James Herriot, a well-known author and veterinarian, has observed that “cats are connoisseurs of comfort.” Soft cat beds and delectable cat snacks come to mind when we consider what would make our kitties comfortable. But we also need to consider a clean, full bowl of water. A vital component of your cat’s overall wellness is hydration. How much water, exactly, should a cat consume each day? Additionally, how can you ensure that your cat is getting enough water?
It depends upon some factors
What volume of water should a cat consume? The quantity of water used by your cat is influenced by a number of variables, such as its size, the season, and whether it eats solely dry or wet cat food. If cats are only provided dry food, they will need a lot more additional water to be adequately hydrated. A cat often needs 2-4 ounces of fresh water on top of his kibble. Food that is canned contains about 80% water compared to dry food that contains only 10% water. Therefore, if you simply give your cat dry food, it is apparent that they will drink a lot more water.
What Signs Can To Look For That Cat Is Getting Enough Water?
When determining “How much water should a cat drink,” there are a few straightforward indicators that can help you determine whether or not your cat is properly hydrated:
- Skin flexibility Pull your cat’s neck’s base-of-skin gently (scruff). As soon as you release it, the skin ought to bounce back. Your cat might not be getting enough water if it doesn’t.
2. An animal is hydrated when its coat is lustrous and free of dry flakes.
3. Your cat shouldn’t be extremely sedentary and should move around normally.
4. Does your cat urinate two to three times daily? Check your cat’s litter box for medium-sized clumps to see whether this is occurring.
How To Encourage Cat To Drink More Water?
Is your cat not drinking water, or not drinking enough water? You can lead a cat to water, but can you make him drink? Water is essential to your cat’s health and can even be instrumental in helping to prevent some severe health issues such as feline urological syndrome. There are a few steps you can make to encourage kitty to stay hydrated:
- Sprinkle a little more water on top of your pet’s canned food. This is not recommended for dry food as it may cause it to spoil more rapidly.
- Try using glass or stainless steel water bowls. Sometimes plastic leaves a taste that cats don’t like. Plastic cat bowls may also cause cat acne.
- Always make sure the water is fresh and clean. Refresh your cat’s water bowl daily.
- Use filtered water instead of tap water. The latter can be heavily chlorinated or have too high a concentration of minerals.
Facts About Cats Drinking Water
- While many cats don’t want to be fully submerged in water, they are enthralled by the sound of running water. If you don’t have a cat who enjoys watching water flush down the toilet or playing with a dripping faucet, you’ve probably seen a video of one online. Investing in an automatic water fountain might help your cat drink more water.
2. The flavor of “hard” water, which contains a lot of concentrated mineral salts, is unpleasant to some cats. Offer distilled or filtered water as an alternative.
3. During the warmer months of the year, when bacteria can build quickly, it might be necessary to rinse your cat’s water bowl a couple of times every day.
4. Benjamin Franklin once noted in Poor Richard’s almanac that “when the well is dry, we know the worth of water.” It’s not necessary to wait that long to know what it’s worth for your cat or kitten. Make sure that water bowl is filled to the brim with fresh clean water every day and you’ll contribute greatly to your cat’s health.