Paws and Refresh
Pet Hydration Awareness Month!
Hydration is important.
We all know as humans our bodies make up roughly 80% of water Similarly cats are around 70% water. Hydration helps us feel healthy, keeps us alert in hot weather and maintains our skin health plus all of our organs.
Do you know how much water your pet should be drinking? Cats and dogs drink water differently, therefore having a different approach makes sense. When it comes to cats, cats don’t necessarily drink that much water out of a water source. This is due to them obtaining their water intake from their food sources (aka meat). If you didn’t know cats are obligate carnivores and need all their nutrients from animal meat sources in their diet. This reason alone is why wet/raw food is important for them. Wet food has the meat source and nutrients but also the moisture to provide them the water they need where dry food does not have much nutritional value at all.
Cats that do not get enough water can commonly be seen to have UTIs, bladder stones and various urinary issues. One example is my cat Draco. When I first brought him into my apartment after living with my sister, he was primarily eating only dry food with my other cat Dr Chocolate. I was unaware at the time of cats nutritional needs despite being a cat lover. Draco ended up having recurring bladder stones to the point he needed emergency surgery to remove it. After his surgery he had to be placed on a urinary prescription diet. If anyone knows anything about prescription diets, they are pricey. To add a bit of extra hydration to their prescribed wet food I would also mix in an extra teaspoon of water to it.
When it comes to male cats and urinary issues, it's a medical life or death situation as their urinary system is small and very curvy inside. So why am I telling you this? Maybe my story can help your kitties avoid this situation all together, or maybe you felt like you were the only one and now know you're not alone. Either way, awareness and information is always the best policy when caring for our pets.
Lets keep them healthy and living their best life possible.
