Dehydration in cats is a life-threatening situation. Luckily, it's not all that common. Dehydration has a number of causes including certain illnesses and exposure to extreme heat. If you have a healthy house cat who lives indoors, you probably need not worry as you are simply required to insure he has access to fresh, clean water at all times and your cat will do as nature intended and drink all he needs.
Things You'll Need
- Plenty of water
- Wet canned cat food
- Pedialyte
Instructions
Offer your cat wet canned cat food several times a week. Do not rely only on dry cat kibble to feed and nourish your cat. Dry cat food only has 7 to 12 percent water. Canned cat food has 80 percent water and will help in the prevention of dehydration in your cat. Keep a close eye on your cat for signs of dehydration if you have an out door cat when the summertime months are hot.
Provide fresh, clean water for your cat and change the water bowl every day. Cats sometimes like to play with water, and some cats will prefer to drink out of a dripping fountain or from a cat watering fountain, available at pet stores everywhere. If your cat uses a litter box, note the amount of urine your cat is putting out every day. This will help you keep an eye on your cat's water intake.
Know the signs of dehydration. Cats suffering from dehydration exhibit a specific set of symptoms including sunken eyes, lethargy, loss of appetite and panting. If you see any of these signs or symptoms in your cat, take him to his veterinarian immediately. Dehydration is a life-threatening problem.