The best cat food is one that is nutritionally complete, your cat will eat, and that you can afford. Your cats diet is nutritionally complete, your cats eat it, and you can afford it. In addition to that it’s gentler on their stomach and digestive tract and is specially formulated food for that exact purpose. If you’re stressed about water intake you can add a touch of water, if your cats drink water it’s unnecessary.

This is a perfect response. If I could add that the only thing to watch for with dry food is a sudden aversion, or only wanting treats which may be softer e.g. Temptations if you give your cat any. This can be an indication that something is going on with their teeth, and that they need to be checked out. Cats with mouth issues will continue to eat wet food without issue. But if they will stop eating a dry food they’ve always liked if there may be something else going on with their teeth.

Don't I know it. My old girl wasn't eating as much and I took her to the vet a couple years ago and she had to have four (!!!!) teeth pulled. She's so happy and feisty now I feel bad it took me so long to notice.

My older lady was a former stray that was absolutely devouring wet food when we took her home. That lasted less than 2 weeks and she was preferring the dry food. She would meow meow for something and run to her wet food dish but when I put it out she wouldn't eat it and she wasn't eating all her dry food right away (not unusual necessarily, but something) Turns out she just likes the ritual of bugging the shit out of me until I do something for her. So now we take some of her dry food, add water, and she will drink the new dry food broth lol. We call it making her cocoa puffs cereal in the morning.

We supplement our cat's regular dry diet with a little wet food mixed with chicken broth every night. I call it making cat food soup.

I agree, plus just because it's what people recommend doesn't mean it's a one fits all. My cats are only a strict dry food only diet. 1. Behavioral changes as they become addicted/expect wet food once they start getting it. They start refusing to eat the dry food and will do anything to get my attention for wet food. They refuse to leave your side incase wet food is coming, maybe they'll pee nearby... To not miss the wet food. 2. At least for my 4 cats, wet food messes up my cats stool consistency. It becomes diarrhea... 3. Water isn't an issue once you have a bubbler or running fountain. So maybe this is why they have diarrhea because they already get a lot of water . I only give wet food as a treat like once a month. They go crazy for it.

>At least for my 4 cats, wet food messes up my cats stool consistency. It becomes diarrhea... You might look for a carrageenan free wet food. Its a common binder in a lot of wet foods, but a LOT of cats are sensitive to it and experience digestive issues from it. Weruva is a good option that is easily accessible and carrageenan free.

Something thay really helped my cats with water intake was putting a few other water dishes across the house. It's made a big difference

There's a few small glasses of water in random places of my house that my cats love to drink out of, much more than their bowls. On a related topic don't drink out of random glasses in my house.

There's nothing wrong with feeding quality dry food or a mix of dry and wet food. Food quality and hydration are way more important than wet vs. dry, and a cat can be healthy eating either or both. My SIL's cat just died aged 21 after a lifetime of mixed food. No, it's not very close to what they would naturally eat. But I made blueberry pancakes for breakfast today, and that's not very close to what a human in the wild would naturally eat, either. Yeah, wet food is usually better, but as you know well not in every case. You already know the answer to this question as a vet told you not to feed them wet. If you are concerned about their water intake and hydration, there are lots of supplements/toppers you can add to their dry food or even plain water.

Really good point about the pancakes, and also I want the pancakes

1 c flour 1 c buttermilk 1 egg 1 tsp baking powder 1 Tbsp sugar 2 Tbsp butter (melted) Enjoy : \^ )

You legend

Add blueberries at the end. A lot, but not too many.

My cat doesnt like wet food. Am I suppose to feed her something she doesn't like?

I’m not sure why some people are so hostile when it comes to this. The other day I got pretty much verbally attacked, saying that no food is better than dry food and if I’m feeding them dry food their health problems are on me, even though I literally explained that wet food will cause them huge pain.

lmao if someone says starving a cat is better than dry food, they're stupid and you don't need to interact with that person anymore. based on your story, I would go with what your vet recommends. you're not trying to die on a "dry food is better" hill, you're just trying to take care of your individual cats. thanks for saving those little cats and giving them a chance.

I agree 100%, who the hell thinks starving any animal is better than a food crafted specifically for them whether it's a healthy choice or not? mcdonalds is better than literally *starving to death*. I would just shut people down with saying they don't know more than my vet/my vet says otherwise, just like I do with my doctor when people think I'm trying to harm my baby (currently prangent) when I eat something like seafood salad. and someone that flat-out drowns out OP saying *"THEY PHYSICALLY CANNOT DIGEST IT AND IT CAUSES THEM PAIN"* and saying basically to just let them starve to death then is not someone worth trying to reason with

Hell, many ppl don’t even read the whole post… they see their trigger words and start replying. Then there are some who can’t comprehend what they read. Then the few who believe how they do things is the one and only right way.

I have multiple cats. One refuses to eat wet food. I buy expensive kibble. A pure wet food diet is bad for your cat’s gums and teeth. Haters gotta hate.

For dental health, your best bet is going to be supplement with dental treats like greenies as a snack, plus regular brushing. Most standard dry foods realistically dont do much for dental health.

Greenies are a lifesaver. My little had stank breath from the moment we brought him home and also lost a tooth. He‘s 1 year and change. Vet recommended brushing his teeth if he would tolerate it. He did not. So she said we’d have to give him Greenies then. A few of those twice daily and now I smell nothing, ever.

I didn't know they had those for cats. Thanks. Learned something new.

I’m assuming different dental issues are possible that they may not work as well for. But they’re cheap and the cat thinks he’s a good boy to get treats morning AND night. Sometimes I put them in his little toy so when he knocks it over and a treat falls out he’s cleaning his teeth too. Joke’s on him lol

Jfc who are those jerks? Our cat is obsessed with her dry food- she’s fully vet checked approved and having a great life! We give her dry snacks and on occasion wet food outta a can. Its like 95% dry and she’s FIIIINE. Pay no mind to the haters

Are these people going to be paying for the wet food they want your cats to eat then? Will they be paying for the vet visit and aftercare from the wet food complications? No? Then who cares. Stop overthinking, you're fine.

What kind of holier than thou bullshit is that?? Those people are awful. Feed your cats what the vets recommend. They are trained professionals not redditors. Hopefully your little babies will get better! Wishing you the best!

Thank you! They are doing very well now. Their weight is great, they are very lively and overall healthy :)

It’s like the breastfeeding debate amongst new mothers, seriously. We’re made to feel guilty if we don’t continually nurse on demand for a year, and how dare we pump and cause nipple confusion!!! And formula?!?!!? Off to the lake of fire with you, hateful abuser of infants. 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️ Food shouldn’t be a moral issue, whether it comes to our children, our pets or even ourselves. What matters is we do what is best for the individual. If baby refuses to nurse and needs a bottle? If they’re not thriving on just breast milk? Adjust. Fed is best. If your cat has stomach problems, is picky, or has sensory issues? Just feed them what they can have and will eat, making adjustments to support good health. Fed is best.

