How to Get Your Cat to Drink More Water: Tips Every Cat Parent Needs

Why Cats Don't Drink Enough Water

As a pet parent, the most important thing you can do is to keep your kitty healthy. However, one question almost every cat parent can relate to is: How do you get your cat to drink more water? Cats are notoriously choosy drinkers, and their instinctively low thirst drive means they can easily become dehydrated, leading to urinary tract problems and kidney issues if not monitored carefully.

In this blog, we’ll explore the best ways to encourage your cat to drink enough water, signs of dehydration, and how supplementing a healthy diet with products like those available through Venttura can help your cat maintain or restore good health.

 

How to Get Your Cat to Drink More Water by Understanding Feline Behavior

Cats evolved from ancestors that lived in deserts and didn’t depend much on water bowls — they got most of their moisture from their prey. That’s also why your house cat might not instinctively drink as much water as it should.

Being aware of their instincts may help you find clever ways to ensure they drink more water. The trick is to provide your cat with the tools to make hydration enjoyable, convenient, and routine.

 

Choosing the Right Water Bowl for Your Cat

Believe it or not, your cat’s drinking bowl could be a game-changer

Try these tips:

 

1) Avoid whisker fatigue by using shallow, wide bowls.

2) Bowls made of glass, ceramic, or stainless steel are better than plastic (which can retain odors).

3) Put bowls of water in quiet, low-traffic areas where your cat feels at home.

4) Place water bowls throughout the house

🛒 Bonus Tip: Since you’re upgrading their hydration game, also check out Venttura’s Cat Supplements, such as Omega+ Cat for Cats, to nourish overall well-being, including skin and coat quality.

 

How to Get Your Cat to Drink More Water with a Water Fountain

Cats love running water—it’s fresh, fun, and instinctively more attractive.

A cat water fountain simulates streams and moving water sources, encouraging your feline to drink more regularly. It also cuts out impurities, which is ideal for finicky sippers.

Look for:

a) Low-noise fountains

b) BPA-free materials

c) Easy-to-clean designs

Most cat parents see a quick increase in water consumption when a fountain comes on the scene!

 

Diet Adjustments to Boost Cat Hydration

Because cats don’t always drink enough, their food can become a potent hydration tool.

Try:

 

a) Wet food instead of kibble – it is 70-80% moisture compared to 10% in dry food.

b) Add water or bone broth (unsalted and pet-safe) for daily meals.

c) Incorporate immunity, and gut health-supporting supplements, like Venttura’s Immuno+ Cat for Cats.

This approach is especially beneficial for older cats or cats with urinary problems.

 

Hydration During Summer and Illness

During hot weather or when they’re sick, cats need more hydration. Like us, they dehydrate more quickly in heat or under stress.

 

What to do:

a) Give them cold water or ice cubes to tempt them on hot days.

b) In summer, wet food is more common.

c) Place bowls in shaded or cooler areas of your house.

d) Supplement extra hydration when your cat is on medications or recuperating from illness.

For recovery, you can also add liver and digestive support supplements like Venttura’s Livo+ Cat as support therapy to help their system bounce back quickly.

 

Making Water Fun and Engaging for Cats

 

Cats are instinctively curious and love to be stimulated. Try these tricks:

 

a) Scoop ice cubes into their bowl—they might swat or lick them out of curiosity.

b) Just add a few pieces of your favorite treats or freeze-dried food on top of the water.

c) Add textured bowls or placements that inspire curiosity.

When water is included during playtime, it begins to form positive associations.

 

DIY Hydration Boosters for Cats

Want tricks to improve hydration at home? Try these DIY hacks:

 

a) Tuna water ice cubes – Freeze unsalted tuna water for a tasty treat.

b) Diluted goat milk — safe in small amounts and appealing to most cats.

c) Frozen broth with treats — Mix unsalted broth with treats and freeze.

 

Not only are they fun and nutritious, they also entice the curiosity of cats who shun plain water.

 

Monitoring Your Cat's Water Intake

Cats are creatures of habit. Once they have a hydration routine, it’s second nature.

 

Track your cat’s water intake by:

a) Measuring the water levels in the bowls each day

b) Keeping an eye out for frequent urination

c) Pay attention to their activity and energy levels

You can also add daily supplements that support hydration and urinary health, such as Venttura’s Livo+ Cat—a palatable liquid suspension that aids in digestion and liver function, both of which are essential for maintaining hydration balance in cats.

 

Where to Place Your Cat's Water Bowl

 

Just as you would not want to drink right next to your toilet, cats aren’t keen on drinking near their litter tray. This comes from their African wildcat ancestors. They would toilet away from their water source to avoid contamination. Keep the two in separate rooms if possible.

Cats also don’t like to drink near to where they eat. This also comes from their African wildcat ancestors. They try to avoid the gut contents of their prey contaminating their water source. Place their food and water bowls in separate locations.

 

Frequently Asked Questions — How to Get Your Cat to Drink More Water

 

Q1. Why isn't my cat drinking water?

