Because you're looking for subtle signs, you'll need to scoop your kitty up for an at-home physical examination, starting with the gums. If they're sticky or dry, your cat is likely dehydrated. They should also be pink in color. A different color—gray or yellow perhaps—doesn't mean your cat is dehydrated, but it could indicate other serious problems.
Yellow gums, for example, could mean your cat has jaundice, Moyal says. Another way to see if your cat is dehydrated is to conduct a skin turgor test to examine the elasticity of your cat's skin. To do that, you gently gather your cat's skin behind the neck and between the shoulders and lift it up. If it falls back down quickly, your cat is probably OK. If it stays lifted up and slowly returns to your cat's back, your buddy might be dehydrated.
However, that might not be true for all cats. Moyal says some leaner and older cats will naturally have less-elastic skin. A more serious sign of dehydration can be dull corneas or sunken eyes. Cats left without water for too long can, eventually, die just like us humans.
I never want it to get to that point before a patient comes in," Moyal says. First thing's first. If you detect or even suspect your cat is dehydrated, your initial task is to visit your veterinarian, who has a wider array of hydration solutions than you do, including intravenous methods.
Doing so and forcing water into their mouth could take the water down their breathing tract and into their lungs. If they keep their jaw clamped shut, take the syringe and gently squeeze it in the side of their mouth, in the area between the inside of their cheek and their teeth. Doing so gradually will allow your cat to gulp the water down. Too much, and your cat will spit it out or try to escape from your grasp. If your cat stays put while you give them water, though, then take advantage of the chance and give them more water.
We recommend you invest in a quiet cat water fountain that can provide your cat uninterrupted water supply and keep your pet hydrated all the time. According to the experts at Vetwest Animal Hospitals in Australia , the amount of water a cat drinks is determined by its weight and diet. On average, an adult cat should drink about 60cc per kg each day to stay hydrated. So, judging by their overall weight, if you have a one-year-old adult cat who weighs around 4kg, they should drink cc of water a day.
According to their weight, we recommend giving your cat at least 2—4 cc per each pound of their body weight, per hour. There are several tricks you can employ to maintain their water intake, such as:. Why should your cat settle for that, then? We all know that cats are instinctively clean creatures. Switch their water once or twice every day and make sure to wash their bowl regularly.
And the area where you put their bowls around the house. Wet food is an excellent way through which you can give your cats water without them noticing. Cats love tuna, fish, eggs, and other proteins. According to pets. Check out some of our popular frozen pet food below! All our products are made to retain active nutritional elements your cat needs.
Bookmark our blog for feeding tips, info on dental health , and more. Tags: cat behavior , dehydration , Dr. Richard Patton , pet safety ,. Reasons for Dehydration in Cats Cats can hydrate somewhat from water-rich food sources, but dry food like kibble might not be the only reason your cat is dehydrated. Other reasons for parched purrers include: Environment: The hotter and drier it is outside, the thirstier your cat will be.
Consider both the outside environment and the inside conditions of your home. Activity: Cats that are more active will require more water.
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