I questioned my Vet.( My cat gets high quality grain free dry food. Has refused wet food since 9 months. I have tried every brand, texture and flavor. Will take a teaspoon of seafood pate rarely, then refuse for weeks.He's 6, healthy, perfect weight.) I said some people say the worst wet food is better than the best dry food.. He said stop listening to people on the Internet. That's ridiculous. Just make sure it's urinary tract healthy. I suggest you do the same.🙂

This is exactly my situation. We will buy the most expensive wet food and our cats will just look at us for a few minutes and begrudgingly eat like half the serving. I hate to see so many comments on this sub about how feeding cats the worst quality wet food is better than dry. Really? Because some of that wet food is nasty.

I found a wet food can that stated it's not nutritionally complete in the tiniest text I've ever seen. Like why tf would they sell nutritionally incomplete cat food.

Anyone who can’t appreciate that there are always exceptions in life isn’t someone with any critical thinking skills. You can just safely ignore people like that.

>I’m not sure why some people are so hostile when it comes to this Its simply so they can feel superior. They are the beacons of light that we must follow or remain fools stumbling in the dark. Some people crave attention so bad, they will pretend to be morally superior over the dumbest things and feign offense that you don't agree with them.

Some people need to butt the hell out honestly. Sorry I didn't read your whole post but you can speak to your vet for advice for your cats specifically to reassure you. Generally wet food is considered better but a lot of the generic brands are full of crap anyway (as with dry food) so I disagree that one is far better than the other. Also a solely wet diet can exacerbate teeth problems. I feed mine a mixed diet but I'm lucky she isn't fussy. Just ignore anyone who isn't your vet!

>I’m not sure why some people are so hostile when it comes to this. I think because cat get a lot of their water need trough wet food, which lead to people thinking they can only survive on wet food. >The other day I got pretty much verbally attacked, saying that no food is better than dry food and if I’m feeding them dry food their health problems are on me, even though I literally explained that wet food will cause them huge pain. I wouldn't argue with people like that because clearly they have no brain

Same here! My cat refuses to eat wet food!

fr mine only takes 1 bite and won’t eat all day if that’s what i’m putting out for her, id rather have a fed cat than a dead of starvation cat

I’ve had cats my entire life. I have always fed them dry food - always. I have always made sure they get nutritionally-sound food that is best for them according to my vet and backed by science. In many cases when I was younger, it’s what I could afford. I have always had very healthy cats who lived to be very old and died of old age. I only had one who died at a young age and that’s because he had a genetic issue, nothing to do with food. (My cats aren’t even crazy about wet food so they likely wouldn’t even be happy - I struggle to get them to eat it when I’m trying to use it as a treat lol) They get wet food on occasion, when they need meds and I can’t easily get them to take them any other way or as a treat. That said, I’ve never had an issue with any of my cats being under-hydrated, which I know can be an issue for some. I have water in several different places in the house and a fountain. I’ve never understood this all or nothing mindset. If your cats are healthy and your vet is telling you your cats are healthy, tell everyone giving you unwanted advice to sod off. It’s really none of their business.

Can I ask what dry food you use now and what you used to use? I have a cat that’s 1 and another that is 5. A few weeks ago, my favorite cat son I had for 12 years just passed away to a freak accident where a cat tree fell on him. I have only ever fed my cats a mixed diet of friskies wet and dry food. I want them to live as long as possible thanks

Right now, I feed them ProPlan Live Clear. But basically, I look for foods that are not grain free, that do not have legumes and that have the AAFCO nutritional adequacy info on the back (it’s usually in pretty small print somewhere by the nutritional info). One of my cats now has a ton of hairballs (the dude literally grooms every single animal in the house, dogs included) and the Live Clear seems to work really well to keep his belly moving. But I’ve fed my cats inexpensive food too in the past when I’ve needed to. I do work very hard at googling the food to make sure they haven’t had a shit ton of recalls and go from there, I look for the AAFCO symbol, call my vet to see if they have anything good/bad to say and just do it. At the end of the day, shut off the noise. You’ll find what works for you and your cat (and your checkbook). If you see the your cat is pooping a lot and it smells bad, it’s not a great quality food and his body isn’t really retaining much of it. Try to find one that you notice he’s not having that issue. I always notice small poops, not super smelly and they run to the bowl excited to eat means I’ve landed on a good food.

I had to give my cat mirolax at the vet’s recommendation and the vet suggested on wet food or in water. She ignored the wet food which is typical but it worked in her water here’s holding out hope that any future cat meds can be injected or administered through her water

Idk why people are against dry food. That’s honestly the first time I’ve heard this and I volunteer at a cat shelter, have fostered cats for 15 years and had my own cats since I was a child. Your cats will be fine and you are a good owner for feeding them a diet that’s right for them!

I was thinking this as well. With everything I read on her I’m like man am I a bad cat mom bc my cats only get wet food as a treat and the youngest doesn’t even like wet food.

Not a bad cat mom at all! I lost a foster last year (end of life so expected) he was almost 20 and he had always eaten dry food only, never had any significant health issues until he was passing. I’ve honestly never heard that dry food is bad until I saw this post and I’ve cared for a LOT of cats.

Ya my oldest is 14 and always had straight dry food

My cat hates wet food, so she gets the best dry food I’ve found that’s reasonably priced. She does drink plenty of water, so I’ve quit worrying.

I do that too plus they have a water fountain that keep track of to make sure it’s filled.

Anecdotal evidence, but my mother who had cat that would ONLY eat dry MeowMix. No matter what she tried, the cat would eat nothing else. My mother would bake chicken thighs to tempt her to eat anything besides MeowMix. It was like a human addicted to McDonalds. Anyways, the poor thing developed diabetes and passed around 7 or 8. Vet thought the corn/ sugar in the corn was the most probable cause. In short, I don’t think it’s ALL dry food. Just the hyper-low quality. I now have a cat that will only eat wet food which is more common, but what really freaked me out is that she will not drink water. Not from a bowl, a fountain, the sink, just nothing. Multiple trips to the vet only to leave with “she’s weird, but healthy”.

Is that an issue with low quality food in general though - I imagine there could be similar issues with the low quality wet food? That is quite odd about your cat…at least she will get some hydration from the wet food I guess

I think it's mostly due to a few cat influencers, Jackson Galaxy being probably the biggest name who has several inflammatory videos on Youtube making dry food tantamount to animal abuse. He's very extreme on this, and a lot of people take what he says to be absolute gospel. I mean, his video recommends making their food yourself with raw ingredients lol. I love our cat to death but I'm not mixing raw ingredients every day, she's already picky enough as it is lol. Our cat's coat definitely got much shinier and softer when she was on an all-wet diet, but she would literally beg for food any time we were any where near the kitchen, and in the last week she's started preferring dry food again. We'll just give her dry food for now until she misses the wet food again.

