The amount of water that cats should consume on a daily basis; they may vary according to their age, size, feeding habits and weather conditions. Therefore, when observing whether cats drink water or not, there is no ideal value that will be suitable for every cat.
It is generally recommended that kittens, older cats and cats that like to be active during the day consume a greater amount of water than others. In addition, water consumption will increase on days when the weather is hot. However, because wet foods have a high percentage of water in them, there may be a decrease in the amount of water directly drunk when wet food is consumed. Bearing in mind that it is necessary to take them into account, it can be said that an adult cat weighing 5 kg should drink about 250 ml of water. This amount is equivalent to a little more than a glass of water.
The origins of today’s cats’ water-drinking behavior can be traced back to their ancestors living in the wild. Cats’ ancestors had limited access to water sources because they lived in the desert or other dry environments. So they had no instinct to drink the water directly or to be around the water. They have become accustomed to meeting their water needs mostly from what they eat. But this can have a negative impact on the health of cats living in the house. Therefore, it is necessary to keep track of whether the cats are drinking enough water.
The first reason cats don’t drink water may be a genetic inheritance from their ancestors, as we mentioned earlier. But that’s not the only reason your cat isn’t drinking water.
Various health problems can lead to a decrease in the amount of water consumed. If the cat has an illness and/or pain that exacerbates symptoms or makes them feel unwell when they drink water, they may avoid drinking water. Digestive problems and mouth injuries can also reduce the desire to drink water.
Environmental factors can also reduce water consumption. Cats are extremely attached to their habits. A change in their routines and/or the environment they live in can stress them out. Some cats may reduce their ability to drink water due to changes such as the arrival of a new individual or a pet in the home, moving to a new home, etc. Cat’s water bowl; If it’s noisy or where people are passing by, where another pet, such as a dog in the house, is making him nervous, the cat may avoid drinking water. Other possibilities are that the cat is used to living outside and finds it strange to drink from the container, and that the bowl is not clean enough and/or the water is not fresh enough. Also, the possibility that your cat may have a previous traumatic history, such as falling into the pool or having water thrown on it, should not be ruled out.
Although your cat doesn’t seem to be drinking water, it may actually be drinking from somewhere other than the water bowl. The cat can drink water that has accumulated in the sink or shower after the tap is turned off, consume a wastewater left on the side, or simply drink from water glasses left around. However, it should be remembered that unsuitable and/or waiting water can make cats sick. Water lying on the surface, such as sinks and showers, is especially dangerous for cats in that it poses the risk of a bacterial infection called leptospirosis, also known as stagnant water disease.
