Why do cats prefer to drink running water?
Cats are curious creatures by nature and enjoy playing in water while staying mostly dry. My mother, who isn’t a cat person, once called me in dismay while pet-sitting Seamus; she explained that she had to leave the bathroom sink on a slow drip to get him to drink enough water. Otherwise, she never saw Seamus at the water bowl and was worried he was getting dehydrated. I reminded her that cats are desert creatures; they have specially designed kidneys (extra long loops of Henle, if you really must know) to help concentrate their urine and absorb as much water from their kidneys as they can. You hardly ever see cats sitting at the water bowl as much as a dog does for that reason. Personally, I know that Seamus loves to run into the bathroom after I’m done showering to lick up all the extra water. While his kidneys are fine, he likes the variety of different-tasting water (maybe he likes the essence of Dove body cleaner) from a different surface. No need to freak out and leave every faucet on for your cat – that would dramatically increase your water bill and make Al Gore very upset. Most times, healthy cats prefer to drink out of a dripping faucet just for variety, although a plain bowl of clean, fresh water will suffice just fine.
If, however, you notice that (a) your older cat is hovering constantly by the water bowl, (b) he is trying to lift the toilet seat to get a drink, (c) the clumps in the litter box are bigger than the size of your head (or his!), or (d) you’re constantly refilling his dish, bring him to a veterinarian for some blood work and urine testing to nip any medical problems in the bud. That’s because there are some diseases such as diabetes, hyperthyroidism, kidney failure, or feline lower urinary tract disease where thirst and water balance (and hence your cat’s ability to stay hydrated) are impacted; in these situations, it’s imperative to treat the underlying disease and also to ensure that your cat is drinking even more water than normal. Since some cats will drink more out of kitty water fountains (where the water is constantly trickling, like a melodic stream), these gadgets are beneficial if your cat happens to have any of those scary-sounding diseases above. I’d recommend that you run out to your local pet store to get a fountain if your cat is diagnosed with one of these medical conditions – it’s worth it!
Photo by pasotraspaso from Flicker
If, however, you notice that (a) your older cat is hovering constantly by the water bowl, (b) he is trying to lift the toilet seat to get a drink, (c) the clumps in the litter box are bigger than the size of your head (or his!), or (d) you’re constantly refilling his dish, bring him to a veterinarian for some blood work and urine testing to nip any medical problems in the bud. That’s because there are some diseases such as diabetes, hyperthyroidism, kidney failure, or feline lower urinary tract disease where thirst and water balance (and hence your cat’s ability to stay hydrated) are impacted; in these situations, it’s imperative to treat the underlying disease and also to ensure that your cat is drinking even more water than normal. Since some cats will drink more out of kitty water fountains (where the water is constantly trickling, like a melodic stream), these gadgets are beneficial if your cat happens to have any of those scary-sounding diseases above. I’d recommend that you run out to your local pet store to get a fountain if your cat is diagnosed with one of these medical conditions – it’s worth it!
Photo by pasotraspaso from Flicker
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