With all the talk about diet and exercise, it’s about time to look at the liquid.
On every diet that I ever attempted, water was always a main focus. Eight glasses a day flushes the system clean, washing away all those impurities, improving digestion and organ function and hydrating the skin. It’s a must when exercising. Plus, a cool glass of ice water tastes good on a hot day!
Could it be the same with cats?
Our cats require plenty of water too — especially those that are older, sick or on a reduced-calorie, increased-exercise regime, like Bubba. Water consumption dilutes their urine, preventing crystal formation that could lead to bladder, urinary tract and kidney infections. It also regulates their body temperature and helps them digest food and vitamins, among other things. It’s an essential element in all cats’ diets.
But how much do they need?
In a CatChannel.com nutrition article, Rebecca Remillard, a board-certified veterinary nutritionist, says that a 10-pound cat should drink 1 and one-fourth cups of water per day. If my math is correct, at 17.5 pounds, Bubba should be drinking about 2 and one-half cups of the clear stuff! That’s roughly two-and-a-half times the amount of food he eats.
I think Bubba may have a drinking problem — or a lack thereof.
Bubba has always had a thing about steering clear of tainted water. If one morsel of kibble gets in the water bowl, he won’t go near it. In fact, he’d rather drink out of the toilet or lick the bottom of a wet bathtub before lapping water from a dirty bowl! What’s that all about?
Besides his aversion to tainted water, I often worry about his body temperature. A typical day here brings 85 degree sunshine and 80 percent humidity. He’s an inside cat, but Bubba must get hot in that fur coat!
For the sake of his health and vitality, I really want to encourage Bubba to drink more water.
Cats typically prefer ultra clean, fresh, cool water. Some even demand flowing water from a faucet or fountain that mimics naturally moving water. Luckily, Bubba isn’t that high-maintenance, but he does like his water clean.
As Bubba continues toward his weight-loss goal, I’m going to monitor his water intake more closely. I’ll put out more bowls around the house. Hopefully that will encourage him to drink. I might try some other suggestions, such as flavoring the water with the water from canned tuna or adding water or broth to his food. If I find that he’s still not drinking enough, I may invest in a re-circulating fountain. It could make an excellent Christmas present …