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Encouraging cats to drink made easy!
Does your cat drink too little?
Most cats don't drink enough water. We explain why this is the case and what makes a cat drink more.
Why do cats drink little?
Cats are bad drinkers by nature! The reason for the drinking behaviour of house cats lies in their origin. Today's domestic cats are descendedfrom the African hawk cat (Felis silvestris lybica). These lived in an area with very little water.
However, their bodies are perfectly adapted to this: their thirst is low and their fluid requirements are almost completely covered by their prey . In addition, their kidneys are extremely powerful and can filter waste products even with very little liquid.
Why do cats prefer to drink running water?
The origins of our domestic cats lie in the arid regions of Palestine and Mesopotamia. In warm countries, really clean water is usually only available from running water. Stagnant water, on the other hand, often contains bacterial counts that are hazardous to health.
Cats that favoured running and clean water over contaminated water had a clear advantage. This natural selection still influences their drinking behaviour today. They follow their instinct and therefore favour running water. Hence the preference of many cats to drink directly from the tap at .
How much water should a cat drink per day?
The average water requirement of an adult cat is around 50 ml per kg of body weight. A cat weighing 5 kg must therefore consume a quarter of a litre of liquid. However, this is only a guideline. Every cat is individual and therefore the requirement can of course vary greatly.
What happens if the cat doesn't drink enough?
Is your cat not drinking enough? Unfortunately, this can have health-relevant consequences. The kidneysin particular are put under a lot of strain. As a detoxification organ, it is dependent on water to be able to remove waste products. In the worst case, this leads to chronic kidney disease. Urinary tract diseases, urinary stones and kidney stones are also consequences of a lack of water.
The formation of urinary stones and urinary gravel is extremely favoured by too little fluid. Small crystals that are already present are not flushed out sufficiently and then grow in size. This is because the cause of their formation is urine that is too concentrated and this is caused by a lack of water. The dreaded struvite or calcium oxalate stones are the result. And in the worst case, such stones can block the urethra. Toxins can no longer be excreted and a life-threatening backflow into the kidneys occurs. Only a quick emergency operation can help here.
Can the cat's fluid requirements be met with wet food?
The water content of wet food is usually around 80%. This means that feeding wet food alone almost covers the cat's water requirements. To illustrate this and make it easier to understand, here is a practical example:
| Wet food | PERRO Cat Supreme Adult |
|---|---|
| Cat weight | 5 kg |
| Daily water requirement | 250ml |
| Recommended amount of food | 300 g |
| Assumed water content: | 79,2 % |
| Amount of water consumed with wet food: | 300 x 79.2%=237.6 ml |
*Calculation based on the specified ingredients and feeding recommendation
How do you recognise when a cat has drunk too little?
It is relatively difficult to monitor the amount a cat drinks. There are some signs that indicate that the cat is dehydrated:
- Sunken eyes
- Loss of appetite
- Dry gums
- Strong smelling urine
- Few liquid droppings in the litter tray
Encourage cats to drink: Tips on drinking fountains and co.
So what can you do to get your cat to drink more? As individual as every cat is, so is their preference when it comes to water intake. The principle of "the proof of the pudding is in the eating" applies here. Simply test different measures and observe which the cat accepts well. In addition, you should always be prepared for the cat changing its mind and needing to adapt.
- Cat drinking fountains: Running water encourages many cats to drink more. Inspiration and information can be found here
- Ice cubes: many cats love ice cubes and enjoy licking them. A top tip, especially for hot summers!
- Add two to three tablespoons of water to the wet food . Ideally about 3 meals a day.
- Moisten dry food: a spray bottle is best for this.
- Offerseveral drinking opportunities around the home - also from different bowls and containers.
HAVE YOU DRUNK ENOUGH?
Skin fold test
Do the skin fold test!
To do this, carefully take a skin fold on the side of your cat with your thumb and index finger and gently press together for a few seconds.
Water balance OK
Then let go and observe : if the skin fold goes straight back to the starting position, this is an indication that the cat's water balance is OK and it has absorbed enough fluid.
Drink more
However, if the skin fold remains or only retracts very slowly, this is a sign that the cat has absorbed too little fluid and must be given more water.
...and even more tips
- Flavour the drinking water: for example, chicken broth (salt-free), tuna water or a teaspoon of lactose-free milk or cat's milk is suitable.
- Strict separation: Place food, water and the litter tray as far apart as possible. Cats do not like to drink where they eat.
- Always changefresh: water several times a day.
- No chlorinated water: Cats usually do not drink chlorinated water. Still mineral water is a viable alternative.
- The right temperature: there is no such thing as the right temperature , so it is important to find out whether the cat prefers water at room temperature or cold.
- "Stale water ": sounds absurd now, but there are also cats that like stale water .
