15 Tips to Increase Your Cat's Water Intake
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The need for cats to consume plenty of water cannot be emphasized enough. Marginal chronic dehydration over a lifetime

  • stresses the kidneys. Kidney failure is the most common cause of illness and death in cats over the age of five years.
  • creates an environment ripe for urinary tract and bladder issues, termed “Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease” (FLUTD).
 
It is well known that our pet cats were originally desert animals. They rarely drank water and historically ate a fresh food diet of prey that had a 70% – 80% moisture content. Our cats did not evolve a “thirst drive” similar to that in humans or dogs.
 
Yes, many cats drink water. But does your cat drink enough water? Even cats eating a wet-food only diet can need up to double the amount of water they consume in their food for ideal hydration!  Cats need 8 to 27 *tablespoons* of water (or more) a day for an ideal rate of hydration (depending on environment, health status, and activity level). A typical serving of kibble for an average adult cat provides one-half tablespoon of water.  Canned or homemade with a moisture content of 77% provides 6 to 9 tablespoons of water (based on average consumption by most cats).

To see just how much water your cats need to drink, please see our article, Water – An Essential Nutrient for our Cats’ Health.

15 Tips to Increase Your Cat's Water Intake

  1. If you feed kibble, transition to a canned or homemade diet. Food Fur Life’s EZcomplete fur Cats makes it easy to provide homemade food, raw or cooked, to your cats. Diet is the foundation of health, and water is an essential nutrient in that foundation.
  2. If you feed kibble and are unable to feed canned or homemade, include a small amount of wet food with water added as a treat for your cat several times a day. When you open the can, use a melon baller (or 1/4 teaspoon measuring spoon) to make small scoops - put them on wax paper on a tray and freeze. Dump them in a baggie to store in the freezer once frozen. Mix one with several tablespoons of warm water and serve as a treat several times a day. For those feeding homemade, the same thing can be done with small amounts of ground raw or cooked food.
  3. Whatever you are feeding your cat, add water to it. Because kibble may be contaminated with bacterial or fungal contaminants, do not leave water-soaked kibble out for more than half an hour. In extremely hot environments, reduce the time to 10 or 15 minutes.
  4. If you feed kibble, use a timed feeder with a dish of water next to it.  According to Broadway Veterinary Hospital & Laser Surgery Center, research has shown that the most successful way to get cats eating dry food only to consume more water is to feed them using an automatic timed feeder. Set it so that it gives very small amounts of food on a regular, timed interval. Cats will come to the feeder in anticipation of the next meal once they learn the schedule. Place a dish of water next to the timed feeder. As cats wait for the food to drop, they will drink water. Many will frequently eat a few pieces of kibble, drink more water, and then eat more kibble, etc. “When blood work is checked, these cats consistently maintain much more adequate hydration than any other method of feeding a dry only diet.”
  5. Use glass, ceramic, or stainless steel dishes. Some cats prefer shallow dishes (like a glass pie plate). Plastic dishes harbor bacteria and may result in a smell that repels kitties from drinking. Experiment – or better yet, offer several different types at all times.
  6. Place water dishes near your cats’ favorite sleeping spots. Conveniently-placed water dishes with easy access encourages drinking.
  7. Rather than provide one water dish, provide numerous small water dishes in diverse locations throughout your home at different levels, reducing your cat’s need to go out of her way to find the water.
  8. Clean water dishes at least daily. Cats are easily turned off by odors on the edge of the bowl and are very aware of the temperature and taste of water.
  9. Make sure the dish is filled to the brim. Cats have very sensitive whiskers and do not like putting their faces into a bowl.
  10. Use filtered water. Cats are very sensitive to taste and smell. Apart from the fact that tap water can be contaminated, the smell of chemicals or chlorine may stop kitty from drinking or drinking as much as they might otherwise. But notably, public water supplies in 42 U.S. states are contaminated with 141 unregulated chemicals for which the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has never established safety standards, according to an investigation by the Environmental Working Group (EWG). Also, many areas of the U.S. have hard water that increases the likelihood of stones and crystals (FLUTD) developing in your kitty, leading to pain, discomfort, surgery, or even death if kitty blocks. If you do not have in-line filtered water at home, you can purchase filtered pitchers, or filters that attach directly to your faucet, such as the ones made by Pur. Many large chain stores also sell filtered water.
  11. Provide your cat with moving water via a water fountain. Clean it at least weekly (assuming it has a filter. If not, clean it daily).
  12. Some cats avoid the water dish because they have a difficult time seeing the water level. Add a ping pong ball or fishing bobble to float on the water surface. Clean this as well as the dish when changing the water.
  13. Most cats enjoy “baby food soup” as a treat. Mix a teaspoon of meat-only baby food with up to one-quarter cup of water. Warm water will enhance the flavor. (Baby food is not a balanced diet for a cat and should not exceed 10% of the total daily food intake).
  14. Add a drop or two of tuna water, sardine water, or clam juice to the water dish. If you decide to try this, always make sure there are separate bowls of plain, fresh water available. (Tuna or sardine “juice” is the water in canned tuna or sardines packed in water. Clam juice is sold in most supermarkets).
  15. Some cats enjoy ice cubes made from flavored broth. Bring the contents of a six ounce can of salmon, tuna, or two smaller tins of sardines (packed in water) or a cup of ground meat to boil in 2 cups of water. Simmer for 10 minutes. Strain through a cheese cloth into an ice cube tray. Freeze the liquid. Place an ice cube or two in one of your cat’s water dishes daily.


Please note: the contaminants in your tap water may surprise you. For more information, please see "Clean Water" by Lisa Provost at IBDkitties.