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My cats only eat dry food. How can I make them eat wet food?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Male | 1 year and 8 months old | 8 lbs

My 3 male (orphaned by 19 days old) cats don't eat any wet food themselves except cat dry food. I have to feed by hand when they are sleepy .How can I make them use to eat wet food themselves,pls?

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Laura Johnson VMD

Answered By Laura Johnson VMD

Veterinarian

Published on March 19th, 2018

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Some cats are carbohydrate junkies and just prefer dry over canned food. It is fine for them to eat just dry. But if you want to convert them to canned food then you have to do so gradually. There are benefits to canned food, like more moisture content.

If you leave dry food down all the time it is best to do scheduled feedings. So start feeding the dry food to 3-4 meals per day and only leave it down for 20 mins. Make sure you make it known to your cats it is mealtime so they know to eat. Once they have all accepted the new mealtime and eat well then start offering canned food instead of dry. Some may gobble it up right away, others may turn their nose up. Try warming it up. Don't leave it out for more than 20 mins because the flavor changes as it drys out and never serve it cold from the fridge. You can sprinkle a little dry on top of the wet or mix it in, if that works then gradually decrease the amount of dry you use over time.

Just be aware cats can not go more than 24 hours with out eating or they can develop serious health issues with their liver.

I hope this helps!
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