Should Your Cat Drink More Water?

[@roytallericoGunner]

The secret to cats drinking more water I have found and wish to share. They totally love cold water and fresh. So I experimented with how cold and found that ice in their water bowls they totally love. Most of my cats reach 18 but one is now 22. I give her ice water twice a day and feed her dry and wet cat food along with real chicken and fish. She's still doing zoomies and tearing up a lot of scratching posts. Almost forgot..glass bowles ten inch diameter.

[@9LivesToLive]

Great tip! Especially in the summertime!

[@deel4770]

We feed a 99% animal source wet food (the brand is anifit), but use about 1 tablespoon of dry food per day for fun (hiding it in tunnels or under upside down muffin liners, letting it tumble down a ramp, etc,). As our cat has never been sighted drinking, I indeed sneak in lukewarm water with his wet food, and it licks everything up neatly.

[@9LivesToLive]

Great suggestions, De El! Thanks for watching and for the comment!

[@bambinaforever1402]

My cats wouldnt eat diluted food. I feed the same as u. Wet food 70% water anyway

[@lonnarheaj]

Thanks for sharing this excellent information! We have a herd of 15 rescued kittles, and they all have their own quirks. New ideas on caring for them are always greatly appreciated!!!

[@9LivesToLive]

Thanks for the comment, Lonna! And great work with the herd of 15!

[@ubetchaslots]

We have 2 cats n we keep water in the upstairs hallway right by the bathroom so my teen son n I can keep it filled up. I put a second one in their cubby by their litter box area. I also keep and extra one by the tub cuz my maincoon likes to jump into the empty tub and he's funny when his water is empty in the hall he will pull the glass bowl out to middle of the floor as to say Hey hoomans payyyyy attn, we need water. So cute

[@9LivesToLive]

LOL. That Maine Coon sounds like a hoot!

[@cynforrest]

Thank you for link to water fountain. Just ordered it. 😻

[@9LivesToLive]

Hope you like it!

[@cynforrest]

@@9LivesToLive It’s here already! Looks great. Thanks again. Amazon gave quick delivery this time!

[@britanica7539]

I started using pasta bowls and pie dishes for water. My cats love to drink from these. The pasta bowls are ceramic or porcelain and the pie plates are clear glass and fairly cheap. I recently tried a fountain and only the kitten uses it. The older ones still want their big low water bowls. Freeze-dried treats will help to encourage more drinking than standard crunchy treats and they are healthier too. Very expensive though. Also my cats drink spring water, like I do. I never give them tap. I feel spring is likely to closest they will get to "natural water" without the junk. I buy the water for myself anyways. I get bottles and they get jugs I keep in the fridge. They seem to love it cold and fresh! One jug is usually enough for a week so it isn't expensive.

[@9LivesToLive]

I have not tried freeze dried. Yes, everyone likes a cool drink!

[@munirasultana2313]

You're funny 😊 Loved the video 💟

[@9LivesToLive]

So glad!

[@wowJhil]

I am glad it sounds like I did some things right, litter box, water glass bowl and the food are all at different places. And as there is only one cat who is super comfy everywhere, having the water bowl on the living room table seems to be working well. About the water things, I give wet food morning and night, and he seem to drink from the bowl a little every day by himself as well. But because we really don't want to take any risks, we do occasionally feed him a little water as well. I think it's not something he likes of course, but he has gotten used to it. And we are giving it slowly, so I think it's acceptable for him for the sake of his health!

[@9LivesToLive]

Great routine!

[@bambinaforever1402]

By force? Or how can u feed a cat smth he does not want?

[@wowJhil]

@@bambinaforever1402 Because we did this from early on, he doesn't really resist much. He doesn't like being picked up for watering, cutting claws or brushing teeth. But getting water and cutting claws are actually things he is pretty ok with, although he obviously would not chose it. It's just when we put him on our lap to do this, he accepts it and doesn't really resist it.

[@cynforrest]

Always great info. Thank you. Been looking for a water fountain for my kitty. Haven’t found one yet that doesn’t have gobs of plastic in it! The search continues. Would you consider discussing litter boxes in a future vid? And, is it bad to only have one cat? Been wondering if my kitty needs company. Thanks

[@9LivesToLive]

Great ideas for videos, Cyn! I have thought about the litterbox idea, but it's a hard one and complicated. But I might just tackle it!

[@lucycarola]

Man, my cat was perfectly fine. I’ve had cats my whole life and trial and error has taught me that dry food is always better. I know there are differing opinions. I respect that. But, I used to cook special meals for the fam on Sundays, and thus, that was the cat’s special fancy meal/treat day as well. But, the kids were away, I’m home sick, and I gave him wet food out of routine after many years of the same routine. Now, he doesn’t want water…😞. I may have to stick to the wet food now. I only give him salmon based which keeps their urea down, but, his urine smells so acidic. And as a lifetime cat owner, I know it may be downhill… taking him to the vet ASAP. 🙏🏼 Ya’ll wish me luck. 🍀

[@9LivesToLive]

Good luck. I hope it turns out ok!

