Nobody wants their cat to go through kidney disease, but as there's no cure, the only thing you can do is to keep your kitty as healthy as possible. Since cats with kidney disease typically need more water than those with healthy kidneys, that should be one of your main goals in keeping your cat healthy and well. Here are four ways you can boost the amount of fluid your cat is getting.

Eliminate Kibble

Dry, crunchy kibble appeals to many cats, but it's a terrible thing to feed to cats with kidney disease. Kibble is dehydrated, and it uses more water to break it down than if your cat were to eat something that already had water in it. Unless your vet tells you otherwise, take kibble out of your cat's diet right away.

Add Water

Just because the food you're feeding your cat is called wet food doesn't mean you can't add more fluids to it. Many people like to add water to their cat's wet food. Most vets will tell you that cats in the wild typically get the majority of their water from the food that they eat, so adding extra means your cat doesn't have to make as many trips to the water bowl. This not only helps to add more fluid into your cat's diet, but it can make food a little easier to eat if your cat is missing any of its teeth in old age.

Keep Cool

Cats use two mechanisms to keep themselves cool: they sweat, and they pant.

Although you may have heard otherwise, cats do have limited sweating abilities. However, unlike people, a cat's sweating is limited to its nose and paw pads. In any case, if a cat is overheated, their body will do everything it can to cool itself down, which means that they'll sweat as much as possible and pant to use evaporation to cool themselves off.

Unfortunately, both of these mechanisms use water. By keeping your cat indoors and in a cool environment, you can reduce or eliminate their need to sweat, preserving the water that's already in their body.

Fluid Bolus

Finally, if your cat regularly arrives at your veterinarian's office in a dehydrated state, your vet may recommend fluid boluses.

Fluid boluses inject a small amount of IV fluids under your cat's skin. Once it's there, the skin pouch acts similarly to the pouch of a camel, storing fluid and gradually absorbing it into the body as it's needed. This will help to get more fluids into your cat without them having to eat or drink.

Although it might sound scary, fluid boluses can be achieved by most pet owners. If your vet suggests this technique, say yes but ask for a thorough lesson in how to do it so that you aren't afraid when the time comes to try it at home.

Keeping your cat hydrated will help to improve their well-being and keep them healthier for longer while they fight kidney disease. Talk to local veterinarian clinics if you have further questions about what you can do to support your kitty's health.

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