Hydration Of Cats – Water Intake Is Indispensable

Water is an essential nutrient for your cat. It represents about 60% to 75% of the weight of an adult feline. So it is very important that your pet drinks water regularly. 

Facilitating the daily intake of liquid helps your cat maintain good health, as it allows food to be consumed more easily.

In addition, the consumption of water regulates the body temperature of the animals and allows the salt and other electrolytes to pass through your pussy’s body.

The amount of water your cat will need will depend on environmental factors and the activities it performs.

Hydration of felines helps prevent urinary system problems. Because of this, hydration and adequate water consumption are relevant to your pet’s health.

If your cat consumes more calories and thus generates the body’s metabolism need for action, it will need more water to maintain its body temperature. 

In general, a cat should drink about the same amount of water (in milliliters) as the number of kilocalories that are consumed throughout the day.

Dry cat food (food) contains 7% to 12% water, while canned food can be as much as 80% water.

Animals that eat only dry food do not get the amount of water they need. Therefore, they need to have access to clean, potable water so that they can increase their intake.

Cats Hydration

It’s important to feed your cat wet food at least once a day, as this will help you replace the supplemental water you can’t get by drinking directly from your dish.

Cats learn to drink water quickly. However, if you’ve noticed that your little kitten doesn’t get close to the plate, maybe there are some reasons why that doesn’t happen.

So, it is important that you provide your pet with running water. Although it is better to keep the water dish always in the same place as a second option.

Be sure to use a stainless steel container, not a plastic one, as water that is left in a plastic dish or bowl daily can contain toxins.

Clean the water bowl every day. The cat’s sense of smell is very sensitive. If he notices a strange smell on your plate, it is very likely that he will give up and not drink the water.

If your cat is sick, be on the lookout for signs of dehydration. Get veterinary care if he has vomiting or diarrhea.

What are the causes of dehydration in cats?

Among the causes of dehydration are vomiting and diarrhea, increased urine volume, medical conditions such as diabetes or kidney failure in the cat that urinates more frequently, heat stroke, lack of available drinking water, loss of consciousness, bleeding or fever are also part of the reasons.

Symptoms of dehydration in cats can be classified in different ways: mild dehydration, up to 5%; moderate between 5% and 10%; and severe, 10% or more.

The signs of dehydration, among other indications include sunken eyes, poor skin elasticity, lethargy, increased heart rate and constipation.

Dehydration in cats can be determined by checking the degree of elasticity of their skin. To see if dehydration exists, try to grab some skin around the neck and gently pull it up.

In a hydrated cat, the “tires” of its fur will retract quickly, while in those who are dehydrated the fur will retract much more slowly.

Another way to tell if your pussy is dehydrated is to test your cat’s blood circulation. To determine this condition, press a finger against your pet’s upper gums.

With a watch, mark the time it took for the white spot to turn pink. In a cat in good health, this period cannot exceed 2 seconds.

Dehydration in cats can also be checked by examining the urine. This is done to check electrolyte levels and kidney function.

Occasionally, additional tests may be ordered to investigate kidney and liver function, as well as tests to detect the presence of diabetes.

Treatment consists of administering fluids either subcutaneously or intravenously, which should be done under the supervision of a veterinarian.