Your Cat's Nutritional Needs!
Your Cat's Nutritional Needs!A general rule of thumb is that an animal needs to consume 2.5 times the amount of water, as it’s daily intake of food. If an animal eats 2 lbs. of dry food it should consume 5 lbs. of water. (There are 8 lbs. in a gallon.) Factors such as high heat and exercise or lactation can increase the needed amount two or three times above normal. Most animals consume more than their daily requirement. A little extra water consumption never hurts but too little can be catastrophic. Animals that eat canned foods get most of their moisture from the food and may drink much less than an animal on dry food.
Household tap water is considered to be very safe, though just as with people, water that is high in nitrates, iron, or magnesium can pose long term health risk. Many pet owners give their animals bottled water if their source is questionable. However the finest water in the world won’t help if it is placed in a dirty container. Unwashed water bowls can harbor all kinds of bad organisms. Water bowls should be washed daily and disinfected periodically. Stainless steel bowls are the easiest to keep clean and resist scratches that can harbor bacteria, stoneware crock style dishes are also a good option. Buy a good quality bowl and after it starts to look worn and scratched replace it.
