Water
Although water is the most important nutrient for cats, a definitive water requirement has been not established because: 1)
cats adjust water intake to the dry matter (DM) content of the
food and 2) the water requirement of cats varies with physiologic and environmental conditions. Generally, cats need 1 ml
water/kcal metabolizable energy (ME) requirement. In practice, adult cats should have unlimited access to fresh water.
Although cats conserve total body water by forming highly
concentrated urine, such concentrated urine is undesirable in
the prevention and treatment of feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD). Increased water intake is useful for managing
urolithiasis by reducing the urinary concentration of urolithforming minerals.