Get your cat to drink more water!

by Leigh
(Martinsville, VA)

This is a 2 second, no money tip. Simply move your cat's water source a few feet away from their food source.


A friend of mine explained the reason for this is cats out in the wild tend to think their water near their food is contaminated so they won't drink near the food.

I moved my cat's water just a couple feet away from his food dish and now he drinks a lot more!

Comments for Get your cat to drink more water!

Average Rating starstarstarstarstar

Click here to add your own comments

Jun 21, 2014
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Cat myth Milk vs Water
by: Debra Halborn

I grew up believing the ridiculous myth that Cats drink only milk, dogs drink only water; for thru childhood, milk in saucer was always left out for kitties, and water bowl for pooch, Snoopy. But the cats continually drank from Snoopy's water bowl, or from a dripping bathroom or kitchen faucet. As a mature Cat Mom for several decades, I leave multiple watering places around my property. Place the large, acrylic bowl part of a birdbath and set it on the ground; keep it filled to the brim w/daily water; hose out the greenish algae every morning. Kitties will purr-r with thanks. In winter, de-ice the rime of morning frost w/a pot of boiling water. Cats need water all 4 seasons; more so in winter, as cold air holds less moisture, and indoor heating dries out their skin.
Jun 14, 2014
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		water
by: Bonnie Grenier

We do this and it works.
Apr 19, 2014
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		WATER
by: Anonymous

My older cat who passed away.....1st thing in the morning he would wait 4 cold fresh water. But now I have a different cat..I'm gonna try this out!!
Feb 08, 2014
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Feline drinking habits
by: Michel

I have a number of Kitties on my small farm. They do tend to drink away from where they are fed. I provide fresh tap drinking water next to their food. However, some of them seem to resist the clean tap water and will drink from another source, such as an empty container that has captured rain water. Their preference may by due to the fact that the source of the tap water is a deep well with the typical well water taste, whereas, the rain water may taste better. Don't know. I will move their fresh water a wee way from their food and see if it makes a difference. Thank's for the tip.
Jan 07, 2014
Rating
starstarstarstar 		Moving water
by: Jonathan

My cat has a drinking fountain that keeps the water circulating. I found out long ago that they like to drink from a moving source. The fountains are not too expensive and easy to clean, they also have charcoal filters to help remove any chlorine or particulates. They really help!
Jan 01, 2014
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		wish I could find metal tall tumblers
by: Beth

hmm, I'm going to have to check Amazon for that...
Jan 01, 2014
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Many Clean Bowls
by: dgfluffy

Yes, I agree! Have always loved and had cats... my current count is 11. Having 2 Bengals, who love to splash the water all over the place, the laundry room (where the food and a litter box are located) became a disaster. I decided to move all the water bowls into the kitchen (where it is easier to clean and closer to the water source), and we are ALL happier! Now, every morning, the cats wait in the kitchen until I pour fresh water into the bowls, and they immediately drink! They also like the bowls filled to the top, so it is easier to reach. Also, having plenty of bowls helps too! And, it's also best to have metal bowls, as plastic can be toxic and holds bacteria.
Dec 31, 2013
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		I put water in multiple places throughout the house
by: Beth

Hi - I agree water shouldn't be near the food, so I have big plastic water tumblers throughout the house - bedroom, dining room, bathroom...

This way my cats don't have to hunker down to drink, and they seem to prefer drinking standing up.

Occasionally, someone will knock over a water tumbler (but it's only water, for goodness sake).
Dec 22, 2013
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Thanks for the tip!
by: Anonymous

I moved the water away from the food and immediately my cat started drinking more water. Who knew. Thanks for the tip.
Dec 21, 2013
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Water for Kitties
by: David

Yes it definitely seems that cats don't like their water by their food. We had moved water away from the food a long time ago for various reasons, the main reason is they all liked to drink any water that wasn't supposed to be their water, and they really liked to drink out of one of those rock waterfall "relaxation" decorations-which is now out of service from age-we really want another one but it's hard to find that size and they aren't as common. So we got a dog size water dish that has a filter and a "waterfall" type feature that they love! We definitely want at least one more source of water for them, but 2 more would be much better-a few like the faucet water too, but the more sources the kitties have the better!!!
Dec 03, 2013
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Get your cat to drink more water
by: Anonymous

You are spot on! I had read the same thing about putting your cat's water away from their food. So years ago I put a water bowl in the kitchen where I refill it several times a day. It's my cats' fave watering hole!
Nov 20, 2013
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Rehydrated
by: Anonymous

I never realized that they don't like water that close to their food. Guess I been letting them drink from the bathtub for so long I forgot. I purchased a fountain drinking bowl and they won't use it. It is made of plastic and has a small pump.
Nov 19, 2013
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Getting cats to drink more water
by: Amy Dudley

Am going to try this, make's sense. My two cats love drinking water from the bath tub faucet, but will give this a shot, thanks. Amy
Nov 19, 2013
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		The water bowl.
by: Patricia

My sweet kitty has always liked her water bowl in a different location. Her food is in the dining room and her water is in the kitchen. Now I understand. Great information. THANK YOU!!!
Nov 18, 2013
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Water Kitties
by: Diane

I have 5 kitties and all but one will go crazy to drink out of the bathtub faucet! They line up in there to be the first to drink! Several times a day they will have access to clean running water (dripping quickly) from the bathtub. I use a utility table for feeding (I used to have a dog who loved their food more then they do!) and they get canned food 2x a day and kibble is available all day. I have a big water bowl on the floor that gets freshened at least 2x per day. All my cats enjoy drinking water but one especially loves to clean his paws in the bowl of water and I have also seen him scoop water in his paw and drink water out of his paws!!! By the amount of "pee ball spots" in the litter boxes my cats are not in the least dehydrated!
Nov 18, 2013
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		water well
by: Cathy

I have two cats. I bought them a water well, it keeps the water running at all times. My one cat loves to drink the running water out of the tub faucet the other cat I have a bowl of water sitting in the tub and the have a bowl of fresh water in kitchen.
Nov 18, 2013
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		My Cat Drinks More Water
by: Anonymous

When my cat's water was next to her food bowl, she rarely drank it. I decided to put some fresh, bottled water in two tall plastic cups in two different locations up above her food bowl. Now, she drinks after she eats every time. And, in between times, too. I believe she is staying very hydrated. She seems like a very happy kitty, playful and active!
Nov 18, 2013
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Dehydration In Cats...
by: Angel

That information you shared about cats getting dehydrated easily is true & your suggestion of moving the water away from the food bowl is something I did many years ago. I actually wasn't aware of why cats wouldn't drink their water if close to their food but it makes sense. I moved further away because I just thought it was gross to see their dry cat food floating in their water bowl, so I guess I was thinking like them...lol. I found a new cat food that I'm going to try next month that is dry but was suggested on the packaging, to add some warm water to make the dry food softer & more like a stew. Its equal to the cat food brand, Blue Buffalo. I tried that one before & loved it as did the cats. It helped keep their dander at bay which is good for me, as I'm severely allergic to both my cats but refused to get rid of them.

My cats also will drink from the faucet when I'm in the bathroom...I'm sure many of you understand what I'm talking about...lol... Once you have a cat or 2, u are definitely never alone... In fact, you have lost any chance of privacy that you once had...but its all good because our furbabies are very worth losing that coveted privacy...but I digress, both my cats do get plenty of water. I do keep a gallon water container filled with cold water in my refrigerator so they have water whenever they need it. My cats seem to enjoy the cold more than room temperature.
Nov 18, 2013
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Kitties are drinking more
by: Elena

In addition to my two cats' dry and wet food, I am giving them home-made boiled chicken (flaked) with some broth. I can add their supplements to the mix and they like it.
Nov 18, 2013
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Cats Drinking Water
by: Grace

I have three cats and I have 3 water bowls in 3 different places. One in the kitchen, not near their food, one in the dining room on their food tray, and one on the porch where they spend a good bit of their time. Each cat seems to have a bowl they prefer to use.

My Maine Coon Garfield prefers the water on the porch but wherever he drinks he has to play in it first. The other two use the ones in the kitchen and dining room.

I live in Florida and in warm weather, even though the air is on, I put ice in their bowls. They also like to play with ice cubes and then lick them. I try to be very aware of whether they are all drinking as I know they can get dehydrated quickly. They get both wet and dry food on a daily basis.
Nov 18, 2013
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		LAILA LOVES NINE LIVES.
by: Jeannine Denning

My vet advised me to feed my cats wet food only. So that is what I do and she is happy. Her water is about 8 feet away from her bowl of food, and she does drink a lot of water.
Nov 17, 2013
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Two for one
by: Anonymous

I have one, large, food bowl - yes, I feed kibbles. However, I have 2 water bowls, one on the floor for the majority of the brats, I mean cats, and one on the counter top for those who won't drink out of the one on the floor. The counter top one is about 3 feet from the food bowl, but on the other side of a counter top fridge, the one on the floor is about 6 feet from the food bowl. Because I have dogs as well, the food bowl is also on a counter top.
Nov 17, 2013
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Drinking more water
by: Anonymous

I will move the water bowl away from their food. I do no think my cat is drinking enough water. Also will put water in different places for the cat to drink. Hopefully this will help him drink more water. Thanks, Barbara Garabedian
Jun 05, 2013
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Water Glasses work
by: Nadine

I had to set out 2 clear drinking cups on the coffee table for my cats to drink more. They are also drinking out of the tub and bathroom sink.

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to Your Top Cat Care Tips.