Cats are obligate carnivores, which means that their bodies are designed to digest and use only animal-based proteins. Because of this, they have a high moisture content in their diet and do not drink as much water as other pets. However, water is still an important part of a cat’s diet and they should have access to clean, fresh water at all times. How often you need to change your cat’s water will depend on a few factors, including the size of your cat’s water bowl, the number of cats in your household, and whether or not your cat is eating a wet food diet.
Why Change Your Cat’s Water Bowl?
While it may seem like a small and unimportant task, keeping your cat’s water bowl clean is crucial to their health. A dirty water bowl can harbor bacteria that can make your cat sick, and it can also make their water taste bad, leading them to drink less.
Here are a few reasons why you should change your cat’s water bowl regularly:
1. To prevent bacteria growth
2. To keep the water fresh
3. To encourage your cat to drink more water
4. To avoid potential health problems
5. To show your cat you care about their wellbeing
Your Cats Wild Ancestors
Domestic cats have retained this instinct and still do not drink as much as other animals of a similar size. They drank only when they were thirsty and their bodies were able to extract all the moisture they needed from their prey. Your cat’s wild ancestors were desert dwelling felines who had to be very efficient in their water usage.
Domestic cats eat a lot of dry food which is very low in moisture. This means that they need to drink more water to make up for the lack of moisture in their diet. However, they do need to drink more than their wild ancestors as their diet has changed.
The best way to ensure that your cat is getting enough water is to provide them with a fresh water bowl at all times. It is also important to clean the bowl regularly as cats can be very fussy about their water and will often avoid drinking from a bowl that is dirty.
Cats Care About Taste
A clean water bowl is important for your cat’s health, so it’s important to change it regularly. Cats care about taste, and if their water bowl is dirty, they may not want to drink from it.
Bacteria Can Build
If you use tap water, it may contain bacteria that can grow in your cat’s bowl. Bacteria can build up in your cat’s water bowl for a number of reasons. Bacteria can also be present in the water itself. Your cat’s bowl can also become contaminated if it is placed in a dirty area or if it comes into contact with contaminated food or water. If the bowl is not cleaned regularly, bacteria can grow and multiply.
How Often Should You Wash Your Cat’s Bowl?
It is important to clean your cat’s water bowl often to prevent bacteria from building up. However, their water bowl is not something that they will clean. Cats are typically very clean animals and they groom themselves regularly. How often you should clean your cat’s bowl will depend on a few factors.
What About Water Fountains?
Water fountains are a great way to keep your cat hydrated, but how often should you wash them? The answer may surprise you.
In fact, you only need to wash it once a week, at most. While most people think that they need to wash their cat’s water bowl every day, this is actually not the case.
So, unless there is something visibly dirty in the bowl, there is no need to wash it more than once a week. The reason for this is that cats are actually very clean animals and they will often clean their own bowl after they drink from it.
Of course, if you have more than one cat, or if your cat’s bowl is in a high traffic area, you may need to wash it more often. But, in general, once a week is all that is needed.
Water Bowl Location
If you must move the water bowl for some reason, try to do so gradually over the course of a week so that your cat can adjust. Cats are creatures of habit and prefer their water bowl to be in the same location at all times.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How often should I change my cat’s water?
You should change your cat’s water at least once a day, and more often if they are particularly active or if the weather is hot.
2. What happens if I don’t change my cat’s water often enough?
If you don’t change your cat’s water often enough, they could become dehydrated, which can lead to health problems.
3. How can I tell if my cat is dehydrated?
Signs of dehydration in cats include lethargy, dry mouth, and sunken eyes.
4. What should I do if I think my cat is dehydrated?
If you think your cat is dehydrated, take them to the vet immediately.
5. Is there anything I can do to make my cat’s water more appealing to them?
You can try adding a little bit of chicken broth or milk to their water. Some cats also like water that is a little bit warmer than room temperature.
Final thoughts
It is important to keep your cat’s water dish clean and filled with fresh water at all times. How often you need to change your cat’s water will depend on how many cats you have and how often they drink from the dish. If you have one cat, you should change the water every day. If you have multiple cats, you should change the water every few days.