Do cats drink water if they eat wet food

Cat Doesnt Drink Water But Eats Wet Food: Vet-Approved Concerns, Facts & FAQ

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Water is vital for cats because it enables their bodies to function properly and promotes their overall well-being. Cats that eat wet food may not drink water from their bowl for long periods, which can become worrisome for their families. If your cat is on a wet food diet and you notice that they arent drinking water, should you be concerned?

Cats that dont drink water but consume wet food are likely getting enough hydration from their food. Many cats that eat wet food dont need to drink as much water as cats that eat dry food, so theres no need to stress over this situation right away.

That said, without enough water, cats could suffer from several problems, which is why you should still be cautious if your cat is not drinking water from their bowl and should ensure that everything is okay with them.

In this article, we talk more about cats that eat wet food and when you should be concerned about your cats habit of not drinking water.

Should You Be Concerned If Your Cat Eats Wet Food and Doesnt Drink Water?

Many cats on wet food diets tend to drink less water than those on dry food diets. Most wet cat foods contain between 70% and 80% water, which aids your cats hydration and enables them to intake fluids while eating.

Due to the high water content in wet cat food, it can often be enough hydration for cats to minimize the amount they need to drink. Many also find other places, such as faucets and fountains, to get water besides their water bowl. So, theres generally no need to be concerned if your car doesnt drink water but eats wet cat food as long as they look healthy and happy.

However, some cats may need additional water regardless of eating wet cat food, which is why its important to notice if your cats water-drinking habits have changed and speak with your veterinarian if you have any concerns. If your cat has suddenly stopped drinking water or is drinking more than normal, there might be an underlying health issue. You need to know how to recognize problems and react to them in time.

Why Do Cats That Eat Dry Food Need to Drink More Water Than Those That Eat Wet Food?

Cats on dry food diets need to drink more water than cats on wet food diets. Wet cat food contains a much higher moisture level than dry cat food¹. Dry cat food usually contains around 10% water, while the rest consists of vitamins, carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Wet cat food contains around 70% water (or more, depending on the manufacturer).

Cats that dont consume wet food need additional hydration through drinking fresh water.

How Much Water Do Cats Need to Drink Daily?

Ideally, cats should drink 3.54.5 ounces of water daily for every 5 pounds of total body weight ². That said, these are general guidelines, and each cat is different; some cats require more water while others need less. A cats water intake should be adjusted to their current diet and health.

Youll need to monitor your cat and ensure that your furry friend is getting the necessary hydration throughout the day. If it seems as if your cat is not drinking enough water, youll need to figure out why this is happening and how to get them to intake more fluids.

Why Do Cats Stop Drinking Water?

Cats can stop drinking water for several different reasons. For example, if your cat is on a wet food diet, they may already be hydrated enough.

Other reasons that cats might stop drinking water include:

• The cats bowl is not clean or the water inside is dirty.
• The water bowl is either in an unfriendly area or a hard-to-reach spot.
• Your cat may be experiencing medical problems, leading to a lack of thirst.

While its normal for cats on wet food diets to consume less water than those on dry diets, you should still ensure that your cat is taking in enough water. If your cat is not getting the needed hydration, there might be an underlying medical problem.

What Could Happen to Cats That Dont Drink Enough Water?

Cats that dont drink enough water could experience numerous problems, starting with dehydration, which could further damage your cats health. Since dehydration can be life-threatening, all cat parents should know how to recognize the signs of dehydration and react accordingly.

Dehydration in Cats

Dehydration occurs when a cat doesnt intake an adequate amount of fluid needed for proper functioning, and their body loses more fluids than they absorb.

Sometimes, dehydration can occur due to not drinking enough water, while in other cases, it can occur due to underlying medical problems, such as:

• Fever
• Diabetes
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Chronic kidney disease

Depending on the intensity of dehydration, the problems and signs that cats experience vary from mild to severe. Common signs of cat dehydration include:

• Sunken eyes
• Lack of energy
• Appetite decrease
• Constipation
• Dry gums
• Increased skin tenting

Cats that have underlying health issues, especially those that impact the kidneys such as diabetes or chronic kidney disease are at a bigger risk of dehydration, regardless of their diet, so be sure to monitor these cats closely.

How Can You Encourage Your Cat to Drink More Water?

