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The litter tray

No plain water intake.

18 replies

coleus · 18/05/2016 13:14

I always have fresh water out for the cat but she never touches it. I've never seen her drink from it at all.

She has wet food and pees normally so she's clearly getting it from the food but it seems weird on a hot day she won't drink.

Is that normal?

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cozietoesie · 18/05/2016 13:43

It is. Cats are basically desert stock so process water really efficiently. She'll likely get most of her fluids from the wet food - never work out how much you pay there for water if you want to keep your sanity - but could also be sneaking sly laps from other places (including her water bowl) and you just haven't noticed. Just make sure she always has fresh water available and keep an eye on her poos - if you can - to see that they're not too desiccated.

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coleus · 18/05/2016 13:48

Thanks so much for the reassurance and explanation. Alas I have a perfect view of her poos, she refuses to go outside. All nice and lovely and one every two days.

As soon as she's been she runs at me squawking in a very frantic manner. I interpret the excitement as 'there's a poo in the box!' It's hilarious! All done in a very excited fashion as if it's a total surprise.

Bless. 😀

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lavenderdoilly · 18/05/2016 13:49

One of my two old ladies (now deceased ) developed a UTI. I offered her water from a rabbit bottle and she loved it. Not sure it was the best idea but it seemed to get water in her. The vet wondered if she'd been weaned too soon and had never really got the hang of lapping. Her sister managed it fine so I'm not sure why one was a happy drinker and the other wasn't.

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MrsRonBurgundy · 18/05/2016 13:52

I used to think my cat didn't touch water until I spotted her drinking from my neighbours bin lid. I was mortified and had to reassure them that I do provide clean water for her!

I've had another cat who used to jump in the bath after I'd had a shower and lick the water from the tiles. Odd bod.

They get it from somewhere if they need it, don't worry. She's probably drinking from your loo or somewhere else random (because why would they drink from the lovely clean bowl?!)

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longdiling · 18/05/2016 13:52

My cat never drinks her nice clean water in her nice clean bowl. She prefers to drink from dirty puddles and stick her head in the toilet!!

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coleus · 18/05/2016 13:53

Interesting lavender! This is a 10yr rescue cat. We think she was an indoor cat, she loves running outside every morning into the patio with eyes like saucers. It never seems to sink in that it's not a new experience. We keep her in at night.

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coleus · 18/05/2016 13:55

Oh the shame MrsRon! 😀

It's probably dirty puddles here too Longdiling!

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ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 18/05/2016 13:57

Cats don't like nice clean water unless its out of the glass you are drinking from. They much prefer ponds/puddles/toilets/bottom of the shower...

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lavenderdoilly · 18/05/2016 14:03

Also, don't put drinking water near their food. I think it is some sort of survival thing to do with possibility that food is contaminated. Food may be "off" but water isn't near it so it is ok. Our new girl has her water bowl in the bathroom. Our drinking crazy old girl (now deceased ) also had hers there.
Litter tray is also in the bathroom but it doesn't seem to make a difference. I tried water next to her food and she ignored it.

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coleus · 18/05/2016 14:13

Good tip, it's right next to her food, I'll move it - thanks.

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Toddlerteaplease · 18/05/2016 19:10

All cats I've ever known love drinking from cups. Mine both drink really well from their bowl but when I put an old beaker by the bedroom radiator (to add moisture to the air) they absolutely loved it and drink loads from it. They make it very clear when it's getting empty Grin

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maisiejones · 18/05/2016 19:28

My cat would never drink from his bowl. He decided he would drink from the glass of water on my bedside table. This became his personal supply for many years and I had to take a bottle of water up to bed with me for myself. They are such funny creatures. 😺

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Toddlerteaplease · 18/05/2016 21:44

One of my cats loves to try and drink my tea. If the cup is empty she likes the dregs. I should really get a mug she can't get her head all the way into! Good job she doesn't appear to be lactose intolerant, I have it really milky!

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coleus · 19/05/2016 10:11

Haha! 😀 Crazy cats!

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RubbishMantra · 19/05/2016 11:07

Little Monsieur's a toilet/puddle drinker.

MCat used to try to drink DH's coffee. If any dripped on the floor, he'd lap it up. Sadly for MCat, I'm not a coffee drinker, although I do let him have a smidge of the cream on top of a de-caff frappuccino.

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twilightcafe · 19/05/2016 11:11

My previous two cats loved cold tea. You'd often catch them with their heads in a mug lapping up the dregs.

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beckiwiththegoodhair · 19/05/2016 11:29

Cats are funny buggers, neither of mine will drink from their clean water bowl, but they will nick some from the dogs larger bow on the way past! Lol, or they drink from puddles, or attempt jumping up to the kitchen tap and sticking head under! Strange. I think they don't like their whiskers touching the sides of bowl.

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DigestiveBiscuit · 19/05/2016 15:17

Our last cat preferred the toilet, or licking drops off the wash basin, to a bowl of clean water. Our newish kittens prefer our tea or fruit juice to their water!

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