Many cat owners know the problem: cats often drink too little. However, adequate hydration is just as important for cats as it is for us humans. Find out how you can encourage your cat to drink.
As former desert animals, cats generally need less water. They have their powerful kidneys to thank for their relatively low fluid requirements , so their bodies have adapted to cover most of their fluid needs through their food. In the wild, it absorbs this from its prey, which consists mainly of water. When fed wet food, the cat therefore already covers a large part of its water requirement, which is why it does not usually drink much in addition.
How to recognize dehydration in cats
To find out whether your cat is dehydrated, you can carry out the skin fold test. To do this, carefully lift a fold of the cat's skin and gently squeeze it briefly. If the skin immediately returns to its original position, the cat is usually drinking enough. If not, this may indicate a lack of fluids. A visit to the vet will give you peace of mind.
Dry or wet food if the cat drinks little?
The influence of food on fluid intake is immense. If dry food is offered, cats consume less water. A cat weighing five kilograms therefore needs around 250 - 275 ml of water.
If it eats around 250 grams of moist food per day, it already consumes 200 milliliters of water (at 80 percent moisture content). It therefore only needs to drink about 50 - 75 ml of water. On the other hand, if a cat is only fed dry food (8 percent moisture), it needs to drink considerably more water.
What happens when cats drink too little?
Free-roaming cats that are fed wet food at home cover almost all of their fluid requirements through their food, the prey they catch and possible drinking sources on their forays. The situation is different when feeding dry food. With a moisture content of around 8 percent, dry food does not provide the necessary amount of liquid. To ensure that the cat consumes sufficient water, the cat must therefore always have free access to fresh water.
Unfortunately, low water intake with food is not always compensated for by increased drinking. What happens when cats drink too little? Cats with a reduced water intake can be prone to urinary stones, urinary gravel or kidney problems.
Cats naturally drink little
The body of our felines consists of up to 82% water. As former desert animals, cats can concentrate their urine more than other pets. This enables them to survive when water is scarce. Their water intake depends primarily on the type of food they are fed and the water content of their food.
They have adapted to cover their fluid requirements through their food. For example, feeding wet food already covers a large part of their water requirements. As with food intake, cats drink both during the day and at night.
Encouraging your cat to drink
There are a few tips and tricks to encourage your cat to drink. In addition to the correct position of the drinking bowl, the bowl itself can also influence how much a cat drinks. On the one hand, this concerns the material: plastic and rubber can give off a certain odor. This is not the case with ceramic, glass or metal bowls. In addition, the bowl should not be too high or too narrow, but rather wide and shallow so that the cat can pick up the water with its whiskers.
The water bowl should also be non-slip; a suitable base may help here. The water itself can also influence the amount of water your cat drinks. If your cat leaves out fresh water, try filtered or boiled water. Some cats also like to drink rainwater - the proof of the pudding is in the eating.
Does your cat drink little? Drinking fountain & cat drink
A drinking fountain, which suggests to the cat that the water is fresh, is not only a playful activity, but also motivates it to drink more fluids . There is also the option of adding one or two tablespoons of water to the cat's food to provide the cat with an extra portion of liquid when it is not drinking much.
Nutritious food supplements can make drinking more palatable for your cat. For example, Carny Cat Drink - a cat drink made from the finest meaty ingredients. Conveniently available in a 140 milliliter can, it provides cats with an extra portion of liquid and naturally encourages them to drink.
The Cat Drink contains no added milk and is also free from soy, cereals and artificial colors and preservatives. In the delicious chicken and tuna varieties, there is something for every cat's taste. This makes drinking a real taste experience for your cat. If your cat does not want to drink despite the above attempts at stimulation, please contact your vet.
