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since we're talking about cats

8 years ago

Have you ever heard of this? We moved in October. Ever since the move our cats are all drinking out of the toilet or wanting to drink from the faucet in the bathroom. DH has just been confounded by this. We use the same dish, wash it every day before filling with fresh water, etc. I've been making a point of being sure the toilets are open because I want them to get enough water but it's too weird.

So we're pondering this weirdness and I said the only thing I can think of that is different is in our other house all of our water was softened - even the kitchen cold because the water had so much iron in it. Usually the kitchen cold is not softened because you use it for drinking, cooking, etc. So I said maybe they don't like un-softened water though the water in our new house seems great to me - no metallic odor or mineral taste that I can tell.

So this morning he decided to fill the water dish from the laundry tub. Short time later he sees one of the cats drinking out of the dish - said it's the first time he's seen a cat drinking out of the water dish in weeks if not months. He cleans and fills the water in the morning and says it never appears that any is gone from day to day.

Have you ever heard of such a thing?

Featured Answer

User

8 years ago

Toilet lids are closed. Faucet drinking is off limits. They are perfectly content with their own water bowl.

Gus is almost passionate about it.

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Comments (48)

bpath
8 years ago
We moved house bringing our cat along, and a year or so after moving she started wanting to drink from the faucet in the upstairs hall bath. She would meow and meow until someone turned it on a trickle. Problem is, she wouldn't turn it off when she was through lol!

She still drank from her water bowl, too.

We never could figure it out.
Holly- Kay
8 years ago
My boys both have fresh water available in their bowl and also access to the dogs fresh water but the love getting their drinks from the kitchen faucet.
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Bunny
8 years ago
I keep their main water dish (large) in my bedroom because Bessie thinks it's humorous to drop dry food in the water near the food dishes.

I always keep the lids to my toilets down (closed). I don't want cats in the toilets, either drinking or slipping and sliding, which can happen, then wet toilet water paws on the seat. Plus, forgetting to flush. It happens.
sas95
8 years ago
I keep my toilet lids closed, too. I don't want my cats drinking from or falling into the toilet. They have no interest in the faucets either. Funny how they all have their little quirks.
User
8 years ago
Do your cats dip a paw and drink off of it? My boy kitty does that and I feel so sorry while watching him work so hard to get a drink. Occasionally he will lap it though. I know they don't like their whiskers touching the bowl so they do have a wide bowl.
Bunny
8 years ago
mayflowers, sometimes Bessie pats the water while drinking. She's such a silly goose.
lascatx
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
I've never had a cat with unusual drinking habits, but my vet cats can be very particular. She said she's seen cats who no matter how hungry they got refused to eat a differnt shape kibble. If they were used to something triangular and needed a special diet, they would have to search for the special diet in a triangular shape. If that's true, I can certainly see them wanting water the way they want it.
gsciencechick
8 years ago
We had one kitty who used to "lounge" by the water bowl like that. He would also try to drink my bathwater. We also kept toilet lids down because of him. Another former cat used to love to hang out in the bathroom sink, but after I got married and moved with DH, he didn't do that anymore.

The current cats have no interest in any of these things.
maire_cate
8 years ago
Thank you - thank you. I knew some of you cat people would post photos for me. I think cats are just photogenic!
User
8 years ago
This is why you should always have water fountains for your kitties ! You should never give them water from a bowl. The only safe water is with a fountain with a filter. http://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Drinkwell-Original-Pet-Fountain/dp/B00063446M
3katz4me
Original Author
8 years ago
Wow - I wonder how my cats have survived for the last 38 years (to the ripe old age of 19-20) without a water fountain! I bet they would like one though not plastic as I've had more than one cat with an allergic reaction to eating/drinking out of plastic so no more plastic bowls/fountains.
cattyles
8 years ago
I use this ceramic fountain. Mine really like it because it has a stream, like the faucet. Mayflowers, one of mine is a paw dunker, too.

http://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Drinkwell-Ceramic-Pagoda-Fountain/dp/B00BD3UN8C/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1458353418&sr=8-1&keywords=Drink+well+pagoda
lana_roma
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
I second the pagoda fountain suggested by Cattyles. Works great for my two cats.

