How To Get a Cat To Drink Water

To get a cat to drink more water, consider the water’s freshness, type of bowl, temperature, and location. You can also feed a diet with a higher water content, and check in with your vet to rule out any medical issues.

Fresh water is key. Water dishes are prone to developing mineral deposits and yucky slime. (Even if the water looks fine, it might not be fresh—and your cat will know the difference!)

Dishes with standing water should be cleaned daily with sudsy hot water. Water fountains tend to stay cleaner for longer, but should still be cleaned once weekly. (More on those in the next tip.)

Pro Tip: Some plastic water containers can also hold onto odors and bacteria, making them less desirable compared to ceramic, glass, or stainless steel.

Cats love moving water because it tastes fresher—and because they’re naturally drawn to moving water sources, just like their ancestors. A bowl with a fountain or stream feature constantly rotates the water, making it a more desirable option compared to standing water.

It can take a couple of days for your cat to get used to a drinking fountain, but they’ll likely end up loving it. Leave a bowl of standing water out for them while they adjust to the new fountain.

Cats’ whiskers are sensitive, so they may refuse to put their faces deep into their water bowl to avoid hitting the sides of the bowl with them. Keeping the water’s surface as high in their bowl as possible eliminates that issue.

Pro Tip: Large, wide, and shallow bowls are preferred by kitties. This allows them to lap up water without their whiskers rubbing against the bowl, which can feel uncomfortable.

If you have multiple cats, you should have multiple drinking bowls—at least one for each cat. Some cats can be territorial, and will prevent other cats in the home from drinking out of “their” bowl.

Keep your cat’s water bowl in an ideal space. Cats will object if their dishes are placed next to the litter box or in places where they don’t feel safe. Aim for a non-cramped space that’s quiet and out of the way of household traffic, yet still easily accessible to your cat.

Pro Tip: If you have multiple floors or your house is large, try placing water dishes in different locations throughout your home to make drinking more convenient for your kitty.

Some cats dislike tap water because their sensitive noses and  taste buds can pick up tastes and smells in it that aren’t apparent to humans. Consider giving them filtered or bottled water instead.

Room temperature water works great for some cats, but others prefer cooler drinks. You can add a couple ice cubes to cool their water down and see if they drink more as a result. Bonus: Many cats enjoy playing with floating ice cubes, so you’re likely to witness some cute playtime.

Incorporating wet food or snacks into your cat’s diet can help them get more fluids.

Some dry foods also have higher water content than others. You can compare water content by looking for the moisture percentage in the list of nutritional information on the package. Most dry foods have a moisture content between 5–15%; canned foods typically have a moisture content between 70–85%.

As always, speak with your veterinarian about the ideal diet for your cat, as certain wet foods can worsen medical issues such as dental disease.

Cats may stop consuming as much water as they usually do if they aren’t feeling well physically or emotionally. If you notice a sudden decline in their drinking habits, consult your veterinarian right away.

No matter how dehydrated you think your cat is, never force them to drink water. Even if you get a little in their mouth, it likely won’t be enough water to help them feel better, and it can create an aversion to drinking water. In dire cases, your vet can administer fluids intravenously (IV).

As a general rule, cats need about 1 ounce of water per pound of body weight every day. So, if your cat weighs about 10 pounds then they should drink about 10 ounces of water, or about 1.25 cups per day. Smaller cats require less, and larger cats require more.

Additional factors may increase this daily requirement, including:

• High temperatures
• Dry climates
• Physical activity
• Medical conditions, especially kidney or urinary bladder disease, diabetes, diarrhea and constipation
• Certain medications

Proper water intake supports stomach, intestine, kidney, and urinary tract health. Poor hydration, on the other hand, can contribute to kidney disease, bladder stones, and urinary problems, among other concerns. So, if you suspect your cat’s not getting enough fluids, it’s important to take action.

It may be impossible to tell exactly how much water your cat is drinking. (If only there were a measured hydro flask for felines!) The good news is that most pet parents don’t need to know the exact amount—it’s more important that you monitor their general drinking habits so you can notice changes that may indicate health issues.

There are a couple different methods you can try:

• Keep track of how often your cat goes to their water dish—and note whether their frequency increases or decreases. If your cat’s going to their dish more often, it stands to reason that they’re drinking more!
• Monitor the water level in your cat’s bowl. You can eyeball the level before your daily refills or measure the amount of water left in the bowl before you clean it each day. Just keep in mind that water will evaporate and/or splash out during the day, which will affect that measurement.
• Use a smart water dish. These devices connect to your cellphone and can help quantify water consumption. For example, the Petlibro Dockstream Cat Fountain delivers notifications to your phone about the water level.

In the same way cats are very picky about their litter boxes (and rightfully so!), they tend to get finicky when it comes to their water situation. Common reasons why your cat isn’t drinking water include:

• Dirty or old water bowl
• Your cat prefers running water over still water
• Their water bowl is in an undesirable location
• Uncomfortable bowl shape
• Not enough bowls
• Inconvenient to get to their water
• Illness

If you’ve worked through the steps above and your cat still won’t drink, contact your vet.

Be on the lookout for these signs of dehydration:

• Reduced energy levels
• Weakness
• Constipation
• Hard, dry poop
• Reduced urination
• Dry or sticky gums
• Sunken eyes
• Decreased appetite
• Loss of elasticity in the skin

If you suspect your cat is dehydrated, contact your vet. They can run tests such as blood work and urinalysis to determine if that is the case; if so, they can administer fluids via IV or offer tailored solutions to ensure your cat is drinking enough water.

Getting your cat to drink water is sometimes as simple as swapping out the water dish, switching up the location of the bowl, or increasing how often you clean their current dish. If the above doesn’t seem to do the trick, or you suspect an issue with your cat’s health, consult your veterinarian so you can get to the bottom of the issue.