Cat doesn't drink water at all what to do

Both disorders affect the cat's coordination and behavior. Involuntary muscle contraction while drinking leads to water phobia, and when the paws refuse, the ability to move freely to the kitchen disappears.

How do you get a cat to drink water? 5 easy ways

Every animal needs to drink water. It is necessary for the proper functioning of the body. Often you may notice that the cat passes by a bowl of water indifferently and does not pay any attention to it. What to do in this situation? We have prepared 5 tips.

It is worth noting that cats are smart. If a cat doesn't feel the need to drink water it will not do so, even if at every step it will meet a bowl of water. Cats are by nature designed to consume relatively small amounts of liquid and, as long as they are healthy, they will drink water when their body demands it.

How much water does a cat need to function properly?

Every healthy cat should consume approximately 50 ml of water for every 1 kg of body weight. These are the proportions that currently most accurately reflect the correct amount of water a cat needs.

As for how much a cat should drink, it depends on its lifestyle and the conditions in which it lives. As you know, water is in all foods except dry food. Cats that live in the wild and eat what they hunt provide almost all of their fluid needs through food. Every living organism is about 80 percent water, so if a cat is hunting a field mouse, for example, it absorbs a fairly large "portion of water" by eating it.

For domestic cats, the situation is quite different. Most of our pets eat mostly dry food, which contains literally a few percent moisture – too little to meet (even partially) the body's need for fluids. This is why a cat needs to drink water. Unfortunately, most cats consume far less fluid than they need, which contributes to kidney or bladder problems.

Reasons why a cat won't drink from a bowl

Standing water

Many experts have puzzled over this paradox. And they've come to the following conclusion: cats have a genetic memory: the water in standing water is dangerous. It may be infected with something.

Especially dangerous, according to the opinion of the feline tribe, is the water, which is near the food. There is definitely something in it that gives you a stomachache. In nature, cats prefer cool running water, which can be found in rivers and streams, avoiding muddy puddles and ponds.

Double bowl.

That's why a double bowl of food and water is the most unfortunate option. Here it's clear: no matter how carefully you pour the food, food particles will inevitably get into the water, contaminating it.

The bowl is next to the food.

Cats, in general, don't usually drink where they eat. At least, this is typical behavior for them in the natural environment. Suppose a tiger killed an animal and ate its carcass. Near a watering place. Uneaten remains will rot and contaminate the water. That's why food is separate, water is separate.

Water and food in the same bowl

It's the same if you want to save money on utensils for the cat and pour water into a bowl the cat has recently eaten from. This won't work for you.

One bowl for two pets

This, too, is a reason to ignore "someone else's" bowl. Makes sense, by the way. You wouldn't drink from someone else's mug, would you? Neither would your cat. Who knows, maybe the other pet has tooth decay?

It's too small (big).

That can happen too. If the bowl is not the right size for your pet, if it is not wide enough or very small and uncomfortable to drink from, it too will be ignored.

The bowl smells bad

This can happen if the bowl is made of a poor quality polymer material. Our sense of smell does not pick up this smell, but it may well scare the cat away.

The same story if the bowl is old and covered with microcracks. Bacteria can also accumulate in them, which smells unpleasant and makes the cat feel like he's being fed rotten water. Water can smell if the bowl is near strong smelling household chemicals and laundry detergents or shoe polish. All of these smells are quickly absorbed. Also, a cat won't like it if the water bowl is close to his toilet.

How to train a cat to drink from a bowl

It is not certain that this will work, but you can try to "talk" the cat into drinking from his own bowl. Try to create the right conditions.

Buy a comfortable, quality bowl

Take a whiff of your old bowl. It might really smell. In that case, it's better to buy a new one. You need to look for a wider, more comfortable bowl. Think about the size of your cat's muzzle and buy a bowl that he can drink from without twisting his whiskers or falling in.

Find a good place for the bowl

As we've said before, the bowl needs to stand far away from the food bowl. Look for another place for it. Preferably, it should be free of drafts, unnecessary noise, and other annoyances.

Wash the bowl and change the water

Don't forget to monitor the quality of your pet's water. Drinking stagnant water from a dirty bowl is no fun. Refill with fresh water at least once a day.

Every pet has its own bowl.

