By admin [ad_1]
Last Updated:
Read Caption
Featured Photos Surasak Klinmontha/Shutterstock; Kucher Serhii/Bigstock
Ice cubes are a fun, free, easy way to provide enrichment for your cat— one that cat lovers often overlook. Most cats are fascinated by ice. They love playing with it, and it has one very important benefit: hydration—though not in the way you might think.
Ice Cubes Provide Environmental Enrichment AND Encourage Your Cat to Drink Water!
Cats are notorious for low water impulse. One reason for this is genetic: cats evolved from desert dwellers and can survive on little water. Low thirst drive is in their genes, so it’s important to encourage appropriate water intake to prevent things like urinary stones.
Low thirst drive is in their genes, so it’s important to encourage appropriate water intake to prevent things like urinary stones.
Despite being important for their health, many cats don’t like drinking water, which can lead to dehydration. Ice cubes are an entertaining way to encourage increased water consumption while providing enrichment. By adding ice cubes to your cat’s water dish, you can attract reluctant-to-drink cats to their water bowl—most cats will want to play with the ice.
Encourage Play and Movement
Put a cube on a hard floor surface and show your cat how it skitters across the floor. They’ll have a blast batting it around, and it will cool down their paws on a hot day! (Cats absorb and lose heat through their paws.)
The Case for Getting Your Cat a Water Fountain
Cats are particular about water presentation and taste. Most cats don’t like still or standing water, but will gravitate toward fresh, moving water. (Who can blame them?)
Now this is cat hydration at its cutest! The Catit PIXI Drinking Fountain has it all: a hygienic, stainless steel drinking surface, triple water filtration, a wide, shallow design to prevent whisker fatigue, three different ergonomic drinking options, and even a nose that lights up when it’s time to add more water! Oh, and it’s ultra-quiet and dishwasher safe, too. ($60, catit.com )
This article originally appeared in the award-winning Modern Cat magazine. Subscribe today!
[ad_2]