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When caring for a fluffy feline, making sure they are well-nourished and well can become quite challenging when considering so many aspects of their health. Ragdoll Cats can be particularly peculiar to care for, although they are not the highest maintenance cats. So, do ragdoll cats drink water?
Yes, Ragdoll cats drink water and need water for survival. Ragdoll cats need water to maintain proper body and brain function. Most cats drink around 1-ounce of fresh water to 0.5 ounces of dry food that they consume. If they eat wet cat food, they may receive the minimum hydration they need.
Although all cats need an adequate water supply to survive and be healthy, ragdoll cats have special diet requirements that may necessitate some creativity in building a solid plan to keep them hydrated. Stick around to find out how water benefits ragdoll cats and how to go about creating an ideal and holistic nourishment plan for your beloved ragdoll cat.
Do Ragdoll Cats Drink Water?
Yes, much like every domestic, stray, or feral cat, ragdoll cats need water to survive. All healthy cats usually feel inclined to drink when they are thirsty or for various reasons, much like humans do, so they do not generally need encouragement to do so. However, some cases will necessitate human intervention and some excellent parenting skills to get your cat back into its drinking routine.
I use a water fountain for drinking water for my feline Charlotte (Domestic Shorthair Cat). I rarely see her using her water fountain, but I know she does because I have seen her using it a couple of times, and I can see the water level go down. I highly recommend this water fountain on Amazon (affiliate link): Click Here To See This Awesome Water Fountain on Amazon.
Ragdolls and drinking water
Cats usually drink water in smaller quantities by slurping delicately with their tongues or even dipping their paws in and licking them. They will drink at different points throughout the day in different amounts depending on how thirsty they are.
Potential dehydration is the primary reason Ragdolls need to have access to water at all times, and they need to know that their water source is stable, reliable, safe, and clean. On average, cats usually drink approximately 3.5 to 4.5 ounces of water per 5 pounds of body weight daily.
As with all cat breeds, no Ragdoll cat is ever the same despite being the same breed. Every Ragdoll cat will have its unique preferences, personality traits, and upbringing within different conditions, contributing to the cat drinking more or less water than others within the same breed.
You must monitor your Ragdoll cat, keep up regular vet visits, and ensure that they are drinking as much water as is healthy for them.
Ragdoll cat nutrition
Since ragdoll cats are more prone to developing obesity, ragdoll caregivers have to take special care when creating a nutrition plan. This involves feeding at specific times each day and using a blend of wet and dry foods.
While the food plan is, of course, essential, your plan to keep your cat hydrated must be well thought out, although providing wet foods will contribute to hydration since wet food contains around 70-80% moisture.
Ragdoll cats and hot weather
If you let your Ragdoll spend time outside the house, your cat may get more thirsty depending on the climate or weather conditions.
Much like humans tend to drink more in hot weather; cats may drink more in dry and hot weather. But, it is important to ensure they are always getting enough water regardless of the weather conditions.
I don’t recommend that you let your cat outside of your house on their own. They could end up getting thirsty due to the hot weather and drink tainted water. This is a real risk because cats will drink suspect water if they feel like it.
Cat dehydration symptoms
Dehydration causes lower skin elasticity, slobbering, quivering, strange urination, dry or sticky gums, a feeble pulse, a raised heart rate, panting, faintness, and a lessened appetite. An appointment at the vet is suggested for such symptoms, as it may necessitate professional intervention to resolve the underlying cause.
Bladder and kidney stones
Ragdoll cats are more susceptible to bladder and kidney stones as they age, and even more if they had suffered from bladder or kidney conditions throughout their life.
While a poorly balanced diet can contribute to such outcomes, inadequate hydration is the primary cause for this. Thus, it’s essential to make sure your ragdoll cat has enough water during their youth right through into their golden years.
Ragdoll cat won’t drink water
The ragdoll cat may be quite picky about how they get hydrated, and while many medical issues may cause your cat to stop drinking water, there are also many simple reasons which can be resolved at home.
Always ensure the cat’s water is completely clean, and try out a few of these techniques to see if your cat may have a health concern or is simply being a classically fussy feline.
Cat water bowl location
It’s entirely possible that your ragdoll cat does not like where their water bowl is positioned, and they may appreciate you moving it to a more suitable location. This would require time, effort, and different approaches, but it is quite common for them to dislike how close their water is to their food since they may smell their food while drinking, which is not pleasant.
