[Blarg]

I'm not at all sure I buy the premise that cats or any carnivores don't have enough instincts to drink as much water as they need. Or that cats, an animal that spends up to 18 hours a day or more sleeping, have such a high water need that having plenty of clean water about won't suffice.

Of course wet food will have more water content, but eating food is not the only way to get water into the system. The other way is quite natural and easy.

If you worry your cat is not drinking enough water, I'd just be extra sure to keep the bowl scrupulously clean, including the outside, to get rid of smells. Change the water often. And cats often like it cold, too. Cats can be extraordinarily finicky about clean food and water.

As to food that is tougher to eat helping clean teeth, that's self-evident. If you don't have a tootbrush handy when you're out and around town, eat an apple. You'll notice the difference.