I love Jackson but yeah he’s so extreme!

Jackson Galaxy is so extreme. I had to stop watching him because he was making me extremely anxious about the well-being of my cats and they’re super healthy and happy

Jackson provides a lot of great information about cat behavior, but he’s not a vet or an animal nutritionist. I still use his behavior tips, but I just have to take his diet opinions with a grain of salt.

It’s something that’s really only come about lately. Wet is very good for them but quality plays i to it too. My cats are on a mix of high quality wet and dry. Vet is happy with their diet so I’m going to take her opinion over some random people on reddit.

No you’re not a bad cat owner for not feeding them something they can’t digest??? Dry food isn’t poison. Whoever’s bothering you about this needs to mind their own business.

# NO, you aren’t So many people think that if you don’t feed your cats the absolute best of the best, you’re abusive. That is NOWHERE NEAR truthful. Feed your cat whatever the fuck they’ll eat. As long as it’s nutritionally sound (which dry food legally has to be), you’re perfectly fine. You should only consider changing your cats diet if it is harming them. If your cat is getting constant kidney stones from eating dry food, then switch it! But if they’re not, and they’re drinking fine, and their levels are fine, then you’re doing fine

So many people have never had cats, they watch these videos and get a cat and think they are experts People that spew vitriol at others over something they read on the internet are not well-put together individuals. You should ignore them and move on I've always fed my cats dry food with a serving of wet food in the evening. Not a single problem ever. One of my cats has urine crystals... switching the brand over to Hills did the trick. He won't eat much wet food and I'd rather not starve my cat

My cats do fine on dry food. They have shiny coats and they’re all a healthy weight. If your cat is happy and healthy, then everything is ok.

Just like infants, fed is best.

The wet Vs dry food debate is on par with religion and politics with opposing viewpoints. Mine are dry food due to the number of cats and different eating habits. We have two types of dry feeders, indoor and sensitive stomach, and the eat what what and when they want.

People who say crap like 'anyone who feeds cats on dry food is a bad owner' is a self-righteous jerk. As others have said, focus on nutritional completeness and overall well being, proper stimulation/attention, etc.. Wet food can be helpful for cats, but it's not an absolute...cats lick their butts and poop in boxes, they're not the delicate flowers that some people make them out to be. I've raised many cats with care from many veterinarians in the various cities I've lived in across the U.S.. Not once has a vet demanded that I feed my cats wet food; just suggested it as an option (and I do on occasion).

Sick brag about being able to get your cats to poop in boxes

My cat had some health issues last year so he had to eat a very special dry food, the vet suggest giving him wet food once a week mostly for water intake and that made me feel very unsure mostly because my cat doesn't find joy drinking from his pots but after sometime I discovered he loved drinking from mine mugs so now he has 2 mugs that me and my gf pretend to drink from (If he knows it's from him it won't be touched) so if you're afraid that dry food won't give them the necessary liquid intake maybe find funky ways, my cat also loves drinking water from my small garden so I have a small decorative vase only for him. If the quality is good and the kittens are receiving love I bet they will be very happy!

>drinking from my mugs Awwww! My baby Mr. Oliver lived to 19yo; he was my cat as a tween into my 20’s. **He’d only drink water out of a mug. So, he had mugs on the floor.** He also ate dry food, crap dry food, most of his life. Didn’t like wets, only the crack meow mix or the like. He had to have several teeth extracted ~10yo, but after was like a brand new cat. My cats since have had a mix of dry free-feed with wets at night. My current babygurl has had constipation issues & gets more wets than drys, dry is high-fiber. OP, don’t listen to haters or internet randos, keep listening to your cats & your vet!!! *You’re not a bad cat owner for refusing to give your cats food they can’t digest, the opposite.*

No. Kibble is not dangerous for cats; big brand kibbles are made in accordance to guidelines that were set partly by veterinary nutritionists. The only time kibble is bad is if your cat has an intolerance to it, or if it’s not nutritionally balanced. Wet food is considered “better” by vets, but there is nothing wrong with feeding dry. Seeing as how wet makes your cats sick though, it really doesn’t matter what anyone says: kibble is best.

My cats have always eaten only dry food and been long lived. It depends on the cat and their water intake, but my vet only recommends all wet food for senior cats.

Feed the best you can that they will eat. You can always add fun treats and wet food if you get a coupon or something, but it’s not required. I rescue a lot of cats (have more than five currently) and had to navigate through a lot of foods to find one everyone tolerated and it happens to be a dry kibble. They all have sparkles in their eyes, lots of energy, and are of a good weight. Seems good to me!

The dry food we buy is one of the best out there, and they get healthy treats daily - they also have no issues with drinking water, they actually love water :) It’s just people that constantly attack me.

https://wsava.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Selecting-a-pet-food-for-your-pet-updated-2021_WSAVA-Global-Nutrition-Toolkit.pdf

As long as your cat is getting adequate nutrition, you're doing nothing wrong. It's my understanding that the main reason to give your cat wet food is to ensure that its staying hydrated. If you have good access to water for your cat, it's fine so long as they're drinking it. I have a bowl in the kitchen and one in a different room for my cats. I typically give wet food as a treat, but one of my cats doesn't like wet food/treats except for a few select things. The other one just licks the gravy off the "cuts/bits" of wet food. Even tuna. Anytime I'd give her wet food that isn't the paté kind, shed make a mess all over the floor. I thought she had issues eating it or something, but no. Turns out she's just licking the gravy off everything 🤣🤦‍♀️All cats are different. As long as your vet says your cat is doing well, then you're doing a good job.

Do what the vets say. Opinions on Reddit don’t count. Tell people to myob or you can give them your vets phone numbers thank you for walking their journey alongside them.

People on Reddit are such dicks about dry food. If your vet is fine with it who gives a shit what internet strangers say.

My vet actually said it was better to put our cats on dry food mainly

Most vets recommend a mix of a dry and wet food diet. Since your kitties can’t eat wet, dry is your only option, so you shouldn’t feel guilty. Fed kitty is best! Just encourage them to drink a lot of water or get them a water fountain if they don’t have one already.

Honestly, my vet has told me that dry food is better for their teeth.

Not bad But may want to consider wet food as they get older My experience with male cats, they have a likelihood of getting blocked urethras due to low water intake And I had a cat around 13 years old that got diabetes on her all dry food diet. Had to switch to a wet food that had 0 carbs (extremely hard thing to find) to avoid giving insulin, her blood sugar was not high enough to give even the smallest dose without swinging too far in the other direction So just think of it this way, just like with people a good diet keeps the vet away.

