How to turn your cat into “waterholics”?

Often, cats do not drink enough water compared to their water requirement (which varies in weight). Sometimes, cats even drink water from quirky spots like your water cup, dishes, sinks, or toilet, which we, as owners, do not want. Yet proper hydration is essential for preventing kidney or urinary tract illness and overall health. Here are some easy and effective tips that might help your feline friends fall in love with H2O.

1. Make drinking fun

If they are not interested in water, you can try other alternatives. Licking an ice cube can be effective, too, especially in the summer. Encouraging them to explore water with some floating toys (e.g. interacting fish and catnip ball) and freezing treat cubes on water can be more enjoyable for them. Some cats love to drink water from their paws so these ways can stimulate them to lick their paw more often. 

2. Changing the location of the water bowl

They love drinking water from a quiet and peaceful area away from all the chaotic and messy places. You can notice where your cat likes drinking their water from, maybe on the kitchen table, your desk or in a corner. Try placing the water bowl in those areas to evaluate which is your cat's favourite drinking spot. Tips: place water sources away from food and the litter box because they set their boundaries really well. 

3. Clean their water bowl frequently

Cats are sensitive to the freshness of water and can smell the tiniest bit of bad odour in it. Water left unchanged for a long time can easily build up bacteria, mold or even parasites. If filtered water is available in the household, you can use it instead of the tap water to prevent a strong taste. Make sure to change the water every 12 hours and even before you go to bed, because they might only have a thing for water at night. 

4. Use a water fountain

Hunting is a natural instinct for cats. They tend to be drawn to movable objects like string toys and laser lights. A water fountain can be added to their environment to mimic the running water. Also, cats have excellent night vision so still water might not be appealing for them compared to some running source. Often, a water fountain has a built-in filter to improve the taste of the water too.

Content: Phoebe Leung

Design: Phoebe Leung

References: 

https://www.betterpet.com/learn/how-to-make-cat-drink-water

https://nekoya.co/how-to-get-your-cat-to-drink-more-water/

https://stud.epsilon.slu.se/16993/1/Alipourmazandarani_F_210701.pdf