Cats are picky creatures, and not only when it comes to food. Besides having particular eating habits, many cats also have certain preferences when it comes to drinking. Drinking enough water is important to stay hydrated and healthy, and while staying well hydrated will benefit every cat, this is even more important for those that have health problems, such as those suffering from urine crystals, have a history of urinary blockage, or suffer from kidney disease. So what can you do to ensure your cat stays well hydrated?
How to encourage your cat to drink more water
There are certain steps you can take to encourage your cat to drink more water. Besides the personal preferences, natural instincts also come into play. By keeping the following points in mind, and trialling different things, you can stimulate the water intake of your cat.
- Ensure that the water sources of your cat are clean and fresh. Wash the bowl and/or fountain out regularly and remove the limescale and biofilm which can harbour damaging bacteria. Rinse out the cleaning liquid fully, as cats are very sensitive to strong scents and any leftover may make them hesitant to drink. One can also avoid using dish liquid with strong scents and use scentless ones instead. Refresh the water in bowls daily, and in fountains with filter as needed.
- Many cats prefer to drink from running water as instinctively this is linked to being a more clean water source. Water fountains are a good option in providing in this need, however, some cats might be scared of them. By giving your cat both a water source that is running and still, you can encourage better drinking behaviour. Cats also often appreciate it when you run the tap for them to drink from.
- The material, size, and shape, will also play a role in the drinking behaviour of your cat. Plastic bowls can leave a taste to the water and are less easy to clean, making glass, metal, and ceramic bowls having the preference. Some cats also don’t like to stick their head down in a deep bowl as it can restrict their vision and make them feel vulnerable. Additionally, the whiskers of cats are sensitive, and in some cases they don’t like them touching the edges of the bowl. In this case, a shallow bowl and a water fountain may be a better option. Of Course, there are always exceptions to the rule, and some cats might prefer smaller and deeper bowls. Through trial and error, see what your cat prefers.
- The location of the water bowl can play a big role in the drinking behaviour of your cat. Do not put water (and food) bowls near litter boxes. In the wild, cats would not eat and drink where they eliminate, as this could lead to contamination of their water and food. Placing water, food, and litter boxes near one another can affect eating and drinking behaviour, and can also cause litter box problems such as peeing and pooping outside of them.
- Besides not placing the food & water bowl near the litter boxes, they should be put in a calm place, away from loud appliances, busy areas, or in front of sliding doors if stray cats frequent the place. When cats feel safe, calm, and relaxed, they will be more inclined to drink (and eat). Place their water sources in convenient places to them, such as near favourite sleeping spots
- Less commonly known is that a lot of cats don’t like having their water and food bowls next to each other. It’s believed this is because their ancestors, and feral cats, hunt away from their water source. Cats also tend to dislike the scent of food while drinking water and can be turned off by food particles in their water. If you would like your cat to drink more, try setting their water bowl away from their food, and see if it makes a difference.
- If you have more than one cat, have several water sources available to them. Not only will this encourage better drinking behaviour, it may also prevent fights over resources.
Conclusion
By taking certain steps you can stimulate better drinking behaviour of your cat. Location of the water source often plays a big role, and they should not be placed near the litter box, and preferably also not next to their food. Water sources should be clean and fresh, and size, material, and shape of the bowl adjusted to the cat’s preference. Water fountains are a great way of making cats drink more water, as they play into their instinctive behaviour.
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