One of them has kidney problems. The vet advised us to get him to drink more, but he would hardly touch a water bowl. Instead, he always asked for tap water. When we got the fountain he loved it!
ravencajun Zone 8b TX
8 years ago
I have a fountain for my little dog. I like it and she loves it. It keeps the water cooler going through the fountain and adds air. I got it at Walmart. It does have charcoal filtration.
User
8 years ago
The pagoda looks like a better design than others for containing water. I only have carpet and hardwood where there's an electric outlet. Their upstairs water bowl is on a plastic lid turned upside down, so that could work.

Here's my little paw-drinker when he was a few months old. He's such a sweetie.

He fluffed out in adulthood!
3katz4me
Original Author
8 years ago
Hmmmmm.....I guess I need to seriously consider a fountain. I know a friend of mine got one for her cat.
sas95
8 years ago
Ours totally rejected their fountain.
bpath
8 years ago
Ha ha, see, that's just...cats.

Since we started feeding our cats mostly canned food a few months ago, they don't drink as much water, they get it as they do in nature, from the food. They don't empty the water bowl any more, and my vet says that's normal.
cattyles
8 years ago
Here is my paw-drinker. Maybe it's a black kitty thing!
3katz4me
Original Author
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Ya I wondered about that - I buy the $80 unit and they don't use it. I was reading about them on Amazon and also wondering about the required cleaning to remove the sludge reviewers mentioned.
User
8 years ago
He is handsome, cattyles! I would have never chosen a black cat, but we promised Gracie a kitten for Christmas, and when we went to the adoption event, there were only black kittens left, our boy and his two sisters. Gracie treats him like her baby even though he's bigger than her now.
hhireno
8 years ago
My sister's ginger is a paw drinker, her first ever with that quirk after having many cats. She does have a fountain for him and his black & white buddy.
User
8 years ago
A fountain would just be asking for trouble with Gus. Even with a raised bowl he manages to skim the water with his paw. Not good when he decides to visit the litter box immediately afterward.
cattyles
8 years ago
3katz- I use bottled water in mine. I change the filter once a month. I wash it with hot water with dawn and a little bleach twice a week, letting it soak a bit and then rinsing really well. I've never had any sludge.

It seems like a lot of trouble for no more water than mine drink. They eat Rad Cat raw and get plenty of moisture from that. But they still love the pagoda and would miss it.
cattyles
8 years ago
Gracie is beautiful, Mayflowers! That picture of my black kitty, Stevie Ray, is from about 2009, before IBD took its toll. He still plays like a kitten in between flare-ups, though.
cattyles
8 years ago
Cindymac, Gus cuddling his water bowl is adorable. I love his big silky paws.
3katz4me
Original Author
8 years ago
I always love the kitty pics!
busybee3
8 years ago

here is just a little experiment... our sweet kitty likes playing with water streams, but seems to prefer drinking her filtered water from the bowl!! :)
cattyles
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
What's her name, busybee? She's darling! Tell her thank you for taking part in the discussion. :-)

And goodness, what a gorgeous kitchen!
amykath
8 years ago
Our cats like to drink out of our cups when we aren't looking or even when we are. They also drink out of their water bowl. We have one outdoor cat who loves to drink our pool water. Cats are very unique!
busybee3
8 years ago
thx cattyles... her name is roxy! sweetest (and easiest) cat ever!!
Danahills
8 years ago
Hummer and Tigger at their favorite drinking spot. Also, they will only drink their water from a glass, no bowl or water fountain.....
cattyles
8 years ago
So cute!
Holly- Kay
8 years ago
My boys jump up at the sink every time I turn on the faucet, especially Simba. He isn't content to just drink though he loves to splash the backsplash by sticking his paws in the water. He is fascinated by watching it splash.
Dianna,, our kitty Boo would only drink out of a goblet with ice in it. My DH thought it was a hoot so he encouraged it.
3katz4me
Original Author
8 years ago
Off topic but do a lot of people allow their cats on the kitchen counter? That's forbidden in our house though I imagine they go wherever they want when we're not around. We don't encourage it or allow it when we are.
cattyles
8 years ago
My cats can do whatever they want except go outside. They are total brats and I wouldn't have it any other way. The counter gets disinfected before any food is prepared.
User
8 years ago
I had a water fountain for awhile when I had four cats. A couple liked it, others didn't. Currently I have two cats. Both would rather drink fresh water from a bowl, so I change the water several times a day and keep the bowls clean. The cat that passed away last year would always get in the shower when I got out, to lick up water. One current kitty likes to dip his paw in and lick off, but doesn't do it all the time. The other likes the bathroom faucet dripping but I'm not going to start that habit - had one before spoiled this way.

