Borrowing a line from the poem, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, by the English poet, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, this quote may describe the situation in your house if you have a kitty who doesn’t like to drink water.
Proper hydration is very important for cats in order to maintain all their vital bodily functions. But if you have a kitty who doesn’t drink much, or any, water this can be a challenge. Not getting sufficient water can result in dehydration which causes compromised circulation, an inability to control body temperature, heart issues and neurological problems. As well, certain diseases and conditions can cause water loss such as diabetes, chronic kidney disease and chronic vomiting or diarrhea.
Signs of dehydration include dry gums, constipation, lethargy and weakness. If you think your kitty is dehydrated, get to the vet immediately as dehydration can be fatal.
According to the Cornell University Feline Health Center cats should drink “…about 4 ounces of water per five pounds of lean body weight per day, so the average 10-pound cat should drink about one cup of water per day.”
Why Doesn’t Kitty Want to Drink Water?
There are a few possible reasons for kitty bypassing the water bowl:
- He’s already getting enough water, likely through a diet of wet food which is up to 80% water.
- He doesn’t like the location of the water bowl. Perhaps it’s in a high traffic area, too close to the kitty litter or in a noisy spot like close to the washing machine.
- The water bowl isn’t clean enough and has gathered dust and fur from the air, making it unattractive to kitty.
- There may be a medical issue at play, for example, tooth pain or a gastrointestinal upset.
So, What To Do?
Once you’ve monitored kitty to confirm that he isn’t drinking water, a vet visit would be in order to rule out any health problems. If he gets a clean bill of health here are some things you can try to increase his water intake:
- Switch to a wet food diet if you are currently feeding primarily dry food. Because of the high water content in wet food, kitty will be able to get hydration from his diet.
- Add a bit of water to kitty’s food. Or you could try adding a little low sodium chicken broth.
- Place a few water bowls in quiet, safe (from any other cats), easily accessible places. Be sure to change the water every day after you’ve washed or wiped out the bowl.
- Try a water fountain which some cats love. If your kitty is fascinated by running water at the tap see if you can get him to drink water from the tap stream.
- If you’re using a plastic water bowl, switch to stainless steel or ceramic, both of which are less likely to retain any unpleasant odors.
With some small changes around the home you can encourage kitty to drink more water so he can stay appropriately hydrated.