What is the best way for kittens to drink water

Can Kittens Drink Water? Whats Best For Them?

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Every cat owner knows that kittens need to drink their mothers milk in their first months in order to develop their immune system.

Milk is highly important during this early period because its very nutritious and it helps them stay healthy.

However, water is very important too, even for cats. You may have wondered, can kittens drink water?

If youre expecting a litter of furry babies to arrive soon, read on to find out how to take care of them properly!

Can Kittens Drink Water?

The initial question is: can kittens drink water?

Kittens can drink water, but just like other newborn mammals, in the first months of life they need nutrients from milk which will help them develop and get stronger.

So, during this period, milk is the only food they need. However, after a month or more, kittens need to start adapting to solid food.

Kittens will usually start drinking water as soon as they start eating kitten food, and that is after a month or more. Usually, you dont need to worry about teaching a kitten how to drink water because it will come naturally.

In the same way that small children start imitating people around them, kittens imitate their mothers too. So, they begin drinking water by watching her do it. They learn many things from the mother cat, even more complex tasks like learning how to use the litter box.

However, if you dont have the kittens mother, that means its up to you to take on this role and teach your kitten to drink water properly. It wont be easy, so Ill give you a few pieces of advice later on in the article.

At What Age Kitten Can Drink Water?

Normally, kittens will start eating food and drinking water after 30 days. However, this period is called the weaning process because kittens still drink their mother cats milk.

Its important to mention that if a mother cat stops producing milk during the weaning process, then you shouldnt give your kitten any other kind of milk anymore, especially goats or cows milk. If necessary, your vet can give you a cat milk substitute.

How Much Water Should a Kitten Drink?

If you wondered can kittens drink water, you may also want to know what amount of water a kitten should drink. This depends on the age of the kitten.

So, to repeat once more, when they are just a few weeks of age, young kittens dont need any other food while drinking their mothers milk.

After a month, when you introduce cat food to your kittens, they will seek water or theyll watch how their mother drinks. In the beginning, theyll be adorably clumsy until they learn how to drink water properly.

After two months, most kittens will stop drinking their mothers milk and be separated from their mother. So, theyll start eating food and drinking water without any assistance.

After three months, your kitten will eat both dry and wet food and drink water even more than before. Your kitten will drink more water after eating dry food. So, make sure that you provide your kitten with fresh and clean water.

This is completely normal, but remember that you shouldnt give your kitten milk instead of fresh water.

Suggested Read: 4-Month-Old Kittens Size And Growth Changes Kitten To Adult

How Often Should Kittens Drink Water?

The answer to this question also depends on the kittens age and body weight.

So, kittens up to three months should drink around 70 ml of water per day, while old kittens, around 6 months, should drink 135 ml of water per day. An adult cat drinks around 300 ml of water per day.

Of course, it all depends on the kind of food your cat eats. Dont be upset if you notice that your kitten doesnt drink a lot of water. The possible reason could be because of the wet food.

Extra Tip: If you want to learn more about the eating habits of kittens, I suggest reading How Much Should A 10-Week Old Kitten Eat? An Owners Guide

My Cat Wont Drink Water, Should I Be Worried?!

Usually, cats dont drink a lot of water as they receive hydration from prey or wet food. In the beginning, kittens dont drink a lot of water because they get hydration from their mothers milk or formula milk.

Some cats wont drink water in front of you, but dont panic immediately!

The best thing to do is to always provide your kitten with fresh water and a clean water bowl, because sometimes they wont drink because their water bowl is not clean.

If your kitten still doesnt drink water, then you should contact your veterinarian. This is especially important if you notice any signs of dehydration, which we will look at next.

What Are The Risks Of Kittens Not Drinking Water?

The main risk of kittens not drinking water is dehydration which can be very serious for a cats health, leading to serious illnesses, such as diabetes, kidney disease, gastrointestinal issues, or even heat stroke.

These are the symptoms you need to pay attention to in order to prevent these health issues:

Infrequent or absent urination this is one of the most common dehydration symptoms. If theres not enough water intake, your kitten wont need to urinate often.

Loss of appetite this is usually a bad sign, whether the cause is dehydration or something else. The best thing to do is to contact your vet.

Loss of skin elasticity

Holloweyes

Vomiting

Diarrhea

Dry gums

Panting

Can A Kitten Survive Without Water?

A kitten cant survive without water because water is vital for the kittens system in order for it to function properly.

A kitten shouldnt be without water for longer than 24 hours because it may become dehydrated and, as mentioned previously, dehydration can lead to serious illnesses.

Its very important that your kitten has water sources in its environment, such as a water fountain or tap water because running water can be very interesting for your kitten. Most importantly, ensure that your kittens water dish is always clean.

Also Read: How Long Can Kittens Go Without Food? Everything You Need To Know!

How Do I Get My Kitten To Drink Water?

Here is some advice on how to encourage your kitten to drink water:

Always pour fresh water in a clean water bowl

Put bowls of water in a few different spots around the house

Try using cat water fountains it may be more interesting to your kitten

Add water to the food that kitten eats you can add warm water and mix it with kibble

Add flavor to the water

Try using different water bowls

Milk Vs Water Whats The Best Option For Kittens?!

A lot of people think that milk is healthy for older kittens, as thats how its presented on the tv, cartoons etc. However, this is not correct.

The truth is that many cats are lactose intolerant, meaning that they cannot digest milk and milk products. In addition, lactose intolerance may cause serious health issues.

Milk is the only healthy option for young kittens because it is only through their mothers milk that they receive everything that a growing cat needs.