Cats evolved from desert-dwelling ancestors who obtained most of their moisture from prey rather than standing water — which means their thirst drive is naturally low compared to dogs and humans. This instinct persists in domestic cats today, making them prone to under-drinking even when water is freely available. Common reasons a cat may avoid their water bowl include a dirty or smelly bowl — cats are extremely sensitive to odours and will avoid water that tastes of plastic or detergent residue. The bowl placement matters too — cats instinctively avoid drinking near their food or litter tray. Some cats strongly prefer running water over still water, which is why a cat fountain often dramatically increases consumption. Stress, illness, dental pain, or a change in environment can also reduce water intake. If your cat has suddenly stopped drinking, consult your veterinarian — it can indicate an underlying health issue.

Q2. How do I know if my cat is dehydrated?

Early dehydration in cats can be subtle — which is why regular observation is important. The most reliable home test is the skin turgor test — gently pinch the scruff of skin at the back of your cat's neck and release it. In a well-hydrated cat the skin snaps back immediately. If it returns slowly or stays tented, your cat may be dehydrated. Other signs include dry or sticky gums instead of moist and pink, sunken or dull-looking eyes, lethargy and reduced activity, loss of appetite, and reduced or dark-coloured urine. Severe dehydration can cause rapid breathing, weakness, and collapse — these are veterinary emergencies. Cats on dry-food-only diets, senior cats, and cats with kidney disease or urinary tract conditions are at the highest risk of chronic mild dehydration. Supporting urinary and liver health with Venttura Livo+ Cat helps maintain the internal balance that keeps your cat properly hydrated at a cellular level.

 

Q3. Is wet food enough to keep my cat hydrated?

Wet food is one of the most effective ways to increase your cat's daily moisture intake — it contains 70 to 80% water compared to only 8 to 10% in dry kibble. For cats that refuse to drink from bowls, transitioning to wet food or adding wet food alongside dry kibble can make a significant difference to their overall hydration status. However wet food alone may not be sufficient for every cat — particularly those with kidney disease, urinary tract conditions, or during hot weather when water requirements increase. The best approach is to combine wet food with readily available fresh water in multiple locations, a cat water fountain if your cat prefers running water, and targeted supplements like Venttura Immuno+ Cat which supports digestive and immune health — and Venttura Livo+ Cat which supports liver function and urinary tract health as part of a comprehensive hydration strategy.

 

Q4. How much water should a cat drink per day?

The general guideline for healthy adult cats is approximately 50 to 60 ml of water per kilogram of body weight per day. For a 4 kg cat this means roughly 200 to 240 ml daily — though this includes moisture from food as well as water drunk directly. Cats eating wet food exclusively will naturally drink significantly less from their bowl — this is completely normal and not a cause for concern as long as they are getting adequate total fluid intake. Cats eating dry food exclusively need to compensate by drinking more from their bowl — which many simply do not do, making them prone to chronic mild dehydration. Kittens, pregnant and nursing cats, senior cats, and cats with kidney disease or urinary tract conditions all have higher hydration needs than healthy adult cats. If you are unsure whether your cat is drinking enough, your veterinarian can assess hydration status during a routine check-up.

 

Q5. Can I add flavour to my cat's water to encourage drinking?

Yes — adding safe flavourings to your cat's water is an effective and widely recommended strategy for encouraging cats that resist plain water. Unsalted tuna water or the liquid from canned fish (packed in water, not oil) is one of the most popular and effective options — most cats find the smell irresistible. Low-sodium chicken or bone broth diluted with water is another excellent choice. Diluted goat's milk in small amounts is safe for most cats and appealing to many. Frozen versions of these — tuna water ice cubes or broth ice cubes — can be particularly effective during hot weather. Always avoid anything containing garlic, onions, artificial sweeteners (particularly xylitol), or added salt — these are toxic to cats. You can also add cat-safe supplements directly to water or wet food — Venttura Immuno+ Cat is a palatable liquid supplement that supports immunity and digestive health and can be added to food easily.

 

Q6. Why should I keep my cat's water bowl away from their food and litter tray?

This is one of the most important and most overlooked aspects of encouraging healthy drinking habits in cats. Cats instinctively avoid drinking near their food — a behaviour inherited from their African wildcat ancestors who learned to keep their water sources away from prey carcasses to prevent contamination. Similarly, cats will instinctively avoid drinking near their litter tray as a natural hygiene instinct to prevent water contamination. Placing water bowls in the same location as food or within sight of the litter tray significantly reduces the likelihood that your cat will drink adequately. Place water bowls in at least two or three separate quiet locations around the home — ideally away from high-traffic areas and well away from both feeding stations and litter trays. This simple change alone can produce a noticeable increase in water consumption in many cats.

 

Conclusion: How to Get Your Cat to Drink More Water Starts with You

There’s no need for it to be an uphill struggle to keep your cat hydrated. With some simple modifications — adding wet food to the diet, using a fountain, and adding supplements — you can keep your feline companion healthy, active, and hydrated.

The bedrock of good health is hydration. And when you introduce fun and access into the equation, your cat will reward you handsomely in purrs (and perhaps fewer vet visits!).

 

For more tips, cute updates & product recommendations that every cat parent will adore, follow us on Instagram @ventturain!

 

Also read: How to Take Care of a Cat — Complete Guide for Pet Parents

Also read: Cat Habits Explained — 10 Behaviours Every Cat Parent Should Know