As a pet parent, you should know how important it is to take care of the correct hydration of your cat. And their urine can give you valuable information, since it reflects their state of hydration. That you do not drink enough water throughout the day or that the food you eat is not the most convenient in terms of minerals, it can cause you to have problems that we can avoid. These are the basic aspects that you should keep in mind about your cat’s urine and the importance of proper elimination of minerals from your body.
Made up mainly of water and minerals, urine plays a key role at the urinary level. Kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra are part of the system by which urine is created, stored, and eliminated outside the body. In fact, the set of organs and ducts that make up the urinary tract have the function of eliminating substances that the body does not need through urination.
The characteristics of the urine give us clues about the state of hydration of your body. When a healthy cat is well hydrated, the urine is pale yellow in color because the substances it contains are highly diluted in water. But, if, on the contrary, it turns dark, ruling out the presence of kidney and urinary problems, this is a sign of poor hydration. We must be very clear that a healthy urine will go hand in hand with an adequate consumption of water both through drink and food.
Through food we provide our cats with essential nutrients such as proteins, fats, fibers, vitamins and minerals, which help the body and urinary tract to function properly and that is why it is so important. For example, the ingredients in the food they eat on a daily basis, as well as the water they drink, have an impact on the concentration and type of minerals present in the cat’s urine. In addition, food also influences the pH of the urine, that is, its degree of acidity.
If your cat’s hydration status is not adequate, the minerals can become excessively concentrated. Given this scenario and with a favorable pH, crystals can form, one of the most frequent causes of urinary tract problems in cats. Therefore, your daily diet should help you have an optimal pH and mineral balance. Also, if a good state of hydration is added, your cat will have more dilute, stable and healthy urine.
Cats, unlike dogs, have an extraordinary ability to concentrate their urine. That is why we must be alert and promote in them an adequate state of hydration that helps them dilute the minerals in their urine. The first thing is to always provide them with clean and fresh water. Sometimes they are lazy to approach the drinker if it is too far away or they do not like to wet their mustaches when drinking from a drinker that does not meet their refined tastes and preferences. So hand out different-sized drinkers around the house and see which one is their favourite.
There are other ways to motivate them, too. There are cats who feel a great attraction to fresh, running water like the one that comes out of the tap. For them, water fountains can be an excellent option, since they also have a filtration system to prevent bacteria and dirt from proliferating. These dispensers usually have a large storage capacity and allow cats to drink good quality water.
Remember that cats have a demanding palate. If the water is dirty, it is likely that they will stop drinking, so get used to changing it frequently. The material from which the drinker is made may even flavor the water and make it less palatable to drink. To avoid this, use materials such as ceramic or glass. It may also be convenient not to give them tap water if the water in the area where you live has a lot of limescale.
As you have seen, just like in humans, cat urine gives us clues about their good health. If your cat is one of those who find it difficult to drink, you will have to motivate him so that he does not neglect the water supply his body needs and resort to tricks that favor his hydration. So, you know, to help him take care of his urinary tract, it is important that your cat is well hydrated and that his diet contributes to a better composition of his urine.
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What role does food play in your cat’s urinary health?