Change in cat routine
Whenever there are changes in routine or changes in the home, your companion may be displaying different behavior as a result. Things like moving, getting a new job, spending less time at home, or introducing a new pet can all contribute to your cat feeling displaced and even drinking less water.
Cat preferences
Your cat may be fussy about the type of water being served. While most cats are happy as long as the water is clean, your cat may have a specific preference based on taste.
Getting cats to drink water
If your cat still does not want to drink water actively, this may need a trip to the vet. But, there a few tactics to encourage your cat to drink water. Also, you should ensure that you wash the water bowl daily and add more wet food to its diet while you figure out how to get your cat to drink again.
What can I add to my cat’s water?
Caregivers can try adding ice blocks, protein flavored electrolytes, or they can drain the water from canned fish into the drinking water to encourage drinking. The interesting smell and flavor may attract the cat and promote curiosity for drinking.
Depending on what you add to their water, you will want to make sure you are cleaning their bowl often, so it doesn’t become gross.
Water source for cats
Your cat may also appreciate a different ‘kind’ of water supply. Some cats are amazed by running water, and your Ragdoll may be one of them. Thus, it may be worth it to try out a water fountain and see if they prefer a water bowl. If they prefer water in bowls, try out bottled and tap water to see which type your cat prefers. I use a water fountain with tap water.
How many bowls does a cat need?
If you are worried about your cat needing to drink more water, one of the best tactics is to place multiple water stations throughout the home, each made of a selection of safe materials.
I personally think one bowl on each house floor that your cat uses makes sense. I like to keep one cat bowl upstairs and one cat water bowl downstairs too. So, I have the water fountain downstairs and a small water dish that she can use upstairs.
When you are thinking about where to put cat bowls, I like the idea of putting them in places where your cat hangs out a lot; however, be careful that you don’t put the bowl in the exact spot where your cat likes to lay down.
My cat has a spot upstairs outside a bathroom that she often lays down at daily. One day I put her water bowl in that spot, and I found it later out of that spot and tipped over while my cat was back to laying in that spot, even with it being a little damp (it was carpeted). So, I learned from that experience.
This is great for giving insight into where your cat enjoys drinking most, other possible preferences and will reassure your cat that they have free access to water whenever they need it. These are all significant elements for creating an ideal hydration plan that your cat will enjoy.
What type of water bowl is best for cats?
While some pet bowls are non-toxic plastic, you may prefer glass, steel, or ceramic materials. Your cat may have a preference between these materials, and providing various options may help identify which it prefers drinking from.
To me, the best type of water bowl that is best for cats is one that is safe, but the cat still uses to drink water regularly. Therefore, I personally don’t have any issues with BPA-free plastic for my cat’s water fountain. The cat water dish that I use upstairs for my cat is ceramic.
Cats drink by slurping delicately with their tongues or even dipping their paws in and licking them, and they will drink at varying points throughout the day in different quantities. This is the main reason why they need to have access to water, and they need to know their water source is steady, dependable, harmless, and fresh. Try out different strategies with your cat, and seek veterinary assistance if it refuses to drink water.
Do cats need drinking water?
Yes, drinking water is extremely important for all cats, as it has a wide range of benefits for overall health and happiness. All cats need water to survive, and the size and weight of the cat will also play a role in how much water is needed. Thus, the larger ragdoll cat may drink more than other breeds to maintain proper function.
Cats and drinking water
Water is needed for a wide range of bodily functions in cats, much like it benefits humans. They need it for all aspects of their physical development, including growth and maturation, organ health, speed of healing injuries, and healthy skin. Cats need water every single day around the clock for overall health, and ragdoll cats do as well.
Water also helps ensure proper brain function and cognitive ability and assists with energy levels throughout the course of its life. The ragdoll cat is quite smart and can be playful when it wants to be, so it’s important to make sure they are fully hydrated.
Conclusion
Ragdoll cats do drink water because their bodies need it. Water provides the necessary hydration that ragdolls need to function correctly. Your cat may get most of the hydration that it needs if you feed it wet cat food. Personally, my recommendation is to have clean, fresh water available for your cat.
My domestic shorthair cat likes to drink out of her cat water fountain, and I know this because even though I don’t see her drinking, I can see the water level go down. Also, I like that the cat water fountain keeps the water running and has a couple of different filters. This way, it keeps water clean, and if there are any hairs or anything, they get caught in one of the filters.
If you enjoyed this article, please check out a few more:
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