[@lucycarola]

@@9LivesToLive update: he fine. He’s just a spoiled little cat. 🐈😂 I had to feed him very sparsely so he had no choice but to drink the water. Getting him a fountain to see if that helps.

[@lucycarola]

Thank u🙏🏼💖

[@roytallericoGunner]

I use ice water year round. The heat in the house in the winter can dehydrate them.plus a humidifier

[@9LivesToLive]

Good tip. Thanks!

[@barbaraaven9032]

Caaaats❤❤

[@Stover1928]

Great informative video. Thank you for posting

[@9LivesToLive]

Glad it was helpful!

[@poseidonthecat_]

Thanks for useful information, hooman!

[@9LivesToLive]

Any time, Poseidon! Thanks for watching!

[@margaretrobinson9597]

Cat can soft food feed my cat to eat . Clean bowl fresh cold water.

[@9LivesToLive]

Yes they do

[@Chopbreaka]

I just add a few ounces of warm water to their moist food as mentioned . They lap it up even before eating food .

[@9LivesToLive]

Great point, Stephen! Many cats like that cat food "gravy".

[@alm5693]

Thanks for the tips on bowls and placement. I had my cat's bowls of wet food, kibbles, and water all in a line. I moved the water and took a cat water "fountain" out of retirement (it's been boxed for about 4 years). Changing her water setup has caused zero anxiety but I'll have to dismantle the fountain to see how much she's drinking. My Margo likes her food very soft so I've been thinning out her wet food with an "organic" chicken broth with very low sodium. The broth comes as a four pack of 8 oz. cartons and, because of the ommitted additives, each carton needs to be used within 7-10 days. I'm only adding 1 tsp max per 1.5 oz. of food so I think it's a good addition, maybe better than tap water. What do you think? Can I name the broth product in the comments?

[@9LivesToLive]

Thanks for the comment, AI M. Yes, you can name the broth product. I expect some viewers will be interested.

[@alm5693]

@@9LivesToLive The broth is made or marketed by Pacific Foods and it's called "Organic Free Range Chicken Broth - Low Sodium". I found it while looking through broth products on Target's website. I liked it because it came in 4-packs of 8 oz. each so I didn't have to buy a 32 oz.carton of broth that would go stale before I got halfway through it. The Pacific broth is labelled as having a fridge life of 7-10 days so I'm still pouring some of it down the drain. I'd be interested to know if anyone else uses/used it and has feedback plus or minus. All I really know is that it's a broth that looks good on paper and Margo isn't turning up her nose at it in most wet foods. There are some extra ingredients/flavors in it (onion and rosemary for two) that may bother someone...

[@paulettetaylor1333]

@@alm5693 You can freeze small portions in an ice cube tray then put cubes in freezer bag

[@margaretrobinson9597]

AC important for cats 🐱

[@9LivesToLive]

Yes! They can get very hot with all that fur.

[@AngelaZsiga]

❤️😻👍

[@bambinaforever1402]

I feed my cats only wet food, very seldom dry, so they never drink. I have a bowl of water always. 2 or 3 clumps of pee per day per cat? My cats have like 10 per car. My husband and i are working on cleaning their litter box non stop. I noticed when i was feeding one of my cats Royal Canin wet food sensitive then he was peeing and pooping only once a day. Cheap wet food - they pee like crazy.

[@9LivesToLive]

Yes, that's one of the benefits of wet food, about 70% water.

[@avia4281]

Does anyone use a black coloured bowl ? Supposedly help cats drink more water. Guy at cat shop said something about a dark bowl of water mimics a deeper hole meaning much fresher water.

[@9LivesToLive]

I never heard of that, but thanks for the tip!

[@bambinaforever1402]

I have neighbour’s visitng cat in my garden - i saw him drinking from a saucer under a plant pot. It had some green scum in it and was very stagnant. After that i keep a plastic box filled with water just for him. Why plastic - sea gull comes to check everything and finish cat food i give to a homeless cat and broke a glass one

[@9LivesToLive]

That's so nice of you. Nobody should have to drink water with scum on it.

[@margaretrobinson9597]

Bottle distilled water?

[@9LivesToLive]

Bottled water if you can afford it. I don't think distilled tastes good because it has no minerals.

[@sadomars2446]

If you’re making your own cat food with raw meat, cats don’t need to drink nearly as much out of the bowl.

[@9LivesToLive]

Yes. Raw food contains a lot of moisture. Thanks for your comment!

[@DenDanskeKat.9356]

First and love your vids

[@9LivesToLive]

Thanks!