Hydration plays a key role in how your kitty’s vital organs function. Cats who don’t drink enough water are at risk for serious health issues including urinary tract infections and kidney disease.
Read our recent article 6 Signs Your Cat Needs to Drink More Water, then incorporate these tips into your home to keep your cat healthy and hydrated.
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1. Refresh Often
Cats will often avoid drinking from a water bowl if the water is stagnant or old. If there is dust gathering on the top, remnants of food at the bottom, or a layer of slime around the edge, she may regard it as a threat to her health (and rightfully so). Make it a habit to clean her bowl and refresh her water every day.
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2. Water Fountain
If you can’t refresh her water fast enough for her taste, consider adding a fountain or two to your home, which will keep her water fresh and flowing with minimal effort on your part.
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3. Improve Location
Because of the risk of contamination, many cats will avoid drinking water that is set too closely to a food bowl. Try relocating your cat’s water bowl to the opposite side of the room from her food dish, or in another room altogether.
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4. Add More Locations
Adding multiple watering hole locations can be very helpful in several situations
- Does your household have multiple cats? Not having enough resources to go around can cause tension in your home and can result in some cats avoiding resources such as a water bowl or litter box out of fear of being bullied or ambushed. This tension can be very subtle and you may not even notice it’s happening. To avoid this, simply add more water bowls in different locations throughout your home.
- Is your cat old or have mobility issues? If walking is painful or daunting for your cat, she may have a hard time drinking enough water if she knows she’ll have to walk to the other end of your home to access it. Try putting a water dish near her favorite perch and adding water bowls in several locations so there’s always one close by.
- Is your home more than one floor or very large? Your cat may not be drinking enough water if he has to go out of his way to seek it out. Adding water bowls to each floor and each side of your home can help.
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5. Change the Type of Bowl
Cats are very picky when it comes to bowls. If your cat isn’t drinking a sufficient amount of water, experiment with different types of bowls to see if she has a preference. Think about different materials (glass, metal, ceramic, etc.) as well as depth. A cat’s whiskers are sensitive and some cats will avoid a dish if their whiskers touch the side while they drink.
If your cat is prone to drinking out of your own water glass you can also take hints and leave a glass or two around just for him.
6. Try A Fun, Refreshing Ice Ball
This video of cats licking an ice ball has been making the rounds on social media sites. It’s a great way to add a bit of fun to your cat’s routine while encouraging her to drink more water. This is also a great way to keep your cat cool in the summer months.
7. Add More Wet Food
Wet food obviously has more water content than dry kibble, and adding more wet food to your cat’s diet can be a simple way to help her consume more water.
