The chances are good that your feline
friend is likely suffering from chronic dehydration. The reason why it is
likely is because most cats have this problem. Your Staten Island Animal Doctor
can probably tell you many stories about treating cats with serious
dehydration, which can cause bladder infections, kidney failure and other
problems.
Why do cats experience dehydration? The
answer is that it is not in their natural instincts. Wild cats do not have the
urge to drink water because they receive all of the fluids that they need from
the pray they eat, such as lizards, small rodents and birds. These small
animals usually contain about 70% water so there is no need for a wild cat to
drink. Your domesticated cat will have retained this instinct and will not
enjoy drinking water or be naturally drawn to it.
However these days, cats don’t eat fresh
animals but rather exist on a diet of dry kibble. There is much lower moisture
content in this food source and cats don’t naturally drink enough water to
compensate for this. This is the main reason why so many cats suffer from
dehydration.
The first thing that you can do to help
your cat’s health is to switch them to a canned food diet which will contain
much more moisture. Talk to your Staten Island animal doctor for a
recommendation of the best food to buy. As well as the diet change, you can
encourage your cat to drink more on a regular basis.
Since cats don’t naturally like drinking
water, you have to make it as appealing as possible for them. Your cat will
prefer to drink fresh, cold water from a clean bowl, so wash and change the
water dish often. They will also love running water, so turn on the faucet and
encourage them to have a drink.
For more information about cat health,
contact your Staten Island animal doctor.
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