Keeping your cat hydrated is a year-round task, but July is about bringing awareness to the importance of water consumption for feline friends. To celebrate, let’s look at expert tips for cat parents!
July is National Pet Hydration Awareness Month, and cat parents especially know just how important it is to make sure your kitty drinks enough water. Hydration is vital for all creatures, but it can be difficult to ensure our feline friends consume enough because they can be picky about drinking. If you’ve ever struggled to keep your cat hydrated, these tips will help you ensure they drink enough this National Pet Hydration Awareness Month and every day of the year!
Cats Need to Stay Hydrated, Especially in Hot Weather
Cats need water to support bodily functions, maintain body temperature, ensure proper digestion, and lubricate joints. Water is also important for kidney health, and insufficient hydration can lead to urinary blockages. Cats lose water through:
- Urination and defecation
- Grooming themselves
- Breathing
- Panting
- Sweating
The problem is that cats are notorious for not drinking enough, and dehydration is a big concern for some pet parents, especially during the summer heat.
Signs of Dehydration in Cats
Dehydration can be serious and even fatal, but knowing the signs can help you protect your cat:
- Lethargy
- Sunken eyes
- Dry, tacky gums
- Loss of skin elasticity
- Panting (especially if it’s not hot)
- Decreased urination
- Loss of appetite
- Increased heart rate
If you suspect your cat is dehydrated, contact your veterinarian for instructions. You can also help by encouraging them to drink—but don’t force them. Water might not do the trick, so try something more enticing like bone broth or tuna juice. You can also give them some wet food.
Encourage Your Cat to Drink More with These Tips
Keep the water and the bowl clean. Change the water and wash their bowl at least once daily. A dirty bowl can contaminate fresh water, so your cat still won’t drink it.
Try a different bowl or new locations. Cats can be picky about where they drink and what they drink out of. It’s worthwhile moving the bowl to a new location, adding multiple water stations, or trying a bowl made of a different material.
Use running water. Most cats love running water because it’s clean and fresh and sounds appealing. Some cat parents will turn taps on, but others opt for automated solutions like cat fountains.
Add tasty things to the water. This includes low-sodium broth and tuna juice.
Feed wet food. Wet food has a high moisture content that can help keep your cat hydrated if they aren’t drinking enough. Wet food makes an excellent meal, or you can use it as a hydrating kibble topper.
Love, Indulge, and Hydrate Your Cat with Wet Food from Love, Nala
Love, Nala has a full line of wet food for cats made with wholesome, premium ingredients. Available in flaked and pate style recipes, every batch is made with fiber for digestion, taurine for heart health, high-quality proteins for lean muscles, and the most important ingredient of all—love! Formulated without grains, by-product meals, fillers, or artificial preservatives, flavors, and colors, Love, Nala wet food is an ideal way to keep your cat hydrated, nourished, and feeling loved.
Visit Love, Nala to learn more.
Animal Wellness is North America’s top natural health and lifestyle magazine for dogs and cats, with a readership of over one million every year. AW features articles by some of the most renowned experts in the pet industry, with topics ranging from diet and health related issues, to articles on training, fitness and emotional well being.
Source: Animal Wellness Magazine
