Drinking more water is healthy for cats–it flushes their digestive tract, and prevent health issues such as urinary tract infections or urinary stones.
Cats descend from the African desert cat which is why you will not see them drink a lot of water. However, like humans, drinking more water is healthy for cats–it will flush their digestive tract, and prevent serious health issues such as urinary tract infections or urinary stones. But, how can you get finicky cats to consume more water? Here are a few easy tips that can help you!
Tip #1: Water fountains
This might seem a little too luxurious, but you can find high quality water fountains for pets online at a relatively fair price. Most have filters in them to ensure the water tastes the very best. The fountains work by flowing moving water, which cats are more attracted to. You know this if you’ve ever turned on your faucet, only to see your cat jump up and drink from it! Generally, a decent water fountain can cost anywhere between $20-70, depending on what features you want.
Tip #2: Flavor the water
A few drops of tuna juice or chicken broth can make the water tastier. It will encourage your cat to drink from the bowl, and it will hydrate them while giving them a special treat. This is a great way to make sure your cat is getting enough water, because they’ll likely treat it as ameal, and drink far more than they normally would.
Tip #3: Switch to wet food
If you haven’t already, switch to can food in order to increase your cat’s hydration, since can food has a much higher moisture content. Cats have different texture preferences so you may need to experiment with different types of can foods available- pate, shreds, chunks etc. Another option is heating it up for a few seconds in the microwave, always ensuring it isn’t hot enough to burn them. Some cats like to eat warm food rather than food at room temperature.
Need some expert cat advice? Contact the Catonsville Cat Clinic today!
For 20 years, the Catonsville Cat Clinic has been providing quality veterinary care to the cats of Catonsville and beyond! Dr. Pam Nesbitt, who purchased the practice in July of 2011, runs the Catonsville Cat Clinic with compassion in mind. A team of professionals with an advanced level of veterinary medicine is at your service to make sure your cat is healthy and happy. So stop on by; we’d love to get to know you and your cat!
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