Wet vs Dry Food for 18-Month-Old Cat

At 18 months your Domestic Longhair is right at the crossover point — technically an adult now, so it's exactly the right time to move away from kitten formula. On the wet vs dry question, I'll be straight with you: wet food is generally the better choice for cats. It keeps them hydrated, is more filling, and much closer to what they'd eat naturally. That said, cost and convenience are real, and a lot of people do a mix that works fine. Before I point you toward something specific — any health issues I should know about, and what are you currently feeding?

That low water intake is actually a really common thing with cats raised on dry food — they just don't compensate by drinking enough, and over time that can put strain on the kidneys. The fact that you've noticed it is good. This is honestly a perfect moment to shift the balance. Is she a fussy eater, or has she taken to the wet food well when you've offered it?

Totally fair — two cats on all-wet does add up. Here's what I'd suggest: make wet the main meal, twice a day, and keep a small amount of a good adult dry down for grazing if needed. That gets you most of the hydration benefit without doubling your spend overnight. For the wet food itself, I'd go with Sheba Perfect Portions Adult Cat Food — the salmon and chicken multipack. It's a genuine step up in quality from the average supermarket pouch, the portions are pre-measured so there's no waste, and it's priced sensibly for multi-cat households on Amazon UK. It's also very palatable for cats transitioning off dry, which matters here.

Yes, gradually is always better, especially when you're changing both the format and the life-stage formula at the same time. Over about ten days, swap out a bit more of the old food each day and replace it with the new wet. Start with maybe 25% new, 75% old, and move steadily. Digestive upsets from switching too fast are common and easily avoided. With a Longhair you also want to make sure she's not eating too fast — flat-ish bowls work better than deep ones for that coat around the face.

Good call. Keep an eye on her water intake over the first few weeks — most cats on wet food naturally drink less because they're getting moisture from the food, so don't panic if the bowl seems untouched. What you're looking for is that she's not straining to urinate and seems comfortable. If you do want to encourage drinking separately, a cheap cat water fountain makes a real difference. But honestly, getting the wet food right is the big lever here.