It’s not always easy to monitor how much your cat is drinking, so recognising the signs of dehydration could be the quickest way to get your cat the help she needs. Luckily, there are some easy-to-spot signs of a dehydrated cat, which we’ll detail in a moment, plus some quick at-home ‘tests’ you can use to check whether your cat has been getting enough water. If you suspect your cat isn’t taking on enough fluid, there are some simple changes you can make at home, including helping your cat feel happy and comfortable about drinking. But it’s always best to speak to your vet who’ll be able to rule out anything nastier and provide care in more serious cases of pet dehydration.
There are a lot of factors that influence how much water your cat should be drinking—from the type of food your cat eats to the environment you and your kitty live in. But if your cat goes two or more days without consuming water or is experiencing vomiting or diarrhoea, she could become dehydrated.
Warning Signs of a Dehydrated Cat
Depending on how long a cat has gone without water, the signs of dehydration can range from subtle to more severe, says Dr Rebecca Greenstein, Rover Dog People panelist and chief veterinarian at Kleinburg Veterinary Hospital in the USA. If your cat is experiencing any signs of illness that could lead to dehydration, seek veterinary attention immediately. These include:
- sunken eyes
- loss of skin elasticity (or a prolonged ‘skin tent’)
- lethargy
- tacky gums
- dull eyes
4 Ways to Test If Your Cat is Dehydrated
For less severe cases of dehydration, Dr Greenstein says to consider scooping your kitty up for an at-home examination. If the signs point to dehydration or if you’re unsure if they do, it’s best to consult your vet.
- The skin tent test. Depending on the age of your cat, their skin should be elastic-like. To test for dehydration, gently gather the skin behind your cat’s shoulders and lift slightly. The skin should fall back in place quickly, though older cats will have less elasticity. If the skin remains in a tented position or falls back slowly, your cat might be dehydrated.
- The gum test. Your cat’s gums should be pink and moist. If your cat’s gums are dry, tacky, and/or pale, it’s a sign they’re not feeling well. If your cat’s gums are tacky, your cat might be dehydrated. While you’re near your cat’s mouth, take note if the tongue is dry and/or the saliva is thick and white. Gently press your finger into the gums. If the white spot left by your finger lingers for two seconds or more, your cat might have prolonged capillary refill time, Dr Greenstein explains, and you should seek veterinary care immediately.
- The litter box test. If your cat is eating and drinking normally, they should produce an amount of pee typical for your cat. A change in urination could point to medical concerns and an evaluation by your vet is recommended. If you spot diarrhoea or loose stool, it’s a surefire sign your cat is losing fluids and could be at risk of dehydration.
- The eye test. Cats with severe dehydration will have eyes that are dull and/or sunken. So, if your cat’s eyes look a little more sunken than usual and lack their typical glimmer, Dr Greenstein says it’s time for a visit to the vet.
Causes of Dehydration In Cats
If your cat has a sudden change in drinking habits, Patrick Mahaney, DVM, a holistic veterinarian in Los Angeles, says an underlying illness might be to blame. “Your cat might not be feeling well enough and have no urge to drink,” he explains. Illnesses that could put your cat at risk of dehydration include:
- gastrointestinal discomfort (vomiting or diarrhoea)
- heatstroke
- diabetes
- kidney disease
- liver disease
- hyperthyroidism
- periodontal disease
- cancer
No matter the underlying cause, a lack of water consumption shouldn’t be taken lightly. If your cat goes 48 to 72 hours without drinking, or if the change in drinking habits is accompanied by other concerning symptoms, it’s time to visit the vet. Your vet will want to know the details of any water and food consumption, bathroom habitats, and other behavioural changes.
Treatment for Dehydration in Cats
At the first sign of minor dehydration or a decrease in water consumption, a few small changes can make a big difference in your cat’s health—and prevent an emergency trip to the vet. Dr Mahaney says to try these simple at-home tips to quench your finicky feline’s thirst:
- Serve a moist diet. Wet food contains a good amount of water, so swapping out kibble for canned food, stews, or dehydrated food can make a big difference in their water intake.
- Add extra water or hydrating liquids to your cat’s food. My cats lap up goat’s milk for a hydrating boost of probiotics and love a splash of homemade bone broth in their breakfast bowl (make this recipe cat-friendly by skipping the veggies!).
- Make tuna water cubes. Tuna shouldn’t be a staple in your cat’s diet, but in a pinch, Dr Mahaney recommends freezing tuna water for a treat that packs hydration.
If your cat shows severe signs of dehydration, or if at-home tips aren’t working, that calls for a trip to the vet. Your vet will likely administer fluids under the skin, or directly into the vein. They will also work with you to diagnose the underlying cause of the dehydration.
How Much Water Should a Cat Drink?
The baseline for water consumption in cats is 120ml water per 2.25kg of body weight. That means an average indoor cat that weighs 4.5kg needs to consume about a cup of water (approx 240ml) per day. If you live in a hot, humid environment, if your cat is highly active, or if your cat spends time outside, she might need more water to fit her lifestyle.
Drinking from their bowl isn’t the only way your cat gets her fill of H2O. Like humans, cats also get water from the food they consume and cats on a wet food diet will visit their water bowl less often than cats on a dry food diet.
Why Won’t My Cat Drink Water?
If your cat has a sudden change in her drinking habits with no other symptoms, give their environment a look-over. Here are some questions to ask yourself:
Does my cat have fresh, clean water?
Vets recommend cleaning your cat’s water bowl every day or two, using hot water and dish soap. When refreshing her water, some cats prefer the taste of room temperature water over cold water.
Does my cat have access to an appropriate water bowl?
“When they put their face into their water bowl to drink, their whiskers could graze the side of the bowl and it could cause discomfort,” Patrick Mahaney, VMD, a holistic veterinarian in Los Angeles explains. Look for a wide bowl that doesn’t brush up against the whiskers. Or, for kitties that want a more tantalising water source, consider a trickling fountain.
Is my cat’s water bowl in the right location?
Some cats prefer to drink in a location away from their food, and others don’t like dining or drinking around other cats in the household. So try placing your cat’s water bowl in a low-traffic, quiet spot that’s away from the litter box and not next to their food bowl.
Have I changed my cat’s diet?
A wet food diet can contain up to 80% water. When changing a cat’s diet from dry to wet food, owners commonly see their cats drink less water.
The Takeaway: When You Should Take Your Cat to the Vet
Since water is so important to a cat’s overall health and wellbeing, a lack of water consumption should not be taken lightly. If a cat goes 48 to 72 hours without drinking, or if the change in drinking habits is accompanied by other concerning symptoms such as a reduction in urinating or defecating, or loss of appetite, be sure to have a vet take a look.
Proper hydration keeps a kitty’s body in good working order—from circulation, digestion, and organ function. But monitoring your cat’s water intake and figuring out how they prefer to get their daily H2O can be tricky. And trust me, as Rover sitter, I’ve seen my share of goofy ways cats like to get their H20.
When cats are sly, secretive, and particular about their drinking habits, it’s that much more important to recognise the first signs of dehydration in cats and any underlying illness that could cause dehydration. If you’re ever in doubt about your cat’s drinking habits, it’s never a bad idea to check in with your vet.
