Water is essential for any living organism, and cats are no exception. However, even despite all the efforts of the owners to comply with the norms for the amount of drinking, the animal may still receive less fluid. The fact is that there are cats that drink little by themselves. If a cat does not drink enough water, on the one hand, this allows its body to conserve water by a strong concentration of urine, on the other hand, it can result in serious health problems.
For reference:
- natural drink for pets - water and only it,
- You should not use ordinary tap water, it is better to give your pet bottled or filtered water;
- natural food and canned cat food are 70-80% liquid;
- if the cat eats dry food, it should drink 2-3 times more water than the amount of dry food eaten per day.
Watch your pet first. Perhaps the cat drinks little from the bowl or does not touch it at all, because it is lapping water from the tap, some kind of vase or jug. Place containers with water of different sizes and colors in different places of the apartment - mugs, bowls, saucers.
When choosing a place for another container of water, remember that:
- the food area should be as far away from the litter box or litter box as possible, if the litter box is there;
- bowls for food and water should be placed at some distance from each other;
- it is best to use containers made of polypropylene or stainless steel;
- the drinking utensils should be washed daily with soap or in the dishwasher.
Encourage your pet, praise and pet it, and encourage it to drink by lightly dampening its paws and the tip of its nose. Put his favorite toys in the water so that your pet associates the drinking process with something pleasant and positive.
In extreme cases, add water to the norm with a syringe, injecting it into the corner of the mouth. Do this procedure daily and praise your pet every time after it.
Dehydration test
To understand if your cat is consuming enough water, gently gather the skin in your hand in the area of the shoulder blades, as if you are about to lift the pet by the scruff, and then release. If the skin straightens out quickly, then everything is in order. If the skin first stakes for a while, and then slowly straightens, this is a sign of health problems. In this case, it is recommended to examine the animal for the occurrence of urolithiasis.
