July is all about National Pet Hydration Month!

July is all about National Pet Hydration Awareness Month! 

With the heat this summer and a couple more months of heat to go, proper hydration is vital to your cat's well being and survival.  Since this month is National Pet Hydration Month, I’ll give you some tips for keeping your kitty hydrated and healthy. 

Fountains- There are some cats that stay with us at Rock The Cat Spa and just drink and drink all day long!  While the average cat drinks around 1 cup of water a day, some kitties are more thirsty and consume much more than that.  There are a number of fountains available and I set them around if need be. Some cats like to splash in them while others lap up the water right from the “spigot’.  A fountain is a great and inexpensive way for your cat to get access to fresh water but a friend of mine had just a regular little counter fountain for decor and her cat used that. Hey, it works!  Cleaning the fountain and changing any filters is very important! 

Wet Food- There are a couple kitties here who need to have water added to their wet food for extra hydration. Wet food already is an excellent source of a little bit more water but adding a tad bit more water to almost a gravy texture is a boost for some. Try it and your kitty may like it. 

Sink Faucet- Some customers discuss their cat at home sitting by the faucet and waiting for a slow stream of water to drink by. My lovely Maddie used to do this in the bathtub!   She would prefer a steady drip and wait for it to drip on her shoulder and lick off.  Other cats also have reported to lick the shower curtains or glass doors for a little extra drink. 

Ick, The Toilet- My least favorite yet it happens ALL the time at the cat spa is the toilet!  Yes, there are a few toilet divers who seem to only drink from there. Meanwhile there is a nice crystal bowl with fresh water in it waiting for them. I always ask, why?!  But if it gets them to drink, it's a good thing! 


Always freshen your cat's water each day! Bacteria can easily build up from their mouths and food particles. It doesn’t take long so if you see the water is looking dirty, a fresh bowl is important.   Tap water is good but filtered water is best as some kitties may not like the tap water.  Keeping it cool but not cold is also important, especially in hot temperatures. 

Just like us humans, cats need water for their health and well being. This is especially important as cats age as some health conditions such as diabetes, hyperthyroidism and kidney disease can affect senior cats.  Keeping their kidneys flushed out and functioning is just one benefit of fresh water. 

Have an extra bowl of water out in another place away from the primary source to keep your kitty drinking. 
Tip:  Having the food and water far apart is something new that I recently learned about!  In nature, cats prefer to keep these separate in order to prevent contamination and from other animals.  Whisker fatigue is real so a wide open bowl is very important also. Having a happy kitty can be as easy as these simple changes can help your kitty drink more water and stay hydrated and healthy.