We all know that cats need fresh water daily, but if you have a larger bowl that they don’t empty every day, how often should you change it? The truth is that you must give your cat fresh water every dayand if they don’t drink it all, dump it out, clean the bowl, and then give them fresh water again.
But why should you change the water every day and what can happen if you don’t?
How often should you clean your cat’s water and food bowls?
Although you may not think much about your cat’s food and water bowls, this does not prevent bacteria from forming on them. Just as you don’t want to use a dirty bowl or cup for your meals, don’t expect your cat to use one either.
Therefore, you should clean their food and water bowls every single day. It might seem a little excessive, but there’s a reason you wash up after every use, and your cat deserves the same!
How much water should your cat drink?
The amount of water a cat drinks from a traditional water bowl depends on the size of your cat and the type of cat food you feed it. If you feed your cat wet cat food, it contains 70 to 80% moisture, which means it can give your cat plenty of the fluids they need.
Overall, your cat needs about 4 ounces for every 5 pounds of body weight, which means a 10-pound cat needs 8 ounces of water each day. However, since your cat can get their water from their food or their water bowl, it can sometimes be difficult to gauge how much water they are getting.
Cats can be very attentive to many things, including the water they drink. The right water fountain can provide your cat with clean, fresh water.
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What can happen if you don’t change/clean the bowl enough?
You need to take the time to clean your cat’s water bowl daily, and the reason for this all comes down to the inevitable contamination with food particles, dust and bacteria. If you don’t clean the bowl enough, your cat can become sick from drinking water that is contaminated with bacteria.
Cats are also very fussy about the water they drink. If the water smells or tastes funky because it is not clean and fresh, they may drink less or not drink it at all. Not drinking enough water can also cause problems, for example putting cats at an increased risk of urinary tract problems.
How often should you clean a cat water fountain?
While you need to clean a traditional cat water bowl every day, if you have a more advanced cat water fountain bowl, you probably don’t need to clean it as often as the water moves and they generally contain filters. However, you should still follow the manufacturer’s guidelines and on average clean it and change the water at least once a week, but often every 3 to 4 days, even if the water in the bowl lasts longer than that.
These fountain-style bowls don’t collect bacteria as quickly as traditional bowls, but they won’t stay clean forever. When you clean the bowl, drain any water that is still in the bowl and give them fresh water to prevent bacteria build-up. Also, be sure to follow the instructions on how often to change and replace filters, which is usually every 4 weeks.
Conclusion
Now that you know a little more about how often you should change your cat’s water bowl and why it’s so important, all that’s left is to take the time to clean it. It can be a pain to get used to at first if you don’t usually clean them very often, but once you get into a rhythm, it only takes a few minutes each day and will go a long way in keeping your cat healthy and healthy. sure!
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Featured image credit: New Africa, Shutterstock