July is National Pet Hydration Awareness Month, and the blazing mid-summer heat presents the purrfect opportunity to remind all pet owners, especially cat pawrents, about the importance of keeping their fur babies hydrated.
Even if your cat is an indoor pet like myself, they may not be as hydrated as you think!
Ready to help your cats beat the summer heat? Here are the top signs of dehydration to look out for and some of the best ways to add more water to their everyday intake.
Symptoms of Dehydration in Cats
Did you know that many cats exist in a state of chronic dehydration? Don’t feel too bad! This is mainly due to our own biology.
Our wild ancestors, the wildcats, evolved to receive a majority of their water intake from their food since it came in short supply within their natural habitats. Although many of us are now spoiled house cats with at least one water source readily available, we still default to our instincts and try to stay hydrated through our food.
Unfortunately, most cat foods don’t contain a sufficient amount of water, which quickly leads to dehydration.
Here are some common signs that your cat may not be drinking enough water:
- Loss or lack of energy
- Loss of appetite
- Dry skin and gums
- Sunken eyes
- Panting
If any of these symptoms are severe, you may want to consider taking your feline friend to see the cat doctor right away. Otherwise, there are many easy ways you can increase your pet’s water intake and help them feel better than ever.
4 Ways to Fight Thirst This Pet Hydration Awareness Month
Use Multiple Water Bowls
Placing multiple sources of water around your home is a great way to convince your cats to drink more, and this is especially true if you have multiple felines.
Some of us can be a little competitive when it comes to resources and bully other cats from drinking “our” water. If this is the case, having multiple water bowls ensures everyone in the family gets their fair share.
Try Flowing Water
Stagnant water is a bit of a turn-off for us cats. Our wild ancestors knew such water was a breeding ground for bacteria, and in many ways, this still rings true with most of today’s typical pet bowls.
If your cat is showing signs of dehydration, even when you supply plenty of water for them to drink, you may find that using a water fountain for cats might help. These will keep water consistently flowing throughout the day, leading to cleaner water and happier, less-thirstier cats.
Separate Food and Water Bowls
When you’re thinking about food placement for cats, you should plan to keep their food and water bowls separate.
Why? We’re biologically wired to hunt for food and dine away from our water sources. If our food is right beside our water, we’ll be much less likely to drink. Call us picky, but it’s just the facts!
Wet Food Diet
Since our ancestors mainly relied on food for hydration, why not use this most basic instinct to keep our thirst at bay?
Wet cat food is about 70-80% water, so incorporating more of it into your fur baby’s diet will certainly make them more hydrated than dry kibble. Not to mention wet cat food is irresistibly delicious and comes in a variety of recipes such as pates, flakes, and broths.
There are hundreds upon hundreds of wet cat food options to choose from, but if you want the best of the best, I have a great recommendation just for you!
Love, Nala is a new line of super premium cat food developed by yours truly and my own pawrents. We believe every cat deserves tasty and wholesome nutrition, which is why we offer our grain-free, veterinarian-approved recipes at an unbeatable price.
Our line of wet food is perfect for pawrents ready to step up their cat’s hydration, and we’re sure your furry friend won’t be able to get enough of the flavors they love such as chicken, pumpkin, salmon, and tuna.
Search the Love, Nala Cat-a-logue to find your cat’s new favorite food and start them on the path towards better nutrition and a longer, happier life.
Welcome to the Love, Nala Community
Our customers are like family to us, and we’re excited to have you as a part of our thriving community of loving pawrents and their precious fur babies.
Be sure to follow us on Instagram and Facebook to stay updated on what’s new and special deals you won’t want to miss. We also have some great posts on keeping your cat healthy and happy for years to come on our blog.
Thanks for stopping by and we hope to see you again soon!
Love,
Nala
