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Cat Years Hydration Booster Review: We Tested It With 5 Cats

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Annie Butler / Cats.com

Hydration is so important for our cats, especially because they tend to have a low thirst drive. Cat Years Hydration Booster is marketed as a daily lickable treat to help your cat get the hydration they need.

The Cats.com Standard—Rating Cat Years on What Matters

We’ve rated the brand on six key criteria for quality. Here’s how it rates in each of these six crucial areas.

Ratings

  • Species-Appropriateness – 10/10
  • Ingredient Quality – 8/10
  • Product Variety – 6/10
  • Price – 6/10
  • Customer Experience – 9/10
  • Recall History – 10/10

In total, we give Cat Years a 49 out of 60 rating, or an A- grade.

Why Trust Cats.com

Cat Years Hydration Booster

Annie Butler / Cats.com

I often rely on lickable treats to coax shy foster kittens out from under the bed or to give as little between-meal snacks to my 17-year-old cat, who is always hungry. We’ve tried a lot of them, but I was intrigued by Cat Years Hydration Booster because it’s more than just a tasty treat. According to the manufacturer, it’s clinically proven to boost hydration.

To test Cat Years Hydration Booster, I ordered both flavors and tested them with my three cats and two foster kittens over the course of a week.

During testing, I kept an eye on my cats’ interest in the treat and closely observed the product’s general appeal, appearance, smell, and texture.

About Cat Years

Based in the U.S., Cat Years is a relatively new pet wellness startup created by cat parents who want better for their beloved cats. The hydration booster, currently the company’s only product, was developed by leading feline veterinarians and scientists with expertise in hydration and feline nutrition.

About Hydration Booster

Developed by feline nutrition experts, Cat Years boosts hydration through a combination of electrolytes, amino acids, and osmolytes.

Available in both chicken and tuna flavors, the treats are made with premium, non-GMO ingredients, with no preservatives, grains, or by-products. The yummy treats can be served as a healthy snack or food topper.

Just one treat per day can increase your cat’s hydration, which supports kidney, urinary tract, gut, skin and coat health, immune health, and joint health. While it’s not a replacement for fresh water or a wet food diet, it’s a great option to encourage cats to get more fluid.

Sourcing and Manufacturing

Cat Years Hydration Booster is manufactured in a specialized facility in Thailand that holds non-GMO, GHP, U.S. FDA, and BSI Food Safety certifications. Every formulation undergoes third-party lab testing.

Recall History

Cat Years Hydration Booster has maintained a clean safety record with no listings on the FDA Food Recall Database since its market launch.

What Did Our Test Cats Think?

Cat Years Cat food

Annie Butler / Cats.com

My first testers were my two foster kittens. They loved it, but that wasn’t a big surprise because they’ll eat just about anything. I tried one with my 17-year-old cat, and she gobbled it right up. They all enjoyed the taste and the texture of both the chicken and tuna formulas.

So, it’s safe to say that these treats were a big hit.

#1 Cat Years Hydration Booster – Tuna Flavor

Cat Years Hydration Booster – Tuna Flavor

This low-calorie recipe features wild-caught tuna as well as tuna broth as the main ingredients and the primary protein sources. It contains 85 percent moisture, which helps increase your cat’s hydration. The non-GMO Cat Years Hydration Booster contains no added phosphates, artificial flavors or colors, preservatives, by-products, or grains.

The thick texture and taste were very appealing to our test cats. Once they could smell it, they all came running, and when we served it to them they licked up every last bit.

The small pouch is easy and convenient to use. We also tried squeezing it into a spoon or bowl, and putting some on dry food as a topper. It didn’t really matter how we gave it to them—they all loved it.

Ingredients

Tuna Broth, Wild Caught Tuna, Glycine, Natural Tapioca Starch, Purified Mineral Salt, Natural Dried Yeast, Chicken Liver, Natural Guar Gum, Taurine, L-Alanine, Betaine

Ingredients We Liked: Wild caught tuna, tuna broth

Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Guar gum, tapioca starch

Guaranteed Analysis

Crude Protein: 14%
Crude Fat: 0.4%
Crude Fiber: 0.1%
Moisture: 85%

Dry Matter Basis

Protein: 93.33%
Fat: 2.67%
Fiber: 0.67%
Carbs: 3.33%

Caloric Weight Basis

Protein: 90.49%
Fat: 6.28%
Carbs: 3.23%

What We Liked

  • Contains animal protein
  • High in moisture
  • Cats enjoy the texture and flavor
  • Low in calories at 11 kcal per treat

What We Didn’t Like

  • Guar gum may cause digestive issues in some cats

#2 Cat Years Hydration Booster – Chicken Flavor

Cat Years Hydration Booster – Chicken Flavor

This formula is also low in calories, but it features chicken breast and tuna broth as the main ingredients. As with the tuna option, it contains 85 percent moisture and no added phosphates, artificial flavors or colors, preservatives, by-products, or grains.

