In this guide
Your cat goes wild for canned food, but you’re not sure: every day? Instead of kibble? How many cans? The short answer is that you can combine wet and dry food without fuss, as long as the food is complete and balanced and you get the total amount right.
Quick answer: International Cat Care recommends offering healthy cats a mix of wet and dry food. Check the label says “complete and balanced” for your cat’s life stage, and when you add wet food, cut back the dry food so the daily total stays the same. Fancy Feast Classic Pate and the Friskies Pate Variety Pack are widely available complete options for adults; for kittens, use a kitten formula such as the Fancy Feast Kitten variety pack.
This guide doesn’t replace your vet’s advice. Cats with kidney disease, diabetes, allergies, obesity or a prescription diet should follow professional guidance.
What International Cat Care says about feeding#
- Cats are obligate carnivores: they rely on nutrients from animal sources, such as taurine, and can’t thrive without them. That’s why a balanced home-made diet is extremely difficult to get right.
- A good commercial food (canned, pouch or dry) is ideal, at least as the base of the diet. The key is that it’s complete — designed to meet all of a cat’s nutritional needs.
- For healthy cats, it recommends a variety of wet and dry, so they benefit from both and don’t get fixated on one type.
- Kittens grow fast and need food made for their life stage, not adult food.
- Cats tend to prefer food close to body temperature (about 95 °F / 35 °C), when it smells stronger. Gently warming wet food can help a cat that’s eating less.
Wet vs dry, side by side#
| Wet (canned) | Dry (kibble) | |
|---|---|---|
| Water content | High | Low |
| Calories per ounce | Lower, because much of the weight is water | Much higher — International Cat Care notes dry food is very energy-dense, so the right portion looks small |
| Convenience | Needs serving and clearing away; leftovers spoil | Can sit in the bowl and works in automatic feeders |
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
How to read a US cat food label in 30 seconds#
- Nutritional adequacy statement. The FDA says that if it includes “complete and balanced”, the food is intended as the sole diet. To use that phrase, the food must meet an AAFCO Cat Food Nutrient Profile or pass an AAFCO feeding trial. “For intermittent or supplemental feeding only” means it isn’t a full meal.
- Life stage. AAFCO recognizes growth, adult maintenance, gestation/lactation and all life stages. Pick the one that matches your cat.
- Calorie content. AAFCO says it’s listed in kcal per kg and kcal per familiar unit, such as per can.
- Feeding directions. A starting point; adjust to your cat’s weight and body condition with your vet.
How much when you mix wet and dry#
The simplest approach is to swap part of the dry food for wet, not add one on top of the other. Use the kcal per can on the wet food and the kcal per cup on the dry food: if you add one can’s worth of calories, remove the same number of calories from the kibble. Weighing dry food on a kitchen scale is more accurate than scooping.
To change foods, go slowly: International Cat Care suggests offering the new food next to the old one and reducing the old one as your cat accepts it.
The wet foods we picked#
All three are described as complete and balanced in the listings checked on Oct 19, 2026. Flavors and pack sizes change often; check the page.
Quick comparison (data from the listings cited below, checked Oct 19, 2026):
| Food | Life stage | Pack | Texture | Rating at check |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fancy Feast Classic Pate | Adult | 30 x 3 oz | Pate | 4.7 (25,157) |
| Friskies Pate Variety Pack | Adult | 24 x 5.5 oz | Pate | 4.6 (16,525) |
| Fancy Feast Kitten Variety | Kitten | 24 x 3 oz | Tender feast (pate) | 4.7 (30,091) |
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
Best for adults
Purina Fancy Feast Classic Pate Wet Cat Food, 3 oz cans, 30-pack
Who it’s for: adult cats, and owners who want small cans that are easy to portion.
What the listing says (checked Oct 19, 2026):
- “100 percent complete and balanced” canned food for adult cats.
- Real chicken, turkey or beef as the number one ingredient; no artificial colors or preservatives.
