1. Wellness Healthy Indulgence Morsels
Key Features
Made with real chicken and chicken liver
Moist pieces of meat and savory sauce for hydration
No grains, corn or soy
Contains cranberries, carrots and blueberries
The Healthy Indulgence Morsels from Wellness have all bases covered when it comes to complete and balanced nutrition. With tender pieces of chicken and chicken liver it offers healthy protein and a taste that cats love. If you have concerns about your cat’s urinary tract health, you’ll be pleased to see that this semi moist cat food has 82% moisture for hydration and cranberries.
Plenty of antioxidants for immune health are supplied by blueberries and carrots. The recipe is fortified with vitamins and minerals for whole body health and taurine for heart health. It’s one of the best semi moist cat foods for kitties with sensitivities as there is no corn, wheat, soy or artificial flavors. Finally, many owners of cats with chronic kidney disease have found the protein and phospherous levels to be suitable but you should always check with your vet first.
Pros
Chunky moist texture that cats love
Suits cats with sensitivities
May be suitable for cats with kidney disease and urinary tract problems
Contains taurine to support a healthy digestion, eyes and heart
Cons
Carbohydrate content is quite high
Only suitable for adult cats
2. BFF Tuna & Turkey Tickles Dinner in Gravy Wet Cat Food
Key Features
Tuna and turkey are the top ingredients
Low carbohydrate recipe
Emphasis on sustainability
Contains taurine for heart and eye health
With wild caught tuna and turkey are in the top three ingredients of this semi moist cat food, so it ticks both the taste and nutritional value boxes. The low carbohydrate recipe is perfectly suited for cats and it’s packed with micronutrients including taurine for healthy eyes and heart.
Because it comes in an easy-to-open and BPA-free pouch, it keeps cat owners happy. Meanwhile, the delicious pieces of tuna and turkey in an irresistible gravy keeps kitty happy, healthy and hydrated. Overall, Weruva B.F.F OMG Gravy is a balanced and wholesome food with some great ingredients and has nothing artificial in the recipe.
Pros
Made with sustainably sourced ingredients
Produced by a family-owned company
Made in a facility free from grain and MSG
Pouches are BPA-free
Cons
Can be difficult to get the food out of the pouches
Strong smell of tuna – cats love it but some humans don’t
3. Instinct Raw Boost Mixers Chicken Recipe
Key Features
Kibble topper to supplement main diet
Made with minimally processed ingredients
Protein from real chicken and chicken liver
Grain-free and potato-free recipe
If you would like to add something a little more interesting to your cat’s kibble, we recommend the Raw Boost Mixers from Instinct. These are not a stand alone food but can be used to supplement your cat’s diet. The advantage of this topper is that it is made using the freeze dried method which retains more of the natural nutrients of the ingredients.
These food toppers are packed with animal protein provided by real chicken and chicken liver. To this they have added non-GMO fruits and vegetables including carrots, apples and broccoli. Use it to help your cat maintain a healthy coat and skin and to give them loads of energy.
Pros
Made with cage free chicken
Freeze dried so it contains more nutrients
High protein content
Appeals to picky eaters
Cons
Not a complete meal
Serving instructions are a bit vague
4. Weruva Cats in the Kitchen Love Me Tender Chicken & Duck Recipe
Key Features
Provides partly wet food diet
Balanced diet with minerals and vitamins
Produced in human-grade facilities
No hormones or antibiotics
All of the duck and chicken in this recipe is provided by cage free animals providing a great blend of protein. The total protein content of Weruva Cats in the Kitchen Love me tender is 9% but on a dry matter basis that equates to 60%. It is a partly wet food made up of real shredded chicken and duck in a savory gravy.
The semi moist texture is what cats prefer and pet owners will have no waste to worry about. As a grain-free recipe, it contains no gluten and it is also completely free of BPA and carrageenan. It’s produced in human-standard facilities and contains the same ingredients that are used in human food.
