Look, drinking enough water is even hard for people. We have our expensive water bottles in our favorite colors, papered with our favorite stickers, and we still somehow end up drinking only iced coffee and wondering why we feel terrible. So it makes sense that cats—who are denied the simple pleasure of a personal water bottle—may not be keeping up with their hydration needs.

If you’ve noticed your furry roommate is neglecting their health, there are a few actual health things to check first, but if all else fails, we have a secret hack for you to try out.

How Much Water Does My Cat Need a Day?

Cats naturally need less water than our beloved, slobbery dog friends. On average, cats need about 3.5 to 4.5 oz of water for every five pounds they weigh. So, if your cat is the average 10 lbs, they need about a cup of water a day.

However, this does vary depending on how much wet food you feed them. If they’re on a diet of primarily dry food, they need that full daily allowance, but they can get a lot of that hydration just from a can of wet food.

Is My Cat Dehydrated?

Calculating the recommended daily water intake is not an exact science, so a better way to check if your cat is dehydrated is to observe specific bodily signs.

Loss of skin elasticity is the first tell. If your cat’s skin doesn’t snap back when you pull the nape of its neck, it’s likely dehydrated. The state of their gums is also a good way to check their health: pale or sticky gums are a bad sign. The last symptom to look out for is sunken eyes. Lastly, if they’ve thrown up recently, they’re way more likely to be dehydrated.

Just to be clear, if your cat is showing these symptoms, it’s also a good idea to check in with the vet to make sure it’s nothing serious, but if it’s just dehydration, there’s a hack for you.

Tell Me That Tip, Please

There are some very good and practical pieces of advice, such as making sure your cat’s water bowl is clean and creating a more welcoming environment, but the problem is that those solutions aren’t funny.

Reverse psychology works well on humans, but even better on the famously contrarian cats. Once a cat has been told something is off limits to them, they’re much more likely to do everything in their power to get it. That’s why you should get the fanciest thrift store goblet money can buy and leave it around your house for your cat to sneak sips out of.

They’ll be lapping their daily recommended dose of water, thinking they’re getting away with murder, as you high-five yourself for being such a savvy pet owner. And if your cat is always trying to get at a cup or mug of yours, that’s an even easier in.

Check that your chosen vessel is heavy enough that your cat can’t knock it over, and if it’s from a thrift store, make certain you’re not accidentally feeding your cat lead paint or any other nasty chemicals. But once you’ve found the perfect chalice, it’s a win for everyone involved.

Especially your fancy, fancy cat.