Help, I have messed up my cat’s drinking...

[LadyButton]

Dcat has never obviously drunk much water. We have always had a bowl available for her, but hardly ever seen her use it. With the weather changing she has been inside so much more and I worried she wasn’t drinking enough so I bought a filter fountain thingy. I’m not sure she has been anywhere near it.

I put the bowl back but today I spotted her drinking out of a bucket on our back doorstep that has collected rainwater, and leaves etc.

I have now cleaned out the bucket and refilled it (only a few inches, just to where it was when she was drinking from it).

What can I do to encourage her to drink in the house? The kitchen has underfloor heating so it’s possible the water gets warm which she might not like, the water outside in the bucket was definitely cold!

Our cats liked fetid buckets of water around the garden, a dirty puddle, my glass of water (only one of them) occasionally the communal dogs water bowl where all three have sat waiting in a queue for a drink, oh and the tap in the bathroom basin (same cat that likes peoples glasses of water).

Is the water fountain next to the food bowl as apparently they like their water to be away from their food.

My kitten won't drink out of his bowl- his 3 bowls I might add. He drinks from taps, he's currently in the bath drinking remnant shower water 🤦🏽‍♀️ his favourite place to drink tho is out of my glass, can't remember the last time I didn't share a glass of water with him

For Xmas though I'm getting him a fountain 😻