The cat is a feline that hunt its preys and take the majority of water it needs independently, so it usually drinks few times. But domestic cats eat dry food and so they need some fresh water while eating. Generally, the owner keeps another bowl for water next to the one of food, but have you noticed they almost leave it as it is?
Why cats do not drink any of the water we leave in the bowl?
Have you noticed that the cat does not drink the water in its bowl if it is next to the food? This strange gesture is described by specialists as a normal behavior for the cat. If the bowl for food is far from the one for water the cat becomes more interested in drinking water and drinks more.
What is the reason behind that?
It has to do with cat’s origins, it is in its nature. Ehen the cat was still wild associated carcasses of animals and food to a possible contamination in water. So, cats ate in a place and drank water in another without dead animals’ carcasses. So, they thought water had to be in a neutral zone. And water near food can enhance bacterial proliferation as long as the cat can eat and then drink the water with food remains in its mouth.
How to prevent it? It is better to indulge your cat nature and distribute some bowls far from the food, so it can choose.
Water for the cat: where to put the bowl
Bear in mind that also the water should be kept away from the litter, places where it can become polluted and so dangerous. Water distant from food and litter appears clean to the cat. Remember to use a wide diameter and less deep bowl, all features that recall the places where the cat drinks: less depth waters without any possible predators. The cat always looks for fresh, clean and not stagnant water, that is why it loves to drink from the tap. The cat may often turn its bowl inside out to explore the water or because it is attracted from a possible prey inside it.
Some cats are very finicky about their water. You leave fresh water out for them all day but the minute you turn on the tap they come rushing for a drink. So what is the attraction with cats and running water?
Maybe your cat will drink from a bowl but insist on splashing the water with her paw. Maybe she keeps tipping her bowl on the ground so she can drink from the floor. Your cat may balance precariously on the toilet seat so she can drink from the bowl. And if you have an outdoor cat, she may even favor dirty rain water rather than the fresh supply you put out for it.
Why the odd behavior?
No-one is really sure exactly why cats can be so finicky about their water but there are a couple of theories. There may be an instinctual aversion to still water. In the wild, a cat will usually only drink moving water which helps to help prevent her from becoming sick. Alternatively, it could be that your cat has learned that water tends to be cooler when it's from a tap or rain water.
It's also possible that the water is just a toy for your cat. To your cat, flipping over its water bowl or trying to catch the falling drips from a tap might make a great game, as well as having the added benefit of quenching its thirst.
Cats don't need much water to drink, especially if they eat canned food or food in pouches which contains a lot of water in it. However, it is still important to make sure your cat has fresh water at all times.
Drinking from a bowl
There are a few things you can do to encourage your cat to drink from her bowl.
Try moving her water dish to somewhere that isn't alongside her food. Your cat may be picky about having food and water right next to each other.
If you think your cat doesn't like the temperature of its water, try adding a few ice cubes to the bowl.
You may want to try changing the bowl entirely. Different types of bowl will give different tastes to the water. If your cat has a plastic bowl, try a metal, ceramic, or even glass one. If your cat is a bowl tipper, try looking for a wider bowl with a rubber base. This will foil even the most dedicated of cats.
There are also cat drinking fountains that either constantly run water in a loop, or are activated by your cat approaching. These require electricity to run so you'll need to find a place for it close to a socket outlet.
You can occasionally leave the tap dripping for your cat to have a drink. Your cat will drink from any source if she is thirsty enough but you may choose to occasionally offer her water from the tap as a treat.
To avoid kidney problems, it’s important to ensure your cat stays hydrated, particularly during hot weather. Take a look at these top tips to encourage your cat to drink more.
Water bowl placement
Many cat owners place their cat’s water directly next to their food bowl. Cats might be put off drinking near their food due to the smell or because they perceive the water to be contaminated because it is close to the food. In the wild, cats eat their prey away from water sources to avoid contamination and this is true of domestic cats.
Try different bowls
Cats are sometimes particular about the size and material of bowl. Try a few different bowls until you find one that your cat is happy with, such as stainless steel or glass bowls, shallow or wide bowls.
Fresh water
Replace your cat’s water daily to ensure they always have access to fresh, clean water.
Cool water
Cats sometimes prefer drinking water that is cold, because they might perceive cold water to be fresher. Keep your cat’s water cold by replenishing it regularly. You could even pop a few ice cubes in the bowl if the weather is particularly warm. Ice cubes in their food can also work as while they’re eating, they can stay extra hydrated too.
Running water
In the wild, cats instinctively look for running water to quench their thirst, steering clear of still water that may have become stagnant. Running water from a tap at home might therefore be more appealing to your cat. Leave a tap dripping or invest in a pet water fountain for your cat to drink from.
Multiple resources
Don’t just provide one water source for your cat – make sure you have plenty of water stations, both inside and outside of the house. This is particularly important if you have more than one cat because cats generally do not like to share resources. In multi-cat homes, water stations should not be placed next to one another as a timid cat might not want to visit a water bowl when a more dominant cat is drinking. Place water bowls in areas of the house that each of your cat’s likes to visit so that each cat can drink in peace.
As baffling as it may be for humans, cats have their own perfectly good reasons for doing so:
Fresh water
Your cat may be looking for fresh, clean, aerated water. And yes, as far as it’s concerned, even toilet water fits that bill. By comparison, the water in your cat’s bowl may have been sitting around for longer than your cat would like, becoming stale and accumulating a film of hair, dust and other particles.
Water temperature
Your cat may seek out other water sources because it doesn’t like room temperature water. A cat that joins you in the shower or drinks leftover bathwater might prefer its water warm, whereas one that licks condensation off the windows or drinks straight from the tap might like it cool.
Bowl shape and size
Your cat may be avoiding their water bowl because it finds drinking from it uncomfortable. Some cats won’t drink from deep or narrow bowls because they don’t like their sensitive whiskers rubbing up against the sides.
Taste
The water in your cat’s bowl may taste different depending on the material it’s made from. Just like many humans have a preference for drinking from a glass or aluminium can, your pet may prefer ceramic or stainless steel. If it’s flavour your cat is looking for, you might find their head in the ceramic toilet bowl or bathtub.
What you can do:
- Change your pet’s water frequently and rinse the bowl thoroughly each time.
- Try water bowls of different shapes, sizes and materials to see what your cat prefers.
- Place plenty of water bowls around the house.
- If your cat seems to like fresh or running water sources a pet water fountain is a good solution.
- Alternatively, if your cat enjoys the taste of Tropiclean water additive then that will help maintain their oral hygiene.
- If your pet’s drinking habits change all of a sudden, it could be a sign of illness. See your local Greencross Vets for advice.