Is my kitten drinking enough?

Cats originated from desert animals and therefore, have a naturally low thirst drive. Many domesticated pet cats suffer from a whole range of urinary diseases and infections, so to help keep these at bay, encouraging daily moisture intake may help.

How to encourage your kitten to drink more

This can easily be achieved by feeding a wet food as their main diet or adding water to their normal food. Some cats dislike the taste of tap water as they can taste the chemicals added to purify it. For these cats, bottled, filtered or boiled water can prove useful. In addition, many cats prefer to drink from moving water sources such as dripping taps.

If you have witnessed your cat drinking from the tap or rain puddle rather than their bowl, consider a cat water fountain which may encourage them to drink more. Drinking bowls should be shallow and wide enough so the cat’s whiskers don’t touch the edge which can be uncomfortable as they lap. Keep drinking bowls away from food sources or litter trays, as cats like their water source to be as clean as possible.

Can I give my kitten milk?

Remember to never give cats cow’s milk as this can cause digestive upset due to the lactose content. If you wish to feed milk, always chose a specialised cat milk which are widely available. 

Thank you to Natures Menu for contributing this article