Updated by Amy Granger on Sep 15, 2021
Cats, by nature, do not drink a lot of water. Originally, cats descended from the feline that dwelled in the desert, and as such, do not need plenty of water in their system to survive. However, to avoid kidney and bladder problems, you must make sure you keep your cat hydrated. Cats might be able to get water from their foods and other weird sources, but that cannot be enough. Given that dehydration can cause urinary tract and bladder grit issues, you should be, by now, wondering how to get your cat to drink water—more water.
Your cat needs to drink fresh and clean water every day for optimal health. Water is essential for the kidneys to remove toxins from the blood.
According to PetWebMD, cats need around 3.5-4.5 ounces of water per 5 pounds of body weight daily.
As your kitten grows up and becomes a "teenager" you will notice their energy increased faster. They will develop their sleeping patterns at this age, so you will see them playing around the house all the time with a chaotic sleep mode.
For example, if your cat weighs around 10 pounds, then it will need to drink around half of a bottle of water daily. If you feed your cat wet food regularly, your cat will naturally drink less water. This is obviously because it would have consumed a significant amount of water from the wet food.
At senior age, your cat will be lethargic and sleep more. It will sleep as much as a kitten but without energetic outbursts. Senior cats prefer to sleep for most of the day and like to have a rest instead of doing physical activities, such as playing or hunting.
For cats, wet food is an excellent source of water. If your cat is eating wet food but still has to drink more water, consider mixing in a tiny amount of added water with the food. However, should your cat refuse to eat the food because of the added water, don't push it unless you want it to grow a total dislike for the food or, worse, decide not to eat anything at all.
It will help if you start introducing wet food to your cat's diet gradually. Since they can be picky with what they eat, it's good to experiment with various flavors of wet food. Some cats will only eat pie, while others eat gravy chunks or textures similar to that of a loaf. The most important rule to remember is that if your cat doesn't like wet food, don't push them to eat it; instead, use one or two of the other tactics mentioned below.
Your cat is more likely to drink water if you put the water bowl next to their food when they are eating. Many cats, particularly those that only eat dry food, will alternate between eating and drinking. Another wonderful trick that has proven effective with certain cats is to put the kibble in a timed feeder with a bowl of water next to it. Since the water is available as your cat waits for food, they could be more likely to drink it.
Filling the water bowl all the way to the top may encourage your cat to drink more water. Your cat's whiskers are very sensitive to touch, and some cats dislike it when their whiskers brush up against the bowl's edges.
Water can make cats very sensitive to its scent and taste. Regularly changing the water helps keep it clean, safe and at the right temperature for them. To stop bacterial growth, wash their feeding bowls on a regular basis. This is capable of attracting your cat to drink some clean and fresh water.
Most cats prefer running water to water fountains; if water fountains aren't working for you, turning on a tap at a light trickle for periods of time when your cat is active may be another viable option. However, the drawback to this method is that running water is not eco-friendly.
Filtered water fountains are an excellent way to pique the interest of your cat in water; that's to not mention the fact that some cats like the sound of running water. Frequently cleaning out the filter is essential because bacteria can build up and deter your cat from drinking.
There are many water dispensers you can lay your hands on both in online stores and offline, but one you would love to try out is the iPetor Pet Fountain.
• It has a very compact design making it fit into small spaces, and suitable for different pets at a time.
• It comes with high-quality replacement filters to ensure clean, safe, and fresh drinking water for your pets.
• iPeter's fountain is a close companion for pets that will let them love to drink water more often.
Increased water intake is known as "polydipsia." The most common causes include kidney dysfunction, liver disease, diabetes mellitus, hyperthyroidism, and urinary tract disease. If you cat is taking too much water, you'd better take you cats to a vet to see whether it has diagnosed the above diseases.
Your cat may not be drinking water for the following reasons:
Use a syringe to deliver water and other fluids through its mouth. If this method doesn't work, you should seek your vet's advice. Your veterinarian will give you detailed advice on how much water to give and how frequently to give it.
How to get a cat to drink water is a major concern for most cat owners, as they are naturally predisposed to not drink too much water. But it is really not a thing to worry about too much. Your cat might just be getting its fluid from its wet food.
However, if you think the water they get is not enough, there are many things to try to encourage your cat to drink more water, as already discussed above.