The infographic which is a ‘speed read’ explains 😉. The logic of feeding domestic cats a moisture-rich diet is inescapable. This may surprise many cat owners as dry cat foods are everywhere on the shelves of veterinary clinics and at supermarkets. These are convenience foods which are very popular both for human and cat consumption. But they are not the best, I am afraid to say, for the reasons clearly stated in the infographic.
The clincher really is that domestic cats don’t fully compensate for the lack of moisture in dry cat food by drinking more than normal. You’d have thought that they would but evolution has dictated that domestic cats inherently get most of their moisture from foods not water.
Why cats need moisture-rich diets. Infographic. by Michael BroadThere is still a place in the cat owner’s home from dry foods but in moderation such as for nighttime grazing. That’s the argument. The essential point is that cats should not be on dry foods all the time. Some vets think that if you do this the cat is in a permanent state of mild dehydration. This can lead to urinary tract issues. A common health problem in domestic cats. And is there a connection here to the highly prevalent kidney disease among domestic cats? Chronic kidney disease is a major cause of death in old age of domestic cats.
There is another speculative health issue: feline diabetes. It is on the rise and has been for some time. There is an argument that cats on dry diets full-time are more prone to feline diabetes. This may be due to the ‘addictive’ flavour enhancers used in dry cat food and the high carbohydrate content.
The carbohydrate rich dry foods can disturb the body’s regulation of blood sugars leading to Type 2 diabetes. Plus, dry cat foods and a sedentary indoor life can predispose cats to obesity leading to diabetes. The vets say that there is an obesity epidemic. This is the argument. There are cases of domestic cats with Type 2 diabetes being cured by coming off dry foods and being fed wet foods only. Just a thought. I hope a valuable one.
