Cats can be finicky when it comes to drinking water and it may often seem like they don’t drink enough.  Discover the important role water plays in maintaining your cat’s health, why it’s vital they get enough and how to encourage your cat to drink.

Why water is important.

Water is the most important and essential nutrient for maintaining life and has multiple functions within the body. Cats can obtain a certain amount of water from the food they eat and by producing it within the body. But mostly cats obtain water by drinking and if your cat is not sufficiently hydrated it can result in serious health issues.

The role water plays in health and wellbeing is wide and varied and includes; regulating and maintaining normal body temperature, circulation, removing waste from the body, chemical reactions which are essential within the body, transportation of nutrients, digestion and absorption of nutrients.

Encouraging your cat to drink.

Cats are often very specific as to how their water is supplied and will often have individual preferences as to the type of bowl (ceramic, plastic, stainless steel), the location of the bowl, the type of water (tap or bottled) and how it is presented. This is why it is essential to provide clean fresh water at all times and preferably in several locations around the house.

Some cats also have difficulty seeing water that is still or prefer the water they consume to be moving - this is why cats will often drink from taps, ponds, puddles and use their paws to move the water around before drinking it. If you find that your cat prefers this way of drinking consider supplying their water in a cat drinking fountain.