Cutta Cutta, who inspired the study, belongs to a researcher at M.I.T. Photo Copyright Pedro Reis

If we have been watching our cat drink, we probably have our own theories about how it works for our cats.

And they have probably been completely wrong.

Myself, I thought they flicked water backwards into their mouth, the way I knew a dog did.

While they do use the tip of their tongue, it is even more amazing than I thought it might be.

It has taken four highly qualified engineers and a bunch of integral equations to figure it out, but we now know how cats drink. The answer is: very elegantly, and not at all the way you might suppose.

The cat’s tongue tip touches the water and is pulled up at high speed. This “drags” a column of water with it. The cat then bites the column of water out of the air before it can fall back into the bowl.

See it happen in series of images.

Writing in the Thursday issue of Science, the four engineers report that the cat’s lapping method depends on its instinctive ability to calculate the point at which gravitational force would overcome inertia and cause the water to fall. PDF link

The scientists also used a machine to mimic a cat’s lapping, and some number crunching, to figure out exactly how fast a cat should lap to get the maximum amount of water into its mouth, and how much that rate should vary by the size of the feline.

The cats, it turns out, were way ahead of them — they lap at just that speed.

No one who has cats would be surprised by that.

See my article about a cat’s special water needs.

Got here from a Link or Search?
There’s more ways to care for our cat with The Way of Cats than the article you are reading now. See all of my posts on CAT CARE.

Cats should drink more water than they are probably getting now. We can get both of us a fountain.

Here, Olwyn examines the fountain for the first time. We got one with a broad base that was simple to clean. The ball on top rolls around and turns different colors. What’s not to like?

While RJ won’t go near the fountain yet, he is off camera, watching Olwyn intently. Some cats will be cautious about new objects, even if we thought they would love their own fountain! We should be patient and let them discover it at their own pace. I’m sure that once Olwyn demonstrates that nothing bad will happen, RJ will be up on the shelf to investigate before morning.

Olwyn seems to understand that it’s water, yet she still sticks her paw into it. She wanted to know where the water level is, before she tries to drink.

We had always supplemented our regular water bowl with another source, in a different container, which appealed to the cats. But with Olwyn likely to knock something over (and she did, while the fountain was on its way) we wanted something larger and more stable.

In winter, keep adding water to offset the higher evaporation rate in dry, heated, air. If the fountain level drops too fast, it’s a sign we need to get a humidifier for our home.

Cats like running water because they like the way it smells. The turbulence is enough to “outgas” the water and it gives off scent clues to its freshness.

Cats also like it when we mist their kitty grass, and they can lick the “dew” from the leaves. We can also add some water to their canned food to make “gravy,” which most cats like. Every added portion is beneficial.

A diet of dry food, dry winter air, or a bout of not feeling well can leave a cat dehydrated, and more vulnerable to illness. As a cat grows older, they are less sensitive to their thirst signals, and need to be encouraged with special water attentions.

Within a few minutes, Olwyn found her favorite place to drink; from the lip where the water spills over.

It’s fun to watch her. Very Zen.

I was once asked how to keep a person’s cat from drinking at their desk fountain. I replied that it is not possible. Running water is too attractive to a cat. I told them it was great that they and their cat enjoyed it. That is how it worked out.

If a floor level unit in the kitchen appeals to us, we can get a Pet Fountain designed to keep water running in a type of bowl the cat might already trust. Some of these have filters built into them; it’s a nice feature to look for.

No matter what kind of fountain we have, do not put anything in the water to disinfect or otherwise contaminate it. Cleaning it at regular intervals, and rinsing well, is how we keep any fountain clean for the cats.

Many manufacturers recommend distilled water, but this can leach minerals when drunk in quantity. Filtered water is good for both pump life and cat health.

Offering our cats the kind of water they like is a good investment; in their happiness, in their health, in what it says about how much we care. This aspect of cat care is often overlooked.

Yet it can also be simple to do well.

For more Zen type fountains, see the wide selection at Simply Fountains, and here’s the one we picked.

One woman built her own for her Persians, to keep their bibs and faces dry. It’s lovely and customizable for any decor.

Got here from a Link or Search?
There’s more ways to care for our cat with The Way of Cats than the article you are reading now. See all of my posts on CAT CARE.

I have a filtering pitcher at home because I like the way the water tastes. Should my cats be drinking it too?

