[Chris]

Hi Thompson, keep in mind it’s not typical to see healthy cats drink water often. Their ancestry is that of desert animals (think Egypt) and their ability to concentrate their urine and retain water is considerable compared to us or dogs. Cats that drink water noticeably may actually have an underlying medical disorder, especially if urine production is also increased. That said, there is level of importance placed on hydration in cats as this is one (of several) proposed potential connections to kidney disease. Offering canned/soft food is one way of providing hydration. However, providing more wet food in the diet, more often leads to less additional water intake, not more. For cats that are only on dry food, I do suggest providing at least 2-3 sources of water around the house. Fountains are often helpful for encouraging water intake as well, because cats do have a fascination with running water and this can encourage drinking.