Our cats do not get on the counter, but if I'm working at the kitchen table they feel the need to get on top of any paper not near me. Their food and water is on the laundry room counter, so they do get on it and sometimes one gets on the bathroom counter.
Bunny
8 years ago
My cats can do whatever they want except go outside.

cattyles, we think alike. :)

I do not encourage them getting on the counter. In fact, I tried my hardest to train them not to. Nothing worked and I was sick of hearing myself yell at them. I don't allow them in my prep area when I'm fixing food. I don't mind if they watch from the peninsula.

In fact, at this very moment:
PRO
MDLN
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
When I moved to a house on a well, without a water softener, all my kitties wanted to drink was the well water (would sit in sink & tub just waiting for drips). Because of the high iron content, I did not want them drinking it.

So I tried bottled water, which they did not like, and decided that I did not want them drinking that because it was not chlorinated and would be sitting in their bowl for 24-hours, and knowing they dip their paws in the bowl after having those same paws in the litterbox.

Final solution - fill gallon bottles of water at my sisters house, as she has chlorinated municipal tap water. They were OK with that water.

Knowing how critical water is to kitties, I bought 2 different types of fountains; they never used them and were a PITA to clean.

Also add water (~1-2 ounces daily) to canned food to promote adequate hydration, dilute urine and help prevent obesity/diabetes and FLUTD.
User
8 years ago
Do I allow my cats on the counters? I am lucky that they allow me to live in my own home. Those kids do everything but pay the bills :-).
User
8 years ago
Wow, Linelle, you've got a jumper! Almost didn't see him up there!
Bunny
8 years ago
Mayflowers, that's Bessie. She jumps on the counter, then the top of the fridge (thanking me for not doing anything so foolish as having a counter depth fridge, the very idea!!). The leap from the fridge to cabinet top is a leap of faith which Zephyr is not prepared to make. Once she jumped straight down from that spot, and I don't expect that to happen again. That's where she goes when I vacuum.

Marlene, it's the truth in my house too. I don't allow begging for or eating human food.
Holly- Kay
8 years ago
Yep, my boys go where they want to go including the dresser tops and china cabinet top. They will both jump but Toby is a more prolific jumper. I found him eying the library chandelier the other day. We have a cathedral ceiling in that room and the Chaney hangs high but I could tell by the gleam in Toby's eye that he felt up to the challenge. I finally distracted him long enough that he forgot about it but I worry what will happen when I'm not there to distract him.

We had a water fountain for our sweet Tommy before he died. After he died it was just an awful reminder that he wasn't there to enjoy it anymore and the dogs didn't care one way or the other so it's stowed in the garage. We have hard water and it left mineral stains on anything around it but as long as it was helping Tommy I dealt with it.
3katz4me
Original Author
8 years ago
Ya, in spite of our best efforts to keep them off the counters I never put any food or eating utensils directly on the counter. There is always a cutting board between food and the counter.
busybee3
8 years ago
i don't allow her up there when i'm cooking, and she really doesn't hang out on the counters- many other places that she prefers!

but, we have big dogs and often a puppy around so it is really just much easier to have her bowls elevated where she can eat and drink in peace and where they won't eat or knock it! her food is in a gated off room, but her filtered water bowl is by the kitchen sink where it is convenient for both me and her!

i learned many years ago that it is next to impossible to train a cat! i know my dogs follow our house rules when i'm gone, but i would be delusional to think our cat would stay off counters or tables or certain pieces of furniture!
Bunny
8 years ago
I never leave any food untended on my counters, other than an unpeeled banana.

This morning at 5:45, 15 minutes before my alarm was due to go off, I heard several loud piano notes in my bedroom. Zephyr had been on the keyboard and managed to turn it on...default Grand Piano at highest volume. Wakey, wakey!!
sas95
8 years ago
My husband recently left a raw whole chicken on the counter and forgot about it. Went out to do something in the yard for around half an hour. When he came back in the corner of the kitchen looked like the set from a horror movie. And the cats were all wide eyed and innocent looking, but licking their chops on the other side of the room.

Since then, we have caught the cats surreptitiously checking out the counter more often. Hoping for another windfall.

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