Allegedly healthy cat won't drink water- anyone had one do this?

[porridgeisbae]

My cat had a liver infection but that's supposedly cleared up now.

He won't drink his water! Ever since he came out of a night in hospital 2 weeks ago.

The vet claims it's my fault for syringing him fluids, but I was syringing him fluids because he wasn't drinking any water, not the other way round.

Vet says I have to leave him to drink by himself, or get back to her in a couple of days if he doesn't.

She made out Naughty and I were hypochondriacs basically.

He's still being a bit picky with his food but seems otherwise well in himself.

Anyone else experienced this?

Did he used to drink water?

One of mine, I've NEVER seen him drink. Ever. We make him 'soup' -ie mash his food up with a load of water. It all goes.

My cat never visibly drinks water. I can only assume she’s drinking from puddles or secretly drinking from her bowl when I’m asleep. Are you sure yours isn’t the same?

I’ve had my cat 4 years. I can count on one hand how many times I’ve actually seen her drink. Cats get 80% of their hydration (or something like that) from their wet food. My vet recently said she’d be concerned if I did report her drinking, as the sudden change would be concerning.

I've never seen any of our cats drink. I expect they find a dirty puddle or bird bath. Occasionally I see one leap from the edge of the bath where we keep a jug full of water but I don't think I've ever seen a cat drink from it.
Very secretive animals.

Cats don't need a lot of water apparently. They can get all they need from wet food, ie in gravy or jelly.

Mine drinks from the bath tap or has lacto free milk. He won’t drink from his bowl. I think I heard they don’t like their food and water next to each other.

I have 3 cats. One I have never seen drink, ever. One I have only ever seen drink out of a bird bath she has to stand on tippy toes and crane her neck to get to. One will only drink manky stagnant water collected in something dirty outside, or clean water out of a human glass while the human screams nnoooooo.

One of mine will only drink from the pond, never fresh water. He is susceptible to bladder issues though so I'll give him the liquid from a can of tuna in spring water, or make him very runny scrambled egg with water

I've caught them drinking from their water about 4 times in about 36 combined cat years, despite them having a fair amount of dry food.

If I wanted to actually see them drinking, I'd have to put a glass of human grade still mineral water on the floor and hide behind the clothes airer for a week on the offchance.

Does your cat go outside?

Same here as a lot of people, I’ve one that drinks, the other I’ve never seen drinking. I was freaking out in the hot weather but she was fine the whole time so possibly yes drinks from puddles and I just haven’t seen

I’ve heard that cats won’t drink water that’s next to / near their food because in the wild they would’ve drink near to where they eat due to potential contamination. I’ve never seen our cat drink from his bowl but he does drink from our dogs bowl which isn’t near where he eats.

Have you tried a cat fountain? Mine definitely prefers moving water. She usually stands in the sink and shouts at me until I turn on the tap and she drinks from that.

You need to put their water somewhere different to where their food bowl is.
My cat drinks out of the bucket of rain water that I’ve used to clean dogshit off my shoes, rather than the nice china bowl of fresh water I provide.

Did he used to drink water?

@TheSpottedZebra He's always drunk water but then, before he was off colour he would have dry food. I read that wet food was better with cats that have triaditis, so he's had that since he was ill.

He won't touch his normal food still, either an everyday dry one or tinned one. Suppose I could give him the normal wet food in a few days and see if he'll lump it now if it's all that's on offer. He's been having posher sachets and now some chicken instead.

Does your cat go outside?

@DaughterNo2 No, I don't trust cats outside as they tend to get run over and/or disappear in my experience.

Everything you've all said is reassuring.

Have you tried a cat fountain?

@WASZPy Not yet. Have you tried one? Are they expensive to run? I tried running a trickle in the sink or bath but he wasn't interested.

I'd collect some rainwater and put it inside... or just leave lots of half drunk glasses of water around then 😁

If it has coincided with the switch from dried to wet food I wouldn’t worry so much. It’s probably just he’s getting more moisture from that now.

Get a small cup of water drink from it put it near him tell him DON'T TOUCH and walk away usually works with mine

Also I syringe water into my cat who gets stress utis he still drinks water I occasionally have to prime the pump and remind him to drink

just leave lots of half drunk glasses of water around then

@DisingenuousBatshittery When he was proper poorly I tried offering him my mug cos usually they love getting in something they shouldn't.

@kokotheguerilla Fab, I'll see how he goes. He seems on top destructive form this afternoon.

@Yobans that makes sense - I have five indoor cats. Not one will drink from their bowl in the kitchen, which is next to their food bowls, unless all other water sources are removed. I just thought they were being extra princesses.
They have a water bowl outside in the catio which is always cold and (full off leaves) that apparently is the best source, followed by the raised water bowl in the upstairs bathroom, next best is the kitchen tap left on dripping just how they like, followed by the bathroom tap preferably whilst being used to fill the aforementioned bowl, and finally the kitchen based water bowl of woe and doom.

@porridgeisbae what about a drop of cat or kitten milk?

@Alphabet1spaghetti2 I was force feeding him Lactol so he wasn't a fan, but maybe he'll like actual cat milk.

Your vet's bring ridiculous. Cars are renowned for bring crap at drinking water.

Ours rarely drinks normal water but she does love a cup of cold tea. lol.

So I sometimes give her "milky water" which is water with a small splash of milk. She will lap that up! She is fine with a tiny bit of normal milk but wouldn't risk it with a poorly cat so would use lactofree milk if you want to try this.

Just bought her a cat fountain as a trial and she's terrified of it! 😂

Cats are weird.

Yes our cat also loves drinking out of our pint glasses. Tried giving her her own glass. Not interested!

My cat drinks water from an old plastic tumbler that I keep on the windowsill in the conservatory.

Her food is in the kitchen.

She won’t drink water anywhere near her food. And would never drink from her bowl.

Leave a glass of water next to your bed. You’ll know that they’re drinking because you’ll get woken up by being trampled over followed by noisy slurping.