Cat Hydration

[airweaz]

My cat spends the whole day outdoors when me and the missus are at work.

He isn't the biggest drinker of water in the world but im still concerned about him in this coming heat.
Should I leave a bowl of water out for him by the front door? He is off in the woods and the shade all day and will solar charge at times too. So should I leave water out for him in case?

Do cats need as much hydrating as a dog would?

[otolith]

airweaz said:

Do cats need as much hydrating as a dog would?

No, they do not need as much water as dogs do. They can derive a substantial amount of their requirements from food, both water in wet food and water obtained from the metabolism of food. It certainly won't do any harm to provide some outdoor water, though.

[Munter]

I don't know about the comparison with dogs. But cats should have access to drinking water.

In the winter ours will drink out of puddles or buckets or anything with water in it. But in dryer spells he can be observed, on occasion, drinking from his water bowl.

[airweaz]

Munter said:

I don't know about the comparison with dogs. But cats should have access to drinking water.

In the winter ours will drink out of puddles or buckets or anything with water in it. But in dryer spells he can be observed, on occasion, drinking from his water bowl.

Sounds just like mine. I will be leaving an ice cream tube under the window for him just in case from tomorrow.

[otolith]

Munter said:

I don't know about the comparison with dogs. But cats should have access to drinking water.

In the winter ours will drink out of puddles or buckets or anything with water in it. But in dryer spells he can be observed, on occasion, drinking from his water bowl.

Obviously puddle water is preferable to anything disgusting out of a domestic tap - that is something our dog and our cats are in agreement on.

[airweaz]

Before the cat was officially mine he used to stomp round the bathtube to alert me to needing water.

Now he has a bowl of brita filter water by the TV that I just clean and top up regularly for him.

[ali_kat]

otolith said:

airweaz said:

Do cats need as much hydrating as a dog would?

No, they do not need as much water as dogs do. They can derive a substantial amount of their requirements from food, both water in wet food and water obtained from the metabolism of food. It certainly won't do any harm to provide some outdoor water, though.

They DO need access to water.

Water is essential to cats, who depend on proper daily fluid intake to maintain appropriate health. Water makes up 80 percent of your cat’s body,

Whilst Otolith is correct that they can derive some of their requirements from WET food; cats dehydrate very quickly and it's fatal if not seen to by a Vet very quickly.

As your cat consumes more calories and produces more metabolic waste, he needs more water to maintain his body temperature. In general, an adult cat should drink roughly the same amount of water (in milliliters) as the number of kilocalories eaten per day. Dry cat food contains 7 percent to 12 percent water, while canned food can measure up to 80 percent water. Cats who eat only dry food don’t get as much water from their food as those who eat canned food, and should always have easy access to clean, drinking water to supplement their intake.

[otolith]

They derive some water from even dry food (the main products of metabolism are CO2 and H2O), but not enough to live on.

[Digitalize]

If you or a neighbour has a pond, live by any source of water etc, I wouldn't worry. One night (if you bring him in then) put down a bowl and see if he drinks it, if he does then probably best to keep putting it down.

[ali_kat]

otolith said:

They derive some water from even dry food (the main products of metabolism are CO2 and H2O), but not enough to live on.

That's what I've said above

But your answer of no, is incorrect.

[otolith]

I should have written it more clearly - the "No" is to whether they need as much as dogs; they don't. They are considerably better adapted than dogs to life in arid climates. They do still require water, and putting some outside would not do any harm.

[airweaz]

Well the little man gets dry in the morning and wet of an evening and doesn't have a massive appetite at the best of times.

From tomorrow Ill leave a decent amount outside for him just in case and try and monitor what he has. Hes had a rough life already and I don't want it to be any worse.

[ali_kat]

otolith said:

I should have written it more clearly - the "No" is to whether they need as much as dogs; they don't. They are considerably better adapted than dogs to life in arid climates. They do still require water, and putting some outside would not do any harm.

Gotcha

[airweaz]

I must say you lot are ace for the advice.

Ive never owned a cat before and am totally clueless and in all honesty I don't like cats. I just like my best mate and he decided I was a better owner than the stbags who were kicking him and man handling him, In the days before I stepped in.

I still feel guilty for not acting sooner with Tango as I had a feeling something was up when he came crying to me within seconds of me getting in the house having been away for 10 days. He didn't leave my side that night and ever since Ive protected him as best I can whilst letting him be the wild cat he is.



Tango and me thank you all.

[otolith]

They grow on you, don't they?

[airweaz]

otolith said:

They grow on you, don't they?

BIG TIME.

The day I moved into my house he was in the corner of the drive. Within a week or two he would come over. Eventually I took to sharing my dinner with him on the doorstep. Eventually he came inside despite my hesitation.

He took to shouting at my front door when it got dark and cold at night so I would let him in.

Then came the injuries and his owners lack of giving a F^%$. They had 2 other cats who liked being grabbed by kids but not him. He got a head wound they barely looked after. Then he came in one day dripping blood. I was told by the fat bint that he was aggressive and didn't like humans and was feral. I went that day and got a cat box and took him to the vets. 2 days later he couldn't walk right and the vet suspected he had been kicked. That night I went and took his paper work and they willingly gave him up to me. Turned out they had stopped feeding him in January last year. It was Feb when he spent the night beside me all upset and JULY when I found out they had given up on him.

He had spent 5 months living outside and not being fed properly.

In fact its a year on Wednesday since I took him in for good. I changed his vets to a lovely vets not the dump they used. He is one happy content cared for cat. He even guards my Audi from other cats.



Ill even get all soppy and id be gutted without the ginger sod.

[otolith]

You have been assimilated

Good on you for taking him in.

[ali_kat]

[otolith]

I recognise that stance - this is our old boy in "going down the garden to sort someone out" mode;

[Digitalize]

airweaz said:

BIG TIME.

The day I moved into my house he was in the corner of the drive. Within a week or two he would come over. Eventually I took to sharing my dinner with him on the doorstep. Eventually he came inside despite my hesitation.

He took to shouting at my front door when it got dark and cold at night so I would let him in.

Then came the injuries and his owners lack of giving a F^%$. They had 2 other cats who liked being grabbed by kids but not him. He got a head wound they barely looked after. Then he came in one day dripping blood. I was told by the fat bint that he was aggressive and didn't like humans and was feral. I went that day and got a cat box and took him to the vets. 2 days later he couldn't walk right and the vet suspected he had been kicked. That night I went and took his paper work and they willingly gave him up to me. Turned out they had stopped feeding him in January last year. It was Feb when he spent the night beside me all upset and JULY when I found out they had given up on him.

He had spent 5 months living outside and not being fed properly.

In fact its a year on Wednesday since I took him in for good. I changed his vets to a lovely vets not the dump they used. He is one happy content cared for cat. He even guards my Audi from other cats.



Ill even get all soppy and id be gutted without the ginger sod.

RSPCA.