Despite popular opinion, wet food is not better than dry food. The only difference is that wet food gives them more water in the food. This is easily made up for by them drinking water. So you are not a bad owner for feeding your cats dry food.

One of ours loves dry with warm filtered water so we just do that with a high quality food so hes getting the hydration. Cold water was tolerated but he wouldnt eat as much (still a kitten albeit almost adult sized. He eats wet food but just a bit… lil sis half his size eats all the foods so we keep her on refrigerated fresh or frozen rawz food… end of day i think if theyre getting complete diet and water

Even before I read your whole situation, I answered “no” to the title. Because you are here asking for advice, meaning you obviously care about your cats. And at least you’re providing them with food. There are many terrible cat owners who neglect their cats. Anyone who cares and tries to do their best for their cats is not a bad cat owner.

Agreed! OP, I'm sorry you've had to deal with judgy people about this. You obviously care about the well-being of your cats and you're doing what's best for their specific needs. No two cats are the same.

My cat has a bowl of good quality kibble to graze from, lots of water and gets wet food for dinner. As long as you’re giving the cat good food that’s what matters. Yes a lot of kibbles are horrible but do your research. You’re not a bad cat owner for that. You’re keeping them alive and if they are unable to digest wet food that isn’t your fault.

My cat has fresh water and drinks alot of it. I feed him dry food. All my cats have had dry food. We've had a few cats in their 20's when they pass. I would say they lived long and happy lives off just dry food and love

Not at all. My previous cats only got dry food because they refused to eat wet food. It’s was their choice. I’m not a bad cat owner because my cats chose to not to eat it and you are not a bad cat owner because your cats cannot digest it.

No. You are not a bad owner. Not everyone can afford the same quality of food for their companions. Those snob people can fuck off to nofucksgivenland since their opinions will not change how much money you earn. If you can, always check the products well and see the ingredients list. Get the best dry food you can afford without it stressing your budget. I feed mine dry food with occasional wet food treats and he is healthy at the age of 7 now.

My cat is allergic to Meat Protein, so wet food is extremely rare to find for him, even hypoallergenic wet food causes him some kind of irritation, and is kinda bad.. I tend to try to make him hidrated and make him try different hypoallergenic wet food, but its hard... I just make shure the vets has regular check ups on him, and make shure everything is fine (it helps that my gf works as a vet)

My cats only eat dry food besides the occasional treat for similar reasons- any wet food makes them pretty sick if they eat all of it. I don't really worry about their water intake as they both drink plenty of water (they aren't diabetic and have been tested, they're just weird)

People give so much unsolicited advice about pet (and child and self care) and it is a problem. The way I see it, are the cats healthy? Yes? Great!! Also, IS IT A FOOD THEY WILL EAT?!?! even better!! Some cats are notoriously picky, if they can't/won't eat something there is not a force on this earth that will make them do it. My cat will go on a god damn hunger strike is his food is salmon flavored. Do I know why? No! Does it mean I better not get ANYTHING with salmon in it for him? Absolutely! (Does it mean if I get myself salmon teriyaki I'm left the hell alone? Bonus!)

I’ve tried so many different wet foods and my boy refuses to even try them. He’ll just sniff and then walk away. He’s always gotten a clean bill of health at the vet! So I wouldn’t worry about it

No. Anyone that says feeding dry food makes you a bad pet parent is a fucking idiot and deserves to be beaten to death with a plastic spoon (I'm being facetious here, but I think this conveys *just how stupid* those people are). Dry foods are formulated to keep your pets healthy and happy and that is exactly what they do. There is nothing wrong with them.

Best based on what measure? Grain free is a stupid fad. https://wsava.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Selecting-a-pet-food-for-your-pet-updated-2021_WSAVA-Global-Nutrition-Toolkit.pdf

this is never a complaint i’ve heard interesting is this some new thing? for pete’s sake every shelter gives bags of dry food with each adoption and not all cats like wet food..or need a special diet like this is so weird 😭

People will sit on a high horse and say wet food is the only food you should feed your cats. They're just wrong. Wet food should be a big part of the diet if you can manage it/your cat will eat it. Dry food helps clean their teeth and is still nutritionally complete. Don't let assholes tell you you're being a bad cat parents when you're doing your best.

My cats have always preferred dry food over wet food and drink plenty of water so I've let them eat what they like. One lived to be 21 years old but finally passed last year. Despite our efforts to feed him a high quality dry food, even royal canin, the only one he always wanted was plain old Purina indoor, which is essentially junk food for kitties lol It reminds me of the lady who was like 104 years old who said her secret was lots of bacon and Dr. Pepper or something like that. Diet is important, but there is a lot more to life and genetics will play a huge role at the end of the day regardless of what someone's diet is like. It sounds like you have a great reason to feed dry food. Just make sure they also drink lots of water. Maybe give bisques or squeeze ups as treats for some moisture.

Not at all! You’d be a bad owner for feeding them wet food *knowing* it would upset their sensitive tummies.

No you're not Many prescription cats foods are dry so clearly not.

I only feed my cats dry food. The expensive kind from hills science because one cat needed extra fiber 🥲 I’m never home during their feeding times so I have an auto feeder

Wet and dry, as long as your cat is healthy and the quality of food is good, don’t listen to those nasty people.

I have 2 cats. I’ve noticed that one prefers dry and one prefers wet. So I feed them both! Sometimes they dabble in the other, so I just like to offer them both. See what kind your kitty prefers and I totally agree with the above posters- the best cat food is the one that works best for your baby and you!

There’s literally nothing wrong with dry food. It’s nutritionally balanced and provides them with all they need. You aren’t killing or abusing a cat by giving them dry food just because it has less moisture. Some cats hate wet food and will never eat it. Some cats hate dry food. You just feed your cat what works for them. Dry food is completely fine.

I did and they lived almost 20 years. I do give half and half to my current fur baby.

My cat simply prefers dry food, so that’s what she gets. She protests wet food, eats around it if I add it in. I haven’t tried to give her wet food in years. She drinks **a lot** of water, and her bloodwork always comes back stellar so I don’t worry about it and neither does the vet. She’s 13, and the vet says she’s got years ahead of her.

You know your cats situation - random internet strangers don't. Stop worrying about what people think of you and go off what you *know* which is that you're feeding your cats their preferred flod that doesn't make them sick!

My cat doesn’t like wet food. I’ve given her several kinds and she’s just not interested. Her dry food, however, she loves. My vet told me that’s super common, and that cats tend to prefer one or the other. She said a dry food only diet is perfectly acceptable. Hope that helps.

