Mary Allen
Is your cat not drinking? This is not unusual, but dangerous. You can find out what you can do about it here.
Cat doesn’t drink
Cats need liquid. But how much is enough? And how do you know if your cat isn’t drinking enough? In our video, you will soon find out what the consequences are for notoriously bad drinkers and what you can do. All background information and tips for reading are given below.
Why do cats drink so little?
Evolution is to blame. Because our domestic cat is descended from the wild cat. And she lives in Africa. Where water is scarce, the organism has to adapt. A cat’s body is made up of 50-70% water. With us humans, it is 60-80%. Water is constantly lost from the body through respiration and other excretions. That has to be fed back. Where this is only possible to a limited extent, the body minimizes the loss. This is why the kidneys work particularly efficiently in cats. Therefore, the moisture that it absorbs from prey such as mice and birds is enough for it. Because they also consist of about 70% water. Your cat won’t drink because she doesn’t have to. At least mostly. In the case of illness, after castration or other surgery, they often eat less. The fact that cats don’t have a great thirst takes revenge in particular.
Reasons why water matters
Water is a major component of blood and lymph, found in tissues and cells. It supplies these with dissolved nutrients and removes waste products and toxins. The kidneys play a special role in this. They clean the blood of waste products and flush them out with urine. The sophisticated system only works if there is enough water.
The right amount to drink – how much should a cat drink?
In order for your cat to stay fit and healthy, it is important that the organism has enough water. But what is enough? The liquid requirement of your cat can be calculated using the following rule of thumb:
Recommended drinking amount for cats:
Body weight in kilograms x 50 ml per day
Sample calculation:
4kg x 50ml = 200ml
An average cat weighing 4 kg, therefore, needs at least 200 ml of liquid per day.
For animals with health problems, the requirement may vary depending on the disease. Weaning kittens need less because they are still drinking breast milk. Activity and outside temperature also play a role.
Let’s illustrate the need with an example. According to this rule of thumb, a cat weighing 4 kg would have to drink 4 x 50 = 200 ml of water a day. That’s about the equivalent of a glass of water. That is not much. But if you empty this glass into the bowl, you will be amazed.
It quickly becomes clear that no cat can get this amount of water just from drinking. As nature intended, most of the fluid needs should come from food. This works best with wet food with a moisture content of 80%. The average daily ration for adult animals of 250 g also provides the required 200 ml of water. Dry food with a moisture content of only 10% provides the animal with only 5 ml of water over a daily ration of 50 g. There is a small chance that your cat will drink the remaining 195 ml. If your cat refuses wet food and only eats dry food, there is no way around getting used to it. In this article, we will show you how to do this.
Be sure to note!
Your cat gets most of the water it needs from wet food. Of course, you should still offer water to drink at all times. And note: not all wet food consists of 80% moisture. And not every cat eats exactly 250g of wet food per day. Depending on the manufacturer, the feeding recommendation can also be less than 200g for a 4kg cat. So she would not get the amount she needs to drink from wet food alone.
Signs – Cat not drinking enough
Safe indicators that your cat is not drinking enough are:
- sunken eyes
- dry gums
- inertia
- loss of appetite
- listlessness
- strong-smelling urine
- less liquid residue in the litter box
- standing skin fold
The last sign of dehydration needs some explanation. This means the so-called skin fold test. To do this, take the skin on the side or between the shoulders between two fingers and pull it up slightly while applying gentle pressure. If the resulting skin fold recedes immediately when you let go, everything is fine.
However, if it retains its shape for a while after you let go and only slowly recedes, your cat is not getting enough fluids. The exact procedure can be found in the following infographic.
What happens when cats drink too little?
When cats notoriously drink little and become persistently dehydrated as a result, the urinary system is primarily affected. Because the urethra, urinary bladder, ureters and kidneys are a kind of detoxification center in the body, through which waste products are flushed out with the help of water. If there is not enough fluid in the body, it no longer works optimally. Common consequences of dehydration are:
Urine stones
If there is not enough liquid, the kidneys do not work optimally. This leads to a build-up of waste and toxins in the urine. At the same time, the precious water is extracted from the urine and fed to “more important” processes. This increases the concentration on everything that should actually leave the body. Urine stones form from these substances, which include minerals, cells and proteins. These can block the urethra or the bladder.
