Drinking water and staying hydrated is essential for maintaining your cat’s overall health, especially in the summertime. Since some cats don’t really enjoy drinking water, it’s important to get creative with ways to keep them cool. Here are some helpful tips to increase your cat's water intake:
Provide Fresh Water: Make sure your cat has access to clean, fresh water. If you can change the water twice a day that would be ideal. Cats are more likely to drink water if it is clean, cool, and doesn't contain any debris.
Offer Multiple Water Bowls: Place water bowls in different locations throughout your home so it’s always available and accessible. Having multiple opportunities to drink water increases the likelihood that your cat will drink regularly.
Use Wide, Shallow Bowls: Cats have sensitive whiskers and don’t like using bowls that brush up against them. Make sure to use bowls that are wide enough and not too deep so they can comfortably drink.
Experiment with Different Bowls: Some cats prefer certain kinds of bowls over others. Ceramic, stainless steel, and glass are best. Try to avoid plastic if possible as it can cause chin acne and other skin irritation. See what material your cat seems to like best.
Keep Their Bowls Clean: Cats are nothing if not fastidious and they like their things to stay nice and clean. Remember to clean your cat's water bowls daily to remove any debris, bacteria, or buildup. Since cats are sensitive to changes in taste and smell, keeping their water fresh and their bowls clean can help encourage them to drink enough.
Try Water Fountains: Many cats are drawn to flowing water and may be enticed to drink more from water fountains rather than still water sitting in a bowl.
Consider Flavored Water: Some cats may drink more if you add a little flavoring to their water to lure them in, such as a small amount of tuna juice or low-sodium chicken broth.
Offer Ice Cubes: Some cats enjoy playing with ice cubes, especially when it’s hot out, and they may lick them as they melt, inadvertently increasing their water intake. You can either add some ice cubes to their water bowl or offer them as a separate treat so they can chase them around.
Feed Wet Food: Incorporating wet food into your cat's diet is crucial. Wet food has a much higher moisture content than kibble, which helps to increase overall water intake. Wet food has so many more benefits over kibble including more protein - which will give your cat energy and keep their coat shiny and bright - and fewer carbohydrates. Furthermore, if a cat is not eating enough wet food, they are at an increased risk of developing a urinary obstruction since water helps flush toxins and other materials out of cats' bodies.
Add Water to Their Wet Food: Adding a little bit of warm water to your cat's wet food will not only increase the hydration, but should bring out even more of the food's smells, enticing your cat to lap it right up.
Offer Mousse Treats: Mousse treats are another tasty way to give your cat a hydration boost. You can use them as a meal topper or a separate snack.
Hopefully these tips and tricks will inspire you to keep your cat healthy and hydrated so they can beat the heat and enjoy their summer.
Love, Nala
