What Can Cats Drink Besides Water? (Answered)

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We, humans, consume a variety of beverages besides just water, but what about our precious feline friends? Can cats drink anything besides water?

If you’re looking for an answer, then you’ve come to the right place. Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they need meat and animal protein in order to survive. When it comes to beverages, water is the safest drink you can offer them.

However, there are times when cats refuse to drink water for specific reasons. When that happens, every responsible owner wonders if there’s anything else cats can drink to offer them and keep them hydrated. 

There are several liquids cats can drink besides water – bone broth, cat milk, and a limited amount of apple juice.

Bone Broth

Bone broth is the liquid obtained from boiled meat and bones. It takes time to prepare this liquid, but it’s actually very healthy and beneficial for our felines. 

Bone broth is rich in vitamins, minerals, protein, and amino acids that can help with digestion, and inflammation, and support the immune system.

The preparation is very easy; you just need to boil the meat for 30 minutes to 1 hour. When the liquid cools down and turns into gelatin, you can safely give it to your cat.

When preparing bone broth for your cat, avoid using flavorings, salt, or oil in the broth, as they aren’t safe for our cats.

Cat Milk

Cats were portrayed as milk lovers since the beginning, but the only healthy and safe milk for them is cat milk. Cats and kittens shouldn’t drink cow milk and consume other dairy products, as most cats are lactose intolerant.

Because of that, there’s a special milk called Kitten Milk Formula for young kittens who are weaned from their mother too early. This kitten formula contains all the necessary ingredients and nutrients that are crucial for young kittens’ health.

When it comes to adult cats, there’s a popular cat milk called Cat-Sip. However, this type of milk should be used only as a treat or to help your cat get some additional hydration.

Apple Juice

Different types of juices aren’t really safe for our feline friends, mostly because they’re high in sugar. However, some cat parents have reported that their cats drank small amounts of apple juice without any issues.

The reason for that is that apple juice is probably much easier for cats to digest than other citrus juices, such as orange. 

Still, remember that cats should be offered a limited amount of apple juice and rarely because it’s high in sugar and may lead to other health issues. A good idea would be to dilute it with water.

A Friendly Reminder…

Before providing your kitty with alternative liquids with water, you should first check what’s wrong with the cat’s water.

• Cats are known to be very clean animals; therefore, they like their food and water bowls, as well as litter boxes, clean.

• If your cat refuses to drink water, try changing it and cleaning its water bowl.

• Separate your cat’s food and water bowls from the litter box.

• If you have a multi-cat household, make sure that each cat has its own food and water bowl, especially the litter box.

• Avoid giving your cat cow milk, dairy products, alcohol, coffee, tea, soda, and sugary juices, as they’re toxic to cats.

• Encourage your cat to drink more water by using a large ceramic, metal, or glass bowl, or try using water fountains to catch your cat’s attention.

Keep your cat hydrated, especially during hot months!