Reducing to dry food only

[Jannyapple66]

Can I ask opinions on changing my 10 year old in and out cat from wet and dry food to dry food only ? She has always had a bowl of dry available and does have a nibble now and then
She does only have 2 teeth .
As the weather improves I absolutely hate the flies that the wet food attract , she's a tiny picker and not a big eater
One sachet could take her all day to eat but if I see a fly in the food , I have to throw it away
Would it be cruel to remove the wet food and just leave the dry ? On the one hand I do think " she'll eat if she's hungry " on the other hand I don't want to make her unhappy

Cats have a poor thirst drive, they are designed to get all of their moisture from their food. For an average 4kg cat to get enough fluids on a dry diet they would need to drink around 400-450ml of water per day.

Older cats are also at higher risk of kidney problems, making your cat dehydrated by feeding dry ups this risk.

Can you not just put a small amount of wet out at a time

Thanks both
Yes @dementedpixie I've done that before
I just love all the windows and doors open and being country and surrounded by farms it's fly party !
Good point about the water . .. I change it daily but don't think she ever touches it

We gave our cat just dry food for a short period, the diarrhea was unreal. He was constantly drinking too and had a sore bum! Don't know if all cats are different but it didn't agree with ours, as another had said they get most their water from wet food

Could you get a dish that only opens when the cat approaches it? Pricy option though

Have you considered a good urinary tract kibble and just once daily feeding a very small amount of meat/poultry?

Our DCat is 12 and we have changed her to dry for nibbling/evening meal. In the morning I give her about 2 tablespoons of finely chopped raw meat with a pet probiotic and fish oil supplement. As the amount is small she usually eats it all.

@dementedpixie

Could you get a dish that only opens when the cat approaches it? Pricy option though

I bought one of those for my other ( now deceased ) fur baby She was on a special diet and I only wanted her to eat it ... was a disaster so I gave it away Looks like I'm going to have to do very small portions at a time Thanks for the advice all

Get yourself a buzz fly catcher!! Life changing! And cover food in tin foil when cat isn't about. I tend to feed little and often at this time of year.

My nearly 13 year old has only ever eaten good quality dry food. She also has a water fountain she likes. She's never had any health problems

I just put one sachet out over the course of the day. A third in the morning, same at lunch and dinner.

Very small amounts, but often? I personally wouldn't change a diet for a 10 year old cat, especially with just the two teeth!

We have a motion activated Surefeed food tray for our cats (it doesn't work off their microchip, so any cat can eat from it). It stops the food from drying out and helps it stay fresh.

Thank you all
Very helpful
No I don't really want to change her diet and appreciate the water , teeth and age issue
I've actually found a handy tip about flies this morning ... hanging a bag of water with a few coins in ? Lots of people saying it works so I'm going to give it a go ... when the sun comes back out

The Surefeed tray sounds good, I'd try that

I hate flies this time of year too but as above put out small portions and cover with a dish when she moves away from eating.

I think I would put the pouch out in smaller portions but my older cat regularly eats mice so I personally wouldn’t worry about her eating food a fly had landed on. They have the digestion to deal with such things.

Flies lay eggs in wet food which is why you want to keep them away

Exactly@dementedpixie

I stopped giving my cats wet food in the daytime because of the flies. Now I give them dry food in a morning and wet food late evening when I’ve closed doors and windows.