What to do if your cat won't drink? Our tips!

All your life, you've believed that cats love milk and can drink it every day?Unfortunately, that's not true—milk, especially milk containing lactose, can be harmful to cats.The key ingredient here is water.Unfortunately, many cats are reluctant to drink water or don't drink it at all.What to do if your cat won't drink?Here are a few tips to help you make sure your cat stays properly hydrated.

Wet food is essential

It’s no secret that cats—unlike dogs—aren’t big fans of water.At the same time, however, a cat’s body needs water to function properly, and dehydration can be very dangerous for a cat.If your cat isn't a big fan of drinking water either, be sure to feed it wet food.Unlike dry cat food, wet cat food contains a certain amount of water, which helps keep your cat properly hydrated.Pet stores now also carry "soup"-style products that contain even more liquid.It's a good choice—especially on hot days.

Wet cat food has many benefits.It tastes much better, which is why cats are much more likely to eat wet food than dry food.In addition, it is easier to digest and leaves your cat feeling pleasantly full.It’s worth choosing high-quality wet cat food—that is, food that contains only natural ingredients and is free of artificial additives such as preservatives, colorings, and flavor and aroma enhancers.

The cat won't drink?Check to see if the water is clean

As a cat owner, you surely know that cats are very picky animals.They look askance at a litter box that hasn’t been cleaned right after the cat uses it—and often express their displeasure with loud meowing.Cats can also refuse to eat food they don't like—there are some real tall tales circulating among cat owners about this.However, not everyone knows that the same is true for water.If the water in your cat's bowl is stale—or worse, if there are cat hairs floating in it—you can be sure your cat won't drink it.

So make sure to change your cat’s water to fresh water at least a few times a day—and of course, be sure to wash the bowl thoroughly while you’re at it, because cats are real clean freaks.What kind of water should you give your cat??Tap water is now properly treated, making it safe for human consumption.So you can give your cat this water.However, if you have any doubts about the cleanliness of your tap water, you can use water that has been boiled in a kettle.Don't choose mineral or spring water meant for humans—it's not the best way to keep your cat hydrated.

Make sure you use the right dish

For cats, the material their food and water bowls are made of is extremely important.Cats prefer to drink from glass bowls.It is important that the bowl be small and filled to the brim with water.This will make it easier for the cat to drink.

You may have noticed that your cat likes to drink water running from the faucet?When you wash your hands, your cat loves to lap up the last few drops of water?That's normal.That’s exactly why special cat fountains are such a great idea—the water flows slowly, and your cat can not only drink but also enjoy some fun entertainment.

Many dog owners place water bowls in various spots so that their dog can drink whenever it feels like it.If the bowl is kept in just one spot, the cat probably won’t bother coming all the way from the other end of the house to drink—because drinking water isn’t that important to him.So place the bowls in a few different spots—this will increase the chances that your cat will drink at least a few times a day.

How much water should a cat drink??

An adult cat should drink about 30 to 50 ml of water per kilogram of body weight.Therefore, a cat weighing seven kilograms should drink between 200 and 350 ml of water throughout the day—which is about one glass of water.It may not seem like much, but given how cats are, drinking even 100 ml of water can be a real challenge.Note: Cats that eat wet food may drink less water than those that eat only dry food.So if you feed your cat wet food once or twice a day, don’t worry if it doesn’t drink much—that amount of water is probably enough for it.

What to Do If Your Cat Won't Drink – A Summary

Cats are reluctant to drink water—they much prefer to get their water from their food.This is due to their origins and the fact that cats rarely feel thirsty.Make sure to feed your cat wet food and that it always has access to clean water.You can also buy a special fountain—a water dispenser for cats.This way, you can make sure your cat drinks enough water.