So many cans....Is it ok to wet down dry food?

So, I started transitioning my cats to canned food.  I understand the benefit of them getting moisture from food. What bothers me is the amount of cans I will be recycling.  Thats A LOT of cans.  With three cats, only on canned, that can be up to 12 cans per day.  At the very least, with bigger cans, it would be 6 cans per day.  That will add up quick.  I know recycling is better than throwing away, but still, it takes engergy and resources to recycle. 

So.... I was wondering, what about wetting down dry food.  Right now, I feed a pretty high quality food.  I know I could find a dry of higher quality though.  So, I would wet down the food about an hour before feeding them, so it gets mushy.  They eat all their food right away, so it shouldnt be an issue of bacteria. 

I obviously want to do whats best for them.  I will go the canned route if that would be that much better, but if wetting dry food would be just as good, Id rather do that.  What do you guys think?

I don't think you'd be using 6 large cans a day (if you mean 13-ounce cans). Most adult cats eat 5-6 ounces of canned food a day, so if you got the biggest size you'd be using 1 1/2 cans a day or so. About 3 of the 5.5-ounce cans. So anyhoo, not as much as you think. You should see my recycling bins. . .

As for wetting down the dry foods, I suppose it depends on which dry food you use. Most kibbles are really high in carbs. If you used one of the super low-carb foods (like EVO), it might be OK. I don't know if an hour is too long to leave it soaking though. Might grow some nasties in that long.

I see you are already aware of the bacteria problem.  I wouldn't do it.  I have 3 cats who eat almost only canned (all meals are canned...small spoon of dry for a snack.)  We go through one 12 oz can per day (3 oz of which is saved as leftovers) and one 6 oz can.  That is only two cans.  I do feed meaty good quality food and that amount is sufficient.  In fact, more goes to waste than I would like so I've thought about cutting back a bit.  So, I think you could get by with 2 cans per day.  Large cans are more available online than at the store. 

The bacteria problem. :nod: The only way to use dry food with water is to feed it immediately. Some people suggest not wetting dry food at all. But you should be OK if you add water RIGHT before feeding it, and they eat it and you don't leave it out for any length of time. No mushy.

This is an interview with Donald Strombeck DVM, who taught at UC Davis Veterinary school for 20 years.

http://www.thebark.com/content/donald-r-strombeck-talks-dog-nutrition-and-pet-food-recalls

Did you read the information in my book about kibble being contaminated with bacteria? Veterinarians know this. I got money to research this, and gave it to Jim Cullor, a good researcher; I asked him to do a study to determine the numbers and kinds of bacteria that could be cultured from kibble. And he did it, but I don’t know if it was ever published. [Editor’s note: We are checking on this.] The guy who was in charge of public programs at Davis was adamantly opposed to having this published, because he wanted to protect the industry. Also, I remember when the pet food industry would say on the bag of puppy food, “moisten this food” and put it down for them. But bacteria multiply rapidly on moistened dry food. You know that puppies, a lot of times, eat a little bite and wander off, then come back to it, so the food could be there all day long. It is a good way for them to get diarrhea.

Click to expand...

So I was basing the amount of cans on the reccomendations on the cans I got.  I got EVO 5.5 oz cans. That says1 can per 6-8 lbs body weight per day.  I also got Blue Wilderness, 3 oz cans, and that says 2 cans per 6-8 lbs body weight.  They are probably reccomending to much.  But, I have one 7-8 lb. cat, and two 12 lb. cats. 

I just went to my local farm store, and those were the best they had there.  They didnt have any 12 or 13 oz cans.  I have a Petco about 30mins away.  Maybe I should try there.  Definatly a bigger can would be better.

The only reason to wait an hour after wetting the dry would be to let it get mushy.   Maybe it wouldnt take that long?  If I were to put it in the refridgerator would that stop bacteria?

The manufacturers almost universally recommend too much food. My adult cats, ranging is size from 10 pounds to 15 pounds, ate about one 5.5 oz can of food a day. Sometimes a little more, sometimes a little less. It didn't really matter the manufacturer: EVO, Before Grain, Wellness....

Thanks LDG.  We were posting at the same time.  OK, scratch the mushy idea. 

:lol3:

HI!! Yeah - :lol3: no mushy Before I started raw and canned, I used to wet down Pipsqueak's dry food.... BUT he ate it right away and licked up the water. I would not leave it down for longer than the time it would take for him to eat it. About ten minutes. I also want to mention that when my cats were on all canned - they only ate about 4 - 6 ounces per cat per day. AND my cat's were not thin!! So you won't need to feed as much as you think. And as Laurie also already mentioned, the manufacturer's always want you to feed much more than is actually required! They make more money off of the consumer's that way. BUT honestly, I don't know how any cat could eat as much as they recommend on their cans :lol3: Unless their name is WALDEN (my piggy :rub

Just seconding (or thirding) that the cans do, indeed, recommend way too much in our experience.  Our cats ranging 10 pounds to 14 pounds eat about 5-6 oz per day. 

See.......This is why I asked. I started out the day thinking it was a brilliant idea! I almost didnt ask thinking it was a stupid question. Goes to show, the only stupid questions are the ones we dont ask!!! Thanks for setting me straight guys!

crickets mom said:

Goes to show, the only stupid questions are the ones we dont ask!!!

Click to expand...

You are SO RIGHT! :nod: