Cats and running water
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
favour dirty rain water rather than the fresh supply you put
out for it.
Why the odd behaviour?
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.