06/10/2026
How to Encourage Your Cat to Drink More Water: Proven Ways to Keep Your Cat Properly Hydrated
Does your cat keep avoiding its water bowl while you constantly wonder how to encourage it to drink more water? To encourage your cat to drink water, start by including wet food in its diet, choose a water fountain instead of a traditional bowl, and place several water stations in quiet areas around your home. If your cat still refuses to drink, you can try adding unsalted, unseasoned broth or a little tuna water to its bowl.
Table of Contents
How to Hydrate a Cat: Proven Methods
How to Rehydrate a Cat After Vomiting
Cat Hydration – When Are Home Remedies Not Enough?
How to Teach a Cat to Drink Water
How to Hydrate a Cat: Proven Methods
Below, you'll find proven ways to hydrate your cat without an IV drip. You can safely combine all the methods listed and observe whether they produce the desired results.
1. Include wet food in your cat's daily diet
How can you hydrate a cat that refuses to drink water? First and foremost, by introducing wet food into its diet! This type of food can contain up to 80% water, making it an effective way to support daily hydration, even if your cat is reluctant to drink from its bowl.
Check out Carnilove pouches or canned cat food – complete wet foods that help maintain your pet's daily hydration thanks to their high moisture content.
2. Choose a cat water fountain
Running water is much more appealing to cats than still water in a bowl. It seems fresher to them and more closely resembles a natural water source. A fountain with a filter can also help remove chlorine odors and dust, which may discourage sensitive cats from drinking water from a regular bowl.
3. Find the right place for the water bowl
Cats instinctively avoid drinking near the areas where they eat or relieve themselves. This is a natural instinct inherited from their wild ancestors, who avoided potentially contaminated water sources. For this reason, it's best to place your cat's water bowl away from its litter box and food bowl. Setting up several water bowls in different areas of your home is also a good idea.
4. Choose the right water bowl
What do cats particularly dislike? Having their whiskers touch the sides of a bowl! Make sure your cat's water is served in a wide, shallow bowl, preferably made of ceramic or glass. Plastic can absorb odors and affect the taste of water, potentially discouraging your cat from drinking.
5. Keep the water fresh at all times
Change your cat's water at least once a day. Water that has been sitting in a bowl for too long quickly becomes less appealing to cats.
6. Add flavor to the water if necessary
If the methods above don't encourage your cat to drink more water, try making the water more appealing by adding some flavor. For example, you can offer your cat chicken or fish broth (without salt, onion, or garlic). Its strong aroma can often successfully encourage drinking. You can also add a little water from a can of tuna, provided it contains no oil or seasonings.
How to Rehydrate a Cat After Vomiting
After a single episode of vomiting, avoid giving your cat a large amount of water immediately, as this may upset its sensitive stomach and trigger another vomiting episode. It's best to offer small amounts of water frequently, for example, one teaspoon every 15–30 minutes. Instead of plain water, you can try homemade broth (unsalted broth made from meat only, without onions or vegetables) or wet cat food mixed with warm water to create a soft, porridge-like consistency.
Remember to monitor your cat closely for several hours. Is the vomiting recurring? Is your cat lethargic? Has it lost its appetite? Contact your veterinarian, as your cat may need professional treatment to restore proper hydration.
Cat Hydration – When Are Home Remedies Not Enough?
Wet food, water fountains, and regularly changing your cat's water are all effective ways to support everyday hydration. However, these methods may not be sufficient in cases of more severe dehydration, which may be indicated by symptoms such as:
Lethargy,
Excessive sleepiness,
Sunken eyes,
Dry mucous membranes in the mouth,
Skin that slowly returns to its normal position after being gently pinched at the back of the neck (known as the skin tent test).
If you notice any of these symptoms in your cat, do not continue trying to rehydrate it on your own. Visit a veterinarian as soon as possible. They will assess the severity of dehydration and, if necessary, administer fluids, for example, through an IV drip. Do not delay the appointment, especially if these symptoms are accompanied by a loss of appetite lasting more than 24 hours.
Find out how to improve your cat's appetite .
How to Teach a Cat to Drink Water
Cats are naturally reluctant to drink water, so teaching them to do so can be challenging. However, you can help them develop positive associations with drinking water. It's best to start when they are kittens by placing a water bowl or fountain in a quiet, consistent location. Regular exposure can help make drinking water a natural part of their daily routine.
It's also worth experimenting with different types of bowls and locations to see what your cat prefers. Some cats like elevated bowls, while others prefer running water. Adjust your approach to your pet's individual preferences.
What should you absolutely avoid? Forcing your cat to drink water (never push its face into the water). Such behavior will have the opposite effect and may make your cat even more reluctant to drink.
How to Encourage a Cat to Drink Water: Summary
Now you know how to encourage your cat to drink more water – the next step is to make these habits part of its daily routine. Here are the most important points to remember.
How can you hydrate a cat at home? Start with a diet based on wet food, which naturally increases your cat's daily fluid intake.
A water fountain with running water is often more appealing to cats than a traditional water bowl.
Choose a wide, shallow bowl, preferably made of ceramic or glass, and change the water regularly.
Placing several water bowls in quiet areas around your home, away from the litter box and food, can further encourage your cat to drink.
If these methods don't work, try adding unsalted, unseasoned broth or a little tuna water to make the water more appealing.
After an episode of vomiting, offer small amounts of fluids (for example, one teaspoon every 15–30 minutes), monitor your cat carefully, and consult a veterinarian if vomiting persists or your cat loses its appetite.
Home remedies can help maintain hydration in cases of mild, temporary fluid deficiency. However, if your cat shows clear signs of dehydration (such as lethargy, sunken eyes, or dry skin), a visit to the veterinarian is essential.