Cat hardly drinking

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LosingGrip

Original Poster:

7,932 posts

165 months

Monday 2nd July 2018
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We have a very nervous cat, she was a rescue, but been with us for years. I've posted about her before being bullied by the other cats, but she appears to be better around them now.

However, she hates drinking out of the water bowl. We got one of those ones that has running water but she very rarely uses it, she is often up on the side drinking from the tap. It is the same water. We don't like her doing that for obvious reasons.

Today I put the tap on a fast drip and she spent five minutes drinking from it, so she is clearly thirsty. There is always fresh water down in both the water bowl and the fountain type thing.

Any tips would be great. We really don't want her drinking from the tap, but if that is the only way for her to drink at the moment in this heat it isn't a problem short term.

Health wise she appears fine other than this, she isn't a outdoors cat and spends most her time inside (there is a cat flap and the door is open 90% of the time) but she prefers being inside.

CooperS

4,532 posts

225 months

Monday 2nd July 2018
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We tried a number of thing before realising ours was drinking from the pond..... 10 years later she's still at it.

Food on the other hand my wife's far to good and they get a free run of whatever they fancy and so are pretty fussy.....

ali_kat

32,019 posts

227 months

Monday 2nd July 2018
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One of ours prefers to drink from a dripping tap, we let her.

Is it a plastic fountain? If so try a ceramic one, plastic alters the taste of the water, especially this weather.

We use large deep glass bowls (think Granny cut glass fruit bowls) that we get from Charity shops. Cats prefer wide bowls that they’re whiskers don’t touch the side of.

If she eats wet food, she’ll get most of moisture she needs from that.

Strain the tuna out of tuna in spring water & mix that in with her water?

LosingGrip

Original Poster:

7,932 posts

165 months

Monday 2nd July 2018
quotequote all
Thanks smile. I'll look at getting a larger glass bowl. The fountain one is plastic. The other smaller one is China I believe.

I'm happy for her to continue drinking from the tap if it keeps her healthy. I know it's not the cleanest, but we can cope with that.

xtruss

191 posts

218 months

Monday 2nd July 2018
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We have also a rescue cat, he's an old boy at 17yrs, but very seldom will he drink from his bowl ( which is plastic) , he prefers going into the shower after we have showered and licking the water from the shower tray. He loves a plastic bucket outside full of tap water, he will sit and lap that all day. I think it's just the way they are sometimes.

2 sMoKiN bArReLs

30,497 posts

241 months

Monday 2nd July 2018
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We have a regular (more than daily) visiting cat. Spends ages drinking from the pond. I can only assume when he gets home his owners are asking the same question!

51mes

1,513 posts

206 months

Monday 2nd July 2018
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Our 9month old girl won't drink from her bowl, but from a couple of cups we leave purposely around the house after she would start on the cups my OH would have at the side of the bed. That and running taps.

Rather like litter trays you're best off having more than one around the place.

Now if we can only start her going to the loo outside rather than in her litter tray life would be perfect. Taking them away results in one very unhappy kitty.

S.

LosingGrip

Original Poster:

7,932 posts

165 months

Monday 2nd July 2018
quotequote all
51mes said:
Our 9month old girl won't drink from her bowl, but from a couple of cups we leave purposely around the house after she would start on the cups my OH would have at the side of the bed. That and running taps.

Rather like litter trays you're best off having more than one around the place.

Now if we can only start her going to the loo outside rather than in her litter tray life would be perfect. Taking them away results in one very unhappy kitty.

S.
Our cat will come in through the cat flap (which she hates using), go for a poo in the litter tray, and then go back outside again...pain in the arse! But shes cute so she gets away with it!

Daxed

188 posts

201 months

Tuesday 3rd July 2018
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Physically separate the food bowl from the water bowl, pop them down in different rooms then show the cat the new water location.

Roofless Toothless

6,019 posts

138 months

Tuesday 3rd July 2018
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This is the way with cats. Remember cats don't follow rules, they make the rules. smile

condor

8,837 posts

254 months

Tuesday 3rd July 2018
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You could try a pint glass filled to the top with water as well. A couple of cats I look after will only drink from this or an outdoor running fountain.
I add some water to the wet food for another cat I care for.

LosingGrip

Original Poster:

7,932 posts

165 months

Tuesday 3rd July 2018
quotequote all
Roofless Toothless said:
This is the way with cats. Remember cats don't follow rules, they make the rules. smile
Ha to right!

We might have lost another one of ours. He only pops back every three days or so, and he has been seen sat outside a neighbours drive most the time.

If anyone has any tips on getting him back that would be great! We are going to drop a note through a few doors asking if anyone is feeding him please stop. Does anyone have any other suggestions? I kinda miss him...even though he ignores me 95% of the time!