If your kitten is making more than usual visits to its water bowl, you may be wondering if it is ok for your kitten to drink a lot of water. If you have recently got yourself a kitten and you are not sure how much water it should be drinking, you may be wondering do kittens drink a lot of water?
Do kittens drink a lot of water?
Kittens on average drink 2 to 4 ounces(59 to 119 milliliters) of water per day. A general rule to measure a kitten’s water consumption is to note that a kitten needs 0.7 to 0.9 ounces (15 to 27 milliliters) per pound of body weight.
So if your kitten is 6 weeks old and weighs 2 pounds, then it should be drinking on an average of 1.4 to 1.8 ounces(41 to 53 milliliters) of water.
How much water should a kitten drink?
The above figure will give you a rough idea of how much water a kitten should be drinking but for easy reference, we provide this information in an easy-to-understand table below.
| KITTEN’S AGE | WEIGHT* | WATER REQUIRED PER DAY |
| 4 weeks | 1.2 pounds | 0.84 to 1.08 ounces (24.78 to 31.86 milliliters) |
| 5 weeks | 1.5 pounds | 1.05 to 1.35 ounces (30.98 to 39.83 milliliters) |
| 6 weeks | 2 pounds | 1.4 to 1.8 ounces (41.3 to 53.1 milliliters) |
| 8 weeks | 2.3 pounds | 1.61 to 2.07 ounces (47.5 to 61.07 milliliters) |
| 10 weeks | 3 pounds | 2.1 to 2.7 ounces (61.95 to 79.65 milliliters) |
| 12 weeks | 3.5 pounds | 2.45 to 3.15 ounces (72.28 to 92.93 milliliters) |
| 16 weeks | 5 pounds | 3.5 to 4.5 ounces (103.25 to 132.75 milliliters) |
* Average weight based on the kitten’s age. Weight may be a few ounces more or less.
Apart from the above table, we list below the daily recommended water consumption for a kitten of different ages.
4 week old kittens
Generally, at around 4 weeks to 6 weeks, kittens start weaning off from mother’s milk and start exploring wet food and water. Up until this age, they get all their nutritional requirements fulfilled from their mother’s milk. Kittens may start to drip water by lapping at it or play with it, but their fluid requirements will be fulfilled from their mother’s milk.
A kitten who is 4 weeks old will most likely drink 0.84 to 1.08 ounces (24.78 to 31.86 milliliters) of water per day.
8 week old kittens
At around 8 weeks of age, most kittens may have successfully weaned off their mother. A few exceptional cases may still be suckling at their mother provided she tolerates them. However, this is the right age for kittens to start having regular kitten food and adequate water. A kitten who is 8 weeks old will most likely drink 1.61 to 2.07 ounces (47.5 to 61.07 milliliters) of water per day.
12 week old kittens
At 12 weeks of age, kittens will have completely weaned off their mother and started acting all grown up. They will be enthusiastically looking forward to their kitten meal and water just like adult cats. Kittens at 12 weeks of age will generally consume 2.45 to 3.15 ounces (72.28 to 92.93 milliliters) of water per day.
If you need to calculate the precise water consumption of your kitten based on its current weight, use the below calculator to find it out.
[CP_CALCULATED_FIELDS id=”6″]
Is it normal for a kitten to drink lots of water?
Unless you have reasons to believe that your kitten’s water consumption of way above the normal limit, you don’t have o worry about anything. You can confirm your kitten’s daily water intake by measuring how much water they drink each day.
- Fill your kitten’s water bowl with a little above the prescribed amount of freshwater as shown in the above table. This is to account for any wastage due to playing or lapping up. Monitor if your kitten is finishing their water and asking for more. Keep your kitten’s water bowl in a place that is easily accessible to them. If possible, place more than bowls at different places so that your kitten does not miss out on a chance to quench its thirst.
- If you see that your kitten is drinking more water than normal for its age, there could be a few reasons for this.
- If your kitten’s diet consists of only dry kitten food, it could be one of the causes for them to drink more water. Try switching to a wet kitten food type and see if that makes a difference. Remember that kitten’s do not get a whole lot of fluids from wet food but it does help them from not getting thirsty too often.
- Your home may be warm for your kitten? Some times cats and kittens may drink more than ususal during summer.
- Your kitten may be suffering from a physical ailment. Kidney diseases, Diabetes, Hyperthriodism and urinary tract infection can all contribute to excessive thirst in your kitten.
- Does your kitten’s food has excessive salt? Presence of excess sodium and electrolytes in kitten food can make your kitten thirsty. Read the label to know the quantity of salt in your kitten’s food.
- If you are not sure if your kitten is drinking more water, then take it to your vetrinian. Your vet will ask questions about your pet’s drinking routine, the quantity, change in its behavior and will diagnose and give suggestions to help your kitten.
- As a responsbile and loveing pet parent, always take your vetirinian’s advice so that you can treat any underlying disease your kitten may be suffering from.
What Are Some Tips to Help My Cat Clean Itself Better?
If you want to ensure your cat stays clean, here are a few tips for grooming your cat. Firstly, regular brushing helps remove excess fur and prevents hairballs. Secondly, use cat-friendly wipes or mild shampoos to keep their coat fresh. Lastly, don’t forget to trim their nails regularly to prevent scratching.
How can I get my kitten or cat to drink more water?
In case your kitten is not drinking adequate water or you are worried that it is drinking less than usual, here are some tips to help them get back to normal.
- Try to provide your kitten the freshest water possible, free of any chemicals as cats and kittens can sense any slight change in taste. Clean the cat’s drinking bowl and change drinking water everyday.
- If your cat prefers drinking from a particular type of bowl, then don’t change the bowl type. Generally, a wide flat bowl is the best one.
- Get a drinking water fountain for your cats. These are a great way to stimulate your cats and make it fun for your cats to quench their thirst.
- Avoid plastic bowls as they can make alter the taste of water for your kittens. Ceramic, glass or satianless steel water bowls for cats are the best options.
- Place multiple bowls of fresh water for your cat so that it has constant access to fresh water whenever it is thristy.
Final thoughts on do kittens drink a lot of water?
Growing kittens may drink more water as they are active. Apart from this, their diet, underlying health issues, and surrounding temperature can all affect the amount of water your kitten may drink. To get to a conclusion, observe your kitten’s water intake and change their diet to wet food to see if that impacts their water consumption.
