Knowing how much water your cat must drink every day is essential to take care of its health: here's how to act and what to do if the cat drinks too little.
how much water should the cat drink
Do you know how much water your cat should drink every day?
Just like humans and all other animals, cats need to drink the right daily amount of water to stay hydrated and healthy: this is why, if you have adopted a cat, it is essential that you know how much water they need. every day and what to do if you drink too much or, conversely, too little.
Let's start by saying that the answer to the question "How much water should the cat drink every day?" it is not simple, nor immediate: this quantity can change depending on various factors, moreover cats are notoriously picky both for food and when it comes to drinking.
Knowing how much water your cat must drink is essential, as well as carefully observing the quantities of fluids consumed: excessive thirst or, on the contrary, the absence of thirst in cats is a symptom of dangerous diseases and health problems.
Daily doses of water for cats and how to regulate them
cat water quantity
Compared to humans and even dogs , cats need to drink much less water: based on its body weight, a cat needs to drink an average of 50ml of water for each pound of body weight. This amount varies based on a few factors:
- If the cat eats only wet food, it will need much less water because these foods already contain liquids that partially cover the daily daily dose that the animal needs.
- If, on the other hand, the cat eats only dry food, ie consumes only kibble, he will need an extra amount of water to maintain proper hydration: make sure he always has a bowl of fresh water available.
- Depending on their age, the cat needs to drink a different amount of water: in particular, kittens and senior cats drink more water than adult cats.
- Finally, the daily dose of water for a cat also varies according to the season of the year. In summer, when temperatures are warmer, the cat must certainly drink more than in winter because it suffers from the heat and must protect itself from the risk of dehydration.
When the cat drinks too much
cat drinks water
How to tell if the cat is drinking enough?
Excessive thirst in cats is usually a symptom of a more or less serious health problem: in the case of POLIDIPSIA in the cat , i.e. excessive water ingestion, there is likely to be a loss of fluids in another way.
One possibility is POLYURY , i.e. excessive urination that is recognized by the increased amount of pee: if the cat uses the litter box more than three times a day or urinates outside the litter box, there could be a problem of this kind.
In addition, a cat that is very thirsty and drinks too much water could have diabetes problems or some kidney disease: if you notice this symptom in your four-legged friend, proceed immediately with a visit to the vet.
When the cat drinks too little water
Cat drinks water
Cool water against the heat
Especially in the summer , it is essential that the cat drinks enough water to prevent typical problems of heat such as heatstroke, which is dangerous for cats of all ages .
Furthermore, if the cat drinks too little, it is likely that he has some serious health problems.
Lack of water can cause your cat a number of pathologies such as kidney stones or less serious but equally annoying problems such as halitosis. Also, older cats who drink too little could develop severe kidney failure, which leads to the animal's death.
Even the cat dehydration is a problem that arises from the poor fluid intake, this can be observed on the basis of certain symptoms:
- - the coat is not very shiny and the skin flakes off,
- - the cat is apathetic, in a bad mood and tends to avoid physical exercise,
- - the cat urinates a few times a day.
The simplest trick to tell if a cat is dehydrated is to pinch the skin on the back of its neck: if it comes back immediately, the cat drinks enough. If, on the other hand, it takes a few seconds to get back into place, it is a clear sign of dehydration.