All organisms, including our finicky cats, require water to survive. Mother Nature did not design cats to have excellent thirst mechanisms so you really will not see them actively searching for a bowl of water to drink. You cannot blame them, of course, since their ancestors and even their cousins in the wild get their hydration from the very animals that they prey on. You can actually turn this feline predatory instinct to help your cat drink enough water. Here are 6 ways to do just that:
Serve wet or canned cat food
Wet or canned cat foods are rich in moisture with some formulations essentially reaching as much as 80% per serving can. This mimics the moisture composition of their diets in the wild where prey animals typically contain anywhere between 70 and 80 percent water. Giving your Garfield wet cat food instead of the usual kibbles should help address your pet’s need for adequate hydration. Of course, it will be quite painful on the pocket since this type of cat food is exceptionally pricey.
Serve wet or canned cat food
Wet or canned cat foods are rich in moisture with some formulations essentially reaching as much as 80% per serving can. This mimics the moisture composition of their diets in the wild where prey animals typically contain anywhere between 70 and 80 percent water. Giving your Garfield wet cat food instead of the usual kibbles should help address your pet’s need for adequate hydration. Of course, it will be quite painful on the pocket since this type of cat food is exceptionally pricey.
Moisten your cat’s dry food
If you simply cannot afford to go canned, then you can tweak your cat’s dry kibble diet. You can try softening it with a little water just to provide additional moisture. Some pet parents even boil skinless chicken breast themselves and add this natural chicken broth as flavor enhancer to their cat’s food as well as a means to increase the fluid intake of their kitties. Just make sure never to add anything else especially salt. Some would even dilute the broth from a can of tuna in water before adding this into the pet’s dry cat food. Alternatively, you can buy a can of wet cat food and mix a portion of it into your cat’s kibbles.
Invest in a good cat water fountain
Instead of using water bowls, you might want to start . There are two fundamental reasons why water fountains are better than ordinary water bowls. First, they provide a continuous flow of water which actually plays well to the predatory instincts of kitties. They are pretty curious with anything and everything that moves. In case you haven’t noticed, they love dipping their paws in running water from the faucet. The same is true with a cat water fountain. The continuous movement of water will stimulate feline predatory instincts. Secondly, these gadgets provide for fresher and safer water to drink because many of these water fountains come with their filtration systems. Not only are you helping your kitty to drink more water, you’re also making sure that Garfield won’t get sick from drinking.
Take note of your cat’s peculiarities especially when it comes to water bowls
If you think water bowls are still a lot better as drinking vessels for your cat, then just make sure that you give in to your kitty’s peculiarities. Cats are known for their rather finicky behavior. Some have special preference for ceramic water bowls while others won’t drink unless their bowl is made of stainless steel. The point is that you need to make sure you understand your cat’s unique behavior especially its preferences. After all, this is an important aspect of being a pet parent.
Place multiple water bowls or fountains all over the house
Cats don’t like being disturbed when they are doing something, especially when they are already at their drinking stations. It is critical that you position your kitty’s water bowls in various strategic locations in your house. It’s not enough that you have one drinking station for your Felix. You need to place drinking stations – be it water bowls or water fountains – in areas that are far from your cat’s litter box and feeding area. These drinking stations should be placed near areas where your cat usually spends most of its day. Also make sure to at least every 2 hours to prevent it from going stale. This is also true for water bowls.
Add flavor or something interesting in your cat’s drinking water
You can add catnip into your cat’s water bowl. The mild flavor of catnip will help entice your feline friend to drink. Alternatively, you can add a teaspoon or two of the broth from a can of tuna or even the prepared unsalted broth of skinless chicken breast. The point is to add something that will titillate your cat’s senses, making it want to ‘check’ the water. You can also add ice cubes. Since these will float on the water, they will mimic prey. Cats simply love checking out potential prey. In this case, it’s the ice cubes. Besides, it’s a lot more refreshing to drink cool water than one that is warm or hot.
There are many ways by which you can help ensure your cat drinks enough water. The whole point is to understand their unique behavior and use this understanding to tailor-fit your plan to get them drinking more water.
Olivia Williams comntacted us to share one of her articles in our blog ("Thank you!"). If you would like to read more please follow the link below:
https://www.mypetneedsthat.com/
If you simply cannot afford to go canned, then you can tweak your cat’s dry kibble diet. You can try softening it with a little water just to provide additional moisture. Some pet parents even boil skinless chicken breast themselves and add this natural chicken broth as flavor enhancer to their cat’s food as well as a means to increase the fluid intake of their kitties. Just make sure never to add anything else especially salt. Some would even dilute the broth from a can of tuna in water before adding this into the pet’s dry cat food. Alternatively, you can buy a can of wet cat food and mix a portion of it into your cat’s kibbles.
Invest in a good cat water fountain
Instead of using water bowls, you might want to start . There are two fundamental reasons why water fountains are better than ordinary water bowls. First, they provide a continuous flow of water which actually plays well to the predatory instincts of kitties. They are pretty curious with anything and everything that moves. In case you haven’t noticed, they love dipping their paws in running water from the faucet. The same is true with a cat water fountain. The continuous movement of water will stimulate feline predatory instincts. Secondly, these gadgets provide for fresher and safer water to drink because many of these water fountains come with their filtration systems. Not only are you helping your kitty to drink more water, you’re also making sure that Garfield won’t get sick from drinking.
Take note of your cat’s peculiarities especially when it comes to water bowls
If you think water bowls are still a lot better as drinking vessels for your cat, then just make sure that you give in to your kitty’s peculiarities. Cats are known for their rather finicky behavior. Some have special preference for ceramic water bowls while others won’t drink unless their bowl is made of stainless steel. The point is that you need to make sure you understand your cat’s unique behavior especially its preferences. After all, this is an important aspect of being a pet parent.
Place multiple water bowls or fountains all over the house
Cats don’t like being disturbed when they are doing something, especially when they are already at their drinking stations. It is critical that you position your kitty’s water bowls in various strategic locations in your house. It’s not enough that you have one drinking station for your Felix. You need to place drinking stations – be it water bowls or water fountains – in areas that are far from your cat’s litter box and feeding area. These drinking stations should be placed near areas where your cat usually spends most of its day. Also make sure to at least every 2 hours to prevent it from going stale. This is also true for water bowls.
Add flavor or something interesting in your cat’s drinking water
You can add catnip into your cat’s water bowl. The mild flavor of catnip will help entice your feline friend to drink. Alternatively, you can add a teaspoon or two of the broth from a can of tuna or even the prepared unsalted broth of skinless chicken breast. The point is to add something that will titillate your cat’s senses, making it want to ‘check’ the water. You can also add ice cubes. Since these will float on the water, they will mimic prey. Cats simply love checking out potential prey. In this case, it’s the ice cubes. Besides, it’s a lot more refreshing to drink cool water than one that is warm or hot.
There are many ways by which you can help ensure your cat drinks enough water. The whole point is to understand their unique behavior and use this understanding to tailor-fit your plan to get them drinking more water.
Olivia Williams comntacted us to share one of her articles in our blog ("Thank you!"). If you would like to read more please follow the link below:
https://www.mypetneedsthat.com/
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