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Homemade Pedialyte and Electrolytes for Cats

In cases of mild heat stress or high temperatures, you can prevent severe dehydration by offering homemade electrolytes. These electrolytes can also keep very sick cats stable until they can see a professional. Without adequate pet electrolytes available at home, you can still create a helpful solution with ingredients you likely have in your pantry!
Active Time13 minutes
Cooling Time45 minutes
Total Time58 minutes
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: Cats
Keyword: homemade pedialyte and electrolytes for cats

Equipment

  • Electric kettle
  • Large mixing jug (over a liter)
  • Mixing apparatus (a whisk is ideal)
  • Air-tight container

Materials

  • 1 liter water
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 3 tablespoons pure honey

Instructions

  • Gather the Ingredients
    All four of the ingredients in this electrolyte solution are everyday household staples. However, there are a few things to consider. The honey should be a pure variety. While most honey is packaged pure, some types have added syrups or sugars. The salt should be regular table salt. Larger salt pieces or rocks will be more difficult to dissolve into the solution properly.
    You can use any water for this solution since harmful bacteria will be eradicated with boiling. However, if you have mineral water available, it may be more beneficial than regular tap or bottled water. Mineral water has naturally higher levels of electrolytes due to its source, and it can boost the hydration properties of your solution.
  • Boil the Water
    Boiling the water is essential for a couple of reasons. First, the water needs to be hot enough that the other three ingredients will easily dissolve and mix into it. Secondly, boiling water will destroy any harmful bacteria or microorganisms residing in it. This is especially important if the electrolyte mix is going to an immunocompromised cat, e.g., a sick, dehydrated, or elderly cat. Harmful bacteria will be a higher risk to cats who are under stress.
  • Mix Thoroughly
    After the water has boiled, mix in the honey, baking soda, and salt. These three ingredients should dissolve quickly, and thoroughly mixing them will blend the ions of all elements into one cohesive liquid.
  • Cool Before Use
    The electrolyte mix should then be left covered to come to room temperature. The electrolyte mix should not be given at either high or low temperatures since extreme temperatures can cause burns and cost your cat more precious energy to turn to a usable temperature.
  • Storage
    The leftover electrolytes should be stored in an air-tight container to reduce the risk of contamination. It should be kept in the refrigerator for optimum quality but returned to room temperature before use. In addition, it should be used within 24-hours for maximum benefit.