Pros
Protects cat’s health with vitamins and minerals
Semi moist cat food that provides hydration
Made by a pet food manufacturers that adheres to human food standards
Cats love the food’s texture
Cons
Some owners did not like the stringy consistency
Carbohydrate levels are quite high
5. Natural Balance Platefulls Indoor Formula
Key Features
Formulated for indoor cats
Fish Broth, Mackerel, Sardines, Chicken Liver are first ingredients
Contains carrots, cranberries and beet pulp for immune health
Plenty of fatty acids for coat health
Our pick for the indoor cats in your life, Natural Balance Platefulls is one of the best semi moist cat foods for cats that have a more sedentary lifestyle. Featuring mackrel and fish broth as the first two ingredients, this cat food ticks the protein and taste boxes with no problem.
Just like a traditional wet food diet it delivers plenty of hydration. The recipe features nutritious vegetables including carrots, peas and beet pulp for all-round good health and vitality. You’ll also find omega fatty acids for your cat’s skin and coat.
Pros
Highly digestible for indoor cats
Contains taurine for healthy eyes and heart
Broth for hydration
Packed with fish proteins
Cons
For adult cats only
Strong fish smell
6. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Tasty Toppers Wild Cuts Tasty Chicken Morsels
Key Features
Suitable for mixing with dry food (dry kibble)
Real chunks of chicken meat
Delicious gravy
No corn, wheat or soy
This is a supplemental food that is designed to be fed alongside a regular dry cat food or wet food. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Tasty toppers have high protein chicken as the first ingredient. The tender chicken pieces are presented in a delicious gravy enhanced with vitamins and minerals.
There are no by-product meals and no corn, wheat or soy. It’s a soy-free and grain-free recipe making it suitable for cats with these sensitivities.
Pros
Makes dry food more appetizing
High in proteins
Delivers plenty of hydration
Cats love the taste
No artificial colors or preservatives
Cons
Not a complete food
7. Wellness Morsels Chicken Entree Grain-Free Canned Cat Food
Key Features
100% grain-free recipe
Protein from real chicken
Antioxidant rich recipe
Chicken broth provides moisture and taste
At first glance, Wellness Morsels Chicken Entree looks like a wet canned food. In fact, it is a semi moist cat food that contains tasty chunks of meat in a rich gravy. Chicken and chicken broth are the first two ingredients of this canned food. It is a versatile semi moist food that can be fed alone or with dry food. If you are feeding it with dry food, you simply reduce the quantity you feed your cat.
The ingredients are aimed at maintaining your cat’s overall health. There’s real chicken for high quality protein to provide energy, cranberries to support urinary health and flaxseed for a healthy skin and coat. Your cat’s immunity is supported by the antioxidants in the spinach.
Pros
Can be used as a complete food or as a topper
No grains so suitable for cats with sensitivities
Supports urinary tract health
Ingredients for immune support
Cons
Some cats found the cubes too big
Some cats did not like the gelatinous gravy
Semi-Moist Cat Food: Buyer's Guide
For cat owners who have weighed up the pros and cons of wet cat food and dry food for cats and still cannot reach a decision, semi-moist cat food is a great solution. Here we tell you everything you need to know about semi-moist food for cats so that you can decide if it will be right for your kitty.
What is the Difference Between Dry, Semi-Moist, and Wet Food?
There are three basic types of food that you can feed your cat but the terminology can be confusing. There is wet cat food, dry food (kibble), and semi-moist food. You can also get cat food in cans, bags, or pouches. Canned cat food is either wet or semi-moist. Whereas, dry food is purchased in a bag. Semi-moist cat food can also be purchased in pouches. No wonder a new cat owner can become overwhelmed!
The biggest difference between these foods is the water content. The food with the lowest water content is dry kibble. It contains less than 10% water. This means that it is convenient to store and lasts longer but cats must drink a lot or they will become dehydrated. Also, some picky cats do not find it appetizing.
Wet foods have the highest water content. They can be made up of up to 85% water. However, they make a bigger mess in the cat's food bowl and they need to be cleared away immediately after the meal because they attract insects.
So, What is Semi-Moist Cat Food?
The semi-moist cat foods have a water content of around 60%-65%. This makes it more expensive per calorie than dry food but cheaper than many tinned foods. Most cats find them very appealing but there are two types that you will need to choose from.
