How much water should your dog or cat drink each day? Enter their weight to get a healthy daily target — and learn when a change in thirst means it is time to call the vet.
As a rough guide, a healthy dog needs around 55 ml of water per kilogram of body weight each day, and a cat around 50 ml — so a 10 kg dog drinks roughly half a litre, and a 4 kg cat around 200 ml. Pets fed wet food get a big share of that from the food itself and will drink less from the bowl, which is completely normal. Activity, heat and how salty the diet is all push the number up.
What matters more than the exact figure is a sudden change. A pet that starts drinking far more than usual, or stops drinking, can be signalling diabetes, kidney issues or other problems — cats especially are prone to kidney disease. If you notice a real shift that lasts more than a day or two, it is worth a vet visit. Encouraging water with a fountain, multiple bowls, or a splash of wet food helps fussy drinkers, particularly cats.
This tool gives general estimates only and is not veterinary advice. Always consult your vet about your individual pet. Full disclaimer.