There are different reasons why you should feed your cat softened food. For instance, your cat may be aging and losing several teeth, making it tricky to chew dry cat food. Besides, if your cat eats relatively faster or you’re dealing with a kitten, softening dry cat or kibble food is essential. Generally, softened cat food is easily edible and prevents dehydration of your furry friend.
As an enthusiastic cat lover, you must be eager to learn how to soften dry cat food, right? Well, here’s how: Place a suitable amount of dry cat food in a bowl. Add warm tap water to it. Let it soak for about 5 to 15 minutes. Using your hand, break the cat food up. And allow it to cool completely. Then serve.
That’s not all. There are many other ways to soften your dry cat food. And this article comes in handy! Keep on reading to discover the different yet easy ways on how to make dry cat food soft.
How To Soften Dry Cat Food
There are several methods of softening dry cat food. Just remember that the texture of your kibble must remain crunchy for optimal dental health benefits.
Adding Warm Water to Dry Cat Food
This is one of the most common ways to soften dry cat food. It’s effortless, fast, and effective.
Here, place a small amount of dry food on a clean bowl or plate.
Pour one tablespoon of warm water over it. Let it sit for about 2 minutes.
Next, mix well and feed your cat slowly. If it appears too moist, add another tablespoon of water to the same bowl and repeat the process.
This method should only be helpful if your cat eats it together with other food or snacks. Go for something else if you realize that your cat doesn’t eat.
Basic Tips:
- Don’t make the cat food soupy.
- Don’t use hot water. Regular clean tap water can work best.
- Soaking time may vary depending on the amount of dry cat food you use.
- Never leave the remnant softened cat food open. If it remains, store the food in a clean pack and under room temperature.
Using a Microwave to Soften Dry Cat Food
This method is quite similar to the previous one. You’ll require:
- A microwave
- Warm water
- Paper towels
- Dry cat food
Here’s what you need to do:
- Put 1-2 tablespoons of dry food on a small sheet of paper towel.
- Fold it in half twice.
- Then put it all in the microwave for about 10 seconds.
- Open it up and check if the kibble is moist enough.
- If it is, then you’re good to go. But if not, add another 10 seconds to your microwave and repeat the process until done.
The paper towel will absorb moisture from inside the cat food, so be extra careful with it!
Basic Tips:
- Please make sure you check on it at regular intervals while microwaving.
- Don’t leave the cat food open. If it becomes hard, then your kitty won’t eat it.
- Your microwave’s wattage plays a vital role in this process. So keep an eye out if your microwave is working fine or not.
- If you have a large volume of dry cat food, we recommend microwaving it in several batches.
Soaking Dry Cat Food with Water Overnight
This method is quite similar to the previous one. But you’ll need:
- A large bowl or plate for soaking wet dry cat food
- Smaller bowls for soaking paper towels (optional)
Here, follow the same process as described in the section above. The only difference is that you’ll need to soak your cat food overnight.
Soak your dry kibble in warm water for about 5-6 hours, and then gently crumble it with your hands. Then store or serve as per requirement.
Basic Tips:
- Don’t hydrate the kibble thoroughly. It should be moist but not wet.
- Don’t soak it overnight in chilling water because your cat may get sick.
Using a Wet Paper Towel to Soften Dry Cat Food
Here, you’ll need a large bowl or plate, a paper towel, and dry cat food.
Again, this method is pretty easy and effective. Although it might not be as quick as the other two methods discussed above, it’s worth trying.
- Put the dry food on a plate or bowl. Then pour about one tablespoon of warm water over it.
- Next, place another moist paper towel over the dry food and press down slightly.
- Let it sit for about 3 minutes, then check if your kibble is soft enough to feed your cat.
- If you notice that the piece is small and hard after 3 minutes, pour one more tablespoon of warm water over it.
- Then let it sit for another 2 to 3 minutes before checking if the kibble is moist enough. Repeat the process until done!
If you notice that your cat isn’t eating its food, then don’t try this method anymore because chances are, it doesn’t like it.
