Kitten reluctant to drink

[BlueEyeshadow]

We adopted Smokey kitten at the weekend - he's about 11 weeks old, and [ps; vc]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]mkjfr just walked all over the keyboard! He's settled in nicely, eating well, using the litter tray, but doesn't seem to like his water bowl. He'll sometimes have a drink if I point it out to him while he's eating, but doesn't seem to otherwise. The fosterer who was looking after him had one of those water fountain things, so don't know if the bowl is just unfamiliar? Don't really want to get one of those though. Any suggestions on how to get him to drink otherwise? He keeps trying to drink tea, coffee, lick condensation off bottles etc, so presumably he's thirsty? Thanks!

[cozietoesie]

What kind of food is he eating, in particular wet or dry?

Why do you object to a water fountain? Is it a space issue?

[Lweji]

If he's having wet food he may not need water. And his licking could be just exploring.
But I'd try the water fountain or encourage him towards a running tap.

[MoonfaceAndSilky]

I think it's a cat thing.
Drinking bowl - no.
Bathroom tap, pond, dirty puddle - yes.
I read that it is inbuilt in them to drink from flowing or rain water so that it is always fresh, so a water fountain maybe the way to go.
I have a fountain for my 3 but they still prefer the bathroom tap

[Papergirl1968]

I used to worry endlessly about our cat not drinking when he was a kitten although I would see him dabbing his paw in. I even tried him on bottled water but it made no difference. Maybe he just drank when my back was turned. Now he is two I see him drink regularly - perhaps he has just finally accepted the bowl!
Perhaps try a different dish - one shallower or made of a different material.

[Toddlerteaplease]

As I've suggested on other posts. Try leaving glasses of water around. Cats live drinking out of cups and glasses. One if mine loves tea.

[tabulahrasa]

If you can point it out while he's eating, it's probably too close to his food.

They usually prefer food and water to be apart and both away from litter trays.

I suspect just out of awkwardness TBH, lol.

[TroysMammy]

Try him with a different shaped bowl. My cat rarely drank out of a round bowl, he preferred puddles outside. I then put water in a plastic takeaway rectangular container and he would drink out of that. Apparently the don't like their whiskers touching the sides. He had no problem stuffing his face out of a round bowl though.

[BlueEyeshadow]

He has dry food most of the time, and wet a couple of times a day.

I don't object to a water fountain as such, it's just that we seem to have bought him most of the contents of Pets at Home already! I will try moving things, and different bowls first, but won't rule out the water fountain if all else fails.

[RubbishMantra]

Mix a couple of tablespoons of water in with his wet food.

Mine likes drinking out the toilet bowl, so I have to be very careful to put the lid down if it's had cleaning products recently put in it.

[NovaArt3mis]

My cat won't drink out of a bowl. Has her own glass on the coffee table which is topped up daily. Bloody diva.

[BlueEyeshadow]

Moving the bowl seems to have helped already - thanks. Will see how it goes. :)

[Lweji]

My vet also advised at some point (bladder problems) to mix dry food with hot water (and let it cool).

[Jeremysfavouriteaunt]

Sorry, I am another one who recommends the water fountain. I am not a big buyer of stuff but this has made my rescue drink much more.

[BertrandRussell]

I never see my cats drink unless it's a heatwave and all available sources of water outside have dried up. So I woildn't worry.