I started digging into the latest feline hydration research… and the truth was shocking.
Cats evolved in the desert. Their survival strategy was to get most of their water from prey, not from streams or bowls.
They rarely feel thirsty — even when their body desperately needs water.
And here’s the kicker: in the wild, still water usually meant contamination. Their instincts tell them to avoid it.
That means the typical water bowl in your home?
Your cat will sip occasionally… but never enough to stay properly hydrated.
Over years, this “chronic low-grade dehydration” silently damages their kidneys and increases the risk of urinary blockages.
And this is why most conventional advice — “Just leave out a fresh bowl” — is dead wrong.