Switching cat to raw food & keeping hydration up

Switching a 9-year-old Burmese from wet pouches to raw is a great move nutritionally, but you're right to think about moisture — wet pouches are typically around 80% water, and raw food varies quite a bit depending on whether it's fresh or freeze-dried. Cats evolved in arid environments and naturally have a low thirst drive, so they rely heavily on food moisture to stay hydrated. For older cats especially, chronic underhydration is a real risk — kidney disease is the leading cause of death in cats over ten, and Burmese are already a breed with some genetic predisposition to kidney issues. A water fountain is the single most effective thing you can add alongside raw feeding. Before I point you to a specific one — what raw format are you moving to, fresh/frozen raw or freeze-dried? And does your Burmese currently drink much from a bowl, or do you have a fountain already?

Good news on the fresh frozen front — defrosted raw typically retains good moisture content, usually 65–70%, which is lower than wet pouches but still much better than dry food. That said, given her age and the vet's mention of watching her kidneys, I wouldn't rely on food moisture alone. The fact that she ignores her bowl isn't unusual — cats are often put off by still, stagnant water, especially when it's near their food. A fountain solves both problems: the movement makes water more appealing, and you can position it well away from her feeding spot. One thing worth knowing: Burmese tend to be quite tactile and curious, so they often take to fountains faster than more aloof breeds. Has she ever shown interest in dripping taps or running water at all?

That tells you everything — she wants moving water, she just hasn't had a convenient source. My recommendation is the Catit Flower Fountain (2L version). It's one of the best-tested cat fountains available in the UK, and the flower-top design creates a gentle flowing stream that cats like yours — curious, tap-interested — almost always engage with quickly. It has a triple-action filter that removes magnesium and calcium from tap water, which matters because hard water can contribute to urinary crystals, something worth being proactive about given her age. It's quiet, easy to disassemble and clean (important for raw-fed households where you'll want to rinse it regularly), and the 2L capacity means you're not refilling it constantly. At around £25–30 on Amazon UK, it's also genuinely good value. Place it in the room she spends most time in, not next to her food bowl, and give her a week — most cats convert within a few days.

Generally, no — I'd keep the fountain water plain, at least to start. Most cats are more likely to drink clean, filtered, moving water than anything flavoured or supplemented. Some water additives marketed for cats are fine, but a few contain ingredients that can put certain cats off drinking entirely, which is the opposite of what you want. If her vet recommends a specific supplement for kidney support down the line — things like omega-3s or certain phosphorus binders — those are usually given with food rather than water anyway. For now, the fountain plus the fresh raw diet is a strong combination. The main thing to track over the next few weeks is whether you notice her visiting the fountain regularly. If she's drinking well from it, you're in a good place. If she still seems disinterested after two weeks, it's worth a vet chat just to rule out any underlying nausea or dental discomfort that might be suppressing her thirst.

Great choice — she sounds like exactly the kind of cat who'll take to it quickly. One last tip: when you first set it up, let her investigate it switched off for a day before you turn it on. It removes any startle factor and lets her get comfortable with it as an object first. Good luck with the raw transition too — at nine, Burmese are still very much in their prime, and getting both diet and hydration right now is one of the best things you can do for her kidneys long-term.