Hydration is a crucial component of your cat’s health and well-being. If your cat is not drinking enough water, it could result in health problems such as decreased circulation, neurological dysfunction, cystitis and, in the most serious cases, death.
If your cat is dehydrated, it is likely to display certain symptoms such as lethargy, weakness, constipation, loss of appetite and sunken eyes.
Despite the health risks, some cats still don’t drink enough water, even when it is readily available. For the cat owners experiencing this problem, we advise on how to get your cat to drink more water in this article.
Our Tips on How to Get Your Cat to Drink More Water
Seek medical advice
If it seems like your cat is not drinking enough water or appears dehydrated, it could be a symptom of a medical problem such as kidney disease, diabetes or hyperthyroidism. Be sure to speak with your vet and let them know of your concerns. They will be able to assess if your cat needs medical care.
Keep the water away from your cat’s food bowls
A lot of people don’t realise this but many cats don’t like their water bowl to be next to or near their food. This is believed to be based on cats’ hunting instincts and the separation of water from sources of bacteria. Similarly, it is reported that many cats don’t like the smell of food while they drink water.
If your cat’s water bowl is near its food, try moving it elsewhere in the room or house.
Keep the water away from your cat’s litter tray
Similarly to the above, it is important to keep your cat’s water away from their litter tray. Unsurprisingly, cats don’t like to drink near where they go to the toilet. There is a contamination risk of putting water sources near litter trays so please ensure they’re kept well apart.
Experiment with the location, positions and angles of the water bowl
Even when a water bowl is away from food bowls and litter trays, a cat can still be picky about whether or not it will drink from it. Busyness, noise and feelings of safety and comfort in the area are all considerations.
Try putting your water bowls in quiet places where your cats can drink in peace. Also try areas where the cats have a good view of their surroundings while they drink, this may instinctively make them feel safer and more comfortable.
Small things like these could make a big difference to your little friend’s drinking habits.
Keep your cat’s water fresh
As we have mentioned, cats can be very picky creatures. We may think that we can leave a bowl of water out for a few days or more and our little furry friend will continue to drink from it. This is often not the case.
Keep the bowl clean and replace the water regularly, ideally daily. You may well see that this results in your cat drinking more regularly.
Try running water (taps and cat water fountains)
If you have only tried providing your cat with water in a bowl, running water could be the solution. Many cats prefer to drink running water and some will not drink water at all unless it is moving.
The reasons for this go back to their natural instincts. In nature, still and stagnant water is usually dirtier and more odorous than running water whereas running water is cool, clean and fresh.
If your cat isn’t drinking enough water, allow them to investigate a running or dripping tap to see if they play with or drink from it. If they do, drinking from taps and water fountains could be the solution for your kitty.
Test different water bowl materials
Water bowls come in a variety of materials including ceramic, plastic, glass and stainless steel. If your cat isn’t drinking from their water bowl, it may be because they don’t like the material. Try a bowl of a different material and you may see an improvement.
Stainless steel is often considered the best material for cat bowls because of cleanliness and durability benefits. That said, stainless steel may not be your cat’s favourite, selective as they are. Many cats enjoy a ceramic or glass bowl.
Whatever material you go for, be sure to keep the bowl clean and replace it if it gets damaged. A damaged bowl can be hazardous for your furry friend.
Try different water depths and bowl depths
It’s an easy thing to not consider, but the depth of your cat’s water bowl, or the depth of the water within it, can impact whether or not your cat will drink.
Cats’ whiskers are sensitive and many cats don’t like their whiskers to touch the water bowl as they drink. As such, you may find that shallow bowls and bowls filled to near the top will result in your cat drinking more water.
Older cats, bigger cats and cats with medical conditions often prefer tall or elevated bowls. The ideal height of water sources for cats can make drinking water more comfortable and less painful for them.
Make sure you have enough water bowls or fountains
Another interesting quirk that comes from feline instinct is that cats seek water from multiple sources. Putting all your eggs in one basket, or all your water in one bowl, so to speak, could work against your cat’s preferred behaviour.
If you have one cat, try multiple bowls or fountains in different rooms throughout the house. If you have more than one cat, try using more than one water bowl each.
And on that note…
Have multiple water bowls for multiple cats
Some cats may share a water bowl with other cats but it cannot be expected. If you have more than one cat and only one water bowl, this could be why one or more of your cats refuses to drink.
In instances like these, try increasing the number of water bowls or fountains you have to see if it results in your cats drinking more water.
Try different temperatures
Another thing that varies between cats is their preference of water temperature. Many cats prefer cool water whereas others enjoy water at room temperature. If your cat isn’t drinking water at room temperature, try cooler water like running water or water that has cooled in the fridge.
You can also try adding some ice to your cat’s water to see if that makes it more appealing to them.
Try different types of water
Water straight from the tap is the obvious choice for your cat but it isn’t necessarily the best option. Tap water contains chlorine which may be putting your cat off drinking it. Chlorine evaporates from tap water over time. Your cat may prefer drinking the water once some chlorine has evaporated after a number of hours.
You can also see if your cat prefers water that’s put through a water filter or bottled water. As temperature is a consideration, you can try these cold and at room temperature to see if your kitty has preference.
Another option is rainwater. As rainwater comes from a natural source, it’s a first choice for some cats (even if you’d rather it wasn’t). You can try collecting rainwater in a bowl or tray to see if your cat prefers it to tap water. Remember to keep the collection tray clean and ensure the water is fresh.
Feed your cat wet food as a source of water
This tip is particularly relevant if your thirsty cat currently only eats dry food. Wet food is a good source of water for a cat and, unsurprisingly, contains a lot more water than dry food.
If your cat isn’t drinking enough water, try increasing the amount of wet food that makes up its diet. There are a lot of tasty and healthy wet foods on the market. These make for good options from nutritional and hydration standpoints as well as being delicious meals for your puss.
You can also experiment with adding additional amounts of water to your cat’s meals. You may find they still enjoy eating them while consuming a bit more water each time they eat.
Add some flavour
Your cat may drink more water if a bit of flavour they like is added to it. Drops of tuna and salmon juice (from foods packed in water, not brine) as well as low-sodium chicken broth (no onion or garlic) are known to add a bit of taste to water that some cats enjoy.
Specially made cat milk is also worth trying as a treat for your kitty. If your cat enjoys drinking it, it may help to keep them hydrated (although you should consider dietary guidelines as is the case with all cat treats).
If your cat seems to only drink cat milk, you can try gradually diluting it over time to increase the percentage of water in the drink.
Please remember to consult with your veterinarian regarding dietary guidelines and advice on your cat’s diet.
How to Get Your Cat to Drink More Water – Wrapping Up
Outside of the obvious factor of whether or not a cat has access to water; medical conditions and cats’ preferences are both factors in whether or not your cat is drinking enough water. Cats can be picky and it may well take a fair amount of trial and error to find the best conditions to get your cat drinking more water.
The location, temperature, taste, cleanliness and movement of water can all impact whether or not a cat drinks it.
Give some of our suggestions a try and see how your cat reacts. They may well be lapping up more water in no time!
Finally, please always remember to consult with a vet if you are concerned about your cat’s hydration and for help, advice and guidance regarding your cat’s diet.
For more help and advice on cats, please see our other cat articles.
