Water intake may not top your priorities in cat care, but being aware of it is key to keeping your feline pal healthy, especially during the warmer months of the year. The trouble is that cats are not really big drinkers; they tend to be fussy about their water. Many cats are often given dry food more than wet, and their bodies can only generate a certain amount of water. As self-sufficient as they are, cats really need their owners’ help to drink enough water.
Why It’s Important
Just like humans, a cat’s water consumption affects their health in many ways. Their urinary health, in particular, is at stake if they don’t drink enough. Dehydration can lead to bladder or urinary tract infections and crystal formation.
Water also plays an important role in your cat’s digestive health. Sufficient water intake not only promotes good digestion, but also it helps your cat absorb much-needed nutrients better, as well as helping to regulate their body temperature and blood circulation.
No pet owner wants a medical scare on their hands, especially one due to dehydration. You can get your feline companion to drink more with the following techniques.
Make Adjustments to their Diet
Try to get him or her on a mostly wet-food diet, if they aren’t on one already. Canned food packs more moisture, so doing this easily increases water intake. You can even mix in some water or broth, creating a soupy consistency some cats enjoy.
Ice cubes to soupier mixes are another great bonus. They not only add moisture but also soak up some of the food’s flavor (which will probably have him or her licking away at the cubes).
If your cat prefers dry over wet food, you may want to consider adding broth or water to dry food; just don’t allow it to sit out for a long time, unless you want to end up with a soggy mess that your cat will refuse to eat. The other option is offer them wet food once a day.
Serving smaller portions in more frequent meals might also help. The more often he or she eats, the more often they’ll get thirsty, and hopefully the more often they’ll drink.
Make Water More Accessible and Appealing
With water bowls, full-time access is key. Place multiple bowls in strategic positions throughout your house (just not next to the litter box). This way, your cat can easily and quickly quench their thirst wherever they may be. Passing by a bowl could also entice them to take a sip, even if they’re not particularly thirsty.
Drinking glasses and water bottles can be used as well as bowls, or you could invest in a cat fountain. Motion, including moving water, is usually a big draw to cats, plus in a cat fountain the water is filtered so it stays fresh. Water in bowls, on the other hand, needs to be changed every day and refilled regularly (don’t forget to wash the bowls thoroughly with water and soap so they don’t get slimy or start to stink).
If your cat loves the fountain’s moving water, chances are they’ll love running water from the tap. You can try to make it a habit to turn on the faucet a couple of minutes at certain times in the day so your kitty can have several long drinks.
Making water in bowls interesting might work too. You could, for instance, drop a few ice cubes into the bowl, since some cats actually prefer their water ice cold. You can also flavor their drinking water with a bit of chicken broth or tuna juice to try and make it more irresistible.
To provide the best cat care possible, always be aware of your kitty’s water intake. Make sure they drink enough each day and supplement their water with wet food. If these strategies don’t work, or if you notice symptoms of dehydration, bring your cat to the vet and get them checked out. Remember, the best way to keep your cat healthy and well-hydrated is to be proactive about it.
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Featured Image Credit: By Dcoetzee (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons