Your cat isn't drinking or drinking too little? No panic!
Some cats prefer fresh water, while others like it stale. If your cat is not drinking at all or only very little, it can become dangerous for your furry friend under certain circumstances. But until then, tell yourself: No panic!
But what can you do if your cat stops drinking? First, calmly read through our reasons that might lead to your cat not wanting to drink, and our tips on how to get her hydration back on track will surely help you too.
How much do cats drink per day?
Certainly, a rough guideline is helpful when it comes to how many ml of water cats should drink per day. 50 to 70 ml per kilogram of body weight is considered a rule of thumb. A 5 kg cat needs between 250 and 350 ml daily. Does your cat need to drink a bowl of about 300 ml per day to meet her water needs? Not at all, because cats also meet their hydration needs through their food. Wet food consists largely of moisture, and your cat will drink correspondingly less than a kitty that only receives dry food. Since this contains only about 10% moisture, your cat will primarily meet her hydration needs with water from the bowl.
Reasons why your cat isn't drinking anymore
Naturally, cats, which have their origins in the African wildcat, do not have a particularly pronounced thirst. In short: cats drink little - it's somewhat in their nature. In the wild, these predators manage to obtain sufficient moisture from the blood and general water content of their prey.
However, if you don't have a free-roaming cat that regularly plays Count Dracula or Vampirella, you need to provide her with liquid in other ways. If you feed wet food, that already covers most of her daily hydration needs. But if your cat is drinking far too little or not at all while being exclusively fed dry food, you should first consider the following tips before visiting the vet:
How to get your cat's hydration back on track
Distributing water stations in the apartment
If your water bowl and food bowl are currently next to each other, that may be the reason why your furry friend doesn't want to drink. But where should a cat's water bowl be placed? Unlike us humans, cats don't like to drink where they eat, which means: Place the two bowls far apart, preferably in different rooms.
Try different locations for your cat's water stations; in the beginning, it doesn't hurt to simply offer several drinking options.
Choosing the right bowl
Have you ever tried to drink from a glass without using your hands? Exactly. But what do cats prefer to drink from? One thing is clear: cats like shallow bowls that are best as wide as possible so that their whiskers don't constantly bump against something while drinking. Make sure the bowl can't slide around.
To be sure, you should rinse the bowl, if not daily, at least regularly with hot water and a bit of dish soap. This eliminates any odors and prevents the formation of germs.
Does your cat like to drink only from the faucet? Some cats also enjoy drinking from fountains because the water flows here - similar to how it does in nature in rivers or streams. Offer your cat a drinking fountain if she enjoys flowing water from the tap or even from the toilet.
[TRANSLATION ERROR] Das stetige Plätschern und frische Wasser im Brunnen ist für viele Katzen sehr attraktiv und simuliert das natürliche Trinken in der Natur.
Changing the water
As mentioned above, some cats prefer fresh water, while others like it stale. You might also try a cat fountain, as most felines prefer drinking from flowing water sources.
If you've noticed that your cat drinks water from pots or bowls left in the sink, please ensure that these are reasonably clean.
If the tap water in your area is chlorinated, you should definitely switch to rainwater or still mineral water. Sometimes, adding a bit of broth to the water helps as well, but please make sure it's salt-free.
The right wet food
If you primarily or exclusively feed your cat wet food, you shouldn't be surprised that your furry friend drinks less water. →High-quality and species-appropriate food typically contains around 80% moisture. This corresponds roughly to the water content that a mouse would provide as prey.
Make sure the food doesn't sit out for too long if your cat doesn't eat everything at once. Even the most irresistible food can lead to diarrhea or vomiting.
At Pets Deli, we bring freshness to the bowl - and in any case, healthy food! You won't find sugar or grains here; instead, your cat can expect fresh meat, crunchy fruits and vegetables, and rich oils!
Unser Futter für Katzen: ehrlich, gesund, lecker.
Food for cats that drink little
Our soups or sauces menus: How about it?
We have given a lot of thought to this topic in the past and are therefore pleased to have found a cool solution. Our wet food range for cats now includes delicious soups and sauces menus.
You can confidently offer our →sauces menus as wet food. As complete feed, they optimally cover your cat's mineral and nutrient needs while providing enough moisture, so you no longer have to worry about water shortage.
Our →soups come as supplementary feed. You can offer them alongside dry or wet food to ensure your cat takes in enough liquid - either separately as a snack or as a topping on her food.
Thanks to their delicious aroma and high-quality broth, they have a high acceptance rate and will surely be devoured by your cuddle tiger.
