Water is the foundation of life. The human brain is 95% water, lungs are 90%, blood is 83%, muscles are 76%, and even bones are 22% water. You can survive more than three weeks without food, but only about three days without water. Hydration is not optional—it’s essential.
The same holds true for your cat or dog. Adequate hydration drives nearly every bodily function:
Hydration is a balance between intake (drinking and moisture in food) and loss (urine, feces, sweat, respiration). When more is lost than gained, dehydration sets in. Even mild dehydration can cause problems; chronic dehydration places enormous stress on the body.
Consequences include:
Kidneys, in particular, are highly vulnerable. Concentrated urine forces the kidneys to work harder, increasing the risk of crystals, stones, and eventually chronic kidney disease.
Kibble contains just 6–10% moisture. Semi-moist foods are slightly better (15–30%). Even canned food, at 50–73% moisture, falls short of what fresh prey provides. By contrast, fresh muscle meat is about 76% water—the same moisture level as your pet’s own muscles.
That’s the target our raw and gently cooked diets meet, because we use whole, human-grade animal products. Feeding this way helps maintain natural hydration and eases the burden on organs, especially the urinary system and kidneys.
Holistic veterinarians report that many pets—especially cats—live in a state of chronic low-grade dehydration when fed dry food. Over time, this contributes to urinary crystals, blockages, and kidney disorders.
Cats have a low thirst drive. In nature, they get most of their water from prey—each mouse or bird is both food and a drink of water. That’s why dry kibble diets put cats at particular risk of urinary issues.
Dogs require more—at least 1oz of water per pound of body weight each day. For a 40lb dog, that’s 40oz of water daily.
Plain water is efficient for hydration, but food-based hydration is more complete. Moisture in food delivers amino acids, electrolytes, and vitamins alongside water, replacing what the body loses. This is why a moisture-rich diet hydrates more effectively than drinking water alone.
Think of a raisin vs. a grape. When your pet rehydrates, cells plump up and function normally again. That visible weight gain after rehydration is the body restoring balance.
Hydration is critical, yet often overlooked. Low-moisture diets, hot weather, and limited water intake combine to create chronic dehydration—opening the door to urinary crystals, UTIs, kidney disease, liver strain, joint issues, and even neurological decline.
The solution is simple: feed a high-moisture diet. Fetching Foods’ raw and gently cooked meals—paired with sodium-free broth if you want extra flavor—help restore hydration, protect kidney and organ health, and keep your cat or dog thriving.
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