Does your cat drink water like it’s going out of style? Or does their bowl remain untouched day after day? Cats need to stay adequately hydrated to protect their digestive, urinary, and full-body health, but they often do not drink enough water on their own. In celebration of Pet Hydration Month, learn how much water your cat should drink per day, and how you can make sure your feline family member stays healthy and hydrated.

How Much Water Do Cats Need On Average?

Cats need to drink approximately one half-cup or four fluid ounces of water per five pounds of body weight per day. For the average 10-pound adult cat, this comes out to around one cup of water daily, which can come from their water bowl or from a moisture-rich diet.

How Much Water Do Cats Need On A Canned Diet?

Canned cat foods have a moisture content of about 80%. Comparatively, dry kibble contains just 10% water. That means offering your cat a partially canned or completely wet diet can cover the majority of their daily hydration needs.

Let’s say your cat eats two 3-ounce cans of cat food per day. Six ounces of food is about 80% water, rounding to about five ounces of water taken in through their diet alone. That means your cat will only need to drink three ounces of water to fulfill their daily hydration needs if they eat a canned diet.

How Much Water Do Cats Need On A Dry Kibble Diet?

Your cat can still stay hydrated even if they eat dry food or a combination of wet and dry foods. If you’re aiming for eight ounces per day, consider adding warm water to your cat’s dry food. Soaking your cat’s dry food adds moisture and can also bring out the aromas and flavors, making their food more appetizing.

Soaked kibble, as well as canned food, should be eaten within an hour of serving, as it will begin to accumulate disease-causing pathogens. You’ll need to throw away or refrigerate any leftovers. If your cat prefers free-feeding throughout the day, you may still need to offer dry kibble.

Does Your Cat Drink Enough Water?

Most cats do not drink enough water to stay adequately hydrated, putting them at risk for dehydration and kidney disease. While some signs of dehydration may be noticeable, such as constipation, chronic low-level dehydration often goes unnoticed. Monitoring their water intake is crucial.

To estimate your cat's water intake, calculate the moisture content from their diet and measure the water they drink from their bowl. Canned food provides approximately 80% moisture, so multiply the weight of the canned food they consume by 0.8. Dry food contains about 10% water, so multiply the weight of the dry food by 0.1. By measuring the remaining water in their bowl and accounting for spillage and evaporation, you can get an estimate of their water intake.

5 Ways To Increase Your Cat’s Water Intake

A filtered fountain can encourage drinking by eliminating unpleasant odors and tastes in your cat’s water.

As descendants of desert-dwelling felines, most cats do not have the thirst drive to drink enough water, instead relying on moisture from their diet. Use these five tips to make sure your cat is happy, healthy, and hydrated.

• Feed more wet food. Complete and balanced canned cat food can be fed alone or mixed with their favorite dry cat food.
• Set up a cat water fountain. Cats are instinctively inclined to drink flowing water from a cat water fountain over stagnant water from a bowl.
• Offer high-moisture treats. Lickable cat treats and purees are a great source of supplemental hydration.
• Set up more water bowls. Provide multiple water bowls in different areas of your home, ensuring easy access and convenience for your cat.
• Keep water bowls and fountains clean. Regularly clean water bowls and fountains to remove odors, debris, and any unpleasant tastes that may discourage your cat from drinking.

VISION

Every pet deserves to live a long, happy, healthy life.