Cystitis
Highly concentrated urine irritates the bladder wall, which becomes inflamed. But other parts of the urinary tract can also be affected. This group of diseases is summarized under the term FLUTD (Feline Urinary Tract Disease). They are all painful and can cause urine to back up into the kidneys.
Kidney damage
If urine gets back into the kidneys, they can scar and their function can be impaired.
Poor electrolyte balance
Problems with the urinary tract also lead to an imbalance in the electrolyte balance in the long term. However, the electrically charged minerals regulate the function of muscles and nerves and ensure a balanced ratio of acids and bases.
Poor circulation
When the fluid in the body becomes scarce, the blood thickens. This flows slower. As a result, the supply of oxygen and nutrients decreases. This has an impact on well-being in general as well as on the functionality and health of all organs in the body.
High blood pressure
If the blood thickens, the pressure in the blood vessels increases, and the heart has to work harder. With devastating consequences for the cardiovascular system.
Constipation
When the dehydrated body retains water, constipation occurs. It’s not just an intestinal obstruction that threatens. If the animals stop eating, the fat reserves are metabolized. However, cats lack the right enzymes to break down fat. The liver becomes overwhelmed with fat and can no longer work. The so-called hepatic lipidosis can lead to death within a few days.
What do cats actually drink?
You ask yourself: what do cats drink? Cats naturally drink water. But there are also differences in the water. Fresh, cool, stale, or warm, every cat has their own preferences. What pleases one repels another. It is best to observe exactly when, where, from what, and how the fur nose drinks. For example, many cats like to drink cat milk or broth from time to time.
17 tips to encourage cats to drink – so your cat is guaranteed to absorb more liquid
You feed high-quality food and the house cat is still dehydrated. Where is the problem?
Wet food instead of dry food
Get your cat used to wet food if she’s not already eating it. Wet food is the easiest way to get enough fluids in your cat. Because just by switching to wet food, most of the liquid requirement is covered.
Mix water with wet food
Wet food consists mostly of water. 1-3 teaspoons more are not noticeable. If you do, mix in less at first and slowly increase the amount. This method is very effective and can be easily implemented in everyday life.
Tip: In many feed cans, fat is deposited on the bottom. This is very flavorful. Rinse out the can residue with hot water. In this way, the fats are dissolved and your cat will be happy about an extra tasty portion of liquid.
Mix 1-3 teaspoons of water into the food to help your cat hydrate. It shouldn’t be more than 3 teaspoons. Some cats will vomit if they ingest too much liquid at once.
Drinking fountain
Unlike standing water, running water is guaranteed to be fresh. Some animals like loud splashing, skittish four-legged friends prefer a whispering fountain. In large, shallow fountains, the water “sways” nicely and the whiskers don’t bump into one another. Some cats prefer to drink from a tall water tower. So that the enthusiasm doesn’t end in a puddle, cats with a pronounced play instinct are given a fountain with a decent weight of their own. This prevents tipping over.
Particularly practical: a charcoal filter keeps the water as fresh as it sounds. A spongy filter removes coarse impurities such as hair. In order for the well itself to remain clean, 5-10 minutes of effort per week is enough. Even less if it can go in the dishwasher. The pump only needs to be cleaned every two weeks to keep it performing. If you use mineral water instead of tap water, limescale deposits are significantly reduced.
A tip for the purchase: Please do not skimp on the price. Drinking fountains are already available for 18 euros. But you often only enjoy them for a short time. In the long run, models at the upper end of the price scale, which are still affordable at 100 euros, are more economical. With a motion detector*, the drinking fountain only turns on when the cat approaches. This saves energy and costs.
The right location
Your cat doesn’t drink? Then maybe it’s because she doesn’t like the surroundings. Some cats don’t like to drink where they eat. Try it with the water bowl at your favorite spot. If it’s on the windowsill, you’ll need to change the water more often. Bacteria multiply quickly when exposed to sunlight.
