Is Wet Cat Food Really So Much Better Than Dry?
I got this letter from Carol, a listener to my show CAT CHAT® that really made an impression on me because it was so honest about her long-held skepticism about my urgent recommendation to everyone that they feed canned food to their kitties.
“I have long been a skeptic on dry vs. wet. All my cats, my whole life, had been on dry and have done well. I’ve listened to your show, and your phrase “kitty crack” to describe dry food, and I must say I have blown you off for quite some time. Then I inherited a fat kitty, as well as having a skinny kitty already (I attributed his thinness and other health problems to his age). Well, I took my dog to the vet, and asked how to get my fat cat to lose weight. He told me to use canned food; that this was the current thinking. Then, I took the fat cat to another vet (I had to move her out of state temporarily) and that vet said that ideas were shifting and it was now recommended to feed wet food, as cats are obligate carnivores. So I was finally convinced: I moved all my kitties to wet. Well, my fat one is getting skinny, my skinny one is getting fat and on top of that is gaining a great coat, urinating less, shedding less, and now has incredible skin, as well as attitude. He looks better than I have ever seen him, even at age 14. I just wanted to apologize for blowing you off, but I really was a pretty big holdout. If I changed, then anyone can. You can use this message to help others. Love your show.”
How generous to acknowledge the huge improvement in her cats’ health when they stopped eating “kitty crack.”
Carol’s thoughtful note just knocked my socks off! It’s so great that she took the time to acknowledge her reluctance to follow my advice about “Thinking Outside the Bag,” and then showed humility in admitting that her skepticism was misplaced — plus she wanted her story to help others “see the light” for their kitty cats. This was the coolest letter I have ever gotten — and I was so grateful that I thanked her by sending a signed copy of THE CAT BIBLE. What made me doubly happy was that two different vets praised wet food and had caught up with the research (and common sense) showing the harm of feeding carbohydrates to an animal intended to eat a meat diet.
Not All canned cat food is created equal.
Once I get a convert to wet food, then I always try to point out that many supermarket brands of canned cat foods can contain quite a lot of carbs and inferior sources of protein. So people should be willing to go the distance to find brands with minimal carbs in the can or you aren’t really solving the nutritional health problem. That’s why Halo’s pate style foods with around 3% carbs — and Weruva’s Paw Lickin’ Chicken are stars in my firmament!
–Tracie Hotchner
photo credit: hehaden via photopin cc
Halo & Weruva are sponsors on Radio Pet Lady Network, by our invitation.