The texture of this one was slightly lighter than the tuna but still easy to use without making a mess while squeezing it from the pouch. We also served this one as a food topper or just squirted it into a food bowl, and the cats loved it no matter how it was served.

The cats loved this flavor just as much as the tuna and didn’t seem to prefer one to the other.

Ingredients

Tuna Broth, Chicken Breast, Glycine, Natural Tapioca Starch, Purified Mineral Salt, Natural Dried Yeast, Chicken Liver, Natural Guar Gum, Taurine, L-Alanine, Betain

Ingredients We Liked: Chicken breast, chicken liver, tuna broth

Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Guar gum, tapioca starch

Guaranteed Analysis

Crude Protein: 14%
Crude Fat: 0.4%
Crude Fiber: 0.1%
Moisture: 85%

Dry Matter Basis

Protein: 93.33%
Fat: 2.67%
Fiber: 0.67%
Carbs: 3.33%

Caloric Weight Basis

Protein: 90.49%
Fat: 6.28%
Carbs: 3.23%

What We Liked

  • Contains animal protein
  • High in moisture
  • Cats enjoy the texture and flavor
  • Low-calorie at 11 kcal per treat

What We Didn’t Like

  • Guar gum may cause digestive issues in some cats

What Do Customers Think of Cat Years Hydration Booster?

This hydration booster is very popular among pet owners. Pet owners find the treats effective, particularly for senior cats, and like how they help with hydration. Many noted that their cats go crazy for them and that they’re much easier to use than getting their cat to drink more water.

On Amazon, the treats have a 4.8-star rating from 105 reviews, while the company’s official website shows a 4.9 rating with more than 800 reviews.

Positive Reviews

“Decided to give this new treat brand a try, and my cat is a new fan for life! I love how easy and simple these are to give to my cat, and it’s great knowing this isn’t just a delicious treat but an easy way to boost hydration – especially in the summer months.” – Izabel on Amazon

“My cat Lucky is so picky and hard to buy for. We tried Cat Years at the vet and he loved them! Even during the exam! My vet said it helps with his daily hydration, so now he gets one every day. The packet makes it so easy to feed him – there’s no mess, and I’m so happy! Great product! Highly recommend!” – Mary on Amazon

Both cat owners and their cats seemed very happy with Pet Years Hydration Booster. Customers overwhelmingly agree that their cats love the taste (even picky eaters), with some pet parents saying their cats are now happier and healthier. It also seems to work wonders for ill and senior cats.

Negative Reviews

“Good but small amount.” – Kelly on Amazon

“At first my cat liked them, but after a couple she was no longer interested in them. You know how picky our fur babies can be.” Grey on Amazon

All cats are different and have their own preferences, so most of the negative reviews centered around the cats’ disinterest in the product, along with the price being a little high.

How Much Does Cat Years Cost?

Compared to other lickable treats, Cat Years Hydration Booster is somewhat on the pricey side, but it seems to be worth the money. A one-week supply of either flavor is $9.99. You can also get a 28-day supply of both flavors as well as a variety pack for $34.99.

Where Is Cat Years Sold?

Cat Years Hydration Booster is only available online, either on Amazon.com or the company’s website.

Overall, Is Cat Years a Good Choice?

When it comes to hydration, Cat Years delivers on its promise. Most cats love the taste of these meat-based treats while also getting the benefit of added moisture.

It would be nice to have more than two flavors to choose from, but the company is still new, so it’s possible we might see more flavors in the future.

While the product could be considered pricey to some pet parents, many of them think the health benefits are worth the cost.

Note: The values in our nutrient charts are automatically calculated based on the guaranteed analysis and may not represent typical nutrient values. This may lead to discrepancies between the charts and the values mentioned in the body of the review.
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About Annie Butler

Annie Butler has worked in the pet industry for 20 years and is the former editor of Catster magazine. A cat lover since she was a little girl, she has always had feline friends in her life. She and her husband share their Southern California home with their four cats and an ever-changing clowder of foster kittens.

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