How much water does a sick 8-week-old kitten need to avoid dehydration?

Feed her wet (canned) kitten food 4 times a day. let her eat as much as she likes. She is still very young and normally should still be with mama and her siblings. Offer her kitten milk as well as water. She will get a lot of the moisture eating the wet food, however eventually she will start drinking water. Normally mama would teach her to drink water when it is time. Stick a finger in the bowl when she is in front of the bowl and wet her mouth. She should understand soon. Do not put the water next to her food. Cats do not like to drink next to the food. She will need lots of TLC, and you will need to play with her a lot (paper balls , string with a feather on it, etc)

If your kitten is eating all wet food, he will get most of his water needs from the food. I would hold back on the steamed fish, only offering it as a treat, as more than that may upset the nutritional balance of the kitten food you're feeding. Also, if he is weaned, he does not need milk and may develop diarrhea if he gets too much. Again, a little taste, as long as there are no adverse effects is fine. Always make sure he has clean, fresh water available, but don't worry if you don't see him drink. To make sure he's getting enough water, you can mix some in with his wet food and/or offer him some low sodium chicken broth to drink. As long as he is healthy, happy and active, then you're doing the right thing.

Hello, thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. A kitten this young & dehydrated needs to be seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible. She may need supplemental fluids, either give intravenously or under the skin. Then, we need to know why Acil has become dehydrated. Is she sick with an infection, was there any trauma, or does she have a large intestinal parasite burden? If she is eating, you can give her any food that has a high moisture content ( ie canned ), but if she is already dehydrated, it is difficult to remedy this just depending on what she eats on her own. I hope she is well soon. Take care.

He likely isn't drinking a ton of water because he is already getting his daily requirements through his food. Boiled chicken retains a good amount of water and if you are making sure he also drinks water run off from the food, then he is probably getting enough already. Cats aren't big water drinkers anyway so don't feel like you are doing anything wrong. I would suggest placing a pet water fountain (from your local pet store) in your home to encourage him to drink more. Also I would not recommend just feeding him chicken alone because this is not a complete diet for a cat and he is likely to become deficient in a lot of vitamins and minerals he needs, especially Taurine. He need a well balanced high quality kitten food such as Royal Canin, Hill's Science Diet or Innova. You can go with a wet canned food as well to increase his water intake and he will likely be just fine. Best of luck with your kitty!

Noushmc should have water an unlimited amount of water available throughout the day. Refill the bowl at least once a day, or whenever it's about half full and wash bowl with soap weekly. A bowl that can hold about a cup of water is perfect. For food, offer her a small amount of canned or dry kitten food 3 to 4 times a day. The amount depends on the type of food, and instructions for amount should be on the bag. If the bag says to feed 1/2 cup, and you're feeding 4 times a day, she'll need 1/8 cup at each meal.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Kitty. Encourage her to drink as much water as possible. You can syringe her small amounts (0.25cc) at a time. You can also turn the shower to hot and allow the steam to build up in the bathroom. Then place her in the room to breathe the humid air. This will help lessen any congestion she may be experiencing. If she is not recovering well, then she will need to see her veterinarian for fluid therapy. Good luck!

Hi there! Congrats on your kitten! If your kitty is eating soft kitten food on his own, he may be getting enough fluid from his food. I would keep offering water, but I wouldn't be too worried about how much he's taking in as long as he continues to grow and be playful with a good appetite. As long as water is available, he will figure it out. Canned kitten food is more complete and balanced than formula, so if he's eating that then it's a better option than formula. You could encourage a bit more water intake by adding extra water to his canned food and mixing it into a slurry. It wasn't indicated how long you've had him, so I'm not sure if the not pooping is a concern. Cats will generally defecate about 1-2 times daily. Of course, if you feel something isn't right, then it's best to have him checked out by your vet.