Multiple locations
Unsure where to put the bowl? Then set up several. This way you can find the best spot and remind your furry friend to drink at every turn.
Various water tanks
Your cat won’t drink from the bowl. Instead, you keep catching her by the flower vase. Maybe there’s a reason. Shape and material can make drinking easier or more difficult. Offer wide, narrow, tall, and flat water tanks. Try ceramic, metal, glass, and plastic. We humans are also particular when it comes to drinking. Maybe you know that about yourself? For some, the same cola tastes much better in a glass bottle than in a plastic bottle. Others prefer the cola can. Of course, you should never offer your cat Coke.
If you see your cat drinking from vases and flower coasters, don’t use fertilizer. However, you should keep them away from the base of the Christmas tree. Resin and other substances from the tree are poisonous.
Offer your cat different containers and find out which one she prefers to drink from.
Allow the cat to watch or listen while the water tank is being filled
If the cat sees or hears you filling the bowl, it encourages it to drink. After all, it doesn’t get any fresher than that.
Fresh, stale, warm, or cold?
Not all cats like their water fresh and cool. Others prefer to wait a few hours and only drink at room temperature.
Avoid irritating smells
Cats have fine noses. You can ask the responsible waterworks about the quality and chlorine content of the tap water. If there is a lot of chlorine in the water, it could bother your cat. Normally, the “swimming pool smell” should disappear within two to three hours. If the cat is still wrinkling its nose, try rainwater or still mineral water. Of course, the drinking bowl should not be right next to the litter box. Here, too, your velvet paw would be disturbed by the smell. And the bowl gets really clean with hot water and a clean sponge, without using strong-smelling washing-up liquid.
Let the tap trickle
Not the most economical option, but a hit with many cats: Fresh, moving water straight from the tap. The drinking fountain just mentioned is cheaper and more sustainable.
Cat won’t drink water: give cat milk
If your cat isn’t drinking water, it’s likely that he’s already ingested enough from his food. Or she needs a bit of a change. Most cats like cat milk. They also drink cow’s milk, but cannot tolerate it. Exception: kittens that are still nursing have enzymes in their mother’s milk that break down lactose. After weaning, the levels of these enzymes drop rapidly and milk consumption can lead to bloating and diarrhea. Unfortunately, lactose-free cow’s milk is not an alternative either, because it contains harmful sugar. Cat milk is easier to digest and can be used as a treat to make you want to drink more. However, this can also backfire, see the following point!
“They also drink cow’s milk, but they don’t tolerate it. Exception: Kittens that are still nursing have enzymes in their mother’s milk that break down lactose.”
Cat doesn’t drink water, only milk
It does exist. But not possible. Cats cannot tolerate cow’s milk. And cat milk is lactose and sugar-free, but still high in calories. It is therefore more of a treat than the sole thirst quencher. As the owner, you have to be consistent and try to make the water palatable for her again. With one of the tips and tricks listed below, it will definitely work.
Flavored water
Your cat doesn’t drink water? Then make it tasty for her. For example, by boiling a piece of meat and letting them drink the (unsalted!) broth. Of course she can have the meat too. Caution: Do not use pork. Aujeszky virus, harmless to us, can be fatal to cats.
Soup for cats (broth)
Ready-made meat broths from feed manufacturers such as GranataPet are super practical. Open the can and put it in the bowl, done. With more than 75% chicken broth and 24% chicken meat, the instant soups are more of a drink than a meal. If you get the rest out of the can with an additional shot of water, you not only work efficiently, but also increase the liquid content.
Ice cubes
Ice cubes provide entertaining cooling on hot days. When playing, a little liquid is absorbed. If you freeze broth instead of water, it still tastes good.
Moisten fur
Running a wet hand or a damp cloth over your cat’s fur will not only cool you down, you’ll also remove loose hair. If the cat then takes over the grooming itself, it absorbs a few drops of water.
Only in an emergency: give the cat water
If the cat doesn’t want to drink at all and the vet diagnoses dehydration, you have to force the cat to drink. To do this, drop water from a syringe without a needle into the cat’s mouth from above. The stressful coercive measure is only intended for emergencies and is best carried out with a helper.
