Wet food or dry food for cats: which should you feed every day?
Wet food or kibble for your cat? For most households the best answer is mixed feeding: free-access kibble for chewing and budget (2 to 6 € per kilo at entry level, up to 15 €/kg for premium ranges), topped up with a daily portion of wet food (0.50 to 1.50 € per pouch), which provides 75 to 80% moisture — precious for your cat’s kidneys and bladder.
What are the benefits of wet food for cats?
Wet food hydrates an animal that naturally drinks very little, helping to prevent urinary problems. It is highly palatable — useful for fussy, elderly or convalescent cats — and makes weight control easier because it contains fewer calories for the same volume. Its downsides: it dries out quickly in the bowl, keeps only 24 hours in the fridge once opened, and costs more per month (30 to 60 € for a cat fed exclusively on wet food).
What are the strengths of dry food?
Kibble keeps well, allows free feeding and costs 10 to 25 € per month for an adult cat. It also works perfectly with feeders and foraging games. In return, a cat fed only dry food needs to drink more: a water fountain is an excellent investment, as is a slow-feeder bowl if your cat wolfs down its meals.
How do you get mixed feeding right?
- Split the ration: roughly 2/3 of the calories as kibble, 1/3 as wet food.
- Serve wet food in 1 or 2 fixed meals, morning and evening.
- Reduce the kibble portion to avoid weight gain.
- Choose complete recipes, not "complementary" treats.
- Stick to the same protein family to limit digestive upsets.
For a kitten, adjust the quantities with our kitten food guide and compare the ranges in our cat food section.
Frequently asked questions
Is wet food enough on its own?
Yes, provided the packaging states "complete food". Plan on 3 to 4 pouches of 85 g per day for a 4 kg cat.
Can you mix wet food and kibble in the same bowl?
Better to serve them separately: wet food softens the kibble and the bowl quickly becomes unappetising.
My cat vomits after eating wet food — is it serious?
Occasional vomiting can simply come from eating too fast. If it becomes frequent or comes with lethargy, see a vet.
This guide is part of Planète Pets’s Cats universe. Our advice is general in nature: for any health concern, your veterinarian remains the only reference.