Does your cat avoid the water bowl whenever he passes by it? Maintaining your cat’s proper hydration might be difficult. But you are aware that drinking plenty will keep your kitty friend healthy.
As the owner of Kingsgate Animal Hospital in Lubbock, Texas, Dr. Jamie Whittenburg asserts, “Adequate hydration is crucial to the vascular circulation of blood.” “Oxygen and carbon dioxide can be transported through the body thanks to blood circulation.”
Water is essential for flushing bodily waste from the body, controlling body temperature, and acting as a shock absorber and lubricant for the joints. Dehydration can harm the kidneys and cause seizures. The bottom line is that a cat’s body cannot function without water.
Now comes the challenging part. How can you persuade your cat to drink more water?
10 Easy Hydration Tricks
- Raise water dishes. According to Dr. Elizabeth Colleran, previous president of the American Association of Feline Practitioners and owner of Chico Hospital for Cats in Chico, California, “some cats need their bowls elevated so that they do not put pressure on their front legs as they bend over the dish.” Older cats with osteoarthritis may find it difficult to put a lot of weight on their forelimbs.
- Prepare early canned food. According to Dr. Kathryn Primm, owner of the Applebrook Animal Hospital in Ooltewah, Tennessee, and host of the Nine Lives with Dr. Kat program on Pet Life Radio, “I urge my clients to introduce canned foods to their kittens early on so that they know it as a food.” “Having a cat that will consume a variety of canned meals is a good choice because of the high water content.” Food in cans usually has between 70 and 80 percent water.
- Let the broth begin. According to Dr. Colleran, many cats particularly enjoy the flavor of chicken broth. Another choice is bone broth, which you can either prepare or purchase. Just make sure there are no seasonings or onions in the broth.
- Fill large dishes with water. According to Kate Benjamin, cats use their whiskers as sensory organs to alert them to their surroundings. Co-author of the New York Times bestseller Catification and founder of Hauspanther. “Cats dislike the sensation of having their whiskers tense up while attempting to drink water from a small bowl. To prevent concerns with their whiskers, I make sure my cats have broad water bowls.
- Pay close attention to where the water bowl is. Being picky creatures, cats dislike having their water bowl placed directly next to their food bowl. Cats hunt, and because they consume their prey, they avoid eating near water sources out of caution, according to Dr. Colleran.
- Cover the water in a tasty substance. To perform their circus-cat-like maneuvers onstage, renowned animal trainer Samantha Martin ensures sure her Amazing Acro-Cats are well hydrated. According to Samantha, who is stationed in Atlanta, “We boil chicken breast in water for treats.” To provide them more hydration and nourishment, we feed them this chicken water. They adore it.
- Sanitize the water bowls. Think of bowls made of ceramic, stainless steel, glass, or stoneware, which dry quickly, fully, and odorlessly. Always look over any bowls for nicks or scratches and replace them if required.
- Consider your level of dedication as well as your cat while choosing drinking fountains. Auditory perception is one of a cat’s most advanced senses, according to Dr. Colleran. The pet drinking fountain sounds like screaming to cats, thus some of them may avoid the fountain if you can hear it. To prevent mold and mildew, use fountains that are simple to clean in a dishwasher. Choose a fountain that has replaceable filters. In order to keep the water clean, you must adhere to a timetable for routine filter replacement.
- Describe a new liquid. Dr. Colleran claims that “some cats really adore canned clam juice.” And when you open that can of tuna that is made of water, squeeze out the tuna water and place it in a container that you can fill with purified water, keep in the refrigerator, and give to your cat.
- Increase the allure of a catio. Every day, Kate advises, put a new bowl of water in your covered catio. “It can tempt the cat to drink as he safely enjoys seeing, hearing, and smelling the outside.”
How much water exactly?
In order to stay hydrated, veterinarians advise cats to consume 4 ounces of water per 5 pounds of body weight each day. The typical 10-pound cat should therefore consume roughly 1 cup of water each day.
While cats who solely consume dry food will typically consume more of their daily water needs, cats who eat wet food, which can include up to 80% water, may drink less.
Water-drinking strategies
On Facebook, we polled animal lovers to find out how people convince their cats to drink water. Here is what they served:
“We have water dishes in almost every room of our house, and I add a tiny bit of chicken broth to one or more of them for my two seniors, Uncle Satchel and Auntie Scarlette.” — Wendy Lindstrom
“I give my cats Maggie, Victoria and Turkey wet food and add extra water to their meals.” — Polly Smith
“Latte won’t drink out of a regular bowl with still water. I thought a fountain was gimmicky until we got one. I totally see the difference in how much water Latte and Ellie now drink.” — Katherine Kern
“I have a tall glass in a mug (for stability) on my nightstand so that my 14-year-old Haddie doesn’t have to go far for water at night. It started as a glass for me, but it was quickly co-opted.” — Tamar Arslanian
“Wet food, multiple water bowls and adding water to their food works for us. Bootsie is 9 and has had urinary issues. Foster cat Hallow is 2 and has had constipation issues.” — Allison Hunter-Frederick
“I have three different types of water fountains, each with different levels of movement. They are all on different floors of my house for my five cats: Mr. Meowgi, Vespertine, Tango, Tux and Morrisy.” — Danielle Jo Bays
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