Signs of Dehydration in Cats

If you suspect your cat is dehydrating, be vigilant for signs of dehydration. This condition is more than just feeling thirsty; it’s when the lack of water intake is severe or consistent enough to affect the entire body.

There are some common signs of dehydration you can check your cat for, including:

• • Dry, tacky gums

• • Loss of appetite

• • Low energy or depression

• • Weak muscles

• • Sunken eyes

• • Reduced urination (check their litter box for clumps!)

• • Elevated heart rate

• • Decreased skin elasticity

To check your cat’s skin elasticity, gently pinch and pull their skin between their shoulder blades. A healthy, hydrated cat’s skin should quickly drop back into place, while a dehydrated cat’s skin will move slowly, holding its pinched shape before sinking back into place.

If your cat shows signs of dehydration, immediately provide water and consult your veterinarian for medical care. They can administer electrolyte-containing fluids for an immediate boost and diagnose any underlying medical conditions contributing to the cat’s dehydration, ensuring they receive the necessary care.

Untreated long-term dehydration can lead to severe health issues in your cat, including bladder stones and heart problems. Prompt medical attention is crucial to prevent further health issues and restore your cat’s optimal condition.

What Causes Dehydration?

Some cats may be fussy about drinking from their water bowl, but they’re not always responsible for dehydration. Any factor causing water loss can contribute to dehydration., including:

• • Vomiting or diarrhea

• • Some medications, including diuretics, are used to treat heart disease

• • Many diseases, including diabetes, kidney disease, and hyperthyroidism

• • Dental problems

• • Decreased appetite

• • Summer heat

• • If you have conflicts with other pets, keep them away from the water bowl

Cats are complex creatures with various factors that can lead to dehydration. If you notice your cat isn’t getting enough hydration, it doesn’t mean you failed as a caretaker. There are various strategies you can use to help your cat thrive again.

How to Boost Your Cat’s Hydration

To boost your cat’s hydration, you can either work with your vet to address medical issues or simply encourage your cat to drink more water at home, ensuring they receive adequate hydration.

Keep Their Water Fresh

Have you ever left a water glass sitting out for too long and taken a sip only to realize that your water tastes a little funky? Yeah, your cat notices that too.

When their water bowl is left out all day, it’s easy for dust and fur to collect in the water. If it’s left longer, bacteria can start to grow—gross. Try to change their water one or two times a day to keep it fresh and delicious.

Consider the quality of your local water quality when choosing a water source for your cat. Opt for filtered water instead of tap water, as pollutants can make it unappealing to your cat. Refilling water from a filter or bottled water can make it more enjoyable for them.

Change Their Water Bowl

Just like you might have a favorite coffee mug, your cat has preferences about their water bowl! The shape of the bowl can play a role—if it’s deep and narrow, it might uncomfortably press on your cat’s whiskers while they drink. Try switching to a wide, shallow bowl to see if your cat likes that better.

Plastic bowls can easily get small scratches on the surface, which can harbor bacteria that your cat can taste! Many cats show a preference for glass, metal, or ceramic bowls that are easier to sanitize.

Switch to a Water Fountain

In nature, stagnant water can grow harmful bacteria, so it makes sense that some cats might not be inclined to drink from a bowl of water that’s been sitting on the floor all day.

If your cat shows more interest in water dripping from the faucet, that’s a good sign that they might enjoy a water fountain! Water fountains made for cats constantly circulate water, keeping it fresh, and provide an enticing trickle of water that adds a little mental stimulation and might tempt your cat to drink more.

Move Their Water Bowl

It’s possible that your cat might not like the place where their water bowl is in the house! While you might be tempted to keep their water bowl tucked away in a corner away from foot traffic, that might be making your cat feel unsafe. Nervous cats like to be able to survey their surroundings, so try putting their water bowl in a central location that allows them a wide view, or better yet, a raised surface where they can see everything around them.

Territorial issues might also be at play with other animals in the house. Some pets don’t like to share their space or their resources! Having multiple water bowls around the home can help in many circumstances, as they’ll have options to find the bowl that gives them the position or the privacy they’re looking for.

Add Broth to Their Water

There’s a reason that so many of the tricks to increase water intake in people involve adding tasty mixing to our water—it works. Everyone loves a delicious beverage, and your cat is no exception.

Cats are carnivores, and they’ll love the meaty flavor of a splash of unseasoned, unsalted chicken broth or chicken bone broth in their water bowl! Just be sure not to let your cat’s broth cocktail sit out for too long and to wash the bowl thoroughly because there’s meat in there, people.

Add Moisture to Their Diet

Don’t forget your cat’s food when you’re thinking about adding moisture! If you currently feed your cat dry food, consider adding a scoop of saucy wet food on top as a food topper or making the complete switch over to wet cat food. For maximum hydration, look for a high-moisture food formula for your cat!

As an added bonus, wet food is gentle on the teeth and great for sensitive senior cats or weaning your kitten off milk. If your cat is a picky eater, grab a wet cat food variety pack to find a dinner that’ll have them licking the bowl to get every last drop of delicious moisture.

You can also sneak hydration in at treat time with wet cat treats! Wet treats like these squeezable tube treats have a bold flavor that tempts even the most particular cats and include way more moisture than typical dry treats.

Dehydration can be scary, but a little prevention (and creativity) goes a long way! Giving your cat every opportunity for hydration helps to keep their body strong, and knowing the signs of dehydration means that you’ll always be ready to give them the care they need. Here’s to happier, hydrated cats!

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