Every cat is different, but there is one thing that many Pet Lovers may notice — keeping them hydrated can be a difficult task. The reason for this is modern cats are descended from desert dwelling animals, which means they’re good at conserving water and have developed the ability to get water from their food. The way cats’ eyes work also makes it difficult for them to see the water in a bowl, which adds another layer of difficulty to getting your cat to drink.

All of this means Pet Lovers may have to put a little more effort into keeping their cay hydrated, but it’s important you do — hydration keeps them happy and healthy! To help, we’ve put together some expert advice on encouraging your cat to stay well hydrated. This will make life easier for both of you!

Tips to Help Keep Your Cat Hydrated:

1. Pay attention to bowl materials, shapes, and sizes. There’s no standard size when it comes to your cat’s water bowl — it very much depends on each individual cat. There are theories as to why a cat responds to a specific bowl, including that running water may be easier for them to see. The best thing you can do is try a variety of bowls and/or fountains to see what your cat likes. Options include stainless steel, enamel, ceramic and plastic bowls, as well as bowls that keep the water moving.
2. Bowl placement and sharing may also affect how much water your cat drinks. Just like with people, some cats don’t like sharing. So, if your setup includes a communal water bowl that other cats or dogs are also using, it might be worth reconsidering. Also, make sure there’s separation between the bowl and their litter pan — cats are very clean animals and they don’t like drinking near their litter. Locating the water bowl in a safe, secluded and quiet spot is the best bet to get your cat to drink.
3. Wet cat food is a great way to provide your cat with the water it needs. Science has shown that wet cat food provides up to approximately 80% of a cat’s daily water requirement[*] if wet cat food is fed exclusively. According to studies¹, when wet food is fed in conjunction with dry food, the wet food doesn’t provide enough water. Dry food only has 6-10% water, which means that providing clean, fresh water separately is crucial, even if you add wet food to their dry food.

If you do try wet food, ACANA PREMIUM PÂTÉ^TM and ACANA^TM Chunks & Broth cat food recipes are delicious options that are full of quality  animal ingredients and hydrating bone broth. The bone broth helps keep your cat hydrated and adds savory flavor to their meal.

Since it can be difficult to know when your cat is dehydrated, you want to keep any eye out for the following signs:

1. Your cat is breathing with their mouth open. This shows that the cat is feeling hot, which could lead to dehydration if their environment is not cooled down.
2. If your cat shows further signs of dehydration, such as sticky or tacky gums, listlessness or depression, this may be a sign of a serious issue. Your cat should be seen by your veterinarian as soon as possible.

Your cat may not show how important getting enough hydration is to them, but it is a critical aspect of caring for your beloved friend. By putting in the extra effort to find which hydration method works best for them, you’re showing your cat how much you care! We hope these tips help them stay happy and  hydrated.

---

[*] Individual cats may vary in their requirements.

References: Xu H, Greco DS, Zanghi B, et al. The effect of feeding inversely proportional amounts of canned versus dry food on water consumption, hydration and urinary parameters in cats. In: Proceedings from the World Small Animal Veterinary Association, 2014; Cape Town, South Africa.