Quick answer

There is no single best cat food for all cats. Choose wet food if your cat needs higher moisture, single-source proteins, or help with hydration. Choose dry food if you want convenience, a longer shelf life, and a lower cost per meal. Many owners feed both. Thrive Complete wet foods and Thrive PremiumPlus dry food give you clear options on both sides.

Protein and ingredient differences that matter

The most practical difference between wet and dry food is how protein is delivered. Thrive Complete Chicken Breast Cat Food uses 100% chicken breast as a single source of protein, cooked in chicken broth. That matters if your cat has suspected sensitivities or you want to know exactly what protein you are feeding. Thrive Complete Tuna and Salmon Cat Food combines 100% tuna fillet and salmon fillet, also cooked in fish broth, for cats that do well on fish. On the dry side, Thrive PremiumPlus Salmon & Herring Complete Dry Cat Food is made with 70% fish content and includes Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids at 5.6%, plus easy-to-digest sweet potato and potato. That is an unusually high fish proportion for a dry food, so it can work well if you want to keep dry feeding but still prioritize fish protein.

Moisture, hydration, and urinary health

Wet food contains water from the broth and ingredients, so it helps increase your cat's overall water intake. That is useful for cats that rarely drink from a bowl, especially if your vet has mentioned urinary or kidney support. Dry food has very little moisture, so cats eating only dry food must drink more water to stay hydrated. If you feed dry food, keep multiple water bowls around the house and consider a pet fountain. You can also mix a spoonful of Thrive Complete wet food into the dry kibble to add moisture without switching formats entirely.

Cost, convenience, and storage

Dry food usually costs less per meal and stays fresh longer in a sealed container. A 1.5kg bag of Thrive PremiumPlus dry food is easy to portion and leaves no half-empty cans. Wet food comes in 75g pouches or cans that must be used after opening, so it suits scheduled meals rather than free-feeding. At catalog prices, Thrive Complete wet foods are priced per pouch, which adds up faster if you feed multiple cats. The trade-off is straightforward: dry food saves money and time, wet food gives you higher moisture and often more concentrated animal protein per serving.

How to transition or combine both formats

If you want to switch from dry to wet, do it gradually over seven to ten days. Start with a small spoon of Thrive Complete Chicken Breast & Turkey Cat Food mixed into the regular dry food, then increase the wet portion while reducing the dry. If you prefer to keep dry food as the base, use wet food as a topper once or twice a day. For cats that are used to free-feeding dry food, move to scheduled meals before adding wet food, because wet food cannot sit out all day. Always check with your vet if your cat has a medical condition that affects diet.

Trade-offs: wet vs dry at a glance

  • Moisture and hydration: Wet food delivers water with every bite; dry food does not. Thrive Complete wet foods are cooked in broth, which adds moisture and aroma. Choose wet if your cat drinks little or your vet recommends more water intake.
  • Protein source control: Thrive Complete Chicken Breast Cat Food uses 100% chicken breast as a single protein. Thrive PremiumPlus dry food uses 70% fish content but is a mixed recipe. Choose wet for single-source protein; choose dry if a high-fish blend fits your cat.
  • Cost and convenience: Dry food is cheaper per meal and stays fresh longer. Wet food costs more per serving and must be refrigerated after opening. Choose dry for budget and ease; choose wet for higher moisture and palatability.

Product facts at a glance

  • Thrive PremiumPlus Salmon & Herring Complete Dry Cat Food 1.5kg: Thrive PremiumPlus Salmon & Herring Complete Dry Cat Food is made with 70% fish content and includes Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids (5.6%), plus easy-to-digest sweet potato and potato. A high fish proportion in a dry food makes this a strong option if you want to feed dry but still prioritize fish protein and added fatty acids.
  • Thrive Complete Chicken Breast & Turkey Cat Food 75g: Thrive Complete Chicken Breast & Turkey Cat Food is made with 100% real chicken breast and turkey as the only sources of protein. Two named proteins in a wet format help you control exactly what your cat eats, which is useful for cats with sensitivities or those on a limited-ingredient diet.
  • Thrive Complete Tuna and Salmon Cat Food 75g: Thrive Complete Tuna and Salmon Cat Food is made with 100% tuna fillet and salmon fillet, cooked in a fish broth. The fish-based broth adds moisture and flavor, making this a practical choice for cats that need encouragement to drink more or prefer fish over poultry.

Which should you choose?

Best for

  • Cats that need more moisture in their diet or have urinary or kidney concerns
  • Cats with suspected protein sensitivities that do well on single-source proteins
  • Owners who want to feed scheduled meals with clear portion control

Not for

  • Owners who need the lowest cost per meal and the longest shelf life
  • Cats that free-feed throughout the day, since wet food cannot sit out
  • Multi-cat households where individual portions are hard to manage