There are several things that you can do if you want to encourage your cat to drink more water:

• Place multiple water bowls around the home at easy-to-reach locations.
• Clean the water bowls every day and fill them with fresh water.
• Change the material of the water bowl; ideal options include stainless steel or ceramic.
• Offer wet cat food more often.

Final Thoughts

If your cat is on a wet food diet and is not drinking too much water but looks healthy and is not showing any signs of dehydration, theres no need to be concerned. However, if you do notice any signs of dehydration in your cat, its best to speak with your veterinarian and seek their advice to help your furry companion.

Featured Image Credit: Impact Photography, Shutterstock

Cat Water Intake Calculator | How Much Should a Cat Drink?

Introduction

Knowing how much water your cat should drink each day helps monitor and support their overall health and well-being. Too little could lead to dehydration, while drinking too much could indicate an underlying illness, such as chronic kidney disease or diabetes. But how much water should cats drink each day and have you considered the fluids they get from their food?

The cat water intake calculator can be used to estimate the following:

• Daily water requirement for your cat based on their body weight
• How much water theyintake from their food
• Recommended amount of additional water they should drink

Also Read:Wet and Dry Cat Food Calculator | How Much Food Should IFeed My Cat?

Cat Water Intake Calculator

The estimates provided by the water intake calculator are intended for healthy, neutered cats, not those who are growing, lactating, or have a medical condition. The results should only be used as a guideline, as the amount of water required and consumed will vary depending on activity levels, ambient temperature, health status, metabolic rate, food batch, nutrient composition, and metabolic water production.

How Is the Required Daily Water Intake Calculated?

The calculation for daily water intake is based on the recommendation that the amount of water (ml) required is equivalent to the kilocalories (kcal) required per day,^{1, 2, 3} which in a healthy neutered cat is bodyweight (kg) x 30 + 70 x 1.2.

How Do IFind the Moisture Content (%)Of the Food?

The food's moisture content (amount of water) should be found as a percentage under the 'Guaranteed analysis' or 'Analytical Constituents' (on the packaging or the company's website). If you cannot find the moisture content enter '8' for dry cat food and '80' for wet cat food. Alternatively, you can contact the company that makes the food and ask them to provide you with the information.

How Is the Water to Drink per Day Calculated?

The water your cat receives from their food is subtracted from their required daily water intake to estimate the additional amount of water they should be drinking. Cats on a 100% wet diet have to drink a lot less water than those on a 100% dry diet, since wet food contains about 10x more water than dry food.

Is My Cat Drinking Enough Water?

To calculate how much water your cat drinks, measure the amount in their bowl at the start of a 24-hour period and how much is left at the end.

The amount of water can be measured in ml (using a measuring jug or large syringe) or grams (using digital weighing scales, since 1 g of water = 1 ml of water). Affordable and reliable scales like the Amazon Basics Kitchen Digital Scales work perfectly.

Since the amount of water your cat drinks each day may vary, consider recording the results for one week and taking an average.

Once you have performed your calculations, compare their 'Water Drank' to their recommended 'Water to Drink per Day'. We advise speaking to your veterinarian if you have concerns about the results.

How Much Water Should Cats Drink?

A healthy cat needs approximately 50-60ml of water per kg of body weight per day. For example, a 4.5 kg (~ 10 lb) cat should consume an estimated 225-270 ml of water daily, which is approximately 1 cup. However, the amount of water required will vary depending on their activity levels and ambient temperature, which increases in warmer climates and with higher activity levels.

How Many Times a Day Should a Cat Drink?

Typically, cats drink from their water bowl 2-4 times per day. However, cats who only eat wet food may not be seen drinking very often.

Why Is It Important to Monitor a Cat's Water Intake?

Cats have a low thirst drive and are not always the best at staying hydrated. This is because their ancestors evolved in the desert, where water is not always readily available, and their hydration needs were mostly met by eating small prey (typically containing 7075 % moisture). As a result, they tend to respond to dehydration by producing highly concentrated urine to conserve water rather than drinking more.

However, staying hydrated is important for a cat's overall health since water is essential for regulating body temperature, lubricating joints and tissues, removing waste through the kidneys and stools, delivering nutrients and oxygen, and aiding brain function. Decreased water intake resulting in more concentrated urine is also a risk factor for bladder stones⁴ and idiopathic cystitis⁵ in cats. Therefore, ensuring your cat consumes enough water to stay hydrated is important for their general health and well-being.

