I have two kittens both about 8 months old, both female. Thus far i have gone the route of always leaving dry food out, along with fresh water of course. Recently i was speaking with a friend who said that she gave her cats some wet-food every other day (she splits a can of fancy feast i think). She told me that she heard somewhere that its better for the cats to do this, and she claims to have noticed an increase in their energy since she began it, previously like me she had just been leaving dry food out. So my questions are,
1.) Is there any health issue either positive or negative to adding some wet food to their diet?
2.) Is there a consensus on what is the best feeding practice? Dry food always out, or wet food only given at certain points in the day, and so forth.
Im trying to do whats best for my kittens and keep them from becoming fat cats!
1) If you are feeding a high quality kitten food (dry), or graduating them onto an equally high quality adult food, there is no reason to add canned food to the regimin. Although, you could give it as a treat if you wish (preferrably the canned would be of the same brand, quality, as the dry). Your friend's comment on the canned giving her cats more energy doesn't make sense, unless the dry she is feeding is inadequate in nutrients or unless the cats are eating more of the canned than dry.
Some health conditions that canned may be preferrable, due to slightly extra moisture in canned food: kidney disease, oral disease (painful chewing), IBD, FLUTD. However, cats have their preferences, and some cats with these conditions can and do still eat dry food as their preference, palatability is important for any cat on any food.
On the negative side, there is a theory that cats fed soley canned food, or excessively, may develop hyperthyroidism, and some canned foods contain excesses of vitamin D and other vitamin/mineral imbalances, and excesses of fish products that can lead to pansteatitis (yellow fat disease). There is also some evidence that some cats fed soley canned food, have early periodontal disease.
2) The most important thing is that you are feeding a high quality food, that it is palatable, that it is properly formulated for life stage, or for a certain health condition for which it is prescribed. If there are sudden health (or behavioral) changes when feeding a certain food, chances are that food is inappropriate for the cat. Some cats do prefer a sort of variety, but one problem with variety is that the cat can become finicky, and in times of illness, anorexia can exacerbate any health issue. Also, feeding too many types or varieties can lead to GI tract problems.
As for weight, combined with proper nutrition, exercise and activity/playtime are necessary to keep your cats healthy, active and at an ideal weight. Yearly or twice-yearly exams for your cats allow your vet to weigh and record the weight on a regular basis.
