Has your cat stopped drinking water? What to do in such a case and how to help it? Should the owners pay attention to such a factor and is it dangerous? Are you concerned? All owners who care about their favorites and who are caring, will definitely pay attention to this. Sluggishness, weakness, and also water is not getting less in the bowl – of course, this is a cause for concern. Today we will discuss with you the factors that influence the drinking habits of a cat, the risk of such a problem and the danger it brings.
How much an adult cat should drink
The first known cats lived in northern Africa and many of them in the desert. Some desert animals are characterized by a specific water metabolism in the body: less to excrete and more to store. However, domestic cats are different from their previous relatives, they must drink water, but in small amounts.
According to the formula that experts and qualified veterinarians have derived, it is recommended to give an adult Cat about 80 ml of water for every kilogram of weight. An adult cat and kitty should drink about a glass of water per day. If your pet drinks little or and significantly less water, this should not be a cause for concern. There are days when kitties walk around, enjoy sleeping, playing and eating, but they are not in the mood to drink water. This is normal, as humans don’t always have the urge to drink a lot of water either. Water consumption will also be reduced if the animal eats milk and sour cream, kefirs, broths, soups, jellies and various types of wet food. The owner needs to realize that the amount of fluid per day includes more than just water. If the kitty does not drink fluids for a short period of time, you should not be concerned.
Reasons for not drinking water
We mentioned above that if a cat does not consume a lot of water, it is not a cause for concern. Often wet food and broths replace water, but it happens otherwise. If the bowl with water remains completely untouched, then here you need to pay attention to the favorite. This behavior of the cat can be due to the following reasons. If the owners put a bowl with water in an unfortunate place, for example, on the street near the dog box, near the chicken coop or toilet, summer kitchen or barn in the village, the cat will never drink water there, because it will seem to him that it is the smell of water. Cats can hear odors very well, even at a very great distance. Stagnant water for cats beige or green shade, in time not washed bowl, where green as “river” mud, such factors will also influence that the cat will not drink water. The cat will find another source where the water is clean for the cat. Often you can observe when the cat drinks water from the glass of the owner, there are also fans to climb into the sink and drink water from the tap. Cats are cunning and clever and always work to their own advantage. Some cats will not drink water from regular bowls, there are Adventurers who are more fond of drinking from a fresh puddle, “drinking fountain” or gutters. Complete refusal of water can be a sign of fever, distemper and rabies. If symptoms of the above mentioned diseases appear, it is better to consult a doctor. According to the rules of animal hygiene veterinarians advise owners to wash the liquid bowl 1-2 times a day and change the water each time.
Signs of dehydration and disease in cats
When there are eating disorders, drinking disorders, and signs of disease in cats, you will notice certain signs. The cat may be weak, completely lethargic and without energy. Sadness and pain in the eyes will also indicate certain body dysfunctions. At home, owners of Fluffy Tails can perform a dehydration test. Pull back the fur around the cat’s neck and watch it return to its original position. If it returns to its place quickly, it means the kitty is fine, if not, it’s cause for concern. If the skin fold is hard to pull away, it means the cat is dehydrated. If there are a number of other alarming symptoms, especially starvation and fever, it is worth contacting a specialist.
How long can a cat live without water
A cat can live without water for an average of 2-3 days, but after the first day without access to clean water, dehydration processes begin in the body. The kidneys and urinary system, which is critical for cats, suffer the fastest. In the absence of water on day 4-5, the risk of severe complications and irreversible changes in health becomes as high as possible, especially in kittens, older animals and cats on dry food. That is why constant access to fresh water is a basic condition for a long and healthy life of a cat.
How to make/convince a cat to drink water
Try to change the location of the cat bowl in your apartment and house. You can change the size, shape and color of the bowl. Sometimes pour a full bowl of water to the edge of the bowl, but also experiment with pouring only the bottom of the bowl. Kitties can be in different moods, just like humans, cats also like adventure. If the situation doesn’t change, try leaving your cat’s liquid food in the bowl next to it. It is important that it is not any liquid food, it is better when it is better in quality, tastier, more aromatic and most importantly “favorite”. The wonderful and fragrant smell of favorite food will positively affect the cat’s mood and it will drink water faster. Doctors and experts note the double washing of the bowl. Cats are very sensitive to other people’s odors and if someone else’s kitty drank water from your cat’s bowl on the street, she will never go there again after smelling someone else’s odor.
Add a playful element to the drinking process, you can use a play stick to touch a toy, which is located on a string and dip it in the water. Such methods will allow the cat to touch and feel the drops of water on itself, such a mention of water will also affect the drinking regime, because the reflex will be triggered and the cat will remember similar sensations and taste. Cats tend to forget information, even over a short period of time.
If the above methods do not help at all, then you can use a medical syringe (without a needle). In order to eliminate the problem of disease and dehydration of the animal you should fill the syringe with water and holding the cat’s hind and front legs give it water. It is best to hold the cat’s front and back legs at the same time, it should be done by two people. Give water slowly and in small portions so as not to traumatize the cat’s internal organs. Do not give excessive amounts of water, so as not to harm the internal organs and health of the animal. It is worth adhering to the advice and carrying out this action exactly two persons, because the animal can react frightened, quickly jump out and hurt the owner’s eyes and skin.
All kitties little by little begin to drink water, it is important to instill this habit in the animal in its absence. The life of the animal always depends on the manifestation of love and care for him. We wish you to be patient, loving and intelligent owners!
