This time, I’ll share how I tried various things to get my kitty to drink water.
My spoiled little boy
We currently have a boy cat estimated to be about two and a half years old, a boy cat estimated to be about five and a half years old, and a grandma cat estimated to be over fifteen years old. The two-and-a-half-year-old has a free-spirited personality, so he drinks water whenever he wants and is healthy. Grandma already had bad kidneys when she was rescued, and she gulps down water at home too, but she still doesn’t get enough fluids and needs weekly IV drips. Incidentally, our 14-year-old male dog is blind and cannot detect odorless water, so we mix water into his food to ensure he stays hydrated.
Everyone else is doing reasonably well, but the boy, estimated to be about five and a half years old, is nervous and doesn’t drink much water. He’s also quite large, and his urine sometimes becomes concentrated, so the vet has told us to make sure he drinks plenty of water.
When he was little, he was kept outside, so I don’t think he drank much tap water. He originally lived in the countryside where my wife’s family home is, so the water there was clean. Now it’s city tap water. I think he just doesn’t like it. Plus, maybe because he only ever got dry kibble when he was young, no matter how delicious the wet food everyone raves about is, he always ends up saying he wants his dry kibble.
Key Points to Focus On
Take note of water quality
It’s been a while since people started buying delicious bottled water instead of drinking tap water. While Japanese tap water is perfectly drinkable, I suppose we’ve just become more spoiled. Buying bottled water or installing water purifiers has become commonplace. When bottled water first appeared on the market, I wondered, “Would anyone actually pay money for water?” But now I buy it without a second thought. It costs quite a bit when you buy it from vending machines, though. It’s strange, isn’t it?
Cats are the same. Especially since my five-and-a-half-year-old is from an area with pristine natural water. It’s no wonder she’s resistant to tap water.
Initially, the water from the water purifier would spoil quickly, so in order to prevent that, I placed tap water in the water bowl. I switched to using water from the same purifier as for humans and changed it frequently.
In fact, many cats seem to drink more water just because of this. Some cats are sensitive to the smell of chlorine or impurities that humans might not notice. And many cats prefer freshly poured water. In this way, they’re just like us humans.
Even so, my spoiled little boy wouldn’t drink it.
Focusing on containers
People have their favorite mugs or beer mugs, right? It seems cats have preferences too.
Originally, I had just one ceramic water dish. After hearing from the vet that he might have preferences, I added stainless steel and plastic dishes, bringing the total to three. When we lived together at my wife’s parents’ house, he often drank from the stainless steel dish, so I thought that might be his preference, but it turned out not to be the case.
Some cats seem to start drinking when you change their container. In fact, Grandma Cat used to drink from a ceramic bowl, but now she seems to drink the most from a plastic one.
The boy I most wanted to drink this showed no change.
Pay attention to the location
Placing water bowls in various spots seems to work well. Just like humans, cats have spots where it’s easy to drink and spots where it’s not so easy. Even if they’re not terribly thirsty, if there’s a water bottle on the desk, they might naturally reach for it.
Similarly, when playing or moving around, if water gets in their eyes, they probably think, “Might as well drink it.” We scattered some around as much as we could, but it only made the other cats start drinking it.
Run the water
As a last resort, I introduced a fountain. It’s a special fountain equipped with a water filter, designed to make it easy for kitties to drink. Since it flows constantly, many cats seem to prefer it.
It cost a pretty penny, but no one drank from it. My fussy little boy freaked out at the flowing water and could only manage to sniff it. He always avoids the fountain.
Flowing water tends to stay relatively fresh, so it’s generally preferred. But it didn’t seem to suit my little boy.
It was an excellent product, quiet with almost no sound other than the flowing water, but it had no effect.
Focus on the water temperature
Cats seem to have preferences when it comes to temperature. Generally, most cats prefer water at room temperature or slightly warm, like body temperature. While some cats do like cold water, it may not be good for their health.
Indeed, humans can get an upset stomach if they suddenly drink cold water. Since cats aren’t very good at regulating their body temperature, it’s important to be careful.
My nervous little boy seemed to have reasons beyond just the water temperature.
I learned a lot.
In the end, it didn’t really work for my sensitive little boy. The main takeaway was probably that I learned a lot by talking to the doctor and doing my own research.
But don’t worry. Our neurotic, spoiled little boy is staying hydrated. He sticks his face right into the mug humans are drinking from. Seems he wants to drink the same thing as us.
When he’s truly thirsty, he’ll meow in the kitchen to remind us, so I think he’ll be fine. Unaware of our worries about things like urinary stones, he walks past several water bowls and meows for fresh water—this spoiled little boy is just too adorable.
Cats are originally desert animals. They possess the ability to efficiently utilize the water within their bodies. However, as family members, we worry about things like urinary stones and kidney disease. By understanding your cat’s preferences, it seems many cats will drink more water. Trying various methods might help you find the approach that suits your unique cat.
Oh, right. To check if your cat is getting enough water, pinch the skin from the back of its neck to its spine. If it springs back immediately, it’s fine. If it takes time to return, your cat might be dehydrated.
If you notice any unusual changes, please consult your veterinarian. Some cats, like my elderly cat, may require weekly IV fluids. Early intervention is crucial for both humans and cats.
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