How to Keep Your Cat Hydrated

Learn how you can get more water in your cat’s diet with Blain’s Farm & Fleet.

It’s common for cats to be dehydrated. This can happen for a number of reasons. Some cats just simply don’t drink enough water. Other cats could be losing water due to vomiting or diarrhea.

Regardless of the reason, it’s important for cat owners to realize that many cats aren’t getting enough water. However, like other animals, staying hydrated is essential to their health and wellbeing. That’s why Blain’s Farm & Fleet is here to show you how you can help keep your kitty hydrated!

Make Sure Their Water is Fresh

If you want your cat to drink more, you first need to make sure you’re supplying them with fresh, clean water every day. Get in the habit of regularly refilling their bowl so they’re not stuck with old, dirty water.

Make sure you’re not just topping off the bowl. Instead, you should dump out all the old stuff before adding fresh water. Also, wash your cat’s water bowl regularly. It can get slimy if you don’t.

Feed Them Wet Food

One of the easiest ways to get more water into your cat’s diet is by feeding them wet food. Canned food has a very high water content, and most cats prefer the taste of it over dry food.

If you want to up the water content even more, you can add more water or some diluted broth to the canned food, too.

Use Water Fountains

If it seems like your cat just has no desire to drink out of their water bowl, try getting them a water fountain instead. Many cats are drawn to running water and prefer it over still water.

Water fountains also have filters to ensure your cat gets the cleanest water possible. But just like a water bowl, it’s important to remember to change the water and the filters in a water fountain regularly.

Spice Up Their Water

Some cats just don’t enjoy drinking plain, boring water. Instead, they might like if you add something a little more exciting to it.

Some cats like having a few ice cubes in their water. Depending on the cat, they may like the taste of colder water better. Or they might just find that the floating ice cubes make the water more appealing.

Other cats like when you add a little broth to the bowl. If you choose to try this option, just add a small amount of low-sodium chicken or beef broth to the water. That little bit of added flavor may be enough to get your cat to start drinking more water.

Use the Right Water Bowl

Some cats may be avoiding drinking their water simply because they don’t like the bowl you have it in. Some bowls that are deeper and narrower may brush against your cat’s whiskers. Many cats don’t like their whiskers touched, so switching to a wider and shallower bowl could help with this.

Some cats are also picky about the material their water dish is made of. Some might prefer plastic, while other might like ceramic or stainless steel better.

Change the Water’s Location

If your cat never seems to want to drink out of their water bowl, it could be as simple as moving the bowl to a new location. Cats like when they can see their surroundings. So if their water bowl is in a more enclosed area, they may avoid going to it.

Many cats also like new things. So just simply moving their bowl to a new spot could intrigue them and encourage them to drink from it.

Your cat should be drinking about one ounce of water per pound of body weight each day. For example, if your cat weighs seven pounds, they should be getting approximately seven ounces of water in every day.

There are a few signs that your cat may not be getting enough water. This includes dry gums, loss of appetite, sunken eyes, fatigue, loose skin, urinating less, panting, and vomiting and diarrhea. If your cat is showing signs of dehydration and none of these solutions seem to work, make sure you contact your veterinarian right away.

For more tips on caring for your cat, visit our Pet Care Blog.