Dear Readers,

Yes.

moar humorous pics

If the filtered water tastes better to us, then it will taste much better to the cats. Cats not only have highly sensitive taste buds, they also have a special relationship with their drinking water.

When we remember cats were originally from the desert, their fascination with water becomes clearer.

This does not mean we should duplicate desert conditions for our cats. Cats benefit from having good water sources. Both in their overall health, and in their behavior.

If we do not provide enough good water sources, in their opinion, they will draw on their desert behaviors to seek out new sources. This is what puts their head in our water glass. If the cat is asking for “drink!” then make sure they have something they like.

Cats love running water. It triggers their reassurance that the water will be clean enough to drink. Cats have limited ways of clearing toxins in their body. They are fussy because they must be extra discriminating about what they take in.

So cats will hang out by faucets or jump in the tub where they have seen the water running. Even if we do not investigate cat fountains, we can reassure the cat about the quality of their drinking water by making it as fresh and clean as possible. When the cat sees the bowl being filled from a running source, instead of just appearing on the floor, the cat feels better about their water.

This explains the attraction our own drinking containers have for many cats. As much as possible, serve the cat their water from their own version of our mugs and glasses. Pour their water from the same source they see us drinking from.

They notice.

Got here from a Link or Search?
There’s more ways to care for our cat with The Way of Cats than the article you are reading now. See all of my posts on CAT CARE.

Cats do sweat, but only through their paws. Cats do pant to cool off, but only if they are dangerously overheated. A cat’s favorite method of cooling themselves off is to stretch out on their back, creating opportunities to radiate heat from their bellies, and then stay very still so they do not generate more heat internally.

more cat pictures

I find it incredibly funny on hot days to come into a room and find cats scattered around like in the opening scenes of the old science fiction movie, Village of the Damned. (See the one with George Sanders, not the remake.) Fur’s insulating qualities work to keep heat out, as well as keeping it in. Cats might wash more often to keep cool, since liquid evaporating from their fur is a good cooling method.

Without their fur, cats would be prone to being sunburned, just like people. Cats are especially vulnerable to sunburn if they have light colored ears or nose, or if their fur is thin. Orange cats lack melanin, and can be prone to sunburn even if their fur looks dark to us. If we have a long haired cat and want to clip them for the summer, don’t have the cat shaved for this reason. Ask for a lion-cut so they won’t be trapped under too much fur, but also have enough to act as sunscreen.

It’s important to keep plenty of fresh water available for the cat. The extra grooming they might be doing to keep cool will make them thirsty. Put some ice cubes in the water; some cats really like that. Drinking colder water works for them as it works for us.

We might find the cat more interested in water play on hot days. They can be drawn to the tub or shower after we’ve finished because the cool water feels good on their paws. See if they like being petted with a wet washcloth. Once they realize it makes them feel better, they might come and ask for it.

The tub doesn’t have to be wet to draw cats. The cool enamel of the tub or sink, a marble door sill, or the glass top of the coffee table have the ability to draw heat from the cat’s body, and they might find these surfaces irresistible. Even cats who normally stay off the kitchen counters can find themselves caught between impulses of being good, and being comfortable. If the cat chooses a poor place for their cooling, don’t just chase them away. Find an equally good place and take them there.

If we are comfortable, the cat should be comfortable. Don’t be surprised to find them under the air conditioner vent or in front of our fan. They use some of the same strategies as we do.

A note of caution: In my experience, cats only pant when they are really overheated, or they have a medical condition that needs quick attention. Such a signal should be addressed by getting them cooled down, either by moving them into a cool room, wiping them down with a wet wash cloth, or getting their feet into some cold, but not freezing, water. If the cat is panting and the temperature is not uncomfortable for us, have the vet give them a checkup.

If this is our cat’s first summer, they might, like RJ, be puzzled about why they feel so lethargic. When the weather cooled down recently after a few days of unseasonably high temperatures, RJ became quite clingy, as though making up for lost time. It’s not unusual for cats to not be as cuddly at these times, and anyone who has had a cat on their lap on a hot day knows neither of us can handle it for long. Mr. Bond still cuddles with me on the bed at night, but if it’s hot, he maintains a continuous inch-wide comfort zone between us.

With a little understanding, and a lot of ice cubes, we can both enjoy the summer weather.

Got here from a Link or Search?
There’s more ways to care for our cat with The Way of Cats than the article you are reading now. See all of my posts on CAT CARE.