|
[
Plants Toxic to Cats
]
[
Animal CPR
][ Cat Care
] [
Site Map ]
[ Feline
Statistics
] [
Ethylene Glycol and Cats
]
[ Feline
Behaviour ]
Feline Drinking
I cat drinks by curling the tip of Its tongue backwards to form
a hollow shaped like a spoon, it then dips this into the liquid flipping it back
and up, towards the mouth. The cat does not swallow each time it laps, but only
when enough liquid has accumulated at the back of its mouth.
Water:
The feline kidneys are two and a half times better than ours at
breaking down waste products, so if a domestic cat is eating a diet of small
rodents, it will drink very little. Cats fed on moist canned food
will need a bowl of fresh water each day, and cats fed on dried food must
have water available to them at all times, as they will drink larger
quantities. If a cat fed on dried food does not drink enough it will soon
suffer kidney damage.
If you are having trouble getting your cat to drink it may be
because of the chlorine present in the water, or the bowl may have traces of
detergent clinging to it from when it was last washed. A cat will sometimes
prefer to drink from a puddle
rather than expose its sensitive nose to these chemicals. There is always a
danger that the puddles your cat drinks from are not organic, and could contain
traces of pesticides or weedkillers. It is better to make the water bowl more
appealing, by paying more attention when rinsing and letting the tap water stand
for a while to let the chemicals dissipate before offering it to your cat.
Milk:
Contrary to popular belief, milk should
not be given to cats. Giving milk to your cat as its only source of
liquid will force it to increase its fat intake. If your really have to give it
milk, then a bowl of water should also be provided to allow your cat to balance
its fat and water needs. Some cats will suffer from diarrhea and other gastric
upsets as a result of drinking milk, especially Siamese. The problem is largely
due to the milk sugar lactose which some cats can tolerate and others cannot.
Alcohol:
Never be tempted to give a cat alcohol, as only a
moderate amount can cause vomiting, collapse, or cause your cat to go into a
coma. Cats are many times more sensitive to chemical
contamination than humans, and a cats digestive system can't handle
alcoholic beverages in the same way that we can.
[
Plants Toxic to Cats
]
[
Animal CPR
][ Cat Care
] [
Site Map ]
[ Feline
Statistics
] [
Ethylene Glycol and Cats
]
[ Feline
Behaviour ]
|
