Where do you keep your cat's water bowl?

[unlucky83]

I've had 'Unlucky' cat for 11 years, before I had another cat who made it to a good age. My parent's have also had cats for years ...and never come across this before.
Taken her to vet today for her injections and general check up - she asked about how much water she drank. I said no idea really - she mainly drinks outside - rarely drinks from her water bowl unless it's been very dry. Occasionally she drinks drips from the shower on the bath (see the pawprints)...but I think prefers rain water to treated tap.
Vet said that isn't the case - cats don't like having their water bowl next to their food - you should keep it elsewhere ....(and that her cats don't like bowls prefer tumblers)...
So have I (and my parents) been getting it wrong all these years? (actually pretty sure when DD1 was helping out at the cat rehoming centre they had their water bowls next to their food bowls...)
Anyone else heard this before?

[Pointlessfan]

Yes I have. Pointlesscat wouldn't drink until we moved the bowl away from his food and he much prefers his own glass in the living room!

[Hurr1cane]

They don't apparently.

Mine don't care. But mine have all been pretty badly neglected in the past (rescues) and aren't fussy

[googoodolly]

Mine have their food and water bowls next to each other in the corner of the kitchen. They both drink plenty so they're obviously not too fussed!

[juneybean]

Juneykitten has a twin bowl so biscuits and water together, juneyboy has his water upstairs in my room and his food downstairs. I had heard recently they don't like it next to their food though.

[shaska]

Ours have one bowl in the kitchen next to the food, and one in a different part of the house, not near food. They don't seem to favour one over the other.

[chemenger]

Food and water on opposite sides of the kitchen, they do drink the water (well somebody does, I have only seen one of them there).

[unlucky83]

Thanks - I guess it must be a recent observation? ...
Right I'm going to move her water and see if it makes a difference to how much she drinks ...
Maybe into the bathroom (waterproof floor) - only problem is that is where I put her litter tray too Don't know if that would be ok or not?
They would be 3 or 4 feet apart (big bathroom) - and she is a tray refuser anyway so only get it out for eg Bonfire night ...when she runs around the house all night, obviously distressed but still refusing to use it! and yes I've tried different trays/litters/ the works...(wish I had still had that level of control - I blame my DCs)

Moving the water would be a good thing anyway - I haven't got a corner for her bowls - an oversight in my kitchen planning - if they do get under the feet, the food is fine but the water goes everywhere!

[givemushypeasachance]

Mine aren't that fussy but seem to like drinking from a jug of water rather than a bowl - perhaps because they don't have to bend down so far? That might be why many like glasses instead of bowls as well. Scummy puddles must just taste nice...

[Ohfourfoxache]

Ours have their own glass on my bedside table

In fairness it keeps them away from my glass (but this has to be wedged under the lampshade)

[unlucky83]

My old cat did do that - drank from my water glass on the bedside table - possibly for years before I actually saw her do it and went into denial - it was the first (and only) time she had ever done it (desperately trying to convince myself still) ...

[Reredos]

Mine don't care where their bowl is so long as the water is from the bathroom tap which I guess must be the cold water tank rather than mains water.

[Pointlessfan]

My cat often demands to be let into our bedroom at night to drink water on the bedside table. I instinctively place a book on top of it when the yowling starts!

[Queenofknickers]

My Aunty puts a special glass of water on bedside table for the cat!

[TalkinPeace]

Zing the compost cat had a pint glass by where she slept in the living room.

No other cat of mine has ever had a water bowl.
That is what the pond is for.

[DraaaamaghAlpacaaaagh]

I knew about the water bowl not next to food bowl thing.

One of our cats drinks from the pond. The other helps himself to any glass of water that might be around, but his favourite water supply is the pot DS3 uses for rinsing brushes when he's painting his Warhammer models. He keeps it topped up all the time just for the cat.

[chockbic]

Has anybody tried a water fountain for their cat or kitten?

The Bengal halfwit I mean halfbreed plays with his water dish. More than he drinks out of it.

[RubbishMantra]

I keep the water bowl at the feeding station. MantraKitten likes shunting the whole thing around the kitchen.

Other places they like drinking from are: the drain in the garden, droplets left in the bath, droplets on leaves in the garden, puddles and glasses of water on the coffee table and bedside table.

Cats are obtuse and awkward.

[ClaudiaNaughton]

Vet told me about separating food from water bowls. Have put one outdoors on a low wall which gets used but main source is the rather dirty stone birdbath.

[HowsTheSerenity]

We bought a waster fountain.
The cats will sit there and whinge if it's turned off.
Best thing I ever bought for the cats.

[googoodolly]

I was thinking about a water fountain - are they really worth it? googoocats think their water bowl is a new toy and I seem to spend half my life wiping water off the kitchen floor, because they don't like getting their paws wet

[RubbishMantra]

Waster Fountain

[HowsTheSerenity]

It has saved us a fortune in vet bills. Dorcas was prone to uti's.
Makes very little mess. You don't have to refill the bowl daily.
We have a drinkwell 360.

[sashh]

Mine prefers water in a glass. I have two at the side of my bed, one full for the cat, one I fill from a lidded jug when I want a drink.

[WitchWay]

Mine use a bowl next to their food if in overnight. Both much prefer the pond & the birdbath though.

[WitchWay]

One likes to drink from a dribbling tab - she lets the water run down her face into her mouth