Of course everyone wants the very best for their cat. In addition to cuddling and playing with your cat, you are also responsible for the care and health of your beloved four-legged friend. Sometimes health problems are caused by a lack of moisture. Does your cat drink too little? In this article we explain why and how you can make your cat drink more, for example with a drinking fountain.
Dehydration is a common problem in cats. Unfortunately, many cats drink less than is healthy for them. This can have several causes. Are you curious about what you can do to make your cat drink more and keep it healthy? Then read on quickly.
From wild cat to beloved pet
Just like humans, a cat's body is made up of two thirds of water. Cats need a certain amount of fluids to survive and keep their bodies healthy. A domestic cat naturally has a very different diet than a wild cat. When you give your cat wet food, she gets some moisture from it. Dry food, the word says it all, contains no moisture at all. That is why we set up a drinking bowl for our animals. Unfortunately, not every cat drinks enough from a normal drinking bowl, resulting in dehydration. In addition, cats can concentrate their urine allowing them to survive on less water than other animals. However, this does not mean that this is also healthy. Dehydration can have serious consequences.
Dehydration due to moisture deficiency
How do you know if your cat is drinking too little? One of the best and simplest ways to test this is by squeezing your cat's skin and pulling it up gently. If the skin doesn't return to its normal position soon, your cat is likely dehydrated. Also watch for signs of panting, depression, loss of appetite, sunken eyes, or dry mouth. An increased heart rate or lethargy can also indicate dehydration.
The role of the drinking trough
Most plastic containers or bowls are not recommended because of the chemicals that can be released into the water and give it an unpleasant smell and taste. This can also be a reason for your cat to drink less. In addition, the chemicals can be toxic to the cat. Drinking bowls made of BPA-free plastic, ceramic, stainless steel or glass are good alternatives.
The drinking surface should be wide enough for the cat to put its head in without the whiskers touching the edges. You can of course also use a drinking fountain to increase the drinking surface. This way the whiskers don't get in the way and your cat gets clean and enough water in a simple way to stay healthy. To prevent the bowl from moving, you can use a non-slip mat, so that the whiskers do not unexpectedly hit the edge during a strong thirst quencher.
Tips and tricks to get your cat to drink more
1. Experiment with a particular flavor: Some cats don't find normal water interesting enough to drink enough. Just like humans, they sometimes want a bit of variety. Add a little tuna, mussel juice, or low-sodium chicken stock (broth without onion or garlic) to their water. This will help your cats get to the water more quickly for a drink. Don't put too much in it, it just needs to tickle the cat's nose. Also make sure you always use organic resources.
2. Vary in food: Alternate with dry food and wet food. As you have just read, cats are used to getting most of their water from their food. You can also add a little water to the canned food. Just don't make it too soupy, the cat can also resist this. If your cat doesn't feel like drinking from a normal saucer, this is a great solution to let them get more water.
3. Separate the food and drink - Cats are very careful about what they drink and eat. Water or food on a bowl may have certain smells or tastes that are not pleasant for your cat. It's smart to place the bowl or water fountain on the opposite side of the room or in a room other than the food to prevent it from affecting your cat's eating or drinking habits. By separating it you prevent your cat from leaving the water behind.
4. You can't judge the amount of water a cat drinks by the amount of water you see them drinking. If your cat is fed wet food, they will in any case get extra moisture in that way. If they're drinking, it might as well be when you're not home. It is better to fill the Pet Fountain or bowl completely to maximum capacity and then observe when the Fountain or Bowl is empty and how much water is left in it.
Is a drinking fountain suitable for your cat?
To make sure your cat drinks more, there is only one tool with guaranteed success. By means of a special drinking fountain for cats you can be sure that your cat will drink more. Cats like running water and prefer to avoid standing water. A drinking fountain provides your cat with fresh running water. Cats associate running water with safety, hygiene and it is a recognizable sound. Some drinking fountains are equipped with charcoal and foam filters that keep the water free of dust, unpleasant odors and tastes and (cat) hair.
By choosing a drinking fountain for cats, it is considerably easier to encourage your cats to drink. In addition, you can easily combine a drinking fountain with the tips and tricks we have mentioned above. With the drinking fountain, your cat is guaranteed to drink more and you will see that once the cat has become acquainted with the drinking fountain, he will not go back to his old drinking bowl. It is the asset for you and your beloved animals.
Interested in a drinking fountain?
With the useful information from this article, you know exactly what to do if you want your cat to drink more. By means of a drinking fountain for cats it is a lot easier to ensure that your cat will drink optimally. With us you have come to the right place for a drinking fountain for cats.
View below the drinking fountain that meets your wishes and all needs for good health and stimulation of your cats. Getting a cat to drink more is probably easier than you think.
