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My cat has pancreatitis and won't drink. How to keep him hydrated?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Male | neutered | 12 lbs

My cat will not drink water. It is important that I keep him hydrated as he was recently diagnosed with pancreatitis. We have been giving him 'tuna water' which he will take but just in the last day or so, he will not drink that either. What to do? I am frantic! Linda

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Linda G, MS, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on October 13th, 2020

Hello. If Obie is eating a canned diet, he is actually getting quite a bit of liquid every day. Have you tried offering chicken or beef broths or stocks? Some cats also love to drink running water, so leaving a tap trickling may encourage Obie to drink more. If there is a medical reason he refuses to drink, then he may need to receive subcutaneous fluids ( under the skin a couple of days a week ). Have your veterinarian show you how to assess Obie for dehydration so you know if he is running into any problems. Thanks for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

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