Different Types of Semi-Moist Cat Foods
The first type is made up of chunks of meat (usual pieces of real chicken or fish) in a sauce or gravy. The moisture content is quite close to wet food. Most cats adore this type of cat food but some lick up the gravy and leave the chunks.
The second type is soft dry cat food - basically hydrated kibble. At a quick glance, it looks like dry food but it has higher water content and is therefore softer.
Some cats prefer the first option and others prefer the second. You just need to find the best semi-moist food for your kitty and this can take some trial and error.
Although, there is a third option that you could try. Some semi-moist cat foods are not a complete food. They are designed to be served on top of dry foods. Alone, they do not meet the nutritional needs of a cat but when served with dry high-quality food they can enhance your cat's lifestyle and health. If your cat is sometimes reluctant to eat their crunchy kibble this could be a great option.
Benefits of Semi-Moist Cat Food
The stand out benefit of semi moist cat food is that it presents a compromise between dry and wet food. The cat food industry has designed it to fill a gap in the market. Here are the main benefits that it brings.
Provides hydration
With a water content of around 65%, these cat foods provide a lot more hydration than dry cat food. They suit cats that prefer the taste of wet cat food - which is most cats!
Hydration in cats can be an issue. Your kitty needs 3.5 to 4.5 ounces of water per 5 pounds of body weight. Canned food (wet food) is made up of 80% liquid so your cat will get a lot of hydration. Dry food, however, is only around 10% water. Cats that are fed kibble cat food must therefore drink a lot of water and not all of them do!
This can lead to dehydration and kidney disorders. You may be able to persuade your cat to drink more water by adding something like tuna juice to their water bowl but a better alternative is to switch to a more moist food.
Lower cost
These semi-soft cat foods are usually less expensive than wet canned food. This is a major benefit if you are on a limited budget or if you have several cats to feed. Buying wet cat foods every week can really eat into a household budget.
These foods represent good value for money as there is rarely any wastage. You also get a better deal if you buy in bulk and look out for special offers.
Convenience
Canned food can be a pain to open and serve. You have to scrape the wet foods out from the inside of the can and get it into the cat's bowl whilst kitty is fussing around your legs. Most semi wet food is provided in pouches. This makes them a lot easier and quicker to serve than canned foods.
The other issue is that canned foods often result in a lot of waste. If your cat cannot manage to eat the whole can in one sitting - it is impossible to re-seal. Some pouches, on the other hand, are resealable and even if they are not designed to be sealed after opening, you can do so with a simple clip.
Taste and texture
It is clear from reviews of this type of cat food that cats adore it! Some cats prefer it to both dry and wet food. This may be because it is a soft food but has an interesting texture. The gravy or sauce is particularly popular and tempts even the fussiest eaters.
It can be hard to persuade some cats to eat - they can be incredibly fussy. This makes it hard to meet their nutritional needs. You may notice this with cats that are ill or under stress or in senior cats.
Things to Consider When Buying Semi-Moist Cat Food
When you are buying partly moist cat food there are a few things that you should consider.
Which type of partly moist cat food is it?
As we have outlined, some comprise chunks of meat in gravy and others are just softer kibble. Also, some semi moist foods are designed to be used as a topper and it is important to remember that this is not a complete and balanced food.
What are the ingredients?
Many semi moist foods are made from high quality ingredients and contain no artificial colors or preservatives. However, it is always worth checking the ingredients. Some contain quite a lot of sugar and salt and that is not good for your cat. Also, check that the first ingredient is a high quality source of animal protein such as chicken.
What is the moisture content?
This is an important consideration with moist cat food of all types. The higher the moisture content, the less you will need to worry about getting your cat to drink a lot of water. The moisture content can be very variable depending on the formulation of the food. Some are as low as 30% but others are up to 65%.
How is it sold?
Do you prefer pouches or are you a fan of canned cat food? This type of food can be provided in both. Some owners prefer pet food provided in pouches because it is easier to get the food out and some can be resealed. Other cat owners prefer canned cat food.
Price
When it comes to price, this type food occupies the middle market between dry and wet food. It represents great value for money. In general, the more expensive foods have higher quality ingredients and fewer fillers and additives. Therefore, it makes sense to buy the most expensive that you can afford.
Source:
- Cat Dehydration: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments - Pets Web MD
