Due to their genetic inheritance, cats are not animals that stand out for drinking a lot. Their ancestors lived in desert areas and were adapted to consume only the water provided by their small prey. Currently, there are many felines that feed exclusively on dry feed in our homes, so their water needs may not be properly covered.
It is not a minor issue, that is why, in this article on our site, in collaboration with Catit, we explain why it is important for our cat to drink water and what are the tricks we can use to encourage him to drink more. Discover how to get your cat to drink water and ensure they stay hydrated.
Why is it important for a cat to drink water?
As we have advanced, the cats we share a home with are used to drinking little water. The small prey that they hunted in nature, such as rodents or birds, had a high percentage of water, which can be estimated at 70%. The intakes they made throughout the day helped them maintain their hydration with hardly any need to consume more water.
However, this situation has changed for most domestic cats, as many of them are fed exclusively with dry food, whose water content is much lower compared to the prey they could consume. This means that, if the cat maintains its tendency to drink little, problems may arise due to insufficient hydration
The less a cat drinks, the fewer times it will urinate and this urine will be more concentrated. By staying longer in the body, it is easier for crystals to precipitate in it, capable of triggering serious problems such as obstructions of the urinary tract, which occur when the cat cannot eliminate them on its own. This situation also favors the appearance of other diseases at the urinary level and even kidney pathologies. In addition, proper hydration, along with an adequate supply of fiber and sufficient physical activity, are the foundations of good intestinal transit. That is why it is so important to encourage our cat to drink the amount of water that he needs. Find out how much water a cat should drink a day in this other article.
Tips for my cat to drink water
We must not wait for our cat to suffer from a he alth problem to encourage it to drink. But how to teach a cat to drink water? More than teaching him you have to encourage him, taking into account some measures that we can implement from his arrival at our home. We highlight the following:
Pick a cat water fountain
Cats may reject standing water as a safe place to drink. In nature, water that remains stored for a long time can be a source of pathogens. That is why it is not strange that some specimens refuse to drink from a bowl. Also, it may be hard to see the fluid level.
This problem is solved by offering them moving water, since attracts them and encourages them to drink, as evidenced by the interest shown by the majority of cats by the water that comes out of the tap. As it is not at all ecological to let the water run, we have the option of resorting to the well-known cat fountains, which help to avoid wasting water and, in addition, the cat cannot accidentally get wet, as it happens with the tap, something that normally does not happen. they like. On the other hand, they also function as an element of environmental enrichment.
At Catit you have several models of fountains for cats, all of them made with quality materials and designed to make the cat drink more water.
Keep the water clean and fresh
The water for the cat must always be clean and fresh, so it should be changed frequently. Otherwise, you can reject it. The bowl needs to be cleaned often. In this regard, fountains are also interesting, as there are some with filters or UVC light, such as the Catit PIXI smart fountain that allow water to be kept clean, pure and with the same taste as the first day. On the contrary, plastic drinkers end up degrading and affecting the taste of the water.
Separate the drinker from the rest of the resources
The drinker must be placed separate from both the food and the litter box This way you avoid dirtying the water. Cats do not usually like to find remains in it. In addition, its size and shape are important, since many specimens do not tolerate contact with the container with their sensitive whiskers. Therefore, again, the option of choosing a font is the most appropriate.
Give him quality water
If the tap water is not good quality, you may have to opt to give your cat bottled water. If you don't drink it, he probably won't like it either.
Distribute multiple drinkers
Putting several waterers distributed in strategic places where we know the cat is used to being is a good way to encourage him to drink, because you will always have water nearby to do it.
Hydrate the dry feed and give it wet food
In addition to encouraging our cat to drink water, another option to increase its fluid intake is add broth to the feed from time to time when, always made without s alt or fat, or give him part of his ration daily as wet food, whose water content is around 80%.
Offer creamy snacks
To add liquid to our cat's diet, we can also resort to creamy snacks such as Catit Creamy which comes in a tube format, with what can be offered in the hand, reinforcing the cat-human bond. In addition, on the hottest days, since it can be frozen, it becomes an ice cream that hydrates while helping to entertain the cat.
Go to the vet
Finally, if you notice that your cat drinks less than he is used to, despite the fact that you have implemented the measures that we have explained, do not wait to go to the vet.
In this other article we talk about the causes that explain why a cat does not drink water.
How to give a sick cat water?
The tips we have reviewed are useful for he althy cats, but they may not be enough if our cat drinks little because he is sick. So how do I get my cat to drink water in this case? The answer depends on the situation in which each animal finds itself, since there will be very dehydrated specimens that will require hospital admission to replenish their fluids intravenously, while that others will be able to retrieve them subcutaneously.
A third group will benefit from our help at home, if we manage to increase their oral water intake. To do this, measures such as those mentioned are valid and, in addition, we can give water with a syringe directly into the mouth, according to the amounts prescribed by the veterinarian. The technique consists of removing the needle and inserting the syringe into the mouth from the side, right into the hole behind the fang. The water should be given little by little to avoid choking. So that it does not move, it may be necessary to wrap the cat with a towel or similar, leaving only the head outside, or ask another person for help.
