Wet or dry? It's one of the most common questions cat owners ask. The truth is that both can be healthy choices, and many cats do best on a mix of the two. When we talk about wet food, we include frozen raw food too. Like canned food, raw meat is naturally high in moisture. The right choice depends on your cat's age, health, weight and preferences, and on what works for your household. This guide sets out the pros and cons of each, how to combine them, and how to switch safely.
The most important thing: a complete and balanced diet
Cats are strict carnivores with very particular needs, including taurine, an amino acid they can't live without. Whatever you feed, your cat's overall diet must be complete and balanced for their life stage. A complete dry food has everything built in. Single-protein raw mince, like a plain chicken or salmon medallion, is excellent quality meat, but on its own it isn't a complete diet for a cat. It needs to be part of a balanced plan, either combined with a complete food or as part of a raw diet designed with your vet.
Dry food
The positives:
- Convenient and easy to store once opened.
- Cost-effective, especially for multi-cat homes.
- Complete and balanced in one bag, with no planning needed.
- Works in puzzle feeders and treat toys, which is great for enrichment.
- Specialised formulas are widely available, for hairballs, indoor cats, weight, urinary health and more.
The drawbacks:
- Low in moisture, at only around 10% water. Cats on dry food need to drink a lot more to make up for it, and many don't.
- Calorie dense. It's easy to overfeed, and some cats eat too much too fast.
Wet and raw food
The positives:
- High in moisture. Fresh raw meat and wet food are around 65 to 80% water, much closer to the prey cats evolved to eat. This helps support healthy kidneys and a healthy urinary tract.
- Fewer calories per mouthful. Cats can eat a satisfying volume for the same calories, which helps with weight control.
- Very tasty, which is great for fussy eaters and older cats with a reduced sense of smell.
- Simple ingredients. Single-protein raw is useful for cats with food sensitivities, because there's nothing else in it to react to.
- Easier to eat for cats with sore or missing teeth.
The drawbacks:
- Costs more per day than dry food.
- Needs careful handling. Thaw raw food in the fridge, keep it for no more than 2 to 3 days once thawed, and pick up anything uneaten within about 30 minutes. Wash bowls, boards and hands after preparing raw meat. Our guide to storing pet food once it's opened has more.
- Needs balancing. A raw-only diet takes planning to get the right mix of meat, organ and bone. Talk to your vet before switching your cat fully to raw.
What about teeth?
It's often said that dry food cleans teeth. Ordinary kibble helps very little, because cats tend to swallow it whole or crack it with their tips. Specially designed dental foods and treats work much better, and nothing beats regular vet checks.
The best of both: combination feeding
Many cats do well on a mix, such as a raw meal in the morning and a complete dry food in a puzzle feeder for the rest of the day. This gives you the moisture and appeal of raw with the convenience, enrichment and complete nutrition of dry.
To combine them without overfeeding, swap part of your cat's dry food for raw, rather than adding raw on top. Start with a small raw portion, reduce the dry food to match, then weigh your cat every few weeks and adjust. Varying the proteins, such as chicken one day and salmon another, gives a broader range of nutrients. Avoid feeding fish every day.
Which suits your cat?
- Cats with urinary or kidney problems, or cats who rarely drink: more moisture usually helps. Follow your vet's advice.
- Overweight cats: swapping some dry food for raw can help them feel full on fewer calories.
- Cats with food sensitivities: a single-protein raw option makes it easier to work out what suits them.
- Senior cats: moist food is easier to eat and helps with hydration. Read our guide to signs your cat is entering their senior years. Older cats with health conditions should check with their vet before starting raw.
- Healthy cats who drink well: a good-quality complete dry food can work well, ideally with some extra moisture added.
Switching between wet, raw and dry
Cats can be very attached to the texture they're used to. Introduce any change slowly, over at least 10 days and sometimes longer. With raw, start with a teaspoon alongside their usual meal. Never starve a cat into eating a new food, as cats that go without food for even a day or two can become seriously ill. Our guide to changing your pet's food gradually explains how.
Frozen raw we stock
Our Maranui frozen raw medallions are made from 100% NZ-grown meat, with no fillers, preservatives, artificial colours or flavours. They come as easy 90g medallions, so you can thaw just what your cat needs.
Maranui Frozen Chicken Medallions. 100% NZ-grown minced chicken frames, including ground bone for natural calcium. A clean, single-protein raw option and a great everyday choice for cats.
Maranui Frozen Salmon Medallions. 100% NZ-grown salmon, naturally rich in Omega-3s for healthy skin and a shiny coat. Ideal for allergy-prone cats, and best fed in rotation with other proteins.
Maranui Frozen Chicken, Heart, Salmon Medallions. Muscle meat, heart and salmon together, for a broader range of nutrients than a single protein. Heart is a natural source of taurine.
For cats who need something different: Maranui Veal and Heart Medallions are a novel protein for cats that have reacted to the usual meats.
Maranui is available in-store only at our Oxford shop, so pop in and we'll help you pick the right one.
Complete dry foods to pair with raw
Black Hawk Adult Cat Chicken. Complete everyday nutrition with green-lipped mussel and glucosamine for joints, plus omega-3 fish oil for skin and coat.
Addiction Salmon Bleu Cat. Made with New Zealand King Salmon, rich in omega-3s for a glossy coat and healthy skin.
For specific needs: Royal Canin Urinary Care for urinary health, Hill's Perfect Weight for weight control, and ACANA Indoor Entrée for indoor cats.
Mealtime extras
Outward Hound Fishie Fun Feeder Mat. A shallow feeding mat that works with raw, wet or dry food, and slows down fast eaters.
Inaba Churu. 91% moisture and just six calories each. Squeeze one over dry food as a tasty way to add fluid on non-raw days.
For dental care: Feline Greenies are crunchy dental treats designed to clean teeth and freshen breath.
Hill's, Royal Canin, Outward Hound and Greenies are ordered in especially for you, so allow a few extra days. Not sure what suits your cat? Call or pop into our Oxford store and we'll talk it through with you.
Find the right food for your cat
Browse our full range of cat food and cat treats, with delivery across New Zealand and click and collect from Oxford, North Canterbury. Pick up Maranui frozen raw in store. Or get in touch and tell us about your cat. We're happy to help you choose.
This article is general information, not veterinary advice. If your cat has a health condition, ask your vet which diet suits them best before changing to raw.