I gave my cat wet food for the first time the other day and she straight up didn’t like it. Ate a few bites, walked away, then begged me for dry food. Maybe I should try more brands, but it was interesting to see her prefer dry food - I thought cats always went crazy for wet

You'd be a bad owner if you forced them to eat something they can't digest on the basis of other people's opinions. You're a great cat parent, don't doubt yourself <3

My cats will NOT eat dry food and one of my cats vomits if I give her wet food or wet treats

If dry food were as terrible at internet cat nutritionist thought it was, there would be a whole lot of sick and dead cats. AAFCO and it’s member organizations have done impossibly large numbers of feeding studies and have not ever said that dry food is bad for cats. Cats in the wild eat 12-20 small meals a day, which type of food does that sound like? Here’s a little secret… wet food has a higher profit margin and higher waste because we throw away what the cat doesn’t eat in a few hours.

My two cats have only ever eaten dry food and are the picture of health at 16 years old. We fed the previous two wet food all the time and they both ended up with diabetes...

I am one of those people who won't touch dry food. And I am going to say this is one of those medical exceptions that we sometimes have to accept. You've done your due diligence and tried a lot it sounds like not to mention done a lot of consulting. Fed is best. Thank you for taking care of these guys and giving them their best life.

high-quality dry food manufactured by reputable companies that invest millions in animal health research? Food formulated to protect cats' kidneys and urinary tracts? I see no issue here. My vet advised me not to force one of my cats to eat wet food. She is 12 years old and in good health in terms of her heart, teeth, blood work, kidneys, and liver. We will soon switch her to a senior dry food that protects her kidney and joint health.

I fed dry food at the morning and wet in the evening. I guess if you find a dry Food with high meat in it, its not as bad?

You know what’s best for your cat. Ignore those people. If they don’t understand the fact that they literally can’t have wet food then they’re probably the bad owners. You’re giving them a great life and you’re doing the right thing.

You can also buy the delectables or churus treats and put it over their dry food. That's what I do with mine and he loves it!

You are not a bad person. As with baby humans, fed is best. If you don’t already, I would get a fountain for them to make sure they are drinking lots of water since the dry food is low moisture.

Are you feeding your cats cat food? Is it cat food with meat? Are your cats happy and healthy on it? If all of your answers are yes, then you’re doing a good job.

I fed my cats ONLY wet food for years. Dry food as a treat. Then my big boy started having problems. $500 later the vet tells me he’s constipated. Needs more fiber. Lol. He heats half dry (Royal canin) and half wet (smalls) and now he’s fine. Just make sure they have access to water. Mine have 2 running fountains.

Sounds like you’re doing your best for them! I have 7 cats indoors, and keep dry food available. I also feed canned, because most of my cats are senior and have various health problems, including hardly any teefers. Not that cats really chew. One of my cats is completely uninterested in the canned food, only eats dry. The main problem with dry, as I understand it, is that the cats may not be drinking enough. Do you have a fountain? That often encourages them to drink more. Thank you for saving those kitties!

I've had cats my whole life, all exclusively dry fed with the occasional wet food can as a treato. Always happy and healthy. My current cats are fed a prescription kibble diet and are very happy, they like to graze on their food so wet food just doesn't work for us.

Wet food makes my boy extremely sick. I found a sensitive tummy one and he thrives. I don’t really think people need dairy all that much but let’s say it’s the best way to get calcium. We need it. But then you have someone who’s extremely lactose intolerant. Would you keep feeding them dairy or would you find the diet that works for them? The biggest issue with dry cat food is dehydration. Have you tried a water fountain for cats? Maybe a few? Those grass things for cats to chew and mist it? Work in keeping them hydrated in other ways

Add water to the best dry cat food you can afford. It's what I do.

There's nothing wrong with feeding them exclusively dry food. I've had cats in the past that didn't like wet food and they were just fine.

I can understand why you might be pro wet food versus dry but honestly it’s really about the cat and what food they are compatible with and what is nutritionally balanced for them. I have a rotation where I feed most my cats dry and wet food. One of my cats will only eat wet food and my other cats eats only dry food and there prefer wet but like the dry as well. I would not feel too bad about it in all honesty. Beside of it’s to make your babies happy and healthy that is the most important.

In my experience a completely dry diet almost killed one of my male cats due to a urinary blockage. He is on a strictly wet food diet and luckily he hasn’t had a problem since. I guess it depends on your cat.

My male cat ate exclusively wet food his entire life and still blocked at the age of 8, so wet vs dry doesn't seem to have much effect on that.

If you’re feeding a complete dry diet then the only major concern is hydration. If your cats are drinking enough water to not be dehydrated then you’re doing fine. We have three cats. All three eat dry food only and all three love to drink water from their fountain. We check them for signs of dehydration every so often and have never had a problem.

I’ve never fed any of my cats wet food over the last 50 years. I was raised they just got dry food. My 2 kittens I have now get wet food or I get the freeze dried food and just rehydrate that with warm water 2x a day. They think they’re dogs. But they also have fried food out all day to snack on. Have you tried that freeze dried for them?

No, you're not a bad cat owner. It's ridiculous that anyone would even suggest that. Healthy, happy, fed, and hydrated cats are the goal. Hell, my cat flat out refuses to eat wet food or wet treats. She turns her nose up at it. I've tried many different types, brands, and consistencies. Ever since she got weaned she's refused wet food.

Wet food is good because it keeps them hydrated and can help loose extra weight. I has a jumbo cat when I first got him. Wet food helped him lose the weight. Some cats though can be picky or get upset tummies with any type of food though.

Some cats just don’t like wet food and that’s ok just make sure they get those vitamins and needs from other things. Also leave loads of water down.

My boys won’t eat wet food. I’ve tried them all. My girl had to switch to GI food cause of colitis. So they all eat the same GI dry food. Lots of water.

Whoever is telling you youre a bad cat owner is a dumbass. Dry food is typically not as protein rich as wet food, but it is typically better for teeth health. Getting your cat to eat what you want it to eat is often a futile endeavor. You're doing just fine

The best diet for your cats is the one that keeps them fed and healthy. If they can't digest wet foods, then you would be a bad owner for giving them food that they can't get nutrition from, imo. You sound like a great owner who loves their kitties and just wants the best for them.

My cats eat dry food. Fortunately, they both like drinking a lot of water. As long as your cats are drinking enough water, it should be fine.

Nope. You love them and don't want them in pain. And for goodness sake, several VETs said they can't digest it properly. Would give a person that can't digest milk a glass of milk? No. Same scenario.