Using a Canned Food to Soften Dry Cat Food
It’s one of my favorite ways to soften dry cat food. As a responsible pet parent, it’s better to be prepared. So here, you can use the canned food as a base for your dry cat food. It’ll help the kibble from turning into hard chunks that your pet may not eat.[Source]
To do this:
- Cut open a small section of canned food and place it under a low flame.
- Keep stirring until it becomes warm.
- Mix it gently with your dry cat food.
Basic Tips:
- Make sure you don’t make the canned food very warm. It should only be slightly warm or lukewarm.
- Don’t cook until the canned food becomes mushy because it’ll lose its nutritional value over time.
Making A Creamier Texture of Dry Cat Food
This is an effortless way to soften dry cat food. It’s done by adding some extra ingredients that’ll make the texture of your kibble creamy. The main ingredient you need is extra virgin olive oil.
Here, follow these steps:
- Add one teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil to 2 tablespoons of dry cat food.
- Now, mix it well. You can use your hands in this process.
- Make sure the dry cat food is moist enough and doesn’t contain any hard chunks.
Basic Tips:
- Don’t add too much oil, though; otherwise, your kitty won’t like it. So make sure you adjust accordingly to the size of your cat’s dry food.
- You can add more than one teaspoon, then do it gradually. What matters is the texture and smoothness of the kibble.
Add Flavor to Dry Cat Food
This is another easy way to soften dry cat food. Here, you’ll use unsalted meat broth or gravy rather than water. It’ll add a lot of flavor to your kibble.[Source]
You can either use broth from boiled meat or buy the canned one from the store. In both cases, you have to follow these steps:
Add one tablespoon of unsalted meat broth or gravy to 2 tablespoons of dry cat food. Mix well until it becomes smooth and creamy.
If you feel the kibble is moist enough, you can use it immediately or store it later.
Basic Tips:
- For added flavor, you can mix in some boiled chicken or turkey. It’ll make your cat’s food tasty and loved by them.
- Don’t add too much broth, though; otherwise, the dry kibble will become damp and clog your cat’s teeth.
- Sprinkle some parsley over the wet kibble to make it more appealing for your feline friend.
Using a Fork to Soften Kibble
Yes, you read that right! A simple fork can help soften your cat’s dry kibble and make it appealing enough for your cat to eat. This technique should be your last option because the clumped-up texture of the kibble may bother your cat.
But if it’s your only option, then here’s how you can do it:
Add some water to break up the clumps and make them moist enough. You don’t want too much water, though; otherwise, the quality will be affected.
Now, take a fork and gently rub it over the kibble until it becomes soft.
This will take a little bit of time, but if your cat loves wet food, then you can give them this as well. If not, then use an alternative method such as #2 or #3.
Basic Tips
If you want to do this quickly, you can microwave the wet food for a few seconds
FAQs
How Can I Soften My Dry Cat Food for Kittens?
Kittens are more prone to dental problems than adult cats. That’s because their teeth haven’t developed fully yet, so they need softer food to avoid accidents. If you notice your kitten struggling with their dry kibble, use one of the abovementioned methods.
Should I soak dry cat food?
Yes. Soaking dry foods can make it easier for cats to digest and break down. But the soft texture of the kibble isn’t good enough for them and may make their digestive system unstable. If you still feel like doing this, please continuously monitor your cat’s eating habits.
How do you make dry food into wet food?
The best and easiest way to make dry cat food wet is to add water, broth, or more moist ingredients. You can also use the microwave to warm up the food if your cat loves wet food.
How to crush dry cat food?
If you don’t have the necessary utensils to soften your cat’s food, then here are some alternative ways that may work for you:
- You can also use the back of a fork. You can either use a blender or a grinder to crush the cat food into a pulp finely. This way, your feline friend will enjoy their meal.
- Use your bare hands and rub it against each other until it becomes soft.
- Please place it in a ziplock bag and roll over it using a wine bottle or rolling pin. Be careful, though, because liquid may come out of it.
Please be aware that you’ll have to do this several times for the food to become soft enough.
Conclusion
Before trying any of the above softening dry cat food methods, it is critical to consult your cat’s veterinarian. These specialists will help determine the best approach to address your cat’s feeding problems.
You don’t have to follow all these tips, but it’s best if you can use several ones at once. Follow these methods and adjust them according to your cat’s preference.