- 30 x 3 oz cans, smooth pate texture. 4.7 out of 5 from 25,157 ratings at the time we checked.
Heads-up: the listing’s “included components” field mistakenly describes a Purina Pro Plan dog food; the title, bullets and photos are for Fancy Feast cat food. Check the pack contents on the page.
Check current price on Amazon Specs at the source
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Bigger cans
Purina Friskies Pate Wet Cat Food Variety Pack, 5.5 oz cans, 24-pack
Who it’s for: adult cats and multi-cat homes that go through larger cans.
What the listing says (checked Oct 19, 2026):
- “100 percent complete and balanced adult cat food”, with taurine.
- Three pate recipes (salmon, mixed grill, turkey & giblets); no artificial colors or preservatives.
- 24 x 5.5 oz recyclable cans. 4.6 out of 5 from 16,525 ratings at the time we checked.
Heads-up: a 5.5 oz can is a big portion for one cat; cover and refrigerate the rest, and don’t leave wet food out for hours.
Check current price on Amazon Specs at the source
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For kittens
Purina Fancy Feast Wet Kitten Food Variety Pack, 3 oz cans, 24-pack
Who it’s for: kittens. International Cat Care stresses that kittens need food made for their life stage.
What the listing says (checked Oct 19, 2026):
- “100 percent complete and balanced kitten wet food”.
- Recipes with ocean whitefish, turkey, chicken or salmon; no artificial colors or preservatives.
- 24 x 3 oz cans. 4.7 out of 5 from 30,091 ratings at the time we checked.
Check current price on Amazon Specs at the source
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Practical tips#
- Don’t leave opened wet food out for hours. Serve a portion and remove leftovers.
- Serve in a shallow bowl, ideally ceramic or glass — see our cat food bowl guide.
- Always provide fresh water, even with wet food. A cat water fountain can help.
- Weigh your cat now and then. If weight goes up, trim the dry food first and talk to your vet.
- Treats count too: see how many cat treats fit in a day.
Bottom line#
You don’t have to choose between wet and dry: International Cat Care recommends variety for healthy cats. Choose a food labeled complete and balanced for the right life stage, and swap calories rather than add them. Fancy Feast Classic Pate and Friskies Pate are easy-to-find complete options for adults; for kittens, use a kitten formula. Any diet change for a cat with a health problem goes through your vet first.
Frequently asked questions
Is wet or dry cat food better?
International Cat Care generally recommends offering healthy cats a variety of wet and dry food, so they get the benefits of both and don't become fixed on one type. What matters most is that the food is complete for your cat's life stage. Cats with medical conditions should follow their vet's advice.
Can I feed only wet food?
If it's labeled complete and balanced for your cat's life stage, it's formulated to be fed as the sole diet, according to the FDA. International Cat Care still suggests variety. Treats and foods labeled for 'intermittent or supplemental feeding' are not meals.
How much wet food should I feed?
Start with the feeding directions on the can — US labels for complete and balanced foods must include them — and adjust to keep your cat at a healthy weight. If you also feed dry food, reduce the dry portion so the daily total doesn't go up. Your vet can work out your cat's needs.
How do I switch my cat to a new food?
Gradually. International Cat Care suggests offering the new food next to the old one and reducing the old one as the new one is accepted.
Sources
- International Cat Care — Feeding your cat or kitten
- U.S. FDA — “Complete and Balanced” Pet Food
- AAFCO — Reading Labels
- AAFCO — Labeling & Labeling Requirements
- Amazon.com — Fancy Feast Classic Pate, 30-pack (ASIN B07CTBXRXD)
- Amazon.com — Friskies Pate Variety Pack, 24-pack (ASIN B002CJARMI)
- Amazon.com — Fancy Feast Kitten Variety Pack, 24-pack (ASIN B07JG87X5P)
Links open in a new tab. Specs, availability and prices can change after publication — always check the product page before you buy.