Many caring cat parents worry about their cats not drinking enough water. To address this, they often feed their cats more wet food and add water to the canned food. But does this trick really work to increase water intake?
If you want to improve your cat's water consumption, it's essential to first understand the natural eating habits of cats. In the wild, cats catch small prey like mice and birds, which naturally contain about 70% water. You can check the packaging of the wet food you buy at home—most wet foods contain between 80% to 90% water.
Adding extra water to wet food not only affects its palatability but also dilutes its nutrition and aroma, and cats can definitely tell the difference. After all, they are natural gourmets! Some slightly hungrier cats might try to fish out the meat with their paws, but most will gradually stop eating altogether, sometimes becoming pickier, losing appetite, or even refusing to eat.
So how can you encourage your cat to eat more wet food? The answer is actually quite simple:
- Respect your cat's preferences.
- Choose canned food that your cat likes.
- Do not randomly add water to the canned food.
By following these three principles, you can help your cat enjoy their meals, encourage them to drink enough water naturally, and ensure they receive proper nutrition.
After reading this, take a moment to reevaluate your feeding beliefs and habits. Perhaps it's time to make some adjustments. Let's all strive to be quality cat parents who respect our cats' tastes and needs!
