Chicken broth for cats: safe hydration tip?

Homemade chicken broth is actually a really popular idea, and you're right to ask before trying it — the answer is yes, with one important condition. Cats evolved in arid desert environments and have an almost non-existent thirst drive, which means most cats on dry food are chronically underhydrated, and kidney disease is the number one cause of death in older cats. Water fountains and wet food are the two gold-standard fixes, but adding low-sodium broth to water is a genuinely useful budget-friendly trick. Before I tell you exactly what to watch out for, can I ask: is your Manx on dry food, wet food, or a mix? And does she have any history of kidney or urinary issues?

That UTI history is worth keeping in mind — it's a sign her urinary tract is a weak point, which makes hydration genuinely important for her, not just nice to have. Homemade chicken broth can absolutely work, but the critical rule is: no onion, no garlic, no leeks, no salt. Even small amounts of alliums are toxic to cats, and most store-bought stock is ruled out immediately. When you make it yourself, plain chicken simmered in water, strained, cooled, no seasoning at all, it's safe. A tablespoon or two stirred into her water bowl or poured over her dry food can make a real difference. That said, I'd actually nudge you toward one specific product instead of fully DIY.

The one I'd point you to is the Drool Pet Co Cat Bone Broth — it comes in pouches, it's specifically formulated for cats with no harmful ingredients, and a single pack works out cheaper per serving than you might expect, especially once you factor in the chicken you'd buy for DIY batches. More importantly, it contains added collagen and is grain-free, which makes it a proper hydration booster rather than just flavoured water. You pour a small amount over her dry kibble or into her water bowl. For a 7-year-old Manx with a UTI history, getting consistent extra fluid into her daily is the goal, and this makes it easy to do every single day without thinking about it. It's on Amazon UK and well reviewed by cat owners in exactly your situation.

Completely fine — there's no reason you can't do both. If you make a batch of plain unseasoned chicken broth at home, cool it in the fridge and use it within three days, or freeze it in ice cube trays and add a cube to her bowl as needed. That's actually a smart way to stretch things out. The main advantage of the Drool Pet Co broth is consistency and convenience — no risk of accidentally adding something harmful, and no batch-to-batch variation. But alternating is a sensible budget approach. The most important thing is just that she's getting more liquid daily, whichever way you achieve it.

Yes, it's worth knowing. Manx cats have a higher incidence of spinal and digestive issues due to their tailless genetics, and some lines carry a predisposition to bowel problems that can cause dehydration more quickly than in other breeds. They're also a sturdy, often chunky breed that owners sometimes underestimate calorie and fluid needs for. At 7 years old she's entering the life stage where kidney function naturally begins to decline in cats, so what you're doing — proactively increasing her fluid intake now, before there's a problem — is exactly the right move. Keep an eye on her litter tray output too; good urine volume is the clearest sign that hydration is working.