How to make my cat drink more water?

Question

I am worried

Sorry for not giving more details...

My cat used to drink a lot more, I can tell from the bowl. He'd be very "vocal" if he thought I forgot to fill up the bowl with water - that doesn't mean he will drink straight away, he just wants it full. But recently, he's been quiet and I do not have to fill the bowl as often as I did, I am very sure he is drinking a lot less. If you have a cat you will know they lick, in one go he licks 50-100 times at the water! That was the past. But now he may just lick around 20 times.

Answer 1

i don't think you can make your cat drink more water. if there is something wrong with it that is causing it not to drink you should call a vet.

Answer 2

What makes you ask this?? An animal will drink when they are thirsty. Is it an inside cat? It may be drinking from places that you don't see it drink from, as sinks, & toilets. Outside cats will drink from birdbaths, puddles, ponds, a gutter. Does your cat eat only dry food? Moist cat foods have a lot of moisture in it, and the cat won't need water. Is your cat sick, refusing food, using the litter box more often? All of these things enter into whether or not you should take the cat to the vet. Good Luck

Answer 3

Has a vet seen your cat? Does kitty have a health problem?

Typically cats self-regulate their need for food and water very well. Any animal that stops eating or drinking is ill.

Lack of fluids can cause dehydration. A simple test for dehydration is to gently pinch a 1/4 inch deep section of fur /skin between your thumb and forefinger. Hold a few seconds and let go. The fur/skin should relax back into a normal state. If it "stands up" like a little mountain peak, the animal (or person) is dehydrated.

If a cat/ animal is not drinking regularly, they may need IV (intravenous) fluids. Kittens and older cats are the most vulnerable. Dehydration can lead to kidney shut down...and to death.

Please take your cat to the vet for a check up.

Lifes

PS Do NOT give cats/kittens ANY regular "people" milk -- it can lead to diarhea, which can also lead to dehydration. There is a milk-replacement for felines at pet stores which is safe for their digestion.

Answer 4

You can lead cat to water but you cant make it drink, or is it a horse?
Anyway if you put numerous bowls around the place it will entice your cat to drink more. If you are feeding you cat a tin food based diet only it will get a good % of that as water. If you are feeding your cat dry food only then it should drink more. If you are worried measure how much water you put in your cats bowls over the course of a few days calculate how much you cat has drunk and ring the vet if you are worried.

Now cats like to drink from really obscure places like after your shower a dripping tap or even the toilet. So having some different places for you cat to drink could possibly help you to get your cat to drink more

Answer 5

First question - did you change your cat's diet recently? In particular did you switch from dry to canned food?

If so, you have nothing to worry about. Canned food contains a ton of moisture so cats don't need to drink as much water (this is a good thing).

If you didn't, and if your cat is acting differently in any other respect, I would get him into the vet to see if he's sick.

Answer 6

Booda1113 had a good suggestion with the dripping faucet trick. You might also try putting the cat's water in a cup or odd shaped container. I know it sounds weird, but some cats prefer to drink out of a taller, narrower container that they have to stick their heads inside. Mine prefer to drink from a fish bowl with marbles in the bottom. (No fish)

Answer 7

Canned cat food has a LOT of water in it, and most cats go for it pretty readily, so you can try feeding canned food. According to the latest research, it's best to feed a cats a combination of dry and canned food-dry to help with dental health and canned to increase water intake and support kidney health.

If you pull up on the skin at the back of the neck and it doesn't snap back in less than 2 seconds, your cat is dehydrated and needs to see the vet. They can give fluids by IV or underneath the skin to get your cat rehydrated, depending on how bad it is. Also if his/her gums feel dry or tacky, that's a sign of dehydration too. If the eyeballs look sunken in, that's SEVERE dehydration and you should get the vet to the cat tonight.

Milk is not good for cats. Most cats are lactose intolerant. It will give them diarrhea.

Answer 8

Is your cat eating canned food? Cats do not need as much water if they eat canned food because it contains a lot of water. Not that I recommend canned food, dry is better.
As long as it is not dehydrated I would not worry about it. You might want to provide a different source of water like a water-er that moves the water continuously and contains a filter so it stays fresh all the time. Are you washing the water bowl on a regular basis? If you don't, slime can accumulate in it and make it unappealing to the cat. If you don't know where to purchase one of the waterers send me an e-mail, I know of a place that sells them.

Answer 9

you can offer more dishes of water, make sure it's clean and change it out often (cats like clean water). you can also try leaving a bowl under a dripping faucet, a lot of cats prefer running water.

if you're concerned about your cat really not getting enough water, gently pinch the skin at the top of it's neck, and if it bounces back right into place immediately, the cat is fine. if it stays in the pinched up shape for a little while, your cat is dehydrated, and should see a vet.

Answer 10

I don't know of any way to "make" a cat do ANYTHING! :) But if a cat wants or needs something- you can be pretty sure it'll find a way to get it. If your cat isn't drinking water- it's because it doesn't need it. Stop worrying about it. Keep a bowl of water available to it- & it'll be fine.

Answer 11

She's ok
take her food at night
and shut the bathroom doors and I promise she will drink more from her bowl . If she isnt very active she will need a little less.
My fat piggy drinks about 6 oz a day. and thats about right I think.
let us all know how she is doing,cuz now you got us worried too,lol