August 19, 2024, 6:25 am | Read time: 10 minutes
Cats are naturally poor drinkers. This is because they normally get the majority of their water requirements from their prey. However, canned and dry food, such as that given to our domestic cats, is often not enough, so they have to drink additional water to avoid health problems such as urinary crystals. This is also because they are simply not used to drinking water, which is why it is sometimes so difficult. PETBOOK provides tips on how even “lazy” cats can get enough liquid.
Several years ago, I had the chance to meet with a renowned television veterinarian at a pet fair in Berlin. I took the opportunity to ask him what he thought was crucial when it came to feeding cats. To my surprise, he emphasized that the most crucial aspect is ensuring the cat gets enough fluids. That is, by far, the most important thing. He also gave me some tips for this, which I will share with you below in this article. This is a significant concern because research indicates that our feline friends often don’t drink enough water.
Many health problems that frequently occur in cats, such as urinary stones or kidney disease, are often linked to inadequate water intake. It is therefore essential for our cats’ health that they drink enough fluids every day. Below, we have put together seven tips and personal experiences to help you achieve this.
Why do cats drink so little water?
Our domestic cats are descended from desert dwellers. Therefore, they have evolved to cover the majority of their fluid requirements with their prey. As a rule, these are small birds and rodents whose bodies consist of 60 to 70 percent water. Of course, cats also drink from a spring in the wild when they have the opportunity to do so. But this also depends on the weather, their activity, and what food they have eaten.
If we feed our cats wet food with a moisture content of 70 percent, this can already satisfy their thirst. However, if a cat is very active or is only fed dry food, there is a high probability that it will become thirsty and drink water. Cats typically consume only the bare minimum amount of water necessary.
However, there are situations in which we want our cats to drink more fluids. For example, if they are only given dry food. Because then the risk of urinary stone disease is high. Cats that receive too little fluid from their food have very concentrated urine, which encourages the growth of urinary crystals in the bladder. However, cats that get more fluid from their food also produce larger amounts of urine and are more likely to flush out such crystals.
How much water do cats need to drink every day?
According to scientific studies, cats generally need around 50 to 60 milliliters (0.21 to 0.25 cups) of water per kilogram (2.2 pounds) of body weight. If your cat weighs four kilograms (8.8 pounds), it should therefore drink 200 to 400 milliliters (0.84 to 1.69 cups) of water a day. Even cats that like to drink rarely consume these quantities, and they don’t have to. This is because they already get most of their liquid from their wet food.
As a rule, a cat weighing four kilograms (8.8 pounds) gets around 200 to 250 grams (7.05 to 8.81 ounces) of wet food. With a moisture content of 80 percent, this already covers almost 200 milliliters (0.84 cups) of liquid. However, the situation is different with dry food, which has a moisture content of just 9 percent. With a daily ration of 50 to 70 grams (1.76 to 2.46 ounces), that is a meager four to five milliliters (0.01 to 0.02 cups).
Therefore, cats that are exclusively fed dry food should ideally consume at least 200 milliliters (0.84 cups) of water daily. This amount is considerable for an animal that naturally tends to drink sparingly and seldom feels the urge to hydrate on its own. Fortunately, there are a few tricks to ensure that even lazy cats get enough liquid.
7 tips to get cats to drink more water
Tip 1: Cats don’t want to drink where they eat
In pet stores, it’s common to find double bowls — one for water and one for food — designed to be practical and compactly situated side by side. These make no sense for either cats or dogs, as there is a high probability that the drinking water will be contaminated with food. Especially for cats that only drink occasionally, it is therefore important that the water bowl is as far away from the food as possible and is changed daily. Even small impurities can make some cats less keen to drink.
Also interesting: How often you should clean your pet’s water and food bowls
Tip 2: Does your cat prefer stale or fresh water?
A study has shown that cats are able to distinguish between different types of water. It was also found that they prefer tap water to distilled water. So cats are probably able to taste minerals such as calcium or magnesium in water. And just as with us humans, it is also very individual for cats which water tastes best to them. For example, some cats prefer stale water from a watering can because it is perhaps at room temperature and the calcium content is somewhat lower.
Other cats love fresh water, preferably straight from the tap. This probably depends on the region in which you live, how hard the water is, and the condition of the pipes. In addition, cats are creatures of habit. If they were imprinted with a certain type of water as kittens, they may also prefer it as adult cats. The only thing that helps here is trial and error and observation.
Tip 3: Some cats prefer running water
In a US study conducted by the Animal Behavior Clinic in Portland, Oregon, scientists Christopher Pachel and Jacqui Neilson investigated whether cats prefer still or running water. Although the results were not statistically significant, the cats in the experiment drank slightly more from running water sources, such as fountains or taps. The researchers also found that the cats showed a strong preference and switched very little between the options. So if a cat preferred water from a bowl, it stuck with it.
