RE: healthy cat food

I am an avid cat lover and have had five in the last thirty years. My first was a 6 year old, orange tabby, I named Kat. I was still working then which left him alone for 9--12 hours a day. So I adopted a ten month old domestic short hair, named him Katu. I had been feeding both wet Whiskas can food for several months when Kat contracted UTI. The vet told me wet food has normally high in magnesium and ash, which will cause UTI. Both cats were very big, not fat -- just big -- 21 and 23 pounds respectively each. She recommended Hill's Science Diet food which cost a lot for the two big males. She let it slip that any dry food, low in magnesium and ash, would do just fine. Katu died when his one kidney (born with one) failed. Had him for 13 years. Kat died of cancer at age 21years. I fed both Iams "Digestive Care" also gave them "Temptations" chicken flavor treats several times a day. I've heard wet cat food is not good which would depend on content. You can get as many different opinions as there are experts. Never feed cats table food

Welcome to the cat site.

I am sorry your cats passed.

You're right:  never feed cats table food.

And I would add:  never feed your cats dry food. I understand some prescription dry food is needed for a limited time for cats with UTIs, but a lot isn't.  (When Ritz had her UTIs, she got antibiotics and wet food only.)

And, the worst quality wet food is better than the best quality dry food.

Your vet is partially right:  some wet foods are high in magnesium and ash; some aren't. 

UTIs have many causes; almost all can be controlled through diet and water water water.  Dry food is dehydrating and generally contra-indicated for cats with UTIs, especially male cats who--because of their plumbing--can become blocked.

For more information about basic feline nutrition, see http://www.thecatsite.com/a/cat-nutrition-a-recap  and

http://www.thecatsite.com/a/choosing-the-right-food-for-your-cat