When it comes to anything to do with water, cats are very particular. This is especially true about the water that they drink. There’s such a reason why there are so many different kinds of water bowls for cats on the market – and the reason is their innate survival instincts.
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Why do cats not like their water next to their food?
The main reason why cats don’t like their water next to their food is that they don’t like the smell of the food when they are drinking water, and are turned off by food particles in the water. If the water doesn’t smell fresh the risk of getting sick is bigger.
Should a cat’s water be away from food?
Some cats will not touch their water if their water bowl is too near their food bowls. That’s because in the wild when their ancestral wild cats used to hunt, they’d keep their kill as far away from their water source as possible as to not contaminate it.
At home, when you place their food bowls and water bowls close to each other, you run the risk of your cat’s food falling into the water. Their strong sense of smell may make them dislike smelling their food while they are drinking.
Sometimes it’s actually what type of water bowl you’re using. Do you know those twin bowls dog owners seem to always get their dogs? They don’t work for cats. It’s possible that your particular cat just doesn’t like stagnant water and prefers running water instead.
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A cat wants fresh water
In the wild, if you drink stagnant water, you run a bigger chance of getting sick. Cats know this. That’s why fountain bowls are so common. Cats can taste when the water is stale. Another benefit for fountain bowls is that they give your cats that extra height.
When your feline friend is hunched over their water dish, they might feel more vulnerable than if they were to drink from a taller fountain.
Beyond that, cats can be very meticulous about the shape of their bowls. Cats can be prone to having what is called whisker fatigue. That’s when their highly sensitive whiskers get information overload, causing your cat to be slightly too stressed to drink water. To combat this, let your cat try out an array of different pet bowls and sizes and materials. Your safe bets are shallow glass, ceramic or stainless steel bowls.
The water level is also very important to keep your furry little feline friend sufficiently hydrated. Cats are creatures of habit – more so than we will ever be.
They like to keep everything as consistent as possible. If the water level of their bowls is too high or too low for their usual preferences, they might opt to not drink at all. Pay close attention and notice if your cat is putting their paws in and licking it when the water level is getting exceptionally low.
Try changing the temperature of the water
If your cat is still not drinking up, consider changing up the temperature – just be mindful of the extremes, you don’t want to hurt your cat. If it’s a particularly hot day, or your cat just enjoys drinking cold, refreshing water, add a couple of ice cups in their bowls!
Hydration is super important in cats. All these little tricks help to keep your kitty at their best. Keep an eye out to weather your cat is drinking enough water – especially if your cat does not eat wet cat food most of the time. The magic number you are looking for is 1 ounce of water per pound of their weight every day.
More questions related to water and cats
How many times should I refill my cat’s water bowl?
Cats have a very sensitive sense of taste. They’ll taste it if their water has been out too long and has become dirty. Food and dirt can accumulate in their water bowls making it highly unpleasant to taste, and full of bacteria – especially if your cat has the habit of playing with their water. It is recommended that you refill your cat’s bowl water daily as to keep it fresh-tasting – how many times in the day depends on your cat’s drinking behavior.
By the way, be sure to wash your pet’s bowl with soap and water daily just to ensure that no bacteria multiplying in there. Rinse it out thoroughly because not only will your cat taste the soap residue, what’s worse is it could burn their tongue.
What else can my cat drink to keep hydrated?
Not milk because cats are lactose intolerant. Your cat should only really be drinking water – but if you’re dealing with a very picky drinker, once in a while, you can add a little bit of chicken or beef broth to your cat’s water bowl. Keep the fat and sodium levels very low for this tempting treat.
What’s an easy way to keep my cat well hydrated?
Two words: wet food. What cat does not love the taste of wet food? No one. Wet food tastes so good to your cat’s tongue that they will go gaga over it, any day.
What’s amazing about wet cat food is that they have higher concertation of water – making it so easy to increase your cat’s water intake. If you notice that you have a picky drinker of a cat, there are a lot of things to consider. Mainly is if their water bowl is too close to their food bowl. While it’s true that if your cat will get thirsty enough, they might start drinking from the bowl next to the food, they’ll much prefer it that they drink somewhere further. A well-hydrated kitty is a happy and healthy kitty.
