How to help your dehydrated cat?
Is your cat drinking enough water? Honestly, there’s probably a good chance that you don’t really know because you rarely, if ever, actually see them go drink from their bowl.
If your feline friend is not getting enough water each day, she quickly can become a dehydrated cat. Especially with Singapore’s warm climate all year round, you definitely need to make sure your cat is hydrated at all times.
Let’s look at some common signs of a dehydrated cat:
- Lethargy
- Listlessness
- Sunken eyes
- Dry and sticky gums
- Refusal to eat
- Decreased skin elasticity
What You Can Do to Help a Dehydrated Cat:
1) Switch from dry food to wet
A first step in helping your dehydrated cat get the moisture she needs is to switch her to a wet cat food, if she’s not eating it already. Canned food are healthier for cats as their water intake is sufficient just by eating the food. This is especially so for cats with urinary issues. Tip: You can also add water to canned food. However if your cat rejects the wet food, you can try adding water to her kibble or mixing wet food in with her dry diet.
2) Try other liquids
If your cat has no interest in normal drinking water, you can also opt for other liquids such as milk, broth or liquid treats.
Tip: Take a can of tuna packed in water, and toss it in the blender with at least five cups of water. Feed them to your cats. Be creative!
3) Use ice
Place a few ice cubes in their water bowl. Many cats are fascinated by the sound and look of bobbing ice cubes, and will happily go in for a few laps.
4) Switch Out Your Cat Water Bowl
Invest in a cat water fountain! Some cats refuse to drink standing water, no matter how clean or cool you make it. The constant movement oxygenates the water for a fresher, cooler taste that cats will enjoy. Most fountains will have an adjustable water flow and a replacable charcoal filter, which will remove bad tastes and odour.
5) Always offer lots of fresh water
You should also get into the habit of changing the water frequently to prevent bacterial build-up. The bowl itself may smell of the detergent with which it was cleaned - and therefore is an unnattractive prospect to a cat.