Monitoring a cat's water consumption will also help you detect if they are drinking too much, which can indicate an underlying health condition.

Why Is My Cat Drinking a Lot of Water?

A cat may start drinking more water, such as frequent trips to their water bowl or prolonged drinking sessions, for the following reasons:

• A health condition, such as chronic kidney disease, diabetes, or hyperthyroidism
• They are losing water from vomiting, diarrhea, or lactating (producing milk)
• Due to hot weather or increased activity
• You switched from a wet diet to a dry diet

Polydipsia (excessive thirst) due to a medical condition is defined as a cat drinking more than 100 ml of water per kg of body weight daily, or more than 50 ml per kg if on a wet diet. For example, it would be concerning if a 5 kg cat on a dry diet drinks more than 500 ml of water a day, or a 5 kg cat on a wet diet drinks more than 250 ml of water a day. However, any changes in your cat's drinking behavior should be discussed with your vet.

When Should I Worry About My Cat Not Drinking Water?

If your cat is not drinking water, you should contact your veterinarian. Cats are very good at hiding that they don't feel well, so any changes in their behavior, however subtle, should be taken seriously. A cat who has stopped drinking water could be feeling nauseous, lethargic, painful, or distressed. The longer they go without drinking, the greater their risk of becoming dehydrated.

Is It Normal If My Cat Doesn't Drink Water but Eats Wet Food?

Cats fed wet food will drink less water than those only eating dry food since wet food contains approximately 80% moisture, compared to dry food, which is approximately 8% moisture. A cat on a 100% wet diet will receive most of their required daily water intake from their food. However, even though you may rarely notice them drinking, they must still have access to fresh water at all times.

Use the cat water calculator above to check if they are receiving enough fluid in their diet, and always contact your veterinary health care team if you are concerned, especially if they are showing other signs of ill health.

What Are the Signs of Dehydration in Cats?

Signs of dehydration in a cat include:

• Tacky/sticky gums (rather than moist)
• Loss of skin elasticity (when performing a skin pinch test)
• Sunken eyes
• Lethargy
• Reduced appetite

Checking for signs of dehydration is helpful but can be unreliable. For example, if a pet is mildly dehydrated, it may not be picked up on a physical examination. Also, older animals often have a positive pinch test since their skin is less elastic, so their skin does not spring back into place quickly, even though they may be well hydrated.

Dehydration could also be missed in an overweight cat. When their skin is pinched, it usually springs back into place quickly, even if dehydrated, due to the excess fat underneath. In addition, a nauseous cat may drool a lot, causing their gums to be moist, even though they could be dehydrated.

If there is a concern your pet may be dehydrated, they should be assessed by a vet, who can also perform bloodwork and a urinalysis to check for signs of dehydration.

How to Increase A Cat's Fluid Intake?

The best way for owners to ensure adequate fluid intake to keep their cats happy and healthy is to provide constant access to fresh, clean water. For additional ideas on improving your cat's hydration, such as the best water bowls, where to place them, using water fountains, and how to make flavored water, read How to Get a Cat to Drink More Water.

A wet diet is also a great way to increase a cat's water intake. However, as a veterinarian, I encountered many cats who refused wet food, so I put together my Top Tips on How to Get a Cat to Eat Wet Food.

References

1. Bassert, J.M.et al.(2022) inMcCurnin's clinical textbook for Veterinary technicians. St. Louis: Elsevier, p. 293.
2. Case, L.P. (2011) inCanine and Feline Nutrition a resource for Companion Animal Professionals. Maryland Heights, MO: Mosby, p. 70.
3. Wortinger, A. and Burns, K.M. (2015) inNutrition and disease management for veterinary technicians and nurses. Ames, IA: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., p. 10.
4. Bartges, J.W. (2016) "Feline Calcium Oxalate Urolithiasis: Risk Factors and Rational Treatment Approaches,"Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 18(9), pp. 712722.
5. Defauw, P.A.M.et al.(2011) "Risk Factors and Clinical Presentation of Cats With Feline Idiopathic Cystitis,"Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 13(12), pp. 967975.