Water is a basic element we all need and cats are no exception. It accounts for up to 75 percent of your cat’s weight and it helps her digest food, eliminate waste and regulate body temperature.
The amount of water your cat needs will vary based on a few things including their activity level and diet, but ensuring she is getting enough water is important. Hydration is one of the factors that can contribute to urinary tract problems, which can in turn lead to other problems. But there are a few things you can do to make sure your cat is regularly getting enough water.
Ways To Encourage Proper Hydration
Fresh water should always be available to your cat, ideally in more than one location. You may even try moving one source of water around to see where your cat likes it best. Having more than one water dish is especially important if you have more than one cat.
Consider getting a re-circulating water fountain. Many cats like to drink running water. These water fountains encourage some cats to drink more often.
Another great way to get more water into your cat’s diet is by feeding her wet or canned cat food. This is especially important if your cat has had a feline urinary tract issues in the past. You can even add a little extra water to the food if you feel she isn’t drinking enough on her own.
What You Feed Your Cat Is Important
Besides adding some wet cat food to your cat’s diet the type of food you choose is important as well. If feline urinary tract infections are of concern choose a food that is low in magnesium.
To keep your cat as healthy as possible choose a natural cat food that uses whole food ingredients instead of by-products. Companies that make natural and organic cat foods often pay more attention to the ingredients in the food and in most cases they use better quality ingredients to encourage optimum feline health.
Litter Boxes
The other side of hydration of course involves litter boxes. Having clean litter boxes in out of the way places is important as well. If you have multiple cats you should have more than one litter box.
Taking a few easy steps to ensure your cat is eating and drinking well will help keep her healthier and it may cut her risk of some common cat health problems down the road.
