Vet explains how much water your cat or dog should actually be drinking each day

As summer draws closer, you might notice your pet drinking more water, especially after a walk or playtime in the garden. But how much additional fluid is safe for your cat or dog?

Vet Ben Simpson-Vernon has provided guidance on the topic in an informative TikTok video. "Normal water consumption is around 50ml [1.7 oz] per kilo per day," he began. "So, if you have a typical, average 4kg cat, they should be drinking roughly 200ml [6.8 oz] of water."

Ben went on to explain that while 200ml may seem like a lot when measured in a pitcher, pets who enjoy wet food will get a significant amount of water from their meals, which subsequently reduces the suggested quantity required of pure water. "Also if they're an outdoor cat they could be drinking outside and therefore may drink less inside as well," Ben noted.

Using the same calculation, Ben used a 10kg dog as another example, stating that a dog of this size should drink about 500ml [16.9 oz] within a 24-hour period. "It's quite a considerable amount, but again remember it will fluctuate depending on how active they've been, how warm it is - if they're panting lots they'll be losing more fluid on a hot day so they'll be expected to drink more."

However, Ben cautioned that increased water intake can be a serious matter and a potential sign of several health conditions. "Diabetes, kidney disease, some hormonal problems, liver disease," he specifically mentioned.

He continued his clip: "I always tell owners that if they feel they have noticed a change in their pets' drinking habits, they should measure their 24-hour water consumption." To accurately track this, Ben recommends filling up the water bowl at the beginning of the day and noting any additional refills throughout the next 24 hours, then subtracting this from the following day's total.

Wrapping up his advice, Ben warned: "If they're drinking 100ml [3.5 oz] per kilo over a day - so that's a litre for a 10kg dog - then that is starting to become excessive." He emphasized the importance of monitoring any deviations from normal drinking patterns, urging pet owners to start tracking their furry friends.

He added: "If you're seeing any change in their normal drinking habits, do flag it to your vets."

PetMD echoes Ben's guidance, advising online: "The normal range is for a cat’s daily water intake. Cats will generally drink about 4 ounces of water per 5 pounds of body weight. So a 10-pound cat will typically drink about 8 ounces of water every day.

"Larger cats and very active cats will drink more than smaller or inactive cats. Some cats just naturally don’t drink very much, while others will drink more often. The thing to watch for is any change in your cat’s water consumption."

And for canine companions, PetMD advises: "In general, dogs should drink approximately one ounce of water (1/8 of a cup) per pound of body weight each day. However, there are many factors that can affect how much your dog will drink, so you should not be restricting your dog’s water intake."