For a healthy adult cat that lacks any medical issues, the ratio for most dry foods to wet foods is 1 to 1. At this age, the cat should be active enough to get rid of any extra calories for either sort of food.

    Seniors

    • With senior cats, much depends on their current state of health. These cats are aging quickly and may have obvious signs such as diabetes, arthritis or other health problems. The usual suggested ratio of dry to wet food for a senior cat is 1 to 0.5. However, if a cat seems dehydrated it may be better to feed moistened dry food at a normal measurement rather than wet food. Owners should avoid overfeeding their senior cat, as extra weight at this age may be detrimental to their health.

    Differences in Brands

    • Premium brands of dry cat food have no fillers or by-products. If owners use a premium dry cat food, but are also using a low-quality wet food with ingredients like meat by-products and corn, the ratio will drop from 1 to 1 for an adult cat to 1 to 0.5 because of the high fat and grain content in the lower-quality wet food.

    Cost and Convenience

    • The cost of wet food versus dry food is a constant debate depending on how many cats a person owns, and how much they eat. Generally, dry food will be cheaper and more convenient if owners need to travel. Wet food will provide moisture that cats may not take in through drinking water. Much depends upon owners choices in the brands of food as well, and how readily available one type is over the other. Owners may have to adjust ratios if one sort of food is suddenly unavailable due to a shortage or recall.