IS YOUR CAT DRINKING ENOUGH?

Who hasn’t heard about cats’ limited drinking habits and all the tricks owners employ to outsmart their kitty? We’ve gathered various tips and added broth to the arsenal of tricks, whose strong aroma and taste can be helpful in breaking bad routines. If your cat’s drinking habits are fine, the collagen in the broth will also make their fur shine and help maintain a sleek figure, which is no less important for ensuring good health.

But first, let’s talk about the reasons for limited drinking!

• Cats originate from Africa and are genetically adapted to cope with desert conditions. Unlike dogs, who cool their bodies by panting, cats lose almost no fluid when exhaling. Additionally, their kidneys are designed to conserve fluid by concentrating urine and thus urinating very little. So, it can be said that cats are naturally predisposed to drink little, but in today’s world, where the wildcat has become a domestic kitty, we all want our dear Pet to live a long and healthy life. This same urine concentration is one of the reasons why kidney and urinary tract diseases are common in cats. This can be prevented by increasing the body’s fluid level.
• Cats are very particular about the quality, temperature, material, size, and location of their water source. If anything from the above is wrong, they simply won’t drink. It sounds like an impossible mission 😊 Actually, it’s not, because fortunately, cats’ behavior has been studied enough, and their preferences have been revealed. We’ll delve into these in more detail later on.
• Cats are creatures of habit and routine. This applies to their food and drink as well. If a cat hasn’t been exposed to and thus accustomed to different tastes and textures (dry, liquid, dry food, textured pieces, pâté, etc.) since kittenhood, it’s quite difficult to persuade them to try something new. The older the cat, the harder it is to implement changes.
• Of course, cats are also clever and indulge themselves. If they always get something else when refusing food or drink, it becomes its own routine that’s hard to break. It’s also important to pay attention to the cat and play with them sufficiently outside of feeding times because otherwise, the cat will simply try to extend the attention and care they receive.

How much fluid does a cat need?

There isn’t one answer because it all depends on the cat’s diet, health, and age. On average, you could start with 0.5 liters per day, but as mentioned, this can vary. The most important thing is to monitor whether the cat is drinking at all and how much. Cats are often nocturnal and may drink at night. Therefore, it’s worth monitoring the water level in the bowl, not just keeping an eye on the cat.

• The food a cat eats plays an important role. If they only eat dry food, their need for fluid is definitely greater than if they were fed canned food, which can contain up to 80% water. The need is also higher if the cat is given flavored pieces from the human table (salty, spicy, etc.).
• Kittens expend much more energy and therefore need more fluid, as do pregnant or lactating animals, who also expend more energy and lose more fluid.
• Sick animals or those recovering from surgery also need more fluid.

So, your cat isn’t drinking enough! What to do?

• As a first step, determine if the problem could be the “incorrect” serving of food and drink. Many cats don’t like it when food and drink are next to each other. There are reasons related to the cat’s roots for this. In the wild, after catching prey and eating, they used to immediately put all their leftovers aside. The drinking place was in a different location and crystal clean. If you now offer them food and drink side by side, that old instinct may kick in, and they refuse to drink.
• Place drinking bowls in different locations. If possible, also on higher surfaces and along their walking paths. Pretty soon, you’ll find out which ones are their favorites. It’s also important to remind them to drink because their natural need is low, and if the water bowl is in their way, it can also help establish a drinking routine.
• Cats usually drink only clean water. Change it twice a day. They can also be picky about the water temperature. Test from ice-cold to warm. Especially picky cats may refuse tap water due to its taste, so you can also try bottled water.
• The size and material of the drinking bowl can be a problem. Many cats don’t like it when their whiskers touch the edge of the bowl. Therefore, it’s a good idea to choose larger and wider-rimmed bowls, and as materials, prefer glass and ceramics because they create a moving water or wave effect that cats seem to like better.
• Flowing water is a favorite of many cats. If possible, try to entice them with a dripping faucet or a fountain.
• If none of the above tricks gets the cat to drink more, the problem may lie in the texture. The cat simply doesn’t like a liquid texture. The solution is to slowly add liquid to their favorite food. With dry food, you should proceed with caution because the cat is very likely to refuse the “porridge” that will quickly form.

It’s time to try broth!

• As a first step, try pure broth. FoodStudio offers two flavors – fish and turkey. Choose the flavor your cat usually prefers in their meals. If they still don’t want fish-flavored canned food, the likelihood of them preferring fish broth is also lower. Perhaps the strong aroma and taste of the broth are attractive enough, and they will start drinking without any further tricks.
• If the cat doesn’t drink pure broth, you can try diluting it with water. Broth makes the water’s aroma more enticing, but it’s not too strong, which might have seemed strange with pure broth.
• Mix the broth with regular food. Make sure to pair fish broth with fish-based food and turkey broth with meat, so that the unfamiliar smell doesn’t dominate. Gradually increase the amount of liquid and try giving pure broth again at some point.
• If the cat is used to homemade food, use broth as an ingredient. You can add pieces of meat and offer it as soup or puree it into a paste.
• If you offer broth as a drink, serve it near the drinking place.
• Serve broth at room temperature because then the aroma and taste are stronger. However, if the cat prefers very cold water, it’s also reasonable to offer chilled broth straight from the fridge.

ATTENTION! If the cat suddenly starts drinking and urinating unusually much, it’s more likely a sign of some illness. Be sure to visit the veterinarian! Encouraging the cat to drink and adding broth to their menu will not result in drastic changes in their behavior but will help increase fluid intake.