Chicken Broth For Increased Water Intake

Jason607

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One of our 3 cats is a finicky eater. I have been very focused on them getting enough water since they were kittens. Just with their food alone I ensure that they get at least 4.5 oz of water each day. Usually they get around 5 oz of water this way. This is on top of whatever they drink.

However, the finicky one has sworn off wet food (I tried multiple brands with no success). I was able to mix in water with his dry food with limited success. He was taking in about 3 oz of water with his dry food. About a month after the dry food only period, he developed tiny stones in his urine. Luckily we caught it early before any blockage and the vet has him on a special diet to dissolve the sand size stones. However, he still needs to drink enough water so his urine is diluted properly. My questions are the following:

1. If I make homemade chicken broth, is it safe for him to drink this daily? I would want him to drink about 6 oz with his dry food so he gets enough water.

2. Should I be worried about the sodium content in packaged chicken sold at stores? Meaning is there enough sodium in there to where it can throw off my cats electrolytes?
 

duckpond

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I dont know if there is added sodium to fresh chicken bought at the store?? Im vegetarian so i dont...lol my guys have to make due with Canned wet food. I know a lot of people that make their own raw foods do buy fresh chicken. I have checked out the canned chicken, and the chicken broth, i felt those did have to much in the way of added sodium and other things.

I think homemade chicken broth would be a good thing, but i would still keep out a water fountain or a large wide bowl with fresh filtered water as well.
 
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Jason607

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Duckpond yes store bought chicken has sodium. Some brands have upto 200 mg per 4 oz. The lowest I have found is 85 mg per 4 oz. I know that a lot of people make their own homemade food with chicken as well. I have never heard any concern about too much sodium in home food made from store bought chicken. So I figured it would be safe for chicken broth as well. If anyone knows the answer for sure please let me know.
 

Kflowers

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Does the actual fresh chicken in the meat department have sodium added to it?
 

LTS3

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Does the actual fresh chicken in the meat department have sodium added to it?

Some brands do, some do. Always check the teeny print on the label. If unsure, ask someone in the meat department, although some may be completely clueless. An actual butcher shop would have more reliable info than a supermarket.

There are tips on increasing water intake here: Tips To Increase Your Cat’s Water Intake

Homemade bone broth is popular.

Question Re: Making Bone Broth In Crock Pot For Sick Kitties
i Need instructions on how to make broth for cats...very simple instructions

Raw goat milk can also be given. Independent pet stores sell the Primal brand of goat milk but raw goat milk you find at an organic supermarket like Whole Foods will also work.
 

Kflowers

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thanks. I don't think we have an actual butcher shop, but I've got a magnifying glass to read the 'tiny, we've got to say this but don't want you to read it' print.
 

lisahe

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Chicken has sodium in it naturally; it's added salt you most want to avoid. As LTS3 LTS3 noted, some chicken may have added salt. And some/many meat department employees have no earthly idea what's in the meat they're selling!

That said, when I make food, I look for chicken that has less than 100 mg per serving. (I forget how many ounces is a serving but it's whatever's listed in the nutrition information box!)

Almost any broth or stock that you can buy has something in it that's not good for cats. Really, all they need is water with chicken essence. The easiest way to get that is to just put some plain, deboned chicken in a pot of water and boil it. I don't use bone-in chicken for this purpose because I'm not sure how much stuff from the bone (calcium? phosphorus? what else?) leaches into the broth during cooking -- I don't want to mess with that bit of cat chemistry. But the cats love the plain chicken water that I sometimes make! You could make similar liquids with scraps from all kinds of meat.
 
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Jason607

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LTS3,

Thanks for the link on how to increase a cats water intake. Unfortunately, I have tried almost all of them, with little success. Proper water intake has been my #1 goal since the day I got my cats. So I'm aware of all those techniques. 2 of my cats are getting plenty of water. The one I posted about here however has not been getting enough for about 5 weeks now. He has been ultra finicky towards anything liquid.

Which means the experiment with the chicken broth was a complete failure. The only things I haven't tried yet is adding a drop or two of tuna water to a water bowl and adding an object to the water bowl so the cat can gauge the water level.

If everything else fails I will go out and buy 7-10 different brands/flavors of wet food and let him try them all. If he falls in love with one I guess I will have no choice but to feed him that one. It may have carrageenan, fillers, meat by product etc. However, he is better off eating all that and getting enough water then being chronically dehydrated but eating healthy food.
 

di and bob

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Store bought turkeys and baking chickens may have added sodium as a basting solution injected into the breast.Regular whole chicken does not have added sodium. I buy hind quarters in ten pound bags and fix it in less than 30 minutes in my pressure cooker. They run many times only .59 cents/pound, although I paid .69 last time at a different store. The added bonus is you have shredded chicken to feed too, which cats absolutely love, I freeze mine in small amounts.
To get my cats to drink more, I set several little bowls around the house. Cats ALWAYS seem to have to check out bowls, and in this way it encourages them to drink. Fountains work well too, the noise seems to remind them to drink!
 

Furballsmom

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Hi! I read in another thread discussion, from @Genesis123 that you could try the liquid from canned vegetables...
 
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