Personal hygiene routines don't only work for people. If you have several pets, you shouldn't have one drinking bowl for everyone. Each pet should have its own bowl.

Place bowls in different corners

If your cat is still stubbornly ignoring a bowl of water, you can try buying several bowls and placing them in different corners of the apartment. And then just leave the bowl (or two) that went well.

Buy a fountain.

If nothing helped, and you can afford it, buy a drinking fountain for your cat. The least you can do is keep your cat safe, the most you can do is keep him from having to learn how to turn on the tap.

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Why is it important for cats to drink enough fluids?

The urinary system of cats is arranged in such a way that when the amount of fluid is insufficient, the kidneys quickly accumulate sediment and urolithiasis develops in a short time.

Asymptomatic at first the disease is very dangerous – if you do not notice in time that the cat is not drinking enough, the process quickly escalates to the stage where the animal requires medical attention. And if soluble struvite compounds of salts are treated with a strict diet of special purpose food, the insoluble oxalate at this time, unfortunately, can only be removed by surgery…

IBC of struvite or oxalate type – owners who have encountered the problem know how difficult, long, expensive – and sometimes impossible – it is to solve the problem.

How do you know if a cat doesn't drink enough?

Very easy – observe the amount of water in the containers from which the animal tends to drink. Even taking into account evaporation, the difference should remain noticeable. However, you should take into account that the animal can often drink from places that are not designed for it… For example, aquariums, leaking faucets and…toilets.

Another option is to count how many times a day the pet goes to the bathroom. The norm for adult cats is considered up to 5 times a day, a little less – 1-3 – may be in a spayed cat.

If the animal does not go "in a small way" for 24 hours (and this is accurate, and there are no "surprises" anywhere), you should consult a doctor.

What water to give the cat

In addition to the bowl (drinker), there are two other sources of water, and they all affect the daily requirement of the pet. Let's dwell on this in more detail.

Dietary water – enters the body with the food. Dry pellets can contain up to 10% moisture, wet pellets up to 80%. A healthy cat meets its daily fluid needs without other sources if it eats wet food.

Metabolic water – is formed in the process of oxidation of BW. One gram of fat supplies 1.07 grams of water, protein 0.41, and carbohydrates 0.6. Recycling 100 kilocalories produces approximately 10-16 ml of water.

Drinking water – comes from a bowl (standing water) or from taps, fountains (running water). Water must be clean, without additional impurities, because the health of the pet depends on it.

• Tap water. If there is confidence that the tap water does not contain harmful impurities and meets all quality standards, this option is fine. You can pass the water through a household filter or stand for a few hours beforehand.
• Bottled water. This water has a balanced composition of mineral elements, so it is suitable for both people and pets.

• Boiled water. The mineral composition of such water is low, in addition, during boiling a sediment in the form of solid particles is formed. It is not safe for the health of the pet.
• Distilled water. It has almost no salts and minerals, such water is not retained in the body and, as a result, does not quench thirst.
• Mineral water. For the cat's body the mineral content of such water is excessive.

Do not let the cat drink water from a puddle, toilet, dirty water bucket, from the floor as a result of a bowl knocked over on the floor.

Drinking water must always be fresh, so it must be renewed regularly, especially if it is standing water (in a bowl). It is recommended to wash the bowl daily, in hot weather 2-3 times a day.

What is the need to drink enough water related to?

Maintaining a water balance affects the wellbeing and activity of cats. The body, which is composed of approximately 75% water, requires fluid intake to keep its internal systems functioning properly.

• Thermoregulation In hot weather, mammals use a sweating mechanism to cool themselves, which allows them to lower their body temperature. Cats, although they have sweat glands, their full function is hindered by their fur. Therefore, most of their sweat glands are on the pads of the paws, muzzle, near the nipples and anus. To a greater extent, the cat cools the body by licking – due to the evaporation of saliva from the coat, the body temperature is lowered. The cat needs plenty of drinking to increase the amount of saliva. In extreme heat, the cat may start breathing with its mouth open and its tongue stuck out like a dog, breathing in moist and cool air. Evaporation occurs during breathing, which also requires fluid replenishment.
• Transportation of nutrients Water transports nutrients, minerals, enzymes, transporting them to cells and tissues. Also, as a solvent, water is needed in sufficient quantities to process nutrients and remove breakdown products.
• Digestion Water is the most important element by which digestive processes take place. The fluids of the digestive system contain water in different concentrations. Only in an aqueous environment can nutrients be absorbed from the intestine into the bloodstream and subsequently transported to body tissues. The end products of metabolism dissolved in water are excreted by the pet outside. Water is required for the excretion of waste products: with urine and feces.

