Can cat food be soaked in water before feeding?

Cat food can be soaked in water, and warm water is generally recommended. Softening the kibble makes it easier to chew, which suits newly weaned kittens and cats with stomatitis who cannot chew normally. However, kittens over three months old and healthy adult cats are usually not advised to eat softened food long term, because the lack of abrasion is bad for teething and can lead to retained baby teeth, also called a double row of teeth. In addition, soft food tends to stick to the teeth, increasing tartar and the risk of stomatitis. Finally, soaked food spoils and molds easily, so any leftovers should be cleared away promptly to protect the cat’s digestive health.