4 Tips on How to Protect a Cat from Dehydration in Canton, GA

Many people don’t monitor the water consumption of their pets all that often. If your pet seems healthy, it is easy to think that they must be getting enough water all day long. However, there are some issues that can lead to your cat not drinking enough water, and this can cause a lot of secondary problems for cats. Cats need to drink enough every day to protect the health of their kidneys, and even young and otherwise healthy cats can become dehydrated.

You should know about the best tips to prevent cat dehydration so that you ensure that your pet will be happy and healthy at all times. It is also ideal to monitor your cat’s water intake to be sure that you spot the early warning signs of a cat that is not feeling well or that might be suffering from a health condition.

cat dehydration in canton, ga

 

1. Always Have Clean Water Available

Cats can be really picky about the quality of the water that they are drinking. They are inclined to avoid drinking any water that is not fresh and clean. This can mean that cats with a bowl of slightly old or murky water will not get enough to drink, even if they are thirsty.

There are lots of ways to solve this issue if you have other pets in the house, like dogs, which can make a shared water supply dirty. You can buy your cat their own small water bowl that lives away from the dogs, or you can get a water fountain that cycles the water and cleans it all day long. Cats love to drink from running water as well, so turning on the tap in your kitchen or bathroom and letting your cat lap the water from the sink can be an ideal solution as well.

2. Make Sure Your Cat Feels Safe

Cats that are worried about their safety or changes in their environment might avoid drinking enough water. If you have moved recently or added a new pet to the home, your cat might not be willing to come out of hiding for water or food. Cats can also be upset by new human arrivals, like visitors from out of town. If your cat is in hiding somewhere in your home for one reason or another, make sure that there is a corner tucked away that has food and water in it.

Making sure that your cat feels safe to come out of hiding to get access to enough water can make a big impact on their well-being. You will want to be sure as well that your cat is using the water bowl and that it is not sitting unused for days at a time. Cats can get very sick very rapidly if they do not drink enough, so paying attention to the use of water sources is key.

3. Keep Things Cool

Cats can get hot just like people, and if your cat is in a hot house or a small, hot space, they might not be able to drink enough to keep their body cool. Cats can get heatstroke in conditions where they cannot cool down adequately, which means that you need to be careful to provide your cat with a place to hang out that is not too hot and that has good airflow.

Be sure as well that you do not leave your cat locked in a hot room or take them in the car on a hot day. These kinds of environments can lead to heatstroke right away, creating a medical emergency that requires an emergency visit to the veterinarian. Cats need to be treated for heatstroke within a half hour of the onset of symptoms to prevent a dire outcome.

4. Pay Attention to Health Concerns

There are various health issues that cats can have, which can lead to dehydration. Kidney issues of things like liver failure can cause your cat to struggle to keep up with their hydration needs. You can use the tent test to check the elasticity of your cat’s skin if you want to see if they are staying reasonably hydrated. Cats with these kinds of health issues will often show signs of skin that does not snap back into place when it is lifted.

If your cat seems not to be feeling well in general or they are vomiting a lot, then it is likely that they are also dehydrated. Never hesitate to take your cat to the vet if they seem to be feeling poorly. Your vet can give your cat IV fluids and help to get them hydrated again while also diagnosing what else might be wrong with their health. Remember that cats need to drink quite often every day to stay healthy, so health issues that lead to dehydration can be very hard on your cat’s well-being.

Cat Dehydration Can Be Prevented

If you have a cat, you need to be aware that cats can sometimes get dehydrated due to issues with their sense of worry about their safety, changes to the home environment, or problems with their health. Tracking your cat’s water intake is important, and being sure that your cat gets to the vet if they are dehydrated is also key. Make sure that you do not take any chances with your cat’s daily hydration since this is such a crucial part of them maintaining their kidney health.

These tips will help you to be sure that your cat is not getting dehydrated, and they are also a big help if you have a cat in your home that is having a tough time with a change in their overall environment. Dehydration can be a big factor in more serious health issues when it comes to cats, which is why you should be sure that you are aware of the best ways to prevent this health problem from impacting your cat’s well-being.

Give Riverstone Animal Hospital a call at (770) 479-7141or book an appointment online if you have any questions about your cat’s health!