how do i get my kitten to drink more water?

My kitten is so active and never seems thirsty, but I want to make sure he’s getting enough hydration since he only eats dry food.

Milo is a 2 year old British Shorthair. I’ve noticed some alopecia patches on his shoulders and back lately, which is stressing me out, but his energy levels are high. He plays with the laser pointer for hours. I just don’t see him at the bowl much. Is this normal? I’m worried about his kidneys long term.

Active cats often forget to drink until they are really thirsty. Check out do cats need to drink as much as dogs for a baseline on what to expect. If he’s peeing normally and his stool isn't super hard, he's probably okay. But dry food is tough on hydration.

Thanks @RiverKettle. His stool looks fine, but I am still anxious. I tried a fountain but he ignores it. I read somewhere that the sound of moving water helps, but maybe it's not working for him because of the alopecia? Does that mean he's stressed?

Gentle reminder that alopecia can be stress-related, but also check for parasites. As for the water, have you tried how to check for dehydration at home? Lift the skin on the back of his neck. If it springs back quickly, he is hydrated. If it stays up, that is a sign to call the vet.

I checked the skin elasticity and it springs back fast. Phew. But I still want to increase his intake. I saw a thread about struggling to switch my cat to wet food but I am scared of changing his diet right now with the skin issues. What did you all do?

Oh my gosh, I am so sorry about the skin patches, that sounds awful. My Chloe is a 3 year old DSH and she is super shy. I was overwhelmed when I tried to change her water source. She hates the plastic bowls. I ended up just putting a shallow ceramic dish in a different room. She drinks more when she feels safe and away from her food bowl. Does Milo have a quiet spot?

Good point about the location. Milo eats in the kitchen, which is loud. I will try moving a bowl to the bedroom. I also saw trying out a water fountain for my senior cat and she mentioned putting ice cubes in the water. Will that work for a kitten?

Ice cubes are great for cooling the water down, which cats prefer. But if you want a real solution for dry food eaters, look at adding water to food vs just broth. I found that mixing a little warm water into the kibble makes it more aromatic and encourages drinking. What worked for my barn cats is detailed in my own thread, but the principle is the same: increase the moisture content of the meal itself.