Your cat should drink more water. Find out how to help them!
We, as humans, know very well that staying hydrated is essential if we want to live a long and healthy life. The same goes for cats; the only problem is that cats are not aware of this, and unfortunately, they are not as thirsty as us.
This means most cats don’t drink enough water, and this is not particularly good for them. Our beloved felines need to have access to a fresh, clean supply of water at all times. But even if this is something you make sure to always have in your home, that doesn’t mean your cat will drink water. This is something most cat parents struggle with.
If you want your cat to drink more water, you have to learn a couple of useful tricks that might solve this problem. The kidney of your cat needs that extra water, and you are the one who can save them. Read on and find out all you need to know!
Switch to wet food
This is probably the easiest and most effective way to make your cat drink more water. You simply include it in their food. Most cats love wet food and you will have no problem initiating this change.
Unlike dry kibble, which contains only about 10% moisture, wet food is made up of 70-80% water. So your cat will be more hydrated just by eating this on a daily basis. And the best part is that they will not even realize it.
Cats are not that thirsty as a result of the genetic heritage they have from their desert ancestors. They are “designed” to get most of their water from food, and changing to wet food will do exactly this.
If your cat is used to dry food, don’t make the switch too quickly because sudden changes might upset their sensible stomach. Mix small amounts of wet food with their kibble until you are feeding them 100% wet food.
Change the water daily
Ok, try to imagine that you need to drink water from the same glass that’s been sitting for a couple of days. How is that? You probably hate this idea. Well, your cat does the same! But stagnant water isn’t just unappetizing; it can also collect dust, hair, and bacteria. This can be quite dangerous for your feline friend.
What makes this harder is that your cat is naturally very picky about their water source. They automatically will avoid stagnant water because it might be contaminated. This is a built-in mechanism they use in the wild in order to protect them.
To encourage proper hydration, make it a habit to refill their water bowl with clean, fresh water at least once a day. The type of bowl you are using is also incredibly important. Plastic bowls can retain odors and bacteria, and this might make your cat avoid such bowls. Stainless steel, glass, and ceramic bowls are the best.
Another thing you can do to make your cat drink more water is to buy an automatic water fountain. Cats might like them better, but they can be expensive compared to your regular bowl.
The water should stay away from the litter box
Would you enjoy drinking a glass of water right next to your toilet? Probably not. Your cat feels the same about this, and even more, they can be more sensitive than you when it comes to this.
It is in their instinct to search for water as far as possible from the place where they do their business, which means they will never touch a water bowl that is placed near their litter box. So, this is a big no when you want your cat to drink more water.
If you want them to stay hydrated and prevent kidney disease, make sure you put their water bowl in a quiet and accessible place that is also very clean. Avoid placing their water bowl in high-traffic areas where they might feel stressed or exposed.
Make sure that water is also away from their food
Yeah, we know that this might sound a lot, but besides the litter box, cats also prefer their water and food to be in separate places. Most of us keep them in the same place, one bowl next to another, but this is not recommended if you want your cat to drink more water.
If you keep the bowls according to this standard layout, one next to another, you might have noticed that your cat tries to drink water from random places like the sink or even your glass of water.
Once again, this is an instinct cats have from their ancestors, who avoided drinking water that was found near their prey to avoid contamination. Most cats prefer their food to be separate from their water. If your cat isn’t drinking enough, try moving their water bowl to a different location. You might be surprised to see them drinking more often!
Use more bowls
You can see that cats are picky about their water, so one bowl may not be helping. This is why using multiple bowls can be a wonderful idea. Try to, let’s say, put one in the kitchen, put one in the same old place, place one in your hallway, and you might notice that your cat starts to drink more water.
A cat that lives in the wild will never rely on just one source of water, and as a result, your domestic kitty might have the same instincts. Low-traffic areas are the best when you want to choose where to place the water bowls.
This is a simple trick that can save your cat’s kidneys. Making water more accessible for them will always be a good thing to do.
How to find out if your cat is drinking enough water
Keeping track of this will help you see whether you have results or not with these strategies. Your cat needs to drink enough water because not doing so can lead to various health problems such as kidney disease and urinary tract problems.
Cats generally drink water in a very subtle way, taking small sips, and this makes it tricky to determine if they had enough water or not. Fortunately, there’s a simple way to measure their daily water consumption!
You can put water into a measuring jug, make sure you remember the quantity, and then put the water into your cat’s bowl. At the end of the day, take the remaining water, pour it back into the measuring jug, and compare the two values, the first one and the one at the end of the day.
This method is particularly useful if your cat has been showing signs of dehydration, such as lethargy, dry gums, or reduced urination. This is also great if you have an older cat that has kidney issues.
If you need some new water bowls for your feline friend these ones are more than perfect: PEGGY11 Lightweight Stainless Steel Cat Bowls – 1.8 Cup, 2 Pack
You should also read: Pet Distress Signs: 5 Ways to Know When a Pet Is Begging for Help
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