It’s no secret that cats struggle to drink enough water. To help get more insight into this issue, we turned to betterpet vet Michelle Diener, DVM. Here’s what she had to say.
Dr. Michelle Diener: The domestic cats of today evolved from wild cats that used to live in the deserts of the Eastern Hemisphere in such countries as Egypt, Africa, and Greece. Cats have the ability to conserve some water and have a decreased drive to drink water based on the lifestyle their ancestors lived in the arid deserts. This is why cats don’t drink enough water and often become dehydrated.
While dogs will drink water when they’re thirsty to maintain their hydration, cats are slower to do so. They don’t have the desire to drink water like dogs do.
MD: The amount of water a cat should drink depends on their body weight and the type of diet they’re fed. The average adult cat weighs 10 pounds and should drink roughly one cup of water per day. However, some of that water may be from a cat’s diet. Canned (wet) food contains significantly more moisture than dry food, so the type of diet a cat’s fed will impact how much extra water a cat should consume. Cats that eat canned food will drink less water from their water bowls than cats that eat only dry food.
MD: Cat owners should provide their pet with fresh water daily. There are a few reasons why this is important. For starters, fresh water is more appealing to a cat. Also, if water is left in a bowl for too long, it can become contaminated with mold, giardia, and bacteria. By changing water daily, a pet owner will be able to closely monitor the amount of water their cat consumes on a daily basis.
Any decrease or increase in your pet’s thirst may be a sign of a medical condition, especially if it continues for several days. A pet owner may be able to detect that a cat has an illness before other symptoms develop based on their cat’s daily water consumption. Alerting a local vet about a change in water consumption can be vital to diagnosing a cat’s medical condition in an early stage, which will improve their prognosis.
MD: When cats become dehydrated, they lose their ability to regulate their body temperature. Their heart can’t pump efficiently enough to allow adequate blood flow throughout the body, which is required to maintain warmth. Dehydration also causes a deficiency in electrolytes. Dehydrated cats often have a deficiency in sodium, chloride, and potassium, and because of these deficiencies, they lose the ability to pump nutrients into cells throughout their body.
Severe dehydration can be life-threatening because it can lead to organ failure. The heart, kidneys, and liver can shut down due to electrolyte abnormalities, decreased heart function, and poor blood circulation throughout the body.
MD: The following are a few ways to tell if your cat is dehydrated:
👉 If your cat is exhibiting any of the above signs of dehydration, it’s important to take them to a vet for a physical exam as soon as possible.
MD: Dehydration is treated based on its severity and the underlying cause. If a cat is mildly dehydrated and not ill, a vet may use a small needle to administer a bolus of fluids under the skin. This method is called subcutaneous fluids. A cat that receives fluids this way is often sent home. After an hour or two, their body will slowly absorb the fluid. If a cat is severely dehydrated, then hospitalization is often needed to rehydrate a cat more efficiently, which can be done by placing an IV catheter and administering IV fluids. In addition, the cause of the dehydration also needs to be determined and treated.
MD: It depends on the severity of the dehydration and the underlying cause. If a cat is only mildly dehydrated, then yes, a full recovery is expected. However, if a cat is so severely dehydrated that they’re experiencing multiple organ failure, then recovery is unlikely.
MD: Make sure your cat’s diet contains moisture. It’s best if your cat’s diet includes canned (wet) food daily. You can either feed canned food only or a combination of dry and canned food. Also, make sure your cat has access to water at all times. Place fresh water in your cat’s water bowl daily and monitor your cat’s water consumption to make sure they drink enough on a daily basis. Adding a cat water fountain in your house can also encourage your cat to drink more frequently.
MD: A cat can’t drink too much water. However, increased water consumption is often an indication of a medical condition, such as a urinary tract infection, kidney disease, or diabetes. Alert your local vet as soon as possible if you notice that your cat is suddenly drinking more water than normal.
MD: Drinking an excessive amount of water can be a sign that your cat has kidney disease, a urinary tract infection, or diabetes. It’s important to bring your cat to your local vet hospital for a physical exam, blood work, and a urinalysis to determine the cause of their excessive thirst.
Kidney disease, a urinary tract infection, or diabetes all require treatment. The sooner a diagnosis is made and treatment is started, the better the prognosis will be. If a urinary tract infection goes undetected for a while, the infection can ascend into the kidneys and cause permanent damage. Kidney disease and diabetes can be life-threatening if diagnosed late in the disease process.
MD: Offer fresh water and canned (wet) food daily, as canned food contains a higher amount of water than dry food does. If your cat will only eat dry food, you can add some warm water to their kibble to see if they will consume more water this way. A veterinarian may also recommend Purina Pro Hydra Care for your sick cat, which is a liver-flavored liquid supplement that you can offer to your cat in a separate bowl or use as a food topper. This supplement helps to increase water consumption and maintain healthy hydration.
MD: Cats can mask their illness for a while when they’re sick. If you notice a change in your cat’s behavior, eating or drinking habits, energy level, or urinary and fecal output, call your local vet hospital to report your observations. Your vet will help you determine whether you should bring your cat in immediately or if an appointment in a few days is appropriate.
