Cats do not drink enough water.  Ancestral cats were desert dwellers, so they adapted to low water intake.  However, cats today need more water to help prevent and treat modern-day medical conditions.

All cats should have fresh water available at all times.  Cats who especially need to drink more water are cats with:

�        Lower Urinary Tract Disease (cystitis, bladder ?infections?)

�        Chronic Renal Disease

�        Chronic constipation

�        Old age

�        An addiction to dry food

Below are suggestions for encouraging water intake in your cat:

1.     Place water bowls away from food bowls.

2.     Have multiple water stations.  In a multi-storied house, have one on each level.

3.     Put a water bowl in the bathroom.

4.     Use a large bowl (e.g. dog bowl) for water.  Cats usually don?t like their whiskers to touch the sides of bowls.

5.     Try bowls made of different materials.  Many cats like stainless steel.

6.     Change water twice daily.  Wash bowls frequently.

7.     Water fountains.  Keep out for at least one month ? cats can take a while to try something new.  You must use distilled water and change the filters frequently.

8.     Add water to dry food.

9.     Add low salt chicken broth, tuna juice, or clam juice to water.

10. You can freeze broth or fish juice in ice cube trays and add 1 cube to a bowl of water.

11. Some cats like plain ice cubes in their water.

12. Try ?cat milk? from pet stores.

13. Wet shower floor frequently for cats who like to lick there.

14. Feed small frequent meals.  Cats who eat more small meals per day also drink more water.

15. Put a motion detector on faucet for cats who like to drink out of the sink faucet.

16. Get your kitten used to canned food now!