# Wet cat food moisture and intake worksheet

**Estimation tool only—not a hydration diagnosis or feeding prescription.** Use your cat’s actual food labels and veterinary advice. Always provide fresh drinking water.

## 1. Calculate water from each food

**Food water (mL) = food actually eaten (g) × labelled moisture (%) ÷ 100**

| Food | Grams eaten | Labelled moisture % | Calculation | Estimated water mL |
|---|---:|---:|---|---:|
| Wet food | | | | |
| Second wet food | | | | |
| Dry food | | | | |
| Other complete food | | | | |

### Worked example

A cat eats 120 g of wet food labelled 78% moisture and 30 g of dry food labelled 10% moisture:

- Wet food: 120 × 78 ÷ 100 = **93.6 mL**
- Dry food: 30 × 10 ÷ 100 = **3 mL**
- Total food water: **96.6 mL**

This example demonstrates arithmetic only. It does not recommend portions or prove adequate hydration.

## 2. Estimate drinking water

**Drinking (mL) = bowl water at start + refills − bowl water at end − measured spills**

| Starting water mL | Refills mL | Final water mL | Measured spills mL | Estimated drinking mL |
|---:|---:|---:|---:|---:|
| | | | | |

Account for other pets using the bowl. Splashing, evaporation and unobserved drinking make the result approximate.

## 3. Estimate total measured intake

**Estimated intake = water from all foods + water separately added to food + drinking water**

Do not count water added to food twice.

| Contribution | mL |
|---|---:|
| Water from all foods | |
| Water separately added to food | |
| Estimated drinking water | |
| **Estimated total** | |

## 4. Add context, not a diagnosis

| Observation | Notes |
|---|---|
| Appetite and uneaten food | |
| Energy and behaviour | |
| Urine-clump changes | |
| Vomiting or diarrhoea | |
| Weather, travel or stress | |
| Medication or diagnosed conditions | |
| Sustained increase or decrease in drinking | |
| Veterinary advice and next step | |

## When to stop calculating and call a vet

- Repeated straining to urinate with little or no urine is an emergency, especially for a male cat.
- Seek prompt advice for persistent vomiting or diarrhoea, marked lethargy, weakness, poor appetite, collapse or other dehydration signs.
- A sustained increase or decrease in drinking also deserves assessment.
- Do not force water into your cat’s mouth or use homemade electrolyte mixtures unless specifically directed by a veterinary team.

Sources: Cornell Feline Health Center hydration and feline lower urinary tract disease guidance; WSAVA Global Nutrition Guidelines.