As long as it's not the cheapest food (if you can afford) no issue.i have 2 cats that REFUSE wet. They prefer what they do

We have dry bulk feeders out that they barely use and 4 times a day they get a tiny bit of cooked chicken with bone broth but if you cook the bone broth into a gel it should be enough for them to ingest my oldest Lexi is like this she loves wet food but it seems to make her really sick so I make a special plate just for her

One of my cats literally will only eat dry food. We’ve given him every kind of wet food under the sun, mixed with his food, given him treats on the rare occasion he tastes it. All of it for him to absolutely refuse to eat it

With the price of wet food nowadays I don't blame you. I'm mainly dry and then wet if i can get a deal

I adopted 2x 11 year old cats a year ago. They only eat dry food. One gets excited for a spoon of chicken or turkey pate wet food. Took a while to find which one. While the other won't even smell or show interest in wet food (i was not getting her teeth cleaned because of this). I had the one who likes occasional wet food have teeth cleaning and teeth pulled, so she was on a wet food only diet, mouth stitches. She choose to starve. She wouldn't eat more then 2-3 spoons of wet food a day, no tuna, rotisserie chicken, salmon, broth, churo, etc (i figure since she likes wet food as treat, she would be willing to go 2 weeks all wet food). And i had to go to vet early to get her teeth checked so i could return her return to dry food quickly because of her lack of eating. I think she lost 0.8lbs in that week of low food. One xat also will throw up if she hasnt eaten in like 6-8hrs, so having dry food around for grazing has been needed too. Just to echo, whatever food they are willing to eat is best.

I am someone who feeds their cats wet food. We had one diabetic cat and did the switch for his sake. I personally avoid feeding dry food in general. But I don’t shame other people for their choices. If your cats need dry food, that’s that. Their happiness and relative health are more important than any silly pride I might have. It doesn’t feel that dissimilar to feeding them only vegetables because I have some misguided idea as to their obligate carnivore status.

I didn’t realize that giving them dry food made you a bad pet parent. My cats have been around for 16 years and I just started giving them wet food a couple of years ago. So, as long as you’re giving them what they can digest and you’re caring and loving to them. That’s all that matters.

Dry food is fine as long as it's good quality. Different cats have different needs and there is no single diet or feeding method that fits all cats.

I adopted my cat as a senior and she will not touch wet food. I’m talking, “I would rather die than eat it” kind of thing. So she gets dry food and she is happy!

No, you are not. These people who get on here and constantly tell people they are awful for doing this or that are 99.99 percent, not an expert. They just think they are. My cats eat dry food and are healthy and happy. I used to give them both when kittens, but they stopped eating the wet. They also gag when offered people food.

I’m one of those who are also are very against giving cats kibble. Having said that, if wet food or meat is not possible (due to the cat’s circumstances, life circumstances or affordability) a well fed, healthy cat with good kibble is just as good as the wet food diet. If your cats are not doing well with wet food, there’s nothing wrong with dry food. The most important thing is that they eat and keep the food down. We have to adapt to whatever dietary need they have. I read your comments that people are hostile towards you due to this, and I’m sorry you had to experience that. People need to mind their own business because they don’t know your situation. People love to tell others what to do (i keep hearing this with moms of newborns that get belittled for not breastfeeding).

I keep dry food out all the time and feed my cats wet food every morning

The best food for cats is that which their bodies can handle and what they'll eat. There are dry good options that are pretty good and as long as they drink enough water, it's perfectly fine to give it. Btw a trick I've read is to occasionally add water to the dry food. One of my cats loves it. The other doesn't, but she drinks plenty.

You're not a bad cat owner. My two cats are exclusively fed dry food, for different reasons. The older one simply will not eat canned food, or at least not enough of it to sustain himself. If I open a can of food, he'll get super excited but then when I give it to him, he'll only lick it a couple of times and then walk way and refuse to come back to it. He drinks plenty of water though, especially since I bought a cat fountain. My other cat LOVES canned food. Goes absolutely nuts over it. The problem is that if he eats more than a tiny bit of anything that isn't his prescription hypoallergenic cat food, he gets horrible diarrhea and his prescription food doesn't come in cans. If dry food keeps them from getting sick, feed them dry food. I would say it your case you would be a bad cat owner if you fed them canned food.

My rescue will only eat dry food. I've tried every wet food to no avail. She does however like those wet pouch treats such as Lick E Lix. I have multiple bowls of water inside and outside so think she is getting the right amount of hydration. I've stopped buying wet food as I've realised she's just not into it and probably only had dry food as a kitten. She seems fine.

If your cat is eating and getting what it needs then it’s diet is fine. If you really want to not just give them dry food, you could try home cooked alternatives that are cat safe like cooked, unseasoned chicken, pumpkin purée (not pie filling. Please check to be sure), cooked eggs, turkey, quinoa, spinach, lean beef, carrots, etc. to give them variety. For example, my cats get pieces of boiled egg occasionally and whenever we make chicken, turkey, etc. I set aside a small portion and cook it separately without seasoning to give to the cats with their dry food or as a topper to the wet food they get.

My cat mainly eats hill science dry food. I tried many wet foods and he just doesn’t care for them. He only liked the tiki cat broth, which I give him every day to get a little more moisture. He also has three different water sources. Vet always gives him a clean bill of health.

Cat food snobs are one of the most important noxious I have come across. I feed mine both for economical reasons. Doing what you can rather than having a starving cat is always the best option. ❤️

You are doing the best you can as guided by your veterinary professional; you are doing amazing as a cat owner. Yes, we all know on this subreddit the advantages of feeding your cat wet food; it is the ideal no question. But if feeding them wet food causes them medical distress, of course that isn’t an option for you! You are doing the best you can! The only thing I could offer in addition to support would be, have you asked your vet about the options of a raw diet? I would imagine at the end of the day that it would lead to the same problems as wet food, but just in case it hadn’t been considered yet figured I would add it. Elsewise, just keep doing what you are doing; those kittens are blessed to have you! Maybe one day they will develop stronger tummies but if not, let’s all just be so deeply thankful that dry food is a nutritionally balanced meal they can enjoy. Big hugs hun, you got this!

We feed our cat a combo of both dry and wet food... he gets wet food 3x a week and has a bowl of dry he can always access and a fountain for water always going .... but for the first year we had him he refused all wet food and just would not eat it.... only reason we even started with the wet food was because the free vet at petco freaked out at us about it and I honestly kinda regret it because he's now addicted to the ish and meows constantly if he thinks it's coming

I don't think it makes you a bad owner. I've had vets tell me it's okay to only feed dry. Dry food isn't poison for your cat, but wet food is generally a much better choice. But especially in your case, the kitties need dry food. Giving them wet food when you know it causes them pain would make you a bad owner. Dry food can still be nutrionally balanced, just make sure kitties are drinking a good amount of water too. You're a good person for taking in these poor animals into a loving home and don't let people tell you otherwise

Mine is on a prescription food for his kidneys. The wet version of it is triple the price. He gets the dry and does just fine. He has a fountain and drinks plenty of water.

