Invisible Fence® Brand systems Saskatchewan are
invisible boundary systems for your yard and home! It keeps your pet out of
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systems are safe, humane, and highly recommended by Veterinarians,
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Over the last 40 years, they have helped more than two
million pets and their owners lead safe and harmonious lives together, and
their exclusive training program allows dogs and cats to learn their boundaries
without fear, distress, or behavioral harm. Their proven P.E.T. Approach™ training
method ensures the success of their products every time, with any pet, and in
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most effective solutions in the industry! Freedom and convenience for you &
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Invisible Fence Saskatchewan are Trusted Saskatoon Pet
fencing solution experts!
No lapping matter: A cat person’s guide to managing
dehydration
By: Invisible Fence Brand on 08-02-2016
The drooping tongue and heavy breathing are not really
signs of dehydration, but a panting dog is certainly a picture of thirst. At
any rate, we tend to feel pretty confident our dogs will figure out a way to
let us know when they’re ready for a drink. But cats are more of a mystery. How
can you tell when they’re thirsty?
This is the simple question we brought to the Seattle-based veterinarian and
cat medicine expert, Christine Wilford, DVM--hoping she could help us solve the
riddle of the cotton-mouthed cat.
The first thing we learned is that it’s possible to be too concerned about your
cat’s drinking habits. According to Dr. Wilford, a typical ten pound cat needs
only about a cup of fluid per day, and your cat may already be getting most of
that from his wet food: “Keep in mind that cats on dry food require more water
than cats eating canned food. In fact, if canned food is wet enough, your cat
may not drink at all. Having evolved from the desert, their kidneys are better
at conserving hydration than ours or your dog’s.”
Add to this camel-like retention of water the fact that cats don’t drink until
they’re mildly dehydrated anyway, and you’ve got a classic picture of feline
self-sufficiency: “Your cat drinks when he’s thirsty, unlike you--who may drink
for flavor or to stave off dehydration. And if your cat is drinking, he's
already dehydrated. But that’s normal. He drinks a little, restores body hydration,
and gets on with his day of sleeping.”
The picture we’re getting is that cats by instinct don’t avoid dehydration,
they manage it. And this is precisely where you, the caregiver, can help them
on a hot summer day. Not by switching to a super-sized water bowl, but by
implementing a few “environmental” tweaks that will avoid dehydration creep
from a combination of dry food, extended heat, and over-hot napping
spots.
A couple ideas
Switching to wet food or adding water to dry food are good ideas on a hot week.
Also, cats favor cool, shaded spots in the house like tile floors or under
beds. Dr. Wilford recommends that you find your cat’s favorite spots and make
sure to close the shades. And if you know it’s going to be a scorcher and the
AC’s out, why not invite your cat to take a load off by setting out a low-speed
fan in front of a pan of ice?
Except in cases of diabetes or kidney dysfunction--where the need for high
volume replenishment can create some unique challenges--your cat’s
replenishment is a passive affair. As Dr. Wilford reminds us, cats
basically shut down when it’s time to cool off: “Unlike dogs who cool off
by panting--and thus lowering their body’s temperature through the heat lost in
breath moisture--cats do not pant as their primary cooling method. Nor do they
typically pant after exertion. They cool by finding a cool place and stopping
body activity.”
By nature your cat is less alarmed about dehydration than you are. And the
half-dozen water bowls you set up around the house is probably more for you
than her. This summer, focus on creating an environment conducive to a cool and
lazy afternoon, and, who knows, you might even find yourself on the receiving
end of a purring nudge of thanks.
Special thanks to Dr. Wilford.
At Invisible Fence Brand of Saskatchewan we’re
passionate about protecting pets — so you can focus on fun! So, let’s talk. And
we’ll find the gentle, effective, affordable solution that’s right for you and
your pet. Guaranteed.