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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

Cat doesn't drink - ever

30 replies

BrendasUmbrella · 29/06/2018 01:22

I always have fresh water out for her just in case she finally decides to try liquids, but it hasn't happened yet.

I'm a bit worried about her in this heat. She only likes biscuits and treats, so she's not even taking in liquid from wet food. And she doesn't want to be in the shade, she sunbathes on paving stones that hurt my feet they're so hot.

She seems totally fine though. Do I accept she's some kind of cat/camel hybrid, or is there something I could do? (I did toy with the idea of physically putting water on her fur so she licks it off, but she's very highly strung and will probably freak out.)

OP posts:
frogface69 · 29/06/2018 01:44

I had a cat like that. No liquids, but she weed in her tray. Then I caught her drinking out of the drain hole cover in the bottom of the garden. I don't think cats wilfully deny what they need. If her fur is shiny and her eyes bright she will be OK. I still always kept water down just in case, like anyone would but I never saw her drink from her bowl in the kitchen.

sakuramiyagi · 29/06/2018 01:48

My cat will only drink from the dogs bowl or a running tap.

Apparently they don't like drinking where they eat food. Perhaps try moving her water elsewhere? Have you tried different bowls? I had a cat who would only drink from clear glasses.

MrsPawsitive · 29/06/2018 01:57

What about one of those water fountains meant for cats? That might get her interest. Even though we have clean bowls of water and large water dispensers all over the place some of our cats will run for a drink at the sink when they hear dripping water.

Water in motion is preferred by many cats and that might be true for yours. If I had a cat who ate only dry food I'd be a bit concerned about her getting enough fluids.

frogface69 · 29/06/2018 01:58

One of my cats drinks from a glass I keep on my coffee table and I thought it was just a foible of hers! So there you go. OP. Or you could try cat milk, but it's expensive and mine have it for a treat.

MrsPawsitive · 29/06/2018 01:59

Yes, I found one of our cats drinking from rain water that had collected in a potted plant outdoors. This was preferable to the clean ceramic dish of water two feet away.

Original poster
BrendasUmbrella · 29/06/2018 10:19

I've tried offering her a saucer of cream but as usual with anything new she came over to investigate then backed away looking repelled. And I borrowed a cat fountain from my DPs mother once, but she growled at it and backed out of the kitchen.

I'll try putting a full glass of water next to me when I read, she likes snuggling up with me then. She looks healthy but I don't know about the peeing situation because she always goes outside.

OP posts:
Toddlerteaplease · 29/06/2018 10:24

My cats prefer human glasses and my friends cats have a glass of water on his secretary's desk.

MsHomeSlice · 29/06/2018 10:30

she'll be drinking something.

I don't bother putting water out specifically because they taunt the dog by using his bowl and bullying him away from it. Girlcat is rarely seen drinking , idiotcat has always drunk quite a lot, especially from the dog bowl.

Also he drinks from festering plant pots in the garden
And licks the shower door.
And drinks bedroom water from people's glasses. Dh says "he never drinks from my glass" and I say "No, of course not dear" ....I am of course lying to dh. :o

IsThisNameTaken · 29/06/2018 10:36

My previous cat never drank water indoors, except from the dripping kitchen tap - I think they find water in all sorts of places outside.
Two new kittens get through almost a bowl of water a day between them and will also help themselves to anyone's water glass that isn't moved out of reach!

Fluffycloudland77 · 29/06/2018 12:23

Mine will drink out of the toilet and the bowl I use to collect water from the spin dryer.

If he’s slumming it he’ll use the bone China bowl I put fresh water in every night.

GRW · 29/06/2018 13:36

Mine have all drunk from the fish tank. I leave the lid open for them. My naughty black girl managed to flick a goldfish out onto the floor. Luckily I saw it happen so the fish came to no harm.

Undies1990 · 29/06/2018 13:39

Mine won't drink where he eats - I leave a glass of water by the sink for him to drink. He prefers that, however in this heat I also leave a plastic cup of water outside for him.

If you are worried about your cat being dehydrated, please see a vet

Pepper123123 · 29/06/2018 13:42

My cats will only drink out of a water bowl if they absolutely have to.

I read once that cats prefer not to drink from water that's near their food because their instincts tell them it could be contaminated with rotting food.

Mine much prefer drinking rain water. I leave a tub in the garden that collects rain water.

Judydreamsofhorses · 29/06/2018 20:45

Mine won’t drink from her bowl at all, but loves a puddle. We usually give her cat milk occasionally as a treat, but she’s been having it more regularly since it’s been hot because I want to know she’s drinking something.

LanguidLobster · 29/06/2018 20:50

Oh they're so bizarre, general advice is to leave out fresh water every day then they reject it and you catch them drinking out of a puddle.

Will cat take to cat milk?

EstrellaDamn · 29/06/2018 20:56

My cat has never touched water, but he'll have a little bit of cat milk every day.

Weedsnseeds1 · 30/06/2018 13:33

She'll be drinking some vile, green, scummy, algal slime from somewhere.
Cats love it! Grin

Magicstar1 · 30/06/2018 13:35

Mine was the same but when I tried cat milk she loved it. So I used to water it down a bit and she drank it fine.

Original poster
BrendasUmbrella · 30/06/2018 17:09

OK, I've put cat milk on the shopping list, I'll pick it up tonight. And I'll remember to keep it well away from food. But I'm betting myself a tenner that she'll do the usual and back away like she just spotted a bomb. We'll see...

OP posts:
Cliveybaby · 30/06/2018 17:17

One of mine drinks from her water bowl most days, the other is like yours and never does! I always freshen it up anyway so she has the option but in 6 years I've never seen her touch it.
She seems fine so I'm not worried...

IheartBruceparry · 30/06/2018 17:20

My cat never (appeared) to drink, then I caught her drinking out of the children's play kitchen sink that they'd filled, gross. So anyway I put cups of water in various places around the house and, lo behold, catch her drinking all the time now! Also put one in the shade in the garden and she has that too. I think trick is nowhere near their food.

AveABanana · 30/06/2018 17:21

Ours have a full fresh water bowl. Just caught one drinking out of last week's manky paddling pool water which is full of dead insects and leaves. I guess the blocked garage gutter (usual favourite) is dry in this heat.

sirmione16 · 30/06/2018 19:25

Similar to pp, my cat only drinks from a glass. Used to be in our bedroom but got knocked over too much so it's in a corner of the bathroom now

MinnieMinchkin · 30/06/2018 19:35

My cat licks up water from the shower tray Confused

smurfy2015 · 02/07/2018 07:00

Smurf cat doesnt seem to be drinking much in this heat wave, she was very letargic (sp) yesterday evening so I put her on a pillow across my knee for positioning and dripped a tiny bit of water between her teeth from that angle from a syringe so at a normal angle and less chance of aspiration.

She perked up after a syringe full and when i offered without putting between her teeth another syringe of water she took it, she went from fractious to calm and then wandered off to eat a load of kibble and then an hour later she got her wet food which is liquidly, the water had made a visible difference in her.

She likes Sheba classic soup which is liquidly so i know she is getting enough all over,

As she has been out playing with her cat friends during the heat, when she comes in i rub her down with a wet facecloth which she accepts and then goes back to the sun to lick herself dry. I also top up her suncream and rub it in for her on her ears and nose as she is a ginger.