For your furry friend, hydration helps maintain good health, a shiny coat, digestion, blood circulation, and more.

Dehydration, on the other hand, is a dangerous condition that occurs when a cat doesn’t drink enough water. When your furry friend is dehydrated, they lack some of the essential minerals they need to live a full, mischievous life – chloride, sodium, potassium, and more.

Lack of water can lead to serious medical problems, so make sure your furry companion shows enough interest in water.

What causes dehydration in cats?

This problem usually occurs when your furry friend doesn’t drink enough water or when they lose it. Mischievous creatures can lose a small amount of water when they play or sweat through their paws. While this is very small and unlikely to cause any problems, it’s still worth mentioning.

Dehydration is commonly associated with the following conditions:

• Diabetes

• Diarrhea

• Fever

• Heatstroke

• Hot weather or overheating

• Trauma

• Vomiting

To help your cat maintain healthy hydration, make sure they have access to fresh water in a clean bowl every day.

How much water does my cat need?

Depending on the size of your cat, they can generally drink between 150 and 300 ml of water per day. If you feed your purring friend wet food every day, you may notice that they drink less water, as this type of food contains about 70-80% water.

On the other hand, cats that eat mostly dry food should hydrate themselves by drinking from their bowl.

What are the symptoms of dehydration in cats?

Some signs of dehydration include:

• Loss of energy

• Panting

• Loss of appetite

• Sunken eyes

• Dry gums

If you’re worried that your meowing friend is dehydrated, you can do a quick and easy skin test. Carefully pick up your kitty, grab his skin between his shoulder blades, and pull it up, as if you were trying to “peel” it off his body. Let go and watch how quickly it recovers.

Since our meowing friends are very flexible, if your cat is hydrated – the skin will recover in no time. On the other hand, if your purring roommate doesn’t drink much water – the skin will stay up and will return to its place much more slowly because it has lost its elasticity. In this case, it’s time to seek help from a veterinarian.

Home signs that your cat is drinking enough

There are a few easy-to-recognize signs that your cat is getting enough water. One of the most important indicators is regular urination – a healthy and well-hydrated cat will go to the toilet daily, and its urine will be light and slightly concentrated.

The gums also provide valuable information – they should be pink, moist and smooth to the touch.

A shiny and soft coat is another sign of good hydration, as water plays a key role in the health of the skin and coat. Cats that drink enough water tend to be more energetic, have a stable appetite and show interest in playing and their surroundings.

Paying attention to these seemingly small details every day can help owners prevent dehydration before it becomes a serious health problem.

What to do if your cat is dehydrated?

This condition is often a sign of a serious illness. While you’re waiting to see your vet, you can try some home remedies to rehydrate your cat:

• Add a small amount of wet food broth to their water

• Focus on wet food

• Place a few ice cubes in their water bowl (if it’s summer)

It’s important to learn how and where your feline friend likes to drink water. This doesn’t mean that if they like to drink from the toilet (as is often the case) or from your cup, they should drink from those places, but you should still try different things. Some temperamental animals like to drink from a bowl, others from a box, and still others from a fountain.

You should encourage them to drink water, but never force them, as this will surely set you back.

Are some cats more prone to dehydration than others?

In general, purring animals that have been diagnosed with another illness or that are older are more likely to become dehydrated.

For example, if your cat suffers from cancer, diabetes, hyperthyroidism, or a kidney disorder, it is a good idea to talk to your veterinarian about how to maintain healthy and ideal hydration levels for your pet.

How is dehydration treated?

A quick procedure that your veterinarian can perform is to give your purring friend fluids under the skin. In very severe cases, it may be necessary to “inject” fluids through a needle that goes directly into the purring animal’s vein. With this procedure, they are hydrated within a few hours or days.

In addition, your vet will diagnose the underlying cause of your purring friend’s dehydration so that he can recover as quickly as possible.

How can I prevent dehydration?

There are several ways you can protect your purring friend from future fluid loss:

• Clean the bowl and change the water as often as possible.

• Provide multiple water sources for your cat to drink from at any given time.

• Use a fountain to encourage him to drink.

What the water should smell and look like (according to your cat)

Cats are extremely sensitive to smells and tastes, and this also applies to the water they drink. Unlike humans, our purring friends may refuse to drink water if it has even the slightest odor or taste.

The water should be completely clear, without sediment, bubbles, or floating particles. It should not have any smell – even the scent of dishwashing liquid can be enough to repel a cat.

Food residue or dust in the bowl can also make the water unappealing. Many cats prefer water at room temperature, rather than ice cold or standing water for hours. It is important to clean the bowl daily and refill it with fresh water at least once a day. The location also matters – the water should not be placed next to the toilet or food bowl, as this can create discomfort and reduce the desire to drink.

How seasons affect hydration

The risk of dehydration is highest during the summer months, as high temperatures lead to faster fluid loss and overheating. Cats may become more listless, hide in cool places and drink less, even though their bodies need more water.

The situation is also not to be underestimated in winter – heating dries the air, and lower activity often leads to reduced fluid intake. Many owners mistakenly believe that dehydration is only a summer problem.

During the transitional seasons such as spring and autumn, changes in temperature and humidity can affect the appetite and thirst of our purring friends. Therefore, it is important to monitor throughout the year whether the cat drinks enough water and adapt its environment according to the season – through more water sources, more frequent changes and choosing a suitable place for the bowls.

It is very important to prevent your purring friend from reaching this state. Try different methods and water sources. Fountains, for example, are an excellent tool, and in addition, they are fun, as meowing pets watch the running water with curiosity.

Illustrative Photo by Ubaidillah  Ahmad: https://www.pexels.com/photo/two-white-cats-eating-outdoor-on-rustic-porch-32461697/