Is Your Cat Getting Enough Water?

Pet ownership is full of many responsibilities.  Which vet to go to and how to best accommodate your pet while on vacation are just two of many decisions that most pet owners eventually face.  Simply giving your pet a name is a huge responsibility.  Sadly, one of the most important responsibilities of a pet owner is often times one of the most overlooked: making sure your cat gets enough water.

Cats, like all animals, need water to survive.  Water is necessary for the liver to cleanse the blood of toxins and also to make sure that organ tissues are healthy.  It aids in the metabolism of nutrients for energy, in body temperature maintenance, and in regulating fluid and electrolyte balancing.  In other words, a cat needs water for all the same reasons we do.

But your cat doesn’t know all of these facts.  The question then becomes: how do you get your cat to drink enough water?

A good starting point is to know how much your cat needs.  An average seven pound cat needs about 6-7 ounces of water per day, but if they’re on a dry food diet, they’re only getting about an ounce of water from their food.  Cats on wet food diets get more water from their food, but not enough to sustain bodily functions.

Pet fountains are a great way to ensure that your cat is getting enough water.  Running water constantly breaks the surface tension of the water and draws oxygen from the air into the water.  This process, known as aeration, makes drinking water more appealing cats.  And it’s not hard to understand why – would you rather drink water from a bowl sitting on the ground for hours or from a running tap? 

Our Drinkwell™ Pet Fountains ensure that your cat is getting aerated water with little maintenance required from you.  Not only is the water aerated, but the charcoal filter removes tastes and odors.  A fresh, running stream of water is the best way to make sure that your cat is not only encouraged to drink water, but that it has the highest quality of water to drink.

Even just knowing your cats drinking habits can help point out problems.  For instance, if a cat is drinking more water than they normally do, it could be an indication that he or she might have diabetes.   ‘Drinking too much’ means different things for different cats, which is why it is important to know the regular amount of water your cat drinks.

So, making sure that your cat gets enough water is not only about keeping them healthy and happy, but understanding their habits and needs.  Visit www.mythreecats.com for more products and information to help get your cat the water they need to live happy lives.