Causes of dehydration include vomiting, diarrhea, lack of available fresh drinking water or overheating. You can tell if your kitty friend is dehydrated in several ways: look for a dry mouth, sunken eyes, lethargy and exhaustion and inelastic skin. You can test the skin by pulling it up on the back of their neck. If the skin doesn’t very quickly spring back into place, your friend may be dehydrated.
Ways to avoid dehydration include always keeping fresh, clean water available and making sure your cat is never in a place where they can't get out of the sun if they want to. And NEVER leave your cat unattended, even for a moment, in your car. The best way to insure that your cat will remain adequately hydrated is to feed her a wet food that contains all the water she needs. Cats have not evolved to obtain all the water they need from drinking it – they are accustomed to getting all the water they need from their food. A moist, well-balanced homemade diet will go a long way towards assuring that your kitty never faces the potentially detrimental effects of dehydration.
If you suspect dehydration, and aren't sure why it has occurred, check your kitty's mouth. If she has a sore or a foreign object caught in there, she may have stopped drinking.
If dehydration sets in, you can help your cat very easily. First though, a caution: if you have a kitten that is dehydrated you should take her to your veterinarian for evaluation and treatment. Dehydration in the little ones can be very serious, even leading to death, and a professional should be consulted.
There are several things you can do to help cats. Right away, give your cat some water to drink. Don't force him, but encourage him to drink a bit. Don't let him drink a huge of water all at once though - too much too quickly might cause him to vomit, starting the cycle all over again. Wait a few minutes between small drinks, keeping the kitty in the shade and cool and resting in the meantime. Giving ice if he’ll lick at it or take a small splinter can also get water into him at a slow rate.
Instead of giving plain water, electrolyte solutions can be given instead to replace those lost. Pedialyte is a commercial drink that can be given. Or, you can easily make your own by mixing 1 teaspoon of salt and 1 tablespoon of sugar in a quart of water. If your cat has a sweet tooth, you can also try Gatorade or another sports type drink.
Any of these solutions can be given with a needle-less syringe squirted gently and slowly into the mouth. Don’t give too much at once and be careful not to squirt directly down the throat so that you avoid sending the liquid into the lungs. Subcutaneous injections can also be given as needed at home if dehydration is severe or chronic. This is usually only needed in cats who suffer from chronic disease. Ask your veterinarian to show you how to do this if she feels it would benefit your cat.
Water is vital to the health of our kitties. Make sure that your cats have what they need in their food as well as providing bowls or fountains for them to drink from when they are thirsty.