Unfortunately, many cats go dehydrated — and not because they don’t have access to water. For a variety of reasons, from a cat’s diet to their habits, many cats don’t drink enough water and become dehydrated.
Dehydration in cats is a serious problem that can lead to health issues, some of which are much worse than others.
To help your cat avoid health issues, consider trying something new to stimulate hydration and encourage drinking water. Here are five tips to get your cat to drink more water.
Regularly Replace the Water
Imagine filling a huge glass of water once a week and drinking it from it every day. This is essentially what your cat does when it drinks from a bowl of water, so you can imagine how gross the water can start to get.
Replacing your cat’s water daily shouldn’t be an issue, and it ensures that tiny particles of hair, dust, or anything else floating around don’t contaminate your cat’s water.
On top of replacing the water, make a point to clean or replace your cat’s water bowl regularly. The bowl itself will get dirty over time, so a thorough scrub can keep the water in the bowl cleaner for longer.
Get a Cat Water Fountain
Cat owners with dehydrated cats would tell you that a cat water fountain is worth it. Cat water fountains come with many benefits not offered by a water bowl. For starters, water fountains circulate the water, slowing the buildup of bacteria and slime.
Most water fountains also come with a filter, helping keep the water cleaner for longer. While water still needs to be replaced in a fountain, the filter gives you a few extra days before replacement water is needed.
Lastly, the slow trickle of water from water fountains encourages cats to drink. A cat water fountain might not fix all your cat’s hydration problems, but it can certainly help.
Try a Different Bowl
Your cat’s bowl could be what’s keeping it from drinking water. Smaller bowls without large openings could lead to whisker fatigue, meaning your cat would prefer to just not drink water. Similarly, low to the ground bowls might not have enough depth for your cat to feel comfortable drinking.
Consider getting a deep, wide bowl for water. You don’t need to fill it to the brim, but it should be full enough that there’s depth. Your cat probably isn’t interested in drinking from a puddle!
Give Your Cat Wet Food
One of the best ways to sneak some hydration into a cat’s diet is with wet food. Both wet food and dry food are good for cats, and giving your cat a combination of the two foods provides the most health benefits.
Some wet foods are designed specifically for hydration, too. In some cases, your vet may recommend a special wet food to help your cat with hydration.
Get A Second Water Bowl or Fountain
Wouldn’t you get tired of having to drink water from the same glass in the same place? Giving your cat options could be just what they need to start drinking more water.
Consider getting several bowls or fountains and placing them around your house. This way a source of water is always nearby, and your cat won’t have to go far to get water. It might seem small, but every little trick can help keep your cat hydrated.
FAQs on Ways to Get Cats to Drink More Water
Dehydrated cats are low energy, lethargic, and might not have a big appetite. The biggest tell of dehydration is that they clearly aren’t drinking very much water. In extreme cases, dehydrated cats will have sunken eyes.
Aside from boredom, convenience, or whisker fatigue, a cat might not be drinking water because of a medical issue. If problems persist, contact your vet.
Dehydrated cats need water, whether they get that by drinking through a fountain or eating hydration-rich wet food. Severely dehydrated cats might also need to lay off dry food, or have their dry food dampened with water first.
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