Kittens bring many joyful moments into our lives, but as cat parents, we need to make sure they have everything they need to stay healthy and lively. Kittens and cats don’t drink a lot of water because they are opportunistic drinkers. However,
it’s important to prevent dehydration in cats as it can lead to serious health problems. In this article, we’ll explain why your kitten might not be drinking enough water and how cat owners can encourage them to drink more regularly from their water bowls.
Reason#1: A sign of a serious disease
If your kitten has changed their drinking habits, it might be a sign of serious issues affecting your cat’s health. Dehydration can be a sign of severe conditions such as kidney disease. Moreover, if you have also noticed changes in the kitty’s usual behavior, or other alarming symptoms such as vomiting or diarrhea, visit your vet for further investigation.
Solution: Book an appointment with your vet to rule out or address conditions like kidney disease, urinary tract infections or dehydration caused by underlying illnesses. Keep an eye on your kitten’s symptoms and give the vet as much detail as possible, like changes in appetite, energy levels and stool consistency.
Reason#2: Place of cat’s water bowl
For cats, the place of their water bowl plays a huge role. A bowl being near their litter box, another bowl with food, or in a place your pet does not like the smell of, these might all be a reason why your kitten does not drink water. The placement of water bowls can influence how often a cat drink water. Cats typically drink small amounts of water throughout the day, and their drinking habits can be influenced by the placement of their water bowls.
Experienced cat owners advise you to place a water bowl in different places in your house: near the kitty’s bowl with food, window sills, near places where kittens like to rest, etc. and your friend will decide by themselves where they would like to consume water.
Solution: To get your kitten to drink more water, place multiple water bowls in areas they hang out in like near their favourite resting spots, window sills or quiet corners of your home. Don’t place bowls near their litter box and keep water bowls separate from their food dishes.
Reason #3: Materials of water bowls
Your kitty might also have preferences as to the material of their water bowls. If your cat isn’t drinking enough water, it might be due to their preference for certain bowl materials. Some pets will prefer to drink water from glass bowls, while others will love ceramic or metal ones. If your kitten does not drink water, experiment with bowls made from different materials and see which one your kitten will choose.
Solution: Try Different Bowls Set up a few bowls in the same area, each made from a different material, and see which one your kitten likes. Glass and ceramic bowls feel cleaner and more neutral to pets, stainless steel bowls are durable and easy to clean. By knowing what your kitten likes you can provide a drinking bowl that makes them feel more comfortable and encourages drinking.
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Reason#4: Color of water bowls
Kitties can be fussy and refuse to drink water because… of the color of the water bowls. It might be worth having few water bowls of various colors to experiment with, and then you can see if the color has been the reason why your fur baby does not drink their water.
Solution: To see if color is a factor, set out several water bowls in different colors and see which one your kitten goes to Choose colors that contrast with your flooring or surroundings so the bowl stands out to your kitten
Reason#5: Kittens dislike water bowls
Kitty owners can choose from a vast variety of water bowls available on the market. However, if your kitten refuses to drink from water bowls, and you have experimented with their size, colors, and material, then your pet might not be interested in the bowls themselves.
Solution: You can consider purchasing a water fountain that might catch the attention of your pet, who will be willing to start drinking from it even because of running water, or something new that has appeared in their nearest surroundings.
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Reason#6: Water is not fresh
Observe your kitten and their preferences, and you will get the answer to your question why your kitten does not drink much. Freshness of water is a key issue cat owners should take care of, particularly during hot summer days. Offering fresh water might encourage your kitten to drink more and avoid dehydration in pets.
Solution: Wash your kitty’s water bowls regularly, whilst avoiding using strong detergents. You can wash bowls in water and then treat them with boiling water.
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Reason#7: Time when your kitten drinks
During the day, kittens might be more interested in what is going on outside, or accompanying their cat parents. Your fluffy ball can drink water when you sleep and you cannot control their behavior and water consumption.
Solution: Monitor the water levels in their bowls each morning to ensure they’re staying hydrated overnight.
Reason#8: Wet food
Cats are not big water drinkers by nature, and if your fur baby’s diet includes wet food, then they will require a smaller water intake, as wet food satisfies their needs.
Reason#9: A kitten does not recognize water as a source of hydration
Kittens don’t automatically know that water is for drinking especially if they’ve just weaned from milk or are used to getting hydration from wet food.
Solution: To help them learn, introduce them to water. Dip your finger in the water and let them lick it off. Be patient and make it a positive experience so pets associate water with hydration and comfort.
Reason#10: Kittens like running water
Some cats prefer running water because it seems fresher to them, like a stream or river. This can make still water bowls less appealing.
Solution: To get your kitten to drink more, try a cat fountain. The flowing water will attract their attention and get them to drink more often. Many cats like running water so a fountain will keep your kitten hydrated and satisfy their natural instinct.
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Reason#11: Stress or environment changes
A new home, new people or other pets can make kittens stressed and anxious and this can affect their drinking habits. During times of change kittens may not want to drink water as they adjust to their new environment.
Solution: To help your kitten feel safe and hydrated create a quiet stress free space with a designated water station. Place their water bowl in a familiar quiet area away from high traffic zones and stressors. Give your kitten time to adjust to their new surroundings and be patient as they settle in. You can also try to maintain a consistent routine for feeding and playtime to give them stability and comfort during the transition.
FAQ
The health of a fluffy ball is the top priority for cat parents. However, your kitten might not be drinking much water due to various reasons, such as colder days outside or having wet food in their diet, among others. Kittens on a dry food diet require more water intake, as they need to drink about one ounce of water for every ounce of dry food consumed. Unlike dogs, cats tend to drink smaller amounts of water throughout the day.
According to Dr. Uri Burstyn, cat parents should carefully observe their kitten’s water consumption tendencies and compare week-to-week changes.According to Dr. Uri Burstyn, cat parents should carefully observe their kitten’s water consumption tendencies and compare week-to-week changes. For more detailed information, you can watch the video.
Your pet should not be left without water for any longer than 24 hours.
No, you cannot replace water with milk, because kittens and cats are lactose intolerant.
Experiment with where the water bowls are situated, their colors and/or material, sizes and forms. Consider purchasing a water fountain if your kitten is not interested in any water bowls.
Your kitten might not drink water because of the various reasons we have discussed above. However, if you notice alarming signals such as your kitty being less active, has changed their appetite, started to have diarrhea or vomiting, and your kitten does not drink for more than 24 hours, contact your vet to check your fur baby’s health.
Kittens and their drinking habits—final thoughts
The reasons your fluffy ball does not consume water can vary, and might be trivial, such as the water bowl’s placement or color, or it could indicate health-related issues. Cats consuming canned foods require less water intake. Cats that eat wet foods receive a significant amount of their hydration from their diet. Experiment with the ways your kitty drinks, the water bowls and water itself. However, if you are concerned about your kitty’s behavior, it’s safer to visit your vet.
DISCLAIMER: this article has been provided only for informational purposes.
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