As cat owners, we are well aware that our kitties are notorious for not being big drinkers. This behaviour can be linked to their ancestors in the wild where water requirements could be met through their prey diet. But for our domesticated feline companions, this is not a viable option and so their water intake decreases substantially with their modern-day diet of dry kibbles. Therefore, it is important that we monitor our pets closely and learn to pick up on cues that suggest dehydration before further health issues emerge.
Signs Of Dehydration
- A decrease in skin elasticity
- Sticky or dry gums
- Sunken or dull eyes
- Small, hard pellet-like stools
So, How Much Should My Cat Drink?
Generally, cats do not drink as much water per kilogram of body weight in comparison to dogs. To stay hydrated, they should consume an average of 60ml/kg of water a day. Remember, this amount of water intake can be acquired not only by lapping water from their bowls but also through their diets. So consider your cat’s diet—if given mostly wet food, they may not need to drink as much since a single can of cat food contains about 70-80% of water, whereas dry food only contains about 10%!
Dry kibbles contain only up to 10% of water
It’s understandable that monitoring how much your pet drinks a day can be hard, especially if there are multiple pets in your house. But simple things like taking note on how much water is left when you clean and refill their water bowls can help you notice any significant changes in water intake.
Ways To Aid and Encourage Water Consumption
Even though your cat may not show signs of dehydration, you can still try one or more of the following tricks to keep your pet on the safe side:
- Supplementing your cat’s diet with wet or canned food
- Add warm water to soften dry kibbles to give it more moisture
- Toss in a couple of ice cubes in their water bowl. You can even spice things up by making flavoured ones with the juices from their can food!
- Switch to a cat water fountain. Some cats may not fancy still water and prefer fresh moving water
- Try a different material of bowl, like ceramic, stainless steel, or glass and play around with sizes and depth
- Place multiple water bowls around the house
- Clean out water bowls and refill with fresh water daily
When Should You Be Concerned?
If you suspect your cat is dehydrated and you’ve tried all the methods listed above to increase water consumption with no success, then a visit to the vet is highly recommended. You should also take into account that dehydration may not just stem from a lack of adequate water intake, but also underlying health issues.
As a responsible pet parent, we shouldn’t wait until the situation gets out of hand when it comes to the health of our pets. We should always be aware and get them the care that they need promptly!