In addition to a cat-friendly diet, adequate fluid intake is at least as important for a long, healthy cat life. However, wet food or meat from a butcher's shop contains no blood, and dry food contains very little moisture. In addition, most cats drink far too little. This often results in health problems.
Unlike humans or dogs, for example, cats don't have a strong sense of thirst. This is likely due to their ancestry from the African wildcat, Felis lybica. According to current knowledge, this cat can most likely survive for extended periods without water and probably obtains most of its fluids from its prey.
First of all, you need to know how much a cat should actually drink. However, the information on this varies quite widely. They range from 40-50 to 70-80 ml per kilogramme of body weight. It is best to stay in the golden mean. Last but not least, the amount of liquid required is also strongly influenced by various factors, such as the activity level or the ambient temperature. In particular, cats that are mainly fed dry food lack a large proportion of the fluid that is normally absorbed through food. An average adult cat weighs between 4 and 5 kilograms and therefore needs to consume around 270 ml of water – just over a cup – every day. Wet food contains on average 50-80% liquid, whereas dry food only contains around 10%. This makes it easy to calculate how much your cat should drink in addition to the amount of food it receives. Should. However, many cats are simply lazy drinkers and this is a real problem. As already mentioned, especially with dry food. Water is needed for digestion, so dry food actually deprives the cat's body of additional water.
It should be mentioned at this point that, unless medically necessary, Albanine & Knuffl® is fundamentally against using dry food as a primary food. Dry food should only be given occasionally for teeth and jaws. There isn't really much dry food available in the wild – so can it be species-appropriate? However, as an occasional bone-crunching substitute for jaws and teeth, it's perfectly acceptable – provided it's of high quality.
So there are certainly medical reasons why a cat should be fed almost exclusively dry food. However, you should also make sure that your cat gets enough fluids.
Fortunately, there are ways and tricks to encourage your cat to drink. There's probably no gold standard, but there are several options.
The most important starting point is the drinking bowl:
1. It should be large enough to prevent your cat's whiskers from touching the rim while drinking. Cats don't like that at all.
2. It should be large in volume to keep the water fresh and cool for as long as possible.
3. It should be made of glass, porcelain, or stoneware. Plastic, metal, earthenware/clay, or similar materials are not recommended for various reasons.
Furthermore, the number of drinking bowls in the house or apartment is also crucial. Many cats are significantly more encouraged to drink if there are several drinking bowls in the house or apartment – or outside for outdoor cats.
Where the water bowls are placed can also play a role. Directly next to the litter box is probably not a good idea. However, elevated, such as on a dresser (with the appropriate placemat), is well-received by many cats. It should also be in a quiet location, if possible. This way, the cat feels undisturbed and safe.
If that doesn't help, you can also try simply not filling the drinking bowls with fresh water – some cats prefer stale water. Others, however, love rainwater, so that's also worth a try.
Additionally, you can add a little flavour to the water to make it more palatable for your cat. For example, you can add small amounts of unsalted meat broth, unsalted tuna water, or lactose-free milk.
Running water is also an option. Many cats love it, whether it's a tap or a drinking fountain. However, when it comes to drinking fountains, it's been shown that most cats clearly prefer a bowl. Some cats are also afraid of a fountain. A drinking fountain may be recommended as an additional drinking source in addition to multiple drinking bowls. Many cats are curious, and some even enjoy playing with running water, thus unconsciously consuming additional water through play.
If all of this still doesn't help, you may even consider adding a little lukewarm water or unsalted meat broth to your cat's wet food. However, discuss this with your veterinarian first.
Note: Always use unchlorinated water. In cities with chlorinated water, still water for humans (low sodium, safe for babies) or rainwater are better choices.
IMPORTANT: Drinking bowls for cats from Albanine & Knuffl®
However, a cat-friendly diet doesn't just consist of high-quality food, it also starts with the right food plate and the right drinking bowl. With our premium dinnerware for cats, you can avoid whisker stress, which is extremely unpleasant for your cat. You also ensure that the vital liquid is always served in a drinking bowl size that is suitable for your cat, in the best possible material, the ideal drinking bowl shape for cats and in an absolutely cat-friendly colour. Albanine & Knuffl® wishes your cat Bon Appetit! 😊
CAUTION: Discuss any dietary changes with your veterinarian and/or animal naturopath first, as wet and dry food, for example, may contain different types of nutrients. The calorie content can also vary greatly.
The eating behaviour of cats
The drinking behaviour of cats
Feeding recommendations for cats
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