Does your cat drink little water in summer? The trick to avoiding health surprises
If you live with a cat, you're surely familiar with this scene: you put down a bowl of clean, fresh water, and the cat looks at it with indifference before calmly walking away. Or worse, it follows you to the bathroom, trying to drink directly from the tap when you turn it on.
During the year, this might just be a funny quirk, but in the middle of summer in Spain, with temperatures hitting highs, a lack of hydration in cats becomes a serious issue.
Felines have a very particular instinct when it comes to drinking, and understanding how their mind works is the first step to taking care of their health this summer.
The root of the problem: Why they aren't attracted to still water
Unlike dogs, cats don't usually feel an overwhelming thirst all at once. Their ancestors obtained almost all the moisture they needed from their prey in the wild. Moreover, they instinctively associate still water with dirty or unsafe water.
When summer heat arrives, two things happen:
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Their body loses more fluids than usual, even if they spend most of the day sleeping in the shade.
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If the water in the bowl has been sitting for a few hours or reaches room temperature, they will dislike it even more.
The result is often insufficient water intake, which in the medium and long term ends up taking a toll on their kidneys and urinary system.
Summer's greatest ally: The cat fountain
This is where your companion's natural curiosity comes into play. The soft sound of running water immediately activates their hunting and exploring instincts. For them, moving water is synonymous with fresh, clean, and oxygenated water.
Investing in one of the cat fountains available today is not just an aesthetic whim, but a direct improvement in their quality of life:
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Continuously circulating water: Prevents the water from overheating as quickly and keeps it much fresher on summer evenings.
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Carbon filters: Eliminate impurities, hair, and that bad chlorine taste that tap water sometimes has, which repels them completely.
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Visual and auditory stimulation: Seeing the stream fall or the flow move, they approach to investigate and end up drinking much more without you having to chase them.
3 simple tricks to keep your cat cool this summer
In addition to installing a fountain in a quiet corner of the house, there are small daily actions that make a huge difference when the heat hits:
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Separate food from water: No cat likes to drink right next to where it eats. Place their fountain or water bowls in an area away from the dog and cat food bowls.
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Increase wet food: During hot months, prioritize or combine their kibble with canned food or pouches rich in broth. It's a very simple way to add extra hydration without them noticing.
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Create interactive ice cubes: Try putting a little chicken broth (without salt or onion) or broth from a can of fish into an ice mold and give it to them as a treat. They will be entertained for a while while cooling down.
Caring for their health means paying attention to details
Sometimes we think that changing their bowl once a day is enough, but seeing how a cat starts drinking eagerly as soon as you give them moving water shows how much they appreciate these small changes.
If you notice that your feline is a bit more lethargic these days or desperately seeking the coldest spots in the house, take a look at their fluid intake. A simple gesture like switching from a traditional bowl to a filtering fountain can save you vet visits and ensure a peaceful summer by their side.
Does your cat also have the habit of asking for tap water, or do they ignore their bowl? Tell us in the comments how you're dealing with the heatwaves at home!
