We all benefit from drinking more water and your cat is no exception.
Good urinary health is associated with drinking plenty of water for both humans and cats. Good hydration contributes to good digestive health, healthy skin and coat, and more.
Cats who don’t drink enough water are at risk of developing urinary tract issues like infections, urinary stones or, with some male cats…a blocked urethra.
The challenge is most cats don’t drink enough water because they’re just not that thirsty! Canned cat food is almost 80 percent water, so cats who eat it daily are getting the hydration they need from food.
- Like a horse, you can lead a cat to water, but you cannot make him drink! You can make water more alluring to your favorite feline by trying the following strategies Ice it down! Place a couple of ice cubes into your cat’s food to add moisture. Some cats consider them a little treat! The ice ends up tasting like the food in the bowl, and while your cat licks the tasty cube, he’s getting extra water.
- Add some ice cubes in your cat’s water to make it more interesting, too. Don’t be surprised if your cat starts to prefer icy cold water.
- Make sure there is fresh water in your cat’s favorite bowls throughout the house, or at least in the rooms where he spends most of his time. Use several of your cat’s favorite containers. The best bowls for cat food and water are made of nonporous materials that don’t trap bacteria. A cat’s whiskers are ultra-sensitive, so shallow, wide bowls make for kitty’s most comfortable mealtimes and encourage him to linger longer and drink more water. Check out the attractive assortment of modern bowls, feeding mats and fountains at MyThreeCats.com.
- Change the water and wash the bowls and cups often. You wouldn’t want to drink from a glass full of water that’s been sitting around for a few days; neither would your cat!
- A little chicken broth or tuna juice might spice up kitty’s drinking experience. Add a bit to the water and see if she likes it.
- Try a cat fountain! Fountains that provide clean, flowing water capture a cat’s interest. And, while it might take a couple of days for cats to get comfortable with a fountain, most like and even learn to prefer them. One of our favorite fountains is this ceramic option that can be enjoyed by multiple cats.
- Including a high portion of high quality canned food in your cat’s daily diet is the easiest way to get more moisture into your cat’s diet. Better yet, most cats love it!
- If an all-canned-food diet isn’t in your budget or your cat doesn’t take to it, try adding a bit of water or low-sodium chicken broth to his dry food for moisture content.
- If you can, feed your cat more frequent, but smaller, meals. Eating usually encourages thirst so eating more often may get him to drink a little more, a lot more often.
Water intake is one of the most critical elements to good feline health, so make sure your kitties always have plenty of tempting opportunities to whet their whiskers!
Have you had success with other strategies to get your cat to drink more water? Share them with us in a comment below!
