Comments on: Dear Pammy, Do Cats Have Special Water Needs?

By: Cat's Friend

Cat's Friend — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 10:07:21 +0000

… then I really don’t know what used to possess a neighbourhood cat of my childhood, who used to make special journeys to drink from our (highly chlorinated) swimming pool. Not the brightest cat in the world that one (but a love bug, which made up for it). My current little friend will, if not stopped, put his nose into whatever I am drinking, coffee, tea, beer, wine, you name it (despite there being other fresh water sources around). I am just convinced he thinks it is all a big conspiracy and that I am expecting him to drink boring old water whilst saving the good stuff for myself.

By: Pamela

Pamela — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 03:20:59 +0000

She is right about the minerals being part of the problem. If the cat drinks enough water, this problem is lessened. The best solution might be getting a drinking fountain for the distilled water so it is always circulating. This is why he asks for running water; his “desert instincts” tell him running water is fresher.

By: Adinda morgan

Adinda morgan — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 02:35:37 +0000

I lost a cat to kidney failure at the age of nine and have since replaced him with a kitten who is now four years old. He had to be put on science diet cd to prevent getting crystals that block him. My daughter thinks that our well water may be the issue and that we should give him distilled water. What do think of her theory? He as well hardly ever drinks from his water bowl but begs for bathtub faucet water.

By: Marg Elmendorf

Marg Elmendorf — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:29:07 +0000

One of the kittens loves to play in the water. He is always putting his paws in the bowl and just moves the water around. And not just their bowl, anywhere there is water, he plays in it. .-= Marg Elmendorf´s last blog ..Dona Nobis Pacem =-.

By: WereBear

WereBear — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:19:53 +0000

–Frankly, I think she just wants the attention of me getting up and turning on the faucet.

I think you’re right. I’ve diverted “drip watchers” to something else I fuss over, but of course, cats are always right

I think Bill has a point with his boy who smacks the bowl around. They like to see the ripples so they know where the surface is. Or, they just like the action.

By: Bill the Splut

Bill the Splut — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 01:23:43 +0000

I’ve tested my tapwater, and it’s as good as it gets. It’s from a freshwater lake 5 minutes from my home.

My first cat decided that she wanted the same water from the leaky bathtub tap. My second learned it from her. The leak got bad enough that I had it fixed. But they still wanted the water in the tub, and they still like to see it poured from the spout.

The water bowl is also in there because my bigfoot boy Byron, for reasons that only he understands, will only drink from a bowl after he’s whacked it around enough to see the water spill. A throwback to the “running water” idea?

By: Abby

Abby — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:35:28 +0000

My cat is fussy. She used to drink from an indoor fountain then decided she wanted to drink from the bathroom faucet. I have tried cups (which she’s used before), saucers, other fountains, and she insists on drinking from the bathroom faucet. I’ve even tried adding a small plant or catnip to the water.

A couple of days ago, the water from the faucet had too much chlorine. When I could smell it, I turned it off and she left, only to urp a few minutes later. She didn’t learn her lesson as she keeps trying to drink from the faucet, even though I’ve given her water from my filtered pitcher. I’m keeping an eye on the water and try to coax her with filtered water, but she still insists on the faucet.

Frankly, I think she just wants the attention of me getting up and turning on the faucet.