Later, milk is not recommended in a cats diet, but water is very important because it helps them digest food and to stay hydrated.

Quick Thought: Although its not recommended to give adult cats milk, what do you think do cats even like milk?

To Wrap It Up

Can kittens drink water? Kittens can drink water after the first month of life. Until then, they need nutrients from their mothers milk in order to survive and to develop their immune system.

Make sure your kitten always has fresh, clean water and dont let it become dehydrated, because that may lead to serious illnesses.

Many people think that milk is perfectly healthy for older kittens, however, this is not true. Many cats are lactose intolerant, meaning that they may have difficulties digesting milk and milk products.

So, avoid giving your kitten milk and ensure that it has enough water sources in order to stay purrfectly healthy!

Can Kittens Drink Water?

Kittenhood can be a time of great anxiety for new cat owners. Kittens are so small, so vulnerable, and able to get into all sorts of mischief. One of the biggest decisions youll need to make as a new kitten owner is about food and drink.

What is the best thing to feed your kitten, and what is the best thing to offer as a drink? Can kittens drink water?

The answer is very simple. Water is absolutely the best beverage for your growing kitten, but there are some things to keep in consideration.

In this article, well cover the following:

• Can Kittens Drink Water?
• When Do Kittens Need Water?
• Can Newborn Kittens Drink Water?
• Why Do Kittens Drink So Much Water?
• Alternatives to Water for Kittens

Can Kittens Drink Water?

Absolutely! Kittens, just like all other living things, need water for their bodies to function properly especially when sick. In fact, not giving your kitten water is dangerous and will put their health seriously at risk.

Kittens begin drinking water once they are around four weeks old, just around the time they begin the weaning process with their mothers.

By the time a kitten joins their new human family (hopefully after eight weeks), they will require water to drink just as an adult cat would.

Here are a few tips you can use to make sure your kitten is getting the hydration they need:

1. Room temperature water is best. Avoid hot water or ice water.
2. Make sure to use an appropriately-sized water bowl. If the bowl is too large and too full your kitten could accidentally fall in and potentially drown.
3. Change your kittens water multiple times a day. Its very important that they have a steady supply of fresh, clean water.

And then there are some kittens who multi-task drinking and sleeping at the same time!

When Do Kittens Need Water?

Kittens over four weeks of age need water every day, likely multiple times a day. Before they are four weeks old they do not require any supplementary liquids as they get all the liquid they need from their mothers milk.

It is important to make sure that your kitten has constant access to water. Your kittens water bowl should ideally never be empty, and you should change and refill the water multiple times a day.

Kittens are most likely to be interested in drinking after theyve eaten, after theyve played, and after they wake up from their (likely numerous) naps. Keeping a bowl of fresh water available to them at all times is a good way to make sure that water is available to them when they want it.

Can Newborn Kittens Drink Water?

Newborn kittens dont need water. Kittens wont need to drink water until they are weaned, which is about at four weeks of age. Before that, kittens get all the hydration they need from their mothers.

If a kittens mother is unavailable for some reason, they will need to be fed with simulation cat milk (not cows milk!) and will get the liquid they need from that.

In fact, newborn kittens wont be interested in water at all, and wont know how to drink it even if they come across it. Their mothers will teach them about eating solid foods and drinking liquids other than milk during the weaning process.

This newborn kitten is too young to be drinking water, and he seems a little frightened by it!

Why Do Kittens Drink So Much Water?

There are many reasons why your kitten may be drinking what seems to be a ton of water.

Some of these reasons are:

1. Dry food. If you feed your kitten kibble rather than wet food, they may compensate for the lack of moisture in their food by drinking a lot of water. This isnt necessarily a problem, but consult your veterinarian if you think your kittens water intake is too much.
2. After exercise. All of that playing and mischief-making can make your kitten very thirsty! Its normal for your kitten to drink a little more than usual after theyve been running around.
3. Self-regulation. Kittens are known for not being very good at regulating their food and water intake. It is soothing for your kittens developing voice box. If your kitten is drinking water at an astounding rate, consult your veterinarian to rule out any medical causes.
4. Diabetes and kidney disease can both make your kitten very thirsty. If you think your kitten is drinking more water than is good for them, bring them to the vet. This will help rule out any physiological problems.

Alternatives to Water for Kittens

Water should absolutely be a part of your kittens everyday diet. All cats, including young kittens that are over four weeks old, require water every day in order to survive.

If youre wondering whether or not your kitten will get bored of drinking water all day long, you may be anthropomorphizing them a bit. While human beings enjoy a variety of beverages, from wine to soda to juice, cats dont necessarily share that desire.

If you really want to offer your kitten something else to drink (while still making sure to give them plenty of water during the day) you can try some cat milk, such as Whiskas Catmilk, which is a protein-rich kitty beverage that can be offered as a special treat.

You can also try Ciao Churu cat treats, which are a pureed cat treat that can be drizzled onto your kittens food or offered as a special treat right from the tube.

So, Can Kittens Drink Water?

Yes! Not only can kittens drink water, they must drink water!

Once your kitten has been weaned at around four weeks of age, they will rely on water to get the liquids and hydration they need to stay healthy. You should always leave out fresh, clean water for your kitten, taking care to change the water at least once or twice a day and to refill it if it dries up.

If you want to offer your kitten a taste of something other than water as a special treat, you can give them some cat milk. That being said, water should always be your kittens main beverage.

Do you have trouble getting your kitten to drink enough water, or does your kitten seem to drink too much? Have you tried any liquid cat treats? Let us know in the comments, we want to hear all about it!