Things You'll Need
- Measuring cup
- Dry kitten food
- Pet water fountain
- Cat greens
- Variety of bowls and saucers
Instructions
Measure the amount of water put into a kitten's bowl and note the time. After 24 hours, pour the remaining water back into the measuring cup. The difference between the two measurements should be the approximate amount the kitten drank. If it is very young, use a measuring cup showing very small increments.
Take your kitten to the veterinarian for a thorough examination. There may be a medical problem if it is dehydrated or not drinking--and kittens can very quickly dehydrate to the point of death. Also, the veterinarian can instruct you on the correct fluid amount a kitten needs at its current age and condition, so tell him the amount drank when you measured. If he finds the kitten healthy, just not drinking much, proceed as follows.
Add canned food, if your cat only eats dry. This provides sufficient dietary water. If your kitten is already eating wet food, keep in mind that some fluid is derived from that--but is hard to see and measure. The Stanford Cat Network recommends a premium canned food diet, or raw diet for cats. Your kitten should eat some dry food as it cleans the teeth, but make wet food the diet mainstay.
Plant some kitty greens. Cat-safe grass or catnip growing in a pot or two delights cats on many levels. Cats receive a little moisture from nibbling on the greens, and can lick the drops off the plants after watering. Also, providing a cat with its own greens will protect your houseplants from cat bites.
Buy a pet water fountain. This is one way to ensure a steady flow, however recycled, as cats generally don't like to drink still water. With access to fresh, running water, they will drink more. Choose the fountain carefully, considering factors such as filtering, noise level, and cleanliness. Some people leave a sink faucet at a trickle a few times each day, which cats enjoy, but an effective fountain allows filtered, aerated running water.
Add several dishes of water in different locations, and try varying types of dishes. Some kittens prefer a shallow dish with little water, especially when first learning to drink. Others prefer a cup or bowl--and some become picky as to dish material among stainless steel, plastic or glass.
Sprinkle salt lightly on food to encourage drinking, especially if a cat is just learning to drink. Discontinue the salt once it gets the idea.
Serve filtered or bottled water, as cats are very sensitive to chemical odors and may not drink chlorinated tap water.