Mixed feeding

Mixed feeding means combining kibble and wet food for the same animal, either within a single meal or across separate meals, in order to pair the strengths of both formats. Dry food contributes convenience, shelf stability, and a degree of mechanical action on the teeth, while wet food raises [water](/glossary/water-and-hydration) intake, a benefit of particular interest in cats, which are naturally low drinkers and stand to gain urinary-health support from the extra moisture (FEDIAF, 2024). Mixing can also lift palatability and offer textural variety, which helps with fussy eaters. The main thing to manage is energy accounting. The calories of both formats have to be added together so the total does not exceed the daily [ration](/glossary/ration), and this is where owners most often slip, because wet food's true energy contribution is easy to underestimate, given how much of its weight is [moisture](/glossary/moisture). The cleanest way to keep the balance honest is to convert both onto a [dry matter basis](/glossary/as-fed-vs-dry-matter) when comparing them. Proportions should also respect the animal's needs and should not unbalance overall nutrition, which is straightforward as long as each product used is itself a [complete food](/glossary/complete-food) rather than a complementary one. Mixed feeding suits a great many healthy animals, but where a diagnosed condition or a specific therapeutic diet is involved, it is wise to confirm the combination with a veterinarian so the overall energy target and nutrient balance stay appropriate. For more on feeding strategies, see the [Petipedia glossary](/glossary).

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General documentary information. For an individual animal, a veterinarian's advice takes precedence over any online content.