Water is essential for kittens’ health. They need water to stay hydrated, regulate their body temperature, and remove waste products from their bodies. If your kitten is not drinking water, it can be a serious problem.
Dehydration can lead to a number of health problems, including kidney damage, constipation, and even death.
Here I will discuss the importance of water for kittens, the signs of dehydration, and what you can do if your kitten is not drinking water. I will also discuss some of the possible causes of dehydration in kittens, and when to take your kitten to the vet.
Ways to Get Your Kitten to Drink More Water
If your kitten is not drinking water, there are a few things you can do to encourage them to drink:
- Make sure they have access to fresh, clean water at all times. If they’re not used to drinking from a bowl, you can try using a shallow dish or even a dripping faucet to get them started.
- You may need to change their water more frequently than you would for an adult cat.
- You can try adding a little bit of chicken broth or tuna juice to their water to make it more appealing.
- If your kitten is not eating wet food, give them a small amount of dry food soaked in water so they get the hydration they need.
Kitten Won’t Drink Water But Eats Wet Food
If your kitten is eating wet food but won’t drink water, there are a few possible reasons.
It could be that the water bowl is dirty or in a place where the kitten doesn’t feel comfortable. It could also be that the kitten is used to getting all of its hydration from wet food and hasn’t learned to drink from a bowl yet.
Whatever the reason, it’s important to make sure your kitten stays hydrated. Here are a few tips:
- Make sure the water bowl is clean and in a place where the kitten feels comfortable.
- Try adding some warm water to the bowl to make it more appealing.
- Put a little bit of wet food on top of the water so the kitten gets used to drinking from the water bowl.
- If all else fails, you can try giving your kitten watered down wet food or even just plain water from a syringe or eye dropper.
What Do You Do If Your Kitten Isn’t Drinking Water?
If your kitten isn’t drinking water, it’s important to take action right away. Dehydration can be very dangerous for kittens, and even fatal if left untreated.
There are a few things you can do to encourage your kitten to drink more water:
First, make sure they always have fresh, clean water available. A cat fountain is a great option, as it will keep the water moving and oxygenated.
You can also try adding some wet food to their diet, as this will provide them with extra moisture.
If your kitten is still not drinking enough water, you may need to take them to the vet. They may be suffering from an underlying health condition that is causing dehydration.
In severe cases, IV fluids may be necessary to rehydrate your kitten safely.
Also Read: Why My Cat Drinks a Lot of Water? Is it Normal?
How Long Can a Kitten Go Without Drinking Water?
A kitten can go without drinking water for about 48 hours. However, after that time, they will start to become dehydrated and their health will start to decline.
Dehydration can be fatal for kittens, so it’s important to make sure they have access to fresh water at all times.
How Do I Get My New Kitten to Drink Water?
If you’ve just brought home a new kitten, one of your first tasks will be to get them used to drinking water. Kittens are born with an instinct to suckle milk from their mother’s teat, but they need to learn how to drink from a bowl.
Here are a few tips to help you out:
Put the bowl in a quiet spot
Kittens are easily scared, so it’s important to put their water bowl in a quiet and calm place. A good spot might be next to their food bowl or in the bathroom where they can’t be disturbed.
Use fresh water
Make sure that the water in the bowl is clean and fresh. kittens are very sensitive to smells and tastes, so old or dirty water will probably put them off.
Add some interest
Some kittens may need a little encouragement to start drinking from their bowl. You can try adding some wet food or tuna juice (diluted 50:50 with water) to the water which should make it more appealing.
Alternatively, you could try using a cat fountain which has moving water which is often more interesting for cats.
Be patient
It may take a little time for your kitten to get used to drinking from their bowl, but eventually they’ll get there!
Conclusion
If you have a kitten that isn’t drinking water, make sure they have access to clean, fresh water at all times. I hope gradually they will start drinking more and more water.
His professional interests include humane education, ethics, small animal behavior, and veterinary. As a pet lover from school life, having grown up with two cats and a dog. If he isn’t spending time with his friends and family, Justin enjoys traveling. Learn more about Justin here.