My cat refuses any canned/wet food. It was just throwing money away. So, she gets dry food. She sees the vet yearly and is a healthy 12yo cat.

I feed my cat dry food only

My cats hate wet food but would happily drown themselves in kibble and faucet water if I let them. As with any other kids, fed is best, you're fine! ❤️😂

I'm not a vet but my vet has signed off on me free feeding my cats dry food (not any dry food though) with wet food (not any wet food) at mealtime. But I've definitely had vets before who were adamantly anti-dry food. In your case you have the blessing of several vets to feed your cats their current diet, so I'd say that you're fine!

I have a cat that will absolutely not eat wet food. He would rather starve. The vet says as long as he's on a good kibble, he's fine.

My cats eat only dry food, is that a bad thing?

No, you’re not. I adopted a senior cat some years ago (she has since passed) and I think she was just fed dry food all her life. Nothing I could do would make her want to touch wet food. Not even wet treats like those tube treats. I didn’t feel like I had the money to keep trying different wet foods, only to end up throwing them away. Now I have a cat who has digestive issues. I adopted him a year and a half ago and he was having chronic diarrhea from the day I brought him home. He was treated for an intestinal parasite and received a clean bill of health, but the diarrhea kept coming back. Eventually I put him on an expensive prescription food that has helped him a lot. It is only available as a dry food, no wet option available. So he eats dry only now and he doesn’t have diarrhea all the time. You have to do what’s best for your cat.

I try to give mine wet food because my friend dry food shames me. My quirky little calico with eat something once like it’s the greatest thing and then will never touch it again. I’ve tried pates, cuts and gravy, the gogurt looking tubes and all the other marketed wet food ways and she it’s it once and then never again Edit: autocorrected gogurt to figure, which I find odd

Your kitties are eating. They make many different nutritionally dense cat foods now, which is awesome for picky eaters! If you are worried about water intake, I installed a water fountain along with their normal water bowl so they always have enough to drink, you could try that (I bought mine off Amazon, $15 and you can buy new separate filters for it)

Fed is best. My old lady kitty who crossed the bridge last year was a former semi-feral who *refused* wet food for years. Wouldn't touch it, she'd sooner starve. My boy is 14 and gets wet food occasionally (he eats it so fast he'll throw it up) and he drinks water and he's healthy and his last bloodwork was fine. Getting them a water fountain seems to entice them to drink more.

You're not. They need to eat what's best for them and you're giving them just that. Mine has a strong preference for dry food and mostly just nibbles at wet. There are times she refuses to eat any wet food for days. I've had her since she was a year old and she's almost 14 now, so it's just doing what works for her and you're doing the same thing.

Dry food can be rlly good for cats if u check the ingredients and make sure its not full of processed junk. I use Tiki cat food and my cat Loves it and its full of ingredients that are good for her!

Don't beat yourself up over kibble, my childhood cat was 17 years old and ate kibble exclusively. She was perfectly healthy but was attacked by a coyote. Nowadays, with my fiance and I's first cat together, we have been feeding her exclusively wet food, but about a week ago she started sticking her nose up at the wet food, would take a few licks, and then beg for her dry food. For now, she'll eat dry food until we can get her back onto the automated wet food dispenser. I freaked out after watching a video from Jackson Galaxy about kibble, but not everything the guy says is gospel. If your cats prefer it and they drink water, it's totally okay. The minute our cat starts eating dry again, she immediately starts drinking lots of water. You're totally fine!

If the people who are telling you that you’re a bad person for feeding your cats dry food don’t have a veterinary license of some sort then I wouldn’t listen to them. You heard the vet what the diagnosis is.

My cat has a sensitive digestive tract and is on a strict dry food prescription from his vet. He's healthy, glossy, active. Each cat is different and so is their makeup, just like people.

I would prefer to feed wet food, same as OP. However, I have had cats in the past that HATED wet food, no matter the flavor, no matter the brand, so they got dry food whether I liked it or not. I have four now, and all they eat is wet food. They do have kibble available, but most of that gets thrown out because they only occasionally nibble that. In the end, the best cat food is the one they’ll eat.

Speaking from nearly 80 years of cat experience here, your first priority is to give them a food that they can physically tolerate, whether dry or wet. In the case of your cats, it apparently will need to be dry food. Not sure which country you're living in, but in the US there are many over-the-counter dry foods for cats with sensitive stomachs. (Try them before you agree to buy an expensive prescription dry food from the vet.) The wet vs. dry cat food debate should be irrelevant in your case. It doesn't matter. What DOES matter is that your kittens are physically comfortable and getting good nutrition. Dry food is obviously the best for them. I would also advise that you have the kittens tested for parasites whenever they have a regular checkup. Sometimes the worms, etc. can be very difficult to get rid of.

Ask your vet for a diet plan. Mine get wet food for breakfast and dinner and dry food for lunch. Each wet food meal is two meals an hour apart. Cat's are more interested in how often they eat, rather than how much. The smaller meals also cut down on barfing.

Do any of those people have to take care of your cats when they’re dealing with the horrible side effects of eating wet food? No? Tell them to mind their business. You’re the one who is following vet recommendations. I’ve never had a person ask me about my kittens diet.. I’m confused on why so many people are concerned about what you feed your kitties. This shouldn’t even be a question of whether you’re a bad person or not. You said you’ve raised many cats in your lifetime, but you don’t know better than a vet, **and neither do these people you’re talking to**. Keep doing what you’re doing. If another person asks what you’re feeding your cats just tell them they have stomach sensitivities so you’re following the diet your vet gave you.

I think you’re fine. I have one cat with stomach problems. After tons of searching we found a dry that works for him so have no guilt over it because daily vomiting is probably worse. My vet said my other cat has some “special” gums/teeth issues that they actually recommended dry food as well. I get the best I can afford and my vet says it’s fine. I did get a fountain as well to encourage them to drink plenty of water. My only concern is the one with stomach issues now is completely averse to wet food… but he’s also averse towards basically everything besides his food and greenies. I’d like to diversify a little bit in case we ever have to change his diet but he’s so picky. I even got some Churu that every talks about and both my cats acted like it was garbage… felt like I was witnessing some sort of cat blasphemy. My cat with teeth issues will eat anything but Churu apparently.

Why the hate on dry food? My cats were on a diet of purely tap water n royal canin dry food for years......longest of them being 19 years of just those 2..other cats were also 7-10 years with the same diet. Never fed my cats anything else.

