What's the Best Food Texture for my Cat?

If you’re a cat owner, chances are you already know how picky cats can be when it comes to their food! Unlike most dogs, cats usually have a strong preference and know what they like and dislike. According to Dr. Colleran, the former president of the American Academy of Feline Practitioners, cats base their likes and dislikes on three main factors: mouth feel, odor and taste. Some cats have stronger preferences for flavours, textures and even temperatures, making them pickier than most cats. According to Dr. Vogelsang, a California-based veterinarian and best selling author and creator of the award-winning Paw Curious website, if a cat is exposed to a wide variety of food early on, they are less likely to become picky eaters. However, some cats learn food preferences even before birth, so some of what they like is beyond anyone’s control. 

With that in mind, it’s no wonder why there’s such a large variety to choose from in the cat food market. You might’ve heard a few key phrases floating around - cat food without grain, all natural cat food, freeze-dried, dry food, wet food… Don’t worry, it’s overwhelming for us too, which is why we’ve decided to break down all the different types of cat food so our customers can make informed choices and find the best cat food brands for their pet.

1. Dry Cat Food

Dry cat food is essentially little kibbles made up of a range of ingredients and is arguably the most common cat food due to its convenience. While experts haven’t reached a complete consensus on the benefits of dry cat food yet, it is generally believed that dry cat food is energy dense, which means a cat can consume lots of calories quickly, ideal for growing kittens. It is also believed to be slightly better than canned/wet food when it comes to preventing dental diseases. Other benefits include being more wallet-friendly and being more convenient as you can leave it out and it doesn’t spoil as easily. On average, dry cat food has about 10% moisture content and tends to have more carbohydrates and less protein than wet food. This doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s worse than wet food; much like humans, every cat has their own food sensitivities and needs. Some cats might get most of their water from drinking it, while some cats might need a little additional moisture content in their food to fully hydrate them. 

For dry cat food, PetProject.HK recommends: 

Merrick’s Limited Ingredient Diet - Grain Free Dry Cat Food: This recipe is specifically formulated with as little ingredients as possible; each ingredient is carefully selected to provide a complete and balanced nutrition for cats with sensitive stomachs. One of the top dry cat food without grain in the market providing high quality cat food.Free of artificial colors, flavors or preservatives.   

2. Freeze Dried Cat Food

Freeze dried food is one of the newest and most popular trends in the pet food market right now, and for good reason! Check out our blog about the growing trend of freeze dried cat food. The idea is simple: freeze dried cat food aims to provide our beloved pets with a dry, raw, high-protein diet that has all the nutritional goodness of natural foods. Freeze drying, as the name implies, dries food using pressure, which ensures the majority of nutrients are kept in the food. Do keep in mind that water is removed entirely from the food during the process, so make sure water is provided; some people mix it with the freeze dried cat food itself. Freeze dried cat food offers maximum convenience with an easy to feed format and a long shelf life, with no need for refrigeration… all the while providing your cat with the natural goodness of a raw diet. 

For freeze dried cat food, PetProject.HK recommends:

Northwest Naturals Freeze Dried Cat Food: Comes in 2 different sizes and multiple flavors, Northwest Naturals’ Freeze Dried Cat Food is the perfect size for cat nibbles - just pour and feed straight from the bag. Northwest Naturals uses the same meat from the finest natural food stores in the United States and all ingredients are freeze-dried to keep the integrity of the ingredient quality. No added hormones and antibiotic free. No added fruits or vegetables - a true carnivore diet and one of the best cat food brands for your cat.

3. Air Dried Cat Food

Similar to freeze-dried cat food, air-dried cat food goes through a special production process that results in delicious and nutritious food with a long shelf life. The raw ingredients are placed into drying chambers, where air is continually circulated, which evaporates the moisture from the food. Air dried cat food tends to retain its form quite well when compared to freeze dried food, which makes it easier to feed as a whole but harder to break apart if you opt to feed your cat the air dried cat food as a treat!

For air dried cat food, PetProject.HK recommends: 

ZiwiPeak Air Dried Cat Food: ZiwiPeak’s recipes are made to mirror your cat’s ancestor’s diet - a wild-prey natural diet made with raw ingredients from fully traceable approved New Zealand farms. ZiwiPeak’s Air Dried Cat Food respects the nutritional value of 90% meat, organs, fish and New Zealand green-lipped mussels, ensuring that each ingredient provides a complete and balanced diet for your cat. The other 10% consists of healthy carbohydrates from natural sources, such as chicory, kelp, parsley and other essential vitamins and minerals for a happy, healthy life.

4. Wet Cat Food

As the name implies, wet cat food is, quite simply, wet! One of the obvious benefits of wet cat food is that it provides overall hydration to your cat. Some cats dislike drinking water, especially from still or standing water, which is why some cats should be fed wet cat food. While wet cat food doesn’t replace water all together, it will definitely help with your cat’s hydration needs. Unlike the dry kibble, wet cat food comes in a wide variety of textures ranging from pâté to morsels and more. Wellness Grain Free Cat Food currently offers one of the largest varieties of wet cat food with an impressive range of 8 different textures -  shredded, flaked, chunky, morsels (cubed), cuts in rich gravy, smooth, minced, pâté, and divine duo: a Wellness-branded texture made up of two different textures for even the pickiest of eaters. 

On top of Wellness Grain Free Cat Food, PetProject.HK recommends:

WeRuVa Cats In The Kitchen Wet Food: Inspired by the thought of what cats would cook in the kitchen, WeRuVa’s recipes feature a variety of textures and flavors to please even the pickiest palate. Available in two forms, cans and pouches, the meals contain important proteins like boneless, skinless white breast chicken meat, lamb and fish loins. Grain-free, gluten and carrageenan free, with a focus on hydration for your cat.

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As pet owners ourselves, we know how picky cats can be when it comes to trying new food… Which is why you should checkout PetProject.HK's $1HKD Sample Pack for Dry Cat Food!

Already know what your cat likes and don’t want to change? Let us make your life easier and try out our Autoship & Save program. Designed with our customers’ convenience in mind, Autoship  & Save allows for our customers to sit back, relax, and enjoy a stress-free shopping experience. Find out how you can be a part of it!