Keeping Cats Hydrated: 5 Tips to Get Your Cat to Drink Water

Last Updated on January 13, 2026 by Holly Anne Dustin

July is Pet Hydration Awareness Month. Keeping cats hydrated is important to their overall heath and wellness.

Our cats, whatever the breed, originally evolved from desert animals.  Most animals in the desert have a low thirst drive. They get most of their moisture from their prey. Not only does that provide a steady source of moisture, but prevents poisoning from drinking stagnant water.

Cats have evolved to live with us in our modern society, but their physiology is still similar to their desert ancestors. They are not designed to get most of their water from bowls.

Cats are near-sighted. They can’t see the edge of the water in a bowl.  It’s why cats paw at their water dishes to make the water move before drinking it.

When cats lap water from a bowl, they curve their tongue into a J-shape and bite off a column of water, which is inefficient. Cats only end up with 3/100 of a teaspoon per lap. It would take a long time to consume the amount of moisture they need at that rate.

Is Your Cat Drinking Enough to Keep Hydrated?

How much should my cat be drinking? A 10 pound cat should consume 7-9 ounces of water depending on their activity level. Considering that the average cat eats a dry food diet that contains only 6-10% moisture, it is no wonder that most cats are chronically mildly dehydrated.

Feeding a more species appropriate diet of raw or canned food will contain upward of 80% moisture, allowing Kitty to get more of the moisture she needs in the way she absorbs it best – from her food.

Cat Hydration and Dehydration

Having a ready supply of fresh water matters a lot to your cat’s general well being.  Your cat’s body cannot function the way it’s supposed to without enough water. She needs water even more than you do. A cat’s body comprises 80% water, compared to the 60% that makes up your body!

Consuming enough water helps maintain a lot of body processes. It keeps a stable body temperature, blood circulation, improves digestion, prevents infection, speeds recovery from illness, surgery, or injury.

Water helps cats convert fat to energy. Staying hydrated gives your furbaby energy for playtime, adventures, and the zoomies.

Proper hydration is especially important for cats. It helps protect their kidney and urinary health. Cats that take in an appropriate amount of moisture are less likely to develop urinary tract problems like urinary crystals and bladder stones that can lead to obstructions.

Signs of Dehydration in Cats

So how do we know if our kitty is dehydrated?  Common signs include:

• Loss of energy
• Excessive panting
• Sunken, dry eyes
• Dry, sticky gums
• Loss of skin elasticity
• Lack of appetite
• Vomiting and diarrhea

If you see these signs of dehydration in your cat, render appropriate first aid and call your vet. But most cats aren’t suffering from this level of dehydration. They are just mildly, chronically moisture depleted. How can we help our cats?

Pet Hydration Tips:

First off, know that we can’t judge a cat’s water intake on the amount of water you see them drink. They’ll drink when you are gone or sleeping. It is highly unlikely your kitty will be at the water bowl long enough to consume the one cup of water he needs each day.

Instead of trying to catch your cat in the act, monitor the water level in their bowl. Fill the bowl to the same level each day, so it’s easy to tell when there’s a significant change.

How to Get Your Cat to Drink More Water

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Cats are sensitive to the taste of water. Most cats prefer fresh, moving water.  If your cat likes to drink out of a dripping tap, leave one on for her.

Try a cat fountain

If the fountain noise doesn’t scare them, a fountain can make them more likely to drink. They can see the moving water easier. The filter makes the water taste fresher.

There are a lot of fountains on the market now in all budget categories and styles. Ceramic or stainless steel fountains are healthier for Kitty. Plastic is more likely to hold bacteria. Some plastic waterers are made with microban technology.

Distinct fountain styles appeal to different cats. Some are more bowl style that would be familiar to Kitty, with the added appeal of moving water. Dripping tap lovers will probably like a fountain with a stream of water. Shy cats want a quiet fountain. Others like a lot of moving water. Some prefer a raised drinking area so they don’t get their fur wet. There are even options for multiple cats. Some with multiple streams and others with extra large capacity. The Drinkwell Platinum is the only fountain my Midnight couldn’t take apart, so consider that one if you have an extra mischievous cat.

You can find beautiful fountains that add to the decor in your home.

Provide lots of bowls of fresh water to keep your cats hydrated

Choose a cat friendly water bowl. A wider, shallow ceramic or glass bowl with a narrow edge is best. Make sure the bowl is big enough for Kitty to get her head into without her whiskers rubbing on the edge.

Have multiple water stations. Place fountains and water bowls around your house. Kitty will drink more if it is more convenient.  This is even more important if you have multiple cats. Some cats don’t like to share.

Keep food and water separate. Put the bowls in areas where Kitty can see if anyone is approaching.  Try moving the bowl if Kitty isn’t drinking from her bowl.

Keep Kitty’s water bowl fresh. Dust, dirt, hair and more can all collect in your cat’s water bowl, making her less inclined to drink from it. Water that sits gets stale. Put fresh water in her bowl one to two times a day.

Adventure cats need water on the trail, just like you do. Take along a travel bottle or bowl for him.

Try filters, added flavors, or fun to keep Kitty interested

Kitty might prefer the taste of filtered or bottled water to your tap water.

Adding a bit of tuna or clam juice, or low-sodium broth to Kitty’s water bowl will draw him to the bowl. Changing the flavors can encourage your furbaby to drink more. It also adds extra enrichment to her day.

Place a few ice cubes in their water bowl. Many cats enjoy the sound and look of bobbing ice cubes. They’ll try to play with them and lick the moisture off their paws. If Kitty likes the ice cubes, try freezing the broth or tuna juice and adding those to her bowls to up the interest.

Dropping a robot fish or ping pong balls in a water bowl can encourage Kitty to play in the water and increase her moisture intake.

Keep Cats Hydrated by Changing Their Diet

The best way to improve your cat’s hydration is to add wet food to her diet. You can add water to canned or raw food to increase the amount of moisture in her diet. Every time you add wet food to Kitty’s diet, you are improving her health. Broths, toppers, mixers, even creamy treats can add moisture. If Kitty won’t accept wet food, she may accept wet treats. Toppers can help transition her from dry food.

There are hydration supplements on the market if nothing else helps. But these should be a last resort.

Hopefully these tips will help get Kitty’s hydration levels up.