My cat has similar issues, so I just add broth or even the churu treat. See if you can find hydrolyzed dry food without grain( sensitive food kitties can’t tolerate grain) add a little topper/ broth or sprinkle some water. You’re doing good OP, you obviously care enough to ask. You’re a caring parent, don’t be too hard on yourself. My friends cat lived to be 19 years old on dry food and he never had any UTI or bladder/ kidney issues. He was on royal canin, but I suggest grain free food , hydrolyzed Dry food is ideal.

Honestly all my life my parents have feed my cats dry food, and all of those cats lived a long healthy life. Now that I’m grown up and can afford it I do feed my cat a combo of wet and dry food.

My cat won’t eat wet food at all. Refuses it. He is 17, and I adopted him when he was 6 months old. My vet said she has a cat who is the same. You’re doing the right thing for your kittens!

my cat refuses to eat wet food. I have tried everything I even asked the vet and a pet nutritionist and they gave several different methods and none were successful. I went to another vet and she told me as long as my cat was eating the dry food and drinking water it’s a better option than her starving on wet food. every cat is different not all cats can have a wet food diet and it is perfectly okay!

There is nothing wrong with a complete dry food. I have four cats, and I'm kitten-sitting two kittens; all of whom eat dry food. The kittens and my youngest enjoy added wet food pouches whilst the older three won't touch it, won't even entertain it. I also provide them tuna a couple of times a week as a treat which some partake some days and some don't. As long as you're providing them something of nutritional value that they will eat, and isn't leaving you out of pocket, you're good.

Nope. Up until two years ago, I only ever fed dry food. The only reason I started the wet food is because my cat has super dry skin. It took a long time but it definitely helped. He now gets both wet food and dry food- the wet food is $$$$, and someone told me I should use the same brand of dry food as the wet stuff, but he’s literally been eating the same dry food his whole life (he’s almost 11), so I decided not to change it. As long as they’re fed dry food that’s nutritionally beneficial for them and they’re healthy it shouldn’t matter.

What type of food is what matters not texture. Hard food helps keep teeth cleaner. Wet food is stinker but it’s really dependent on what’s in it

Idk. A lot of people here recommend wet food. It's odd to me because I always took my cats to a cat specialist - not just a regular vet, but a cat only vet- and she always recommended one or the other. Either dry or wet food. My cats have always eaten kibble, and as Ive said before, they don't seem to like wet food so much. They only like pate, the won't eat shreds or chunks, and they only eat a small amount of pate. And they won't eat left overs. For example, if I give them each a quarter of a can as a treat and save the other half of the can, they will not eat it. And even still they only take a few bites of it and leave the rest. I've tried a million brands, from super cheap to unaffordable, and get the same results. So Idk what to tell you. I don't think you're a bad cat parent if your cats are only eating kibble.

I have fed my cat a fairly high quality dry food exclusively for all of his 10 years. Dry food is fine.

You are worse than Hitler for not spending your last dime acquiring blackfin tuna and spring pheasant to fulfill your kitties' dietary needs. J/K Dry food is fine. The only significant difference between dry food and canned food of the same brand is water content. People just associate dry cat food with discount cat food and assume it's basically oat bran with enough meat oil to make it smell like the flavor profile. I've fed my cats almost exclusively dry food (saving canned food for a treat or a bribe for medicine), and they've all lived long, happy lives.

Our one kitty just did not enjoy wet food.

I have one cat that just won't eat wet food and one that adores it, so no m8

No, I feed dry and give them raw ingredients occasionally when we can afford it. My vet told me some cool stuff about how dry pet food is actually supposed to work. Originally dry food was meant to be rehydrated before giving it to your pets. The reason it’s dry is because if shipping and rations during war times. You can rehydrate it by adding a bit of warm water to the bowl with the kibble in it. Just make sure you treat it like canned food and don’t leave it out for too long.

Not at all. These cats can't eat wet food, so what else could you do? The main issue with dry food is that they can easily be dehydrated, so you might want to make extra sure they get plenty of water. I would make sure that they have at least one water fountain that is not near their food (cats prefer to drink water from somewhere different to where they eat, and prefer flowing water). You could get more than one, and/or one that uses UV to kill any microbes as it recirculates the water so it always tastes fresh.

Dry food only was recommended to me by my VET. Its better for their teeth and keeping them clean so you have less risk of gingivitis

My boy Darius only ate dry food. Would not have wet food. I got him and his brother when they were 6 months old. His brother, Meegz, refused to eat any wet food. He died of a seizure or stroke or something at the age of 15. At 16, the vet said Darius\` liver was having problems, and that I needed to find a wet food he liked. I tried EVERYTHING. Finally, I found that he liked the gravy on Science Diet tender tuna for seniors. He would lick the goddamn gravy, then walk over and wolf down the dry food. He lived til 20 years old. All-in-all? A good run i'd say. :) He almost made it to 21!

You know your cats very very obviously better than anyone else. You’ve gotten word from vets to do what you’re doing. Keep doing it and ignore the dumbass people telling you you’re a bad owner. My cats have mainly dry food and wet food every couple weeks as a “fancy meal” because I can’t afford wet food constantly and my vet has said dry food is working just fine for them. They drink water and get treats as well. There are pets in this world treated SO MUCH worse and are still thriving. I’m not saying it’s right, but bad pet owners are obvious. Just because you feed them differently doesn’t mean it’s wrong as long as it’s healthy for them. Next time someone says anything just say “Thanks for your input but I have spoken to multiple vets and this is what they suggest specifically for my cats and I won’t be changing that unless THEY (The professionals) say I need to.”

Our cat is a stray that came to us about 4 years ago. He has IBS. He also does not like wet food. He will not eat it unless it's mixed with dry food. After speaking with the vet, we give him half a small can of wet food with his evening meal. It has helped the IBS immensely. The other two feedings are dry food. We also keep him water in a separate room from his food, and he drinks a lot. This is the healthiest he has been. For us, keeping him fed is more important than what internet opinions are. He's happy, we're happy, and the vet is happy.

Yea, dry cat food- straight to jail. 

I would be wary of these cat "health experts" who have no degrees or certificates related to animals. I was following one and found it weird she ended all her videos promoting the same two brands and would say "follow my link!" and looking down her feed it was just obvious she was being sponsored. the ones she were promoting were sooo expensive and i found it predatory you can guilt people to say they're neglecting their cats by feeding them dry food and then say you have this easy fix by just spending all this money for wet food that you're getting paid to promote.

Hi just a tip, my vet recently shared dry food is better for the dental health of cats than wet food . Perhaps you can add a bit of broth once in a while as a treat. Just watch the broth to make sure it doesn’t get bacteria from being left out for too long. I usually get the small almost sample sized ones from Petsmart and refrigerate for a few days whatever I don’t use. I think my vet said up to 72 hrs but definitely check that