Dry food is convenient and shelf-stable. Wet food has the moisture your cat's body actually wants. For most cats, the answer isn't either-or — it's both.
Why moisture matters
Cats evolved to get most of their water from prey. A diet of only dry food leaves many cats chronically under-hydrated, which over years contributes to kidney issues.
A practical mix
Wet food twice a day, with dry food available for grazing, gives you the moisture benefit without the spoilage risk of leaving wet food out for hours.
Reading calories across formats
Watch the calories — wet and dry foods have very different densities. A "half can plus half cup" rule of thumb almost never balances out. Check the calories-per-100g on both labels and calculate an actual daily total, then split it between formats rather than eyeballing portions.
Transitioning without an upset stomach
If your cat has only ever eaten dry food, introduce wet food gradually — a spoonful mixed into the usual meal, increasing over a week or two. Cats can be surprisingly stubborn about texture changes, and a sudden switch sometimes gets refused outright rather than eaten reluctantly.
The right mix ultimately depends on your cat's preferences, weight, and any medical conditions — ask your vet to help calibrate the ratio if your cat has a history of urinary or kidney issues.
