Promoting Water Intake in Dehydrated Cats

In the Literature

Peralta M, Nichelason A, Trepanier L. Voluntary acceptance of nutrient-enriched water supplement and promotion of water intake in clinically dehydrated cats. J Feline Med Surg. 2025;27(5):1098612X251334279. doi:10.1177/1098612X251334279

The Research …

Clinical dehydration is common in cats and can indicate a wide range of underlying disease processes. Rehydration has traditionally relied on administration of IV or SC fluids, which are effective but have associated risks, stress, and cost. Successful administration requires individualized training and skill, whether performed by the pet owner or in the clinic. In a survey, 26% of cat owners new to administering SC fluids for treatment of chronic kidney disease experienced difficulty learning the administration process.¹ At-home administration of a palatable water supplement could provide an option to overcome some of these treatment barriers.

This study^a quantified consumption of a nutrient-enriched water supplement and its impact on serum chemistry values, quality of life, and hydration level over a 48-hour period. Thirteen clinically stable cats (5%-8% dehydrated on presentation) determined to be candidates for outpatient management by the attending clinician were administered the supplement according to the product label along with a measured amount of water and their normal diet.

Of the 11 cats for which data were available, no significant changes in hydration serum chemistry values were noted; however, serum osmolality was reduced, and clinician assessment of hydration status in all cats improved after 48 hours. At the end of the study period, calculated fluid deficit was significantly lower, median total fluid consumption was higher, and cats consumed significantly more water supplement than water. Owners reported high patient acceptance of the water supplement and significantly increased quality-of-life scores.

… The Takeaways

Key pearls to put into practice:

• Various factors have been reported to increase fluid intake in cats, including providing tap versus purified water, feeding a moist diet, increasing daily meal frequency, and providing sources of flowing water; however, preferences are individualized.² A variety of tactics should be used to encourage cats to drink.

• In this study, water supplement consumption made up >80% of the fluid intake, and the volume consumed exceeded daily volumes of SC fluids that are typically prescribed (and tolerated). Use of a water supplement is thus a reasonable first option to approach care of clinically stable cats with mild to moderate dehydration in cases in which SC fluid administration is not feasible. Verbal follow up with the owner and/or recheck examinations can help assess the degree of success and whether additional care is warranted.

• A water supplement may be an adequate alternative to IV or SC fluids in cases in which clinical dehydration is relatively mild (ie, estimated, ≤8%) and patients are still eating. Ideal candidates include cats not exhibiting signs of untreated, ongoing infection or that have been diagnosed with another disease process (eg, diabetes mellitus, heart failure) not being actively managed. Veterinary team members and cat owners can be taught how to assess and monitor hydration with noninvasive clinical indicators (eg, skin turgor) and evaluation of mucous membranes.³

^a Nestlé Purina PetCare provided funding to RM in the form of a Veterinary Student Summer Research Fellowship and provided the nutrient-enriched water supplement Hydra Care for the study but did not participate in the study design, data analyses, or conclusions drawn.