Adequate water intake is critical for cat kidney health, and encouraging hydration through appropriate water sources and diet protects against chronic kidney disease and urinary tract problems.
Cat water intake welfare is foundational to kidney and urinary tract health across a lifetime. Cats on dry food diets with insufficient water access exist in a state of mild chronic dehydration that the kidney compensates for in the short term but that imposes long-term structural stress. Chronic kidney disease — the most common senior cat condition — is partly driven by the concentration of urine that results from inadequate hydration throughout life. The simplest welfare investment for long-term kidney health is ensuring abundant, fresh water access through multiple sources, with fountain systems for cats who prefer moving water, alongside maximizing wet food in the diet.