While you may think that cats don’t need much water, it’s important for domestic cats that eat commercial cat food to stay hydrated. If your cat has kidney or bladder problems, it is also crucial to prevent dehydration. Fortunately, there are a variety of ways to encourage your cat to drink more water. Provide plenty of clean fresh water and motivate her to drink by understanding her water preferences.
Fresh Water Is Available
A Variety of Bowls and Glasses Are Available
Your cat may just be fussy and have their own bowl or glass preference. She may want a bowl or glass made of stainless steel, plain ceramic, or plastic. To find out what your cat likes, offer a variety of styles and see if one of them is more attractive to your cat.
You can also experiment with the depth of the bowl. Your cat may prefer a deep or shallow bowl. It’s just a matter of personal preference.
Place the Bowl Throughout the House
Avoid keeping the water bowl in just one place, as this may prevent your cat from drinking. Instead, keep the bowl near the sink, on the kitchen counter, next to the bed, in the bathroom, or throughout the house. This will encourage your cat to explore and remind her to drink water.
Make sure the bowl is in the area where your cat may be present. For example, if your cat is napping on the windowsill for a few hours, place a glass of water next to the location. You can also put a bowl near the tub to see if your cat is interested.
Keep Bowls and Water Clean
Clean the bowl with soap and water every other day and take care to rinse it well. Put them in the dishwasher once a week to sterilize. Change the water at least once or twice a day and check to make sure nothing falls into the bowl throughout the day, especially if it’s near the kitchen.
If your cat’s bowl is dirty, she probably won’t drink much water. Some cats are very picky about clean water and will express their displeasure by not drinking water.
Pay Attention to Where Your Cat Drinks Water
The water bowl should be placed in an attractive place, away from the cat’s food or litter box. While some cats don’t care if their water is close to the litter or food bowl, others specifically want them to be close to the water.
Make sure your cat can see you moving the water to a new location away from food or litter boxes. That way, she won’t worry about her water being pumped away.
Run the Faucet
While this is not the most water-efficient method, some cats prefer to drink water from the tap. Your cat may be excited and curious about this action, making her want to drink water. If she doesn’t seem interested right away, you can move her to the sink and show her how fun it is to drink water from the tap.
Since you may not want to turn on the faucet too often, make this part of your morning or evening routine so that your cat knows what to expect from it during these times.
Consider Using a Water Dispenser
If you notice that your cat likes tap water, buy a drinker. This will keep the water flowing throughout the day and make drinking water even more exciting. Your cat may enjoy staring, playing, and drinking from the fountain. Do not throw away regular water bottles when introducing a fountain. Keep these two options so that your cat can decide which one she prefers.
Cat drinkers can be a bit expensive, costing upwards of $50 most of the time. However, if you’re concerned about your cat’s dehydration, then this investment may be worth it.
Motivate Your Cat to Drink Water
Add Flavoring to the Water
Pour a little tuna or chicken broth into the cat’s water. You can also add some juice from wet cat food. Just mixing a spoonful or two of seasoning into the water is enough to entice your cat to drink, especially if your cat usually likes wet cat food. However, be aware that not all cats like the taste of miso water.
You can also try to trick your cat into drinking water by crushing catnip in a water bowl. Let your cat see that you have crushed a little catnip at the bottom of her water dish so she knows it’s there.
Bottled Water Is Provided
Buy a regular bottle of bottled drinking water and see if your cat prefers it to the water from the tap. Your cat may not like tap water because it contains chlorine or excess minerals.
Try offering room temperature bottled water and frozen bottled water to see which temperature your cat prefers.
Give Your Cat More Wet Food
While wet food is richer and more expensive, it does contain more moisture than dry cat food. If you’re concerned that your cat isn’t drinking enough, switch to wet food altogether or incorporate some into her regular dry food. Consult your veterinarian before making any dietary changes.
Do not add water to your cat’s dry food in an attempt to get her to drink. Not only will this make his food less attractive and moist, but it will also cause the food to spoil and make your cat sick.
Add Ice Cubes to the Water
Some cats really like cold water, and the ice cubes also give her something to play with. First, add one or two ice cubes to each bowl. This way, your cat won’t be shocked by the temperature change. If your cat likes the taste, freeze the broth into ice cubes and place it in a bowl.
You may even want your cat to watch you put ice cubes into her water. Eventually, she may feel more excited and mentally stimulated by drinking water.
Eat Small, Frequent Meals
Many cats like to drink water after eating, just like humans, so try to feed the cat more than once or twice a day. Divide these meals into smaller portions to encourage your cat to drink more often throughout the day. It may take some time for your cat to adjust to the new feeding schedule, but it will keep your cat hydrated.