I’m a vet and cat owners need to stop feeding their pets just one single type of food – it can cause an extremely common disease
A vet has issued an urgent warning to cat owners who only feed their pets dry food.
Dr. Drew from Tampa, Florida, has warned about the dangers of not feeding cats wet food and how it can lead to urinary tract problems in a cat. viral TikTok.
The vet, known online as @thejunglevet, said: ‘Cats are meant to absorb most of their fluid through their diet and they cannot do that with dry food as it contains only 10 per cent moisture compared to wet food which has 75 per cent. percent moisture. percent moisture.’
Dr. Drew continued, “A high-hydration diet is critical in preventing many of the diseases we see developing in cats, one of the most important of which is urinary tract obstruction.
‘This is a very common disease. We see this happen regularly in veterinary medicine, especially in emergency situations.’
Dr. Drew, pictured, has urged people with cats to include wet food in their cat’s diet to prevent them developing dehydration-related health problems
Although the vet described the problem as ‘highly avoidable’, he said some vets are reluctant to admit that dry food is not healthy for cats.
Dr. Drew started the video saying he was “downright exhausted” and frustrated that veterinary experts weren’t putting enough emphasis on the importance of hydration for cats.
He said: ‘Almost every time it comes up there’s some lax response to it, like “oh, my cat is on dry food and he’s fine” or choosing to die on the hill that dry food is a appropriate diet for a cat if there is enough research showing that this is not true.
“Every cat is doing well until they develop unitary tract obstruction and die suddenly.”
“Or every cat is fine until they get a bladder infection and associate their litter box with pain and start urinating everywhere,” the concerned vet added.
According to the pet food brand Purinawet food is preferred as it better reflects what they would eat in the wild.
Their website states: ‘In nature, cats obtained most of the water their bodies needed from their prey.’
Cats benefit from wet food because it contains much more water and is therefore easier to consume.
The US-based vet, pictured, said dry food does not provide sufficient hydration for cats
Cats benefit from wet food because it has a much higher water content and is therefore easier to consume
Purina claims that cats tend not to drink from a bowl because it makes them feel vulnerable and they associate standing in water with insects and bacteria. That is why it is even more important that they get enough moisture from their food.
Purina added that since water makes up 60 percent of a cat’s body, it is “essential for chemical reactions in the body, temperature regulation, and joint health and mobility.”
Wet food is also beneficial for increasing protein intake and supporting muscle mass, which is especially important for older cats.
In addition, wet food contains more essential vitamins and minerals such as iron, zinc and biotin, all of which contribute to better overall health.
Other negatives associated with feeding cats alone dry food is that it is an inefficient way to control their weight, as owners are unlikely to be able to see exactly how much their pet is consuming.
Older cats may also have difficulty chewing hard, crunchy biscuits if they have problems with their teeth or joints, making it difficult for them to get the food and nutrition they need.
In addition to incorporating wet food into a cat’s diet, Purina recommends that cat owners purchase a running tap, as they may be hesitant to drink from stagnant water. A single round from a water bowl is only about 3/100 of a teaspoon and therefore not efficient at getting the hydration they need.
