In 2024, a mixologist couple, Jess and John Feller of the spirits brand Aged & Infused, became viral sensations after sharing a short video on Instagram. The star? Their adorable three-legged cat, Mr. Biscuits, who gets served his very own, bespoke feline friendly cocktails on the regular!
The “Mr. Biscuits’ Martini”, as the couple dubbed their creation, was a simple mix of one part milk to six parts water, shaken, and served in a mini martini glass.
The moment wasn’t just cute, it highlighted a serious issue many cat parents face: getting felines to drink enough water.
The Lowdown on Low Thirst Drive
Why are cats such terrible drinkers? According to Dr. Dan Su, a board-certified veterinary nutritionist at BSM Partners, it’s a genetic hangover. Cats have a “low thirst drive,” an evolutionary trait from their ancestors, who were desert wildcats from Africa. Back in the day, they got most of the hydration they needed just from eating their prey.
Today, most house cats don’t have to hunt down dinner (unless you count a crinkle ball), and that low thirst drive can be risky. Inadequate hydration can lead to serious health problems, including the formation of crystals in their urine, which can progress to stones and life-threatening blockages. Even mild cases can cause discomfort that might lead your cat to avoid the litter box.
Of course, these days, most domesticated cats don’t hunt at all — unless it’s a catnipped stuffed rat— so, depending on their diet and disposition, they can run the risk of inadequate hydration, which can lead to serious health problems. “If not well hydrated, cats can develop crystals [in their urine] that can turn into stones and lead to blockages that become medical emergencies,” says Dr. Su. “Even in milder cases, these crystals can cause discomfort while peeing, which can lead them to go outside of their litter boxes.”
So what is a concerned cat parent to do?
Three Ways to Boost Your Cat’s Hydration
1. The Easy, Vet-Recommended Way
The simplest fix is often the best. Dr. Su recommends switching your cat to wet food, which naturally has a high moisture content. If your cat only eats dry kibble, you can simply add a bit of water to their meal.
2. The Supplement Solution
For an added boost, you can try an electrolyte concentrate specifically formulated for cats, such as NaturVet Pet Electrolyte Concentrate. These are designed to replenish lost electrolytes and encourage drinking.
3. The Mixologist Method
Embrace your inner bartender and craft feline-friendly cocktails for your cats!
The Cat Cocktail Starter Kit
Making a cat-friendly cocktail is all about choosing the right ingredients and presentation.
The key is selecting cat-safe, flavorful liquids. Canned fish juices (from tuna, salmon, or sardines packed in water) or cat-specific broths are excellent, high-value choices. Experiment with concentration! Some cats like a strong flavor, while others prefer just a hint mixed with water.
A Crucial Safety Warning: Avoid anything in the allium family, such as garlic, onions, or chives, as these are toxic and potentially deadly to cats. If you are using broth, it’s safest to buy broth formulated for cats or make your own, as most commercial broths for human consumption contain alliums.
And don’t even bother trying to make your cat something sweet. A cat’s tongue can’t really taste sweet things, so fruit juices and the like are almost guaranteed to hold little to no appeal.
Beyond that, feel free to experiment. A lot of cats enjoy chewing on wheatgrass. So, if your cat is a fan, grow your own cat grass with this handy Cat Grass Grow Kit and try adding a little wheatgrass juice to their cocktail.
And if you wanna get really fancy, consider coating the edge of your cat’s cocktail glass in Churu and dipping it in crushed kibble to create the feline version of a salted rim.
Or, you know, you could just stick with the same old bowl of tap water. It’s your call. And, honestly, your cat may end up preferring that. But there’s only one way to find out. And, of course, you should make a cocktail for yourself while you’re at it. You deserve it. And besides, it would be rude to ask your cat to drink alone.
Learn how to make a Tunatini for cats like a Meow-tologist.
