Wet or dry food?
For dogs it is mostly preference and budget. For cats there is a real argument.
The core difference
Wet food is roughly 70–80% water; dry food around 10%. Everything else follows from that — calorie density, cost per meal, storage, and how much your pet drinks.
| Wet | Dry | |
|---|---|---|
| Moisture | High | Low |
| Calories per gram | Low | High |
| Cost per meal | Higher | Lower |
| Once opened | Refrigerate, use fast | Weeks in a sealed container |
| Puzzle feeders | Difficult | Easy |
For cats, moisture matters
Cats descend from desert animals and have a weak thirst drive that does not fully compensate for dry food. Chronic mild dehydration is common and is linked to urinary problems, which are both common and expensive in cats. Wet food, or a mix, is a reasonable default for most cats — and near essential for any cat with a history of urinary trouble.
For dogs, it matters less
Dogs drink readily when thirsty, so moisture is less critical. The practical considerations dominate: dry is cheaper and more convenient, wet is more palatable for fussy eaters and useful for dogs with dental problems or poor appetite.
The dental claim
Dry food is often said to clean teeth. Most standard kibble shatters on contact and does very little. Specifically engineered dental diets with larger, fibrous pieces do have an effect and some carry veterinary dental accreditation. Ordinary kibble is not a substitute for brushing.
Mixing
Perfectly fine and common — wet in the morning, dry in a puzzle feeder later. The only rule is that the combined total must still meet the daily calorie target, not two full portions. This is where mixed feeding quietly causes weight gain.
Comparing on labels
Comparing wet and dry by percentages on the tin is misleading, because water inflates the wet food figures. The comparable numbers are calories per 100g and the ingredient list. If a brand does not publish calorie content, portioning accurately is guesswork.
Changing food
Transition over seven to ten days, increasing the new food gradually. Sudden changes commonly cause diarrhoea, and if that happens during a food trial you lose the information you were trying to gather.
Get an accurate daily portion
Enter weight, life stage and your food's calorie content for grams per day and per meal.
Open the food calculator →Whichever you choose, portion by calories rather than by volume — wet and dry foods differ enormously per gram. Open the food calculator →
Common questions
Is wet or dry food better for cats?
Wet food, or a mix, suits most cats because they have a weak thirst drive and chronic mild dehydration contributes to urinary problems. It is particularly worth prioritising for any cat with a history of urinary trouble.
Does dry food clean a dog's teeth?
Standard kibble does very little, as most shatters on contact. Specifically formulated dental diets do have an effect, but nothing replaces brushing.
Can I mix wet and dry food?
Yes. The key is that the combined amount meets one daily calorie total rather than two full portions, which is where mixed feeding often causes weight gain.