Another study showed that the use of fountains and drinking fountains can increase water intake in cats. The scientists assume that indoor fountains encourage cats to play and, therefore, to drink due to the movement of the water. In fact, it has been observed that cats who see such a device for the first time playfully reach into the water with their paws and then lick it off.
Another theory is that cats can perceive running water more easily because it makes a noise when it splashes. This is because running water is usually more digestible than water that has been in a pond for weeks and in which bacteria or algae have formed. They also perceive the water surface better due to the movement of the liquid, which some cats have a problem with in still water. This is probably why many cats like to drink from the running tap. You should therefore definitely buy a drinking fountain for these animals, as they should always have access to water and not have to wait for someone to turn on the tap.
Tip 4: Choose the right bowl for the water
Water is transparent, and many cats have difficulty seeing the surface of the water. You can often see them carefully lowering their heads to drink, smelling the water, and then landing their nose in it and snorting. For some cats, this experience is enough to make them stop drinking from the container (who likes water in their nose?). Others are bothered by the reflection that comes from metal bowls, for example. But there are solutions for this. Many manufacturers have already reacted and produced bowls with a darker, often blue, inside.
However, there is no right or wrong here either. It depends on the individual preferences of the cat. It is best to provide them with several alternatives. Not only the classic bowls from pet shops are suitable. Bowls made of porcelain, glass, or large preserving jars are also popular. It is best to observe your cat and see which containers it prefers to drink from.
Incidentally, many cats prefer to drink from their owner’s water glasses. If you prefer to avoid this, consider offering your cat its own glass of water. Make sure it’s stable enough to prevent tipping. Perhaps cover it with a small lid to keep it safe from curious paws and tongues.
This is how I encourage my lazy cat to drink better
My cat, Remo, tends to drink very little. Some time ago, we also experienced a “health scare” in which his kidney values were very poor. One contributing factor is his reluctance to drink adequately. So I tried a few things to encourage him to drink. For example, since he’s been with me, he only drinks from blue-painted ceramic or blue metal bowls. This seems to be very important for his digestibility.
I have noticed that if I place several water bowls in quiet places, Remo drinks more often than if there is only one bowl in the same room as his food, for example. However, although his kidney values are under control at the moment, I am, of course still keeping a watchful eye on him. Especially on warm days, I have the feeling that his fluid intake is still not sufficient. Then he gets a kidney-friendly cat drink that I mix with two-thirds water. The appealing taste can entice even the most reluctant drinkers to visit their water bowl more frequently.
Tip 5: Flavored water
The previous tips were based on the assumption that cats drink water of their own accord. However, this is not true for all cats. The last three tips are also suitable for cats that are particularly lazy drinkers or need more fluids due to illness.
If you have such a cat, you should regularly offer it tasty cat drinks in addition to the water points in the apartment or house. You can easily make these yourself by boiling meat or offal and saving the cooking water. When cooled to room temperature, hardly any cat can resist.
Important: Never use salt or stock powder to boil the meat. You should also offer your cat fresh cooking water every day. It is best to boil a large amount of meat and then freeze the broth in portions.
Tip 6: Cat soups
A variety of specially formulated soups and cat drinks are now available to help increase a cat’s fluid intake. You simply have to try out what your cat likes best. Especially for cats that only eat dry food, soups, or drinks that have been specially developed for them are a useful supplement.
Tip 7: Water in the food
This tip is as simple as it is effective and comes from the famous TV vet I met at the trade fair. Since then, my two cats have always been given a sip of water with every portion of food. While boiled chicken broth is preferable, adding tap water is also an effective method. However, this only applies to wet food. Dry food fanatics will probably turn away from the bowl in disgust if their beloved kibble is suddenly mushy instead of crunchy.
Conclusion
Cats are individuals. There are good and bad drinkers, and cats that prefer running water. Some prefer to fish the water out of the watering can or water glass with their paws and then lick it off with relish. If your cat rarely visits the drinking bowl, offer it various alternatives. An expensive indoor fountain isn’t a necessity. It is best to observe your cat. Does it show an interest in the tap, or does it have a particular favorite spot by the window where you could place a bowl of water? Experiment to discover your pet’s preferences, and consult with your veterinarian for guidance. After all, many typical illnesses can be avoided simply by ensuring that your cat drinks enough water.
Important in summer Tips and tricks for getting dogs to drink more
Hygiene How often you should clean your pets’ water and food bowls
Common error How long can you leave your cat alone?
Sources
- Swedish University of Agricultural Science, “Water consumption of cats (Felis catus)” (pdf file)
- Drhoelter.de, „Tipps zur Steigerung der Trinkmenge Ihrer Katze“ (accessed on 06/27/2023)
- Sciencedirect.com, “Comparison of feline water consumption between still and flowing water sources: A pilot study” (accessed 06/27/2023)
- Cornell Feline Health Center, “Hydration” (accessed 06/27/2023)