Cat Urinary Health: Hydration Tips & Prevention

Cats are infamous for creating urinary points. The very best path to supporting urinary well being is stopping them earlier than they start to ensure kitty stays correctly hydrated. 

Many urinary issues in cats originate from low water consumption, which may result in concentrated urine, the formation of kidney and bladder stones, and probably life-threatening urinary blockages.

Within the following, we’ll assist you to perceive your cat’s hydration wants, and methods to improve their water consumption to assist urinary well being and preserve your feline pleased and wholesome.

Desk of contents: 

How a lot water do cats want? 

How do cats develop urinary issues? 

What are the indicators of urinary blockage in cats?  

Can dry meals trigger kidney stones in cats? 

Sensible ideas for a well-hydrated feline 

Proactive tricks to assist feline urinary well being 

How a lot water do cats want?

In line with the Cornell Feline Well being Middle, cats require 4 ounces of water per 5 kilos of lean physique weight. This implies a 10-pound cat ought to drink about 8.5 ounces of water day by day (roughly one cup).

Fable: Cats can survive on much less water.Reality: A cat’s want for water is surprisingly much like that of people!

Many consider that cats want little or no water, however veterinary suggestions counsel in any other case. People sometimes want 1 ounce of water per 2 kilos of physique weight day by day, whereas cats require about 0.8 ounces per pound of lean physique mass.

This false impression about cats and water probably stems from the truth that wild cats meet most of their hydration wants by way of their prey.

Home cats in flip lack a robust thirst drive. They might not drink sufficient water on their very own, growing the danger of urinary tract issues and dear vet visits.

How do cats develop urinary issues? 

Cats generally develop urinary points resulting from their weak thirst drive. Not like canines, cats typically fail to acknowledge when they should drink, making it straightforward for them to develop into dehydrated.

That’s the place issues can begin going awry in and across the litter field. 

Low water consumption results in concentrated urine. 
Concentrated urine units up the perfect situations for crystals and stones to kind in a course of known as urolithiasis. These take form from naturally occurring minerals within the kidneys and the bladder. 
The kidney or bladder stones migrate to the urethra. 
Urinary blockages that come up from bigger stones are a medical emergency. A partial blockage is painful in your cat. An entire blockage prevents the discharge of urine, which is deadly if left untreated. 

What are the indicators of urinary blockage in cats?  

Blood within the urine 
Extra frequent urination 
Urinating exterior the litter field 
Painful urination 
Straining to urinate

In case your cat reveals any of those indicators, search emergency veterinary care instantly.

Can dry meals trigger kidney stones in cats? 

It’s doable in case you take no further steps to assembly your cat’s hydration wants. Why? When a feline food plan consists completely of dry meals, that, mixed with a cat’s naturally low thirst drive, can improve the danger of kidney stones and urinary blockages. 

Kibble is a cheap and handy technique to meet your cat’s dietary wants. Plus many cats love its satisfying crunch. Nevertheless, cats naturally depend on their meals for a lot of their moisture consumption. Meaning in the event that they’re consuming an all-kibble food plan, don’t count on them to compensate by consuming sufficient water. That’s the place you might want to intervene to offer your cat a hydration increase. 

Sensible ideas for a well-hydrated feline 

Do you have to supply your cat a saucer of milk or cream as a tempting deal with and hydration increase? No. Regardless of what youngsters’s books counsel, dairy doesn’t agree with feline digestive programs. 

As a substitute, strive these vet-recommended ideas to assist your cat preserve ample moisture. Most of those are easy tweaks to your routine that you may start instantly.

Hydrate the kibble

Add a few tablespoons of heat (not sizzling) water or bone broth to your cat’s kibble. Let it soak earlier than serving for added moisture. 

Improve moist meals consumption

Intention for a steadiness of 40% moist meals and 60% dry meals. Tip: Top off on a wide range of moist meals entrées to observe Full Circle Feeding and supply a unique protein with every meal.

Add a splash of taste

Improve your cat’s water by including a splash of bone broth or tuna water for a extra engaging taste. Tip: For intestine well being assist, strive Come-pooch-a Bone Broth Toppers —it’s nice for cats in addition to canines! 

Ice, ice, child

Some cats take pleasure in batting round and licking ice cubes. Drop one into their water dish — particularly on sizzling days or after intense play — for enrichment and a fast hydration increase.

Attempt a cat fountain

Contemporary, working water appeals to a cat’s pure instincts as a result of within the wild, transferring water is cooler, more energizing and extra inviting. 

Allow them to faucet in

In case your cat joins you on the sink wherever you fill your water bottle or wash up, allow them to! There’s no hurt in letting them sip from the faucet. Some analysis suggests it might assist cats keep higher hydrated.

Attempt shallow bowls 

In deeper bowls, whiskers rubbing towards the perimeters may be overstimulating, generally known as whisker fatigue. In case your cat is bowl avoidant, strive a wider-mouthed bowl. 

Up the bowl depend   

Add water bowls to quiet, low-traffic areas to encourage extra frequent consuming. Additionally, take a look at completely different shapes and supplies of containers to see what kitty likes finest. Some desire ceramic whereas others gravitate to glass or stainless-steel. 

Proactive tricks to assist feline urinary well being 

Encouraging ample hydration is an efficient begin to supporting good feline urinary well being, however these can even assist. 

Keep a clear field to encourage extra frequent urination to flush out toxins and stop urinary points. 
Ensure your cat is getting sufficient train. Being older, obese and/or sedentary could make cats extra susceptible to urinary points. Encouraging kitty to maneuver and play is one intervention that helps urinary well being. 
Decrease stress, a contributor to different urinary points like feline decrease urinary tract illness (FLUTD). Keep a day by day routine, a peaceful setting, and supply locations for kitty to retreat. For extra tips about creating a cheerful house for kitty, learn Is your cat pleased residing with you? 
Present a number of litter bins, particularly in multi-cat households. The rule of thumb is one field per cat plus one further. 
Keep watch over litter field habits, awaiting indicators of discomfort, straining and peeing exterior the field.

Energy the Purr with Full Circle Feeding

Give your cat the dietary assist they want with the variability they crave. Full Circle Feeding with NutriSource supplies optimized feline vitamin and scrumptious entrees – the purrfect recipe for a wholesome, pleased cat!