In addition, water maintains elasticity of tissues, acts as a joint lubricant, and participates in muscle work.

How to train a pet to drink water

If pathology is excluded, the owner can cope with the problem himself. To do this, he will need to eliminate all the negative factors, including the questionable quality of water, material and location of the drinker.

What kind of water is needed

The best option is filtered or bottled water. Additional treatment in the form of boiling makes no sense. It destroys not only harmful but also useful elements.

The next important point is cleanliness. Change the liquid poured into the bowl daily, and in summer – twice a day.

Pour more than necessary. Cats tend to leave reserves for a rainy day and may refuse to drink if the current amount does not suit them.

Bowls and fountains.

The most common materials for cat bowls include plastic, metal and ceramic. The latter has the greatest number of pluses. Cheaper-priced plastic quickly absorbs unpleasant odors, and its small cracks are a real breeding ground for bacteria.

If the kitten drinks little water from the bowl because she prefers something flowing, get a special fountain. This device performs filtration on a constant basis and enriches the circulating liquid with oxygen.

Flavor additives

If the kitten drinks only milk and doesn't want water, try luring her with a familiar flavor and aroma. Mix the two liquids in favor of the more attractive one and gently decrease its percentage to achieve a persistent habituation. Similarly, you can make a mixture based on wet canned liquid.

Container Location

The last point that needs attention is the location of the bowl. Most often the bowl is placed in the kitchen, but not all cats like this choice. Try changing the location in favor of a room where your pet likes to be.

Can you let your kitten drink tap water?

A trickle coming out of the tap attracts a lot of cats. Felineologists attribute this to an innate instinct inherited from their ancestors. Standing water in the wild is one of the main sources of bacteria, viruses and parasites. Animals try to avoid them, choosing rivers, streams and springs.

In contrast to running water in the wild, tap water contains too many harmful inclusions. Frequent consumption provokes accumulation of stones, which with time grow into large stones, preventing the painless flow of urine. To avoid the development of urolithiasis (IBC), it is better to replace this source with a safer drinking fountain.

Cat does not drink water what to do? Advice from a cat expert

Today you pay attention to your pet and wonder why the cat does not drink water, what to do in this case? Imagine, you are looking at a full water bowl and frantically remembering, and when actually you poured water there last time? Well, if just now, but if a long time ago, stale water does not attract the pet. Draw fresh, clean water and offer it to your cat. If the water is fresh and the cat still won't drink, then let's start sorting things out in order.

How long can a cat survive without water?

It's an urgent question for every owner whose cat stopped drinking. A cat without water, how long can it live? This is one of the first things that cross our minds when we realize that our pets do not drink water.

A healthy, adult cat may need about a glass of water a day. It doesn't have to be that much water, though. This amount of fluid in the pet's body, can be replenished by its content in other foods she eats.

So, how long can a cat live without water? When answering this question, veterinarians give an approximate figure of 48 hours. Of course, these figures are averaged and the cat may endure more. It will depend on her weight and the environment. For example, if the room will be very hot and stuffy, the cat's body will suffer more from lack of water.

When the pet has stopped drinking water for 24 hours, it is time to start sounding the alarm and figure out why this is happening. Analyze the situation, draw conclusions and remove obstacles that do not allow the cat to saturate the life-giving moisture.

How to make a cat drink water: 5 easy ways

In nature, cats get enough moisture from food. No wonder they don't like to drink water specifically to get drunk. Their sense of thirst is severely blunted.

If the pet is kept on dry food, insufficient water intake can lead to problems:

– Too concentrated urine contributes to crystallization

Estimating the total amount of water drunk in a day is almost impossible. Usually owners become concerned after various problems (cystitis, etc.) are identified.

Although natural ponds may contain bacteria and worm eggs, the water there is oxygenated and very pleasant for the animals

The first thing to start with Assess the quality of the water of the water you offer your cat.

