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I’m guilty of not drinking enough water and many cats are too. As cats get older they become more susceptible to bladder stones, which are often caused by too little water intake. Cat water consumption can be a tough problem to figure out, but here are some suggestions to try:
Tip 1: Feed Canned Food
Canned food has much more moisture than dry food, so try introducing canned food into your cat’s diet. If he’s not eaten canned food before, be sure to introduce it very gradually to prevent digestive problems.
Tip 2: Provide Several Water Dishes Throughout the House
Cats are about convenience, and having a bowl of water readily available wherever he might be will encourage your cat to take more sips throughout the day.
Tip 3: Try A Fountain
Many cats prefer fresh, flowing water to drink and pet water fountains fill the bill nicely. Some cats like to drink water from the faucet, but I wouldn’t advocate that unless nothing else seems to work. There are several fountains available in a variety of materials and price points.
I recommend either stainless steel or ceramic. These materials are easy to clean and don’t harbor bacteria. My cat Marty has the PetSafe Drinkwell Pagoda Water Fountain. It’s increased his water consumption significantly.
Tip 4: Move Water Bowls To Different Location
Many cat guardians set up the cat feeding/water station very close, sometimes right next to, the litter box. Would you like to have your drinking water next to the toilet? Yuck! Place water bowls a good distance away from the litter box.
Some cats are finicky and don’t like the water dish right beside the food dish, either. Consider separating food from water to see if that helps.
Tip 5: Add Some Flavor
Does your cat like chicken? If so, add a little chicken broth (salt-free only) to his water to make it more enticing. Is he a fan of tuna? A little water from the can of tuna on occasion might make the water more appealing.
It might take a few tries to figure out what will bump up cat water consumption. If one of the suggestions above doesn’t seem to be working, try another. As with any change that impacts your cat, it may take a while for him to embrace it.
What’s worked for you to encourage your cat to drink more water? Leave a comment, we’d like to hear from you!
Written by Karen
