Water and your cat: how to help your pet drink enough

Why cats don't drink much

The ancestors of our pet cats got much of their water from their food: according to International Cat Care, a cat's typical prey is more than 60% moisture. That's why many cats still don't feel very thirsty, drink fairly little and can be fussy about where they drink from. Our job is to make water convenient and appealing so your cat drinks as much as it needs.

Wet food counts as water too

Wet food in cans and pouches contains a lot of water, so a cat that eats it may rarely visit the water bowl — and that's fine. If your cat eats mostly dry food, drinking water matters even more. Many owners feed a combination of both.

If you want to change your cat's diet, do it gradually and talk to your vet first: cats don't like sudden changes, and the right balance of foods depends on the individual cat.

Choosing a bowl

• Wide and shallow. Many cats dislike their whiskers touching the sides and don't like putting their head deep into a bowl.
• Glass or ceramic. Plastic can give water an aftertaste.
• Stable and heavy, so it doesn't tip over during play.
• For a munchkin, on the floor or on a low, stable stand, so your cat can drink in a natural position.

Cats like drinking from a full bowl, so fill it nearly to the brim. Change the water daily and wash the bowl regularly.

Where to put the water

Location matters as much as the bowl itself:

• away from food — many cats don't like drinking next to their meal, so avoid double bowls with food on one side and water on the other;
• away from the litter tray;
• somewhere quiet, not in a walkway or next to a busy door;
• where your cat can approach from different sides and doesn't have to sit with its back to the room.

Put out several bowls in different places — for example, one on each floor or in each room where your cat spends a lot of time. In the first days after the move, make sure there's water in the room where your kitten is staying while it gets to know the home.

Fountains and other tricks

Some cats are more tempted by moving water. You could try:

• a pet water fountain — clean it often and change the filters as the manufacturer recommends;
• different kinds of water, such as filtered or bottled — some cats have strong preferences about taste;
• a little water mixed into wet food, introduced gradually so your cat gets used to the new texture.

What not to offer instead of water

Milk is not a substitute for water: International Cat Care advises against giving cats milk, salty liquids or anything containing onion — for example, broth from your own dinner. The best drink for a cat is clean, fresh water.

Hot weather and heating season

On hot days, and in winter when the heating is on and the air indoors is drier, it's especially important that fresh water is always within reach. Add an extra bowl, change the water more often and keep bowls out of direct sun and away from radiators, where the water warms up quickly.

Know your cat's normal

To spot changes, it helps to have a rough idea of how much your cat usually drinks and how often it uses the litter tray. Notice how quickly the bowl empties and how many clumps are in the tray each day. Once you know what's normal, anything unusual is much easier to see.

If you think your cat has started drinking more, keep an eye on it for 24 hours: how much water you put out and how much is left. Your vet will find this useful.

When to see a vet

International Cat Care advises contacting your veterinary team if you think your cat is drinking too much or too little. Get in touch with your vet if:

• your cat visits the water bowl noticeably more often, or you find yourself refilling it more;
• there's noticeably more or less urine in the tray than usual;
• your cat has almost stopped eating and drinking;
• changes in thirst come with lethargy, vomiting, or changes in appetite or weight.

If your cat is straining in the litter tray and producing little or no urine, seek help urgently. Don't try to work out the cause yourself: only a vet can do that after an examination, and often tests. If you can, bring a urine sample to the appointment — the clinic will tell you how to collect one.

The takeaway

A few wide bowls of fresh water away from food and the litter tray, some wet food in the diet and attention to any changes — that's really all there is to it. If your cat starts drinking noticeably more or less, don't wait: call your vet.