Written By: Rijja Fatima
Water is the most essential part of life; it is the basic need of an organism to remain healthy and active. As it is necessary for all organisms, whether animals or plants. Kittens are also tiny creatures that need water for their proper life functioning. So, the question arises. ‘’How much water does a kitten need?’’
How much water does a kitten need? The amount of water that kittens need depends upon their age and different stages of life. On average, the sufficient amount of water that kittens need in a day is about 30 to 60 milliliters per kilogram of body weight.
Water needs at various life stages of kittens:
How much water does a kitten need of age 0 to 8 weeks:
Kittens’ Behavior of this age do not need any kind of additional water other than mother feed. They should rely on mother feed to compensate for their water needs.
Kittens of 8 to 12 weeks:
Kittens need at least 30 to 50 milliliters of water per pound of weight at this stage of their lives. They will be hydrated after taking this amount of water.
Adult cats:
At this age, water needs become less, as they need only 15 to 30 milliliters of water per pound throughout the day.
Need of water or why water is necessary for kittens:
As water has essential properties like thermoregulation, photosynthesis, cellular respiration, osmoregulation, etc., it is a fundamental component of a living organism’s body. Kittens also need water for their proper functioning, like:
Hydration and digestion:
Water helps an organism to remain hydrated the whole day to get energy and have healthy functioning. As you know, a cat is a very energetic and social animal, so a balance of hydration is necessary as it directly relates to the water needs of a kitten.
An adequate amount of water is necessary in kittens as it aids in proper digestion. Excess or less amount of water can cause over or less absorption of water, which may cause a lot of digestive diseases in a kitten.
Urination:
Like all other organisms, kittens also need water to remove wastes like ammonia and urea. To remain healthy, the removal of waste is necessary with the help of water. For the complete removal of water from a kitten’s body, there is a need for an adequate amount of water.
Growth and development:
Water is an essential element for bones, so to get developed and proper growth, bones should be strong. Muscles also need water for proper functioning. If you owe a kitten, then she will definitely turn into an adult cat. For proper development in a kitten, a water balance is necessary.
Protection:
It gives them maximum lubrication to avoid damage from a sudden hit. Kittens, due to their playful nature, may harm themselves, so for complete protection of their internal organs, water helps a lot.
Causes for overdrinking:
Kittens may go to the drinking stage when they move from very wet food to dry food; there is a sudden increase in the thirst of a kitten. Extremely harsh or warm weather can also cause an increase in thirst and the use of medicines, and after a prolonged illness, kittens may feel an increased thirst.
Measurement of kitten’s water intake:
The answer to the question, How much water does a kitten need? Lies in the discussion below:
To measure the daily water intake of your kitten, you should take a measuring flask, fill it with water, pour it into your kitten’s water bowl, and monitor it at the end of the day.
Sources of water:
Water intake can be compensated in the form of fresh and clean water; it can also be taken in the form of hydrated foods like milk, canned foods, raw and half-smoked moisturized foods like meats or fish, etc.
Essential nutrients for proper water intake include proteins ranging from 30 to 40 percent, fats ranging from 20 to 30 percent, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals.
How do you encourage kittens to drink water?
A baby can’t balance its water needs; in the same case, kittens cannot self-regulate their water needs, but adult cats can. How much water does a kitten need? and How do you encourage kittens to drink water? The simplest answer to this question is to monitor the choice of your kitten.
- Check when they like to drink water and from where they like to drink water, whether they like to drink it from a bowl or dish or they like to drink water from a running place like a canal, lake, or fountain.
- They may be provided with enough supply of water every time. They may be provided with fresh water, make the bowl attractive for your kittens, and place their water bowl in more than one place in the house. You can also buy a cat fountain to make the water-drinking process attractive for a kitten. You can also add moisturized foods to their diet. Tips to encourage kittens to drink water
- Select a neat water pot, choose a bowl or dish corresponding to the choice of your kitten, monitor your kitten whether they like to drink water from a pot or run the place, provide them water according to their choice, and monitor in which form they like to drink water.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, the answer to the question is, How much water does a kitten need? Is according to a kitten’s life stage. For example, for a kitten of 2 months weighing 2 pounds, water needs are about 40 to 80 milliliters per day. In another example, the water needed for a 5-month-old kitten weighing 5 pounds is about 100 to 200 milliliters per day.
Also, these factors must be considered when you are adopting a kitten.