Cat doesn’t drink – when does it become dangerous?
If the cat does not drink at all, it has in the best case ingested enough liquid with the food. If she eats the recommended amount of wet food per day for her age and weight, you are on the safe side. Otherwise you have to encourage them to drink. If that doesn’t work either, the vet should examine them for diseases. Losing as little as 15% of the fluid in a cat’s body can be fatal. Without a source of water to replace lost fluids, cats cannot last a week. In the case of diseases such as fever and diarrhea, on the other hand, the water loss is so great that the animals cannot keep up with drinking. Even then it quickly becomes dangerous and a trip to the vet is unavoidable.
Conclusion
If your cat drinks little, that’s actually natural. Nevertheless, healthy adult animals need around 200 ml of liquid every day. They are already included in the recommended daily ration of wet food. Cats who eat less wet food or no wet food at all become dehydrated quickly. Some diseases also draw water out of the body. With a little creativity, you can help your cat stay hydrated.
What to do if cat won’t drink
If your cat isn’t drinking, the first thing you need to do is check that she’s getting enough liquid from her food. With 250 g of wet food a day, it should already be well taken care of. If not, you need to encourage them to drink. If that doesn’t work either, the veterinarian must find the cause.
How can I encourage my cat to drink?
Get creative with the placement, number and shape of the drinking points, try broth and cat milk, awaken the urge to play and care. Observe your cat and find out what she likes best. And make sure she stumbles upon drinking offers at every turn.
How much should a cat drink a day?
Cats need about 50 ml of liquid per kilogram of body weight and day. For healthy adult cats, this is about 200-250 ml. Depending on activity and outside temperatures, it can be more or less. In the case of previous illnesses, the right amount should be discussed with the veterinarian.
What to do if cats drink too little?
If cats drink little, you should switch to wet food and encourage the cat to drink as well. Observe what she likes and accommodate her. With many water points of different types and shapes, with additional offers such as cat milk and broth, with play and care units that also provide liquid.
How do I get my cat to drink?
Cats drink more when the space and water bowl is right, they encounter water at every turn, the water is fresh, suits their preferences (cold/warm, fresh/stale), comes with flavor or play factor. The last resort is coercion.
How long can a cat not drink?
Without any other water source, a maximum of seven days. Of course you shouldn’t let it come to that. If all tips and tricks fail, take your pet to the vet. In this way, diseases can be ruled out or treated.
What to do if cat won’t drink water
Diluted wet food and a variety of water points can help. Calorie emergency solutions for in between are broth and cat milk.
Where to put water for cats?
Place the water in your cat’s favorite spots, away from stress and odors. And above all: Offer plenty of drinking opportunities. So she is tempted at every turn.
What cats prefer to drink
Most cats are happy with water. After all, this is the most natural variant. Some like it cool and fresh, others room temperature and stale. Broth and cat milk are popular treats.
What to do when kittens won’t drink
Kittens are suckled for the first 4 weeks. After that, they can slowly be introduced to wet food and water. Cat milk eases the transition.
How do I know if my cat is dehydrated?
You can recognize dehydration by the following signs: sunken eyes, dry gums, sluggishness, loss of appetite, listlessness, strong-smelling urine, less liquid residue in the litter box, standing skin folds.
What happens if cat drinks too little?
If your cat doesn’t drink enough, blood, urine and feces will be deprived of water. There is a risk of high blood pressure, poor supply to the cells, diseases of the urinary tract including kidney damage and constipation to the point of intestinal obstruction.
What can I give my cat to drink?
It is best to give your cat water. Broth and cat milk are suitable as treats for in between meals. Caution: calorie trap.
Is milk good for cats?
No Lactose causes diarrhea and bloating, sugar leads to addiction, diabetes, and dental problems. Even cat milk is not a permanent solution as it is high in calories.
Which is better for cats, milk or water?
Water is the natural, calorie-free thirst quencher and is therefore even preferable to lactose- and sugar-free cat milk. This should only be taken as a treat.
What water do cats prefer to drink?
Depending on your preference, warm or cold, fresh or stale. A cat fountain is seen by many cats as a guarantee of clean water and is well accepted.