1. It should be ceramic, glass or porcelain; these materials do not absorb odors.

2. Water should be changed daily and the bowl washed periodically. If a cat has to drink from a bowl full of dog drool, don't blame him for trying to do it as rarely as possible.

3. Water should be filtered, spring water or bottled water (but with low salt content). Not only is boiled water unpalatable, it is also not healthy.

There are several ways to increase your cat's fluid intake:

If a cat flatly refuses to drink, it should not be fed exclusively dry food, even the highest quality. Cooking her own food can be problematic, in which case canned food can be helpful.

Wet food contains about 70-80% water, no less than in small rodents, which are suitable foods for cats.

1. A cat may refuse to eat wet food, stubbornly preferring the familiar "croutons." Cats are very conservative and it is impossible to get them to eat anything. Fortunately, most cats really like wet food.

It's much easier to buy dry premium cat food, since you need about 50 grams of it a day. For the same average cat needs 3 wet pouches a day – about 90 bags per month. At the price of 50-60 rubles apiece comes to a decent amount.

How much water should a cat drink per day?

Norm of liquids consumption by cats is individual. It depends on several factors:

• The weight of the animal. For each kilogram of body weight of a four-legged pet per day should ideally have from 20 to 40 ml of water, according to other sources – about 50 ml.
• Age. Kittens need less fluid than mature cats. Most older cats are thirsty.

• Nutrition. A cat that eats a good quality ready-made, salt-free and balanced food needs less water than his colleague who eats low-quality food. Broths and gravy included in a cat's diet, which consists of natural food, provide their bodies with moisture, and as a result, their need for clean water is reduced.
• Level of physical activity. Vigorous cats need more fluids than four-legged loungers.
• The time of year and the temperature of the air The time of year and temperature of the room in which the cat is constantly kept. The need for drinking increases in hot weather.

The pet's daily water intake should be twice the weight of the food he eats. Knowing the weight of the pet, you can determine how much liquid he needs per day. To do this, multiply its mass by 0.03. The resulting value will be the rate of water required by the cat's body.

Why kitten does not drink water from a bowl, how to accustom him to do it?

To accustom the kitten, weaned from his mother, to drink water – the primary task of the owner of the baby. The baby refuses to lap up the water, because its smell and taste seem strange to him, because they do not resemble the milk of the mother. One of the following methods will help you get your kitten used to drinking water:

• Use a dark container for the liquid that will not distract the little one's attention from drinking.
• Splash a few drops into the baby, create circles on the surface of the water. It is best to instill baby's interest in the contents of a bowl of water in a playful way.
• Put a piece of cloth slightly dampened with liquid mint extract or a sprig of fresh plant under the container with the liquid.
• Place several bowls of water around the house, which are sure to attract the attention of a curious baby.
• Wet the baby's nose with water. He will instinctively lick his nose, tasting the liquid.

To teach a little pet to drink water, you can not poke it in his face. This can really scare the little guy.

Should you force your pet to drink?

The need for forced watering depends on the reason for the refusal to drink and the overall health. In the absence of pathology, such pressure has the opposite effect. It is much better to try the recommendations described above.

If your pet is recovering from anesthesia, then he will need to drink from a syringe without a needle for about a day. Otherwise there is a risk of dehydration. The same applies to the listed disorders, with the exception of rabies.

Signs of dehydration and its dangers

The severity of the symptoms and the speed of dehydration depend on age. It is most severe in kittens. The main signs of dehydration include:

• Delayed straightening of the skin folds after compression;
• lethargy and lethargy, often accompanied by fainting;
• sunken eyes;
• Drying of mucous membranes (lips, nose and mouth)
• Unkempt appearance of hair and its dryness;
• Decreased frequency of urination;
• Coldness in the extremities.

The condition is also often complicated by vomiting, diarrhea and fever. Its main danger is fatal. Adult animals last for 3 days, but kittens only 1 day. Associated complications may also be added:

Keeping your beloved pet healthy and alive will help if you go to the veterinarian at the first symptoms of ailment. If the condition is severe, the pet may be left in the hospital for IV fluids.

Because of the variety of causes of refusal to drink, you should not jump to conclusions or resort to forced watering through a syringe. More often the problem is easily resolved peacefully, so you don't want to add to the stress and undermine your credibility in the eyes of the pet.

The article is for information purposes only. Contact your veterinarian!