Why won't the cats drink out of their water bowl

[shandyleer]

All three of our moggies (mother and 2 sons) refuse to drink out of their water bowl. I've tried using different bowls, different temperature water and always give fresh water twice daily. Instead I catch them drinking out of dripping taps, the toilet (yuk), the jug of water I use to refill the iron with etc. Anyone know why?

Current girl cat nearly got her had jammed the other day drinking out of my water glass. I think they just like ownership of EVERYTHING

ours know which the tap is that is cold in the bath fgs

Just to second moving the water bowl. We were told this and our cats now happily drink from their bowl.

Mine won't drink out of their water bowl (near their food) but they do drink out of a bowl I put on a table for them. They also drink out of taps, etc. Plus any glasses left around.

ours drink from the pond but as it's frozen are reluctantly drinking from a bowl. Our old cats used to drink from bowl but only if it was bottled water, not tap!

I heard about the "don't put their water bowl next to their food bowl" theory recently and tried it -it works!

The bowls are in completely different rooms and I frequently seeing her drinking water now.

ours has a glass of water, won't touch it in a bowl

You can also have an open jug with tap water in it and let it stand undisturbed for several days for some chemical changes, like you would for aquariums.

Ours won't drink out of a water bowl at all. She is also on dried complete food mainly due to stomach sensitivity, so I worry about kidney disease later on if she doesn't drink enough. (I'm not paranoid, there is research that shows dry only diet can be linked to kidney disease according to my vet)

We have a cat water fountain, and problem solved.

I know its not a cat, but my mum's dog prefers to drink out of their fish pond!

Perhaps the smell of the water is something to do with it!

my mum's cat has to have a glass of water left out on the kitchen draining available for him at all times and woe betide if you forget to fill it for him

grrr kitchen draining board

My cat drinks out of the dog bowl...quite often at the same time as the dog!! It is very cute to see the cat squeeze under the dog to reach the bowl!!

my cat never uses his bowl either

I have seen him lapping in the shower - I can't imagine why shower gel is nicer than the taste of fresh water