Skip to content

Search PawFYI

What are you looking for?

PawFYI
Appearance
Subscribe

The front of the bag is marketing. The label is the fact.

Cat and dog nutrition: what to feed and what to skip.

Cats evolved to get most of their water from food, and a single grape can hurt a dog. Feeding is full of small facts that matter. These guides cover what goes in the bowl, how to read the label and what never should, with a vet source for every claim.

  • Every figure sourced and dated
  • Checked October 1, 2026
  • No insurer or brand pays to be listed

FYI Summary

Here’s what matters

Short on time? Start here.

  • Wet and dry food can both be complete diets. Canned food is at least 75% water and dry food 6% to 10%, so wet food helps cats drink enough (Cornell Feline Health Center).
  • Grapes, raisins, xylitol and chocolate are on the ASPCA’s list of foods that are dangerous for dogs.
  • Compare foods with the water removed (dry matter), not the label percentages. The Food Finder does the math for you.

2 guides

Nutrition guides

Start hereFor dogs

Foods toxic to dogs: what never to share from your plate

One grape, one sugar-free mint, one bite of chocolate cake. Some of the most dangerous things for dogs look completely harmless. Here are the foods the ASPCA says to keep off the floor, and what to do if your dog gets one.
DogUpdated

Quick answers

What people ask about nutrition

Is wet or dry food better for cats?

Both can be complete. Canned food is at least 75% water and dry food 6% to 10%, so wet food helps cats drink enough.

Cornell Feline Health CenterWet vs dry

Can dogs eat grapes?

No. Grapes and raisins can cause kidney damage in dogs. Call your vet or ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 if your dog eats any.

ASPCA Animal Poison ControlFoods toxic to dogs

How do I compare wet and dry food labels?

Remove the water first. Divide the nutrient percentage by (100 minus the moisture percentage) and multiply by 100. The Food Finder does it for every food.

Merck Veterinary Manual

Tools

Check the food, not the bag

The Food Finder puts cat and dog foods on the same scale, with the water removed, so wet and dry foods compare fairly.

The dry-matter formula

nutrient % ÷ (100 − moisture %) × 100

Example: 10.5% protein in a can that is 78% water is about 48% protein once the water is removed. Formula: Merck Veterinary Manual.

Keep exploring

Other topics

Pet Insurance

What it costs, what it covers and how claims pay, compared line by line.

Health

Common symptoms, what they can mean, and when to call your vet.

Behavior

Why pets do what they do, and calm, vet-backed ways to help.