what about cats and drinking water

what about cats and drinking water

Cats need water! Not for swimming, unless you have a Turkish Van (they love to swim) but because cats need to drink fresh water. I’m assuming (if you have cats) that you already know this. They don’t need the quantities humans need, but still, they need some. In the wild, cats don’t have bowls of fresh water replenished every day. Instead, they may find ponds or rivers and drink from there. But that’s not their main source of water. How wild cats get their water is from the moisture in their prey. Kinda disgusting, but true.

For my cats I try to simulate their carnivores preference. They get a dollop of canned cat food for breakfast, the remainder for dinner. I add fresh, filtered water to each of their canned food meals.

it’s enough water to mix with the wet food and form gravy. They love it and ALWAYS lap it up, even if they might not be fans of the canned food served.

Apparently my cats aren’t the only ones who like gravy.

photo by shari smith dunaif © 2019

Over the years cat food companies  Have added gravy to some of their canned meals. They even sell packets of gravy. I still add water, albeit less, to the cans that have gravy included in the label.

But don’t forget, our domesticated cats still need a bowl of fresh water, replenished every day.

keep your cat safe in summer heat

In much of the country, summer temperatures can get quite high: so how to keep your cat safe in summer heat? With all the fur they wear, my kitty care is concerned about keeping our cats safe in the summer when it gets hot.
Here’s some tips to keep your cat safe in summer heat.
(from My Kitty Care and ARF)

Cats need fresh water

filtered fresh water
photo by shari smith dunaif 2015

To keep cats healthy, a water bowl must always be available for your cat. Cats need fresh water, every day. Fresh water keeps cats safe from otherwise becoming dehydrated. Every morning my cat gets fresh filtered water. In the heat of the summer, I’ll refresh my cat’s water bowl with cool, filtered water, at the end of the day too. That keeps my cat safe and healthy.

cat at window with screen

cat at open window with screen and additional screen
photo by shari smith dunaif 2015

Cats love to sit at the window, but during the hot summer days and nights, if your window is open, have secure screens. City cats who may live high above street level must be especially protected.

Adjustable Window Screen

45 in. x 24 in. Adjustable Wood Frame Wondow Screen

 

 

 

If your windows don’t have screens at all, or for additional security, you can buy separate expandable screens at most hardware stores for less than $10 each.

 

If you’re traveling with your cat, do not leave your cat in an unattended car. Even with open windows, a car can absorb so much heat, that very quickly your car can become an oven. Have you ever gone shopping, then in an hour (or less) you return to your car, open the door and are hit with overwhelmingly intense hot air? That’s what your cat is cooking in. In some states, it’s actually illegal.

Also, check your cat for ticks. Yuck. Even indoor cats may have ticks.

?   Let’s keep our cats safe and healthy.  ?