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Cats naturally don’t drink much water as they have a low thirst drive, which means they don’t feel the need or urge to drink water as much as we humans do. Because of this, cats are prone to dehydration.
Cats should drink between five and ten ounces of water, depending mostly on their weight and diet.
Cats are very picky when it comes to water. Some cats prefer to drink from the tap because it feels more natural than drinking still water.
Here are some reasons why your cat isn’t drinking water:
Water bowl is too small; cats don’t like for their whiskers to touch their water bowl.
Your cat doesn’t like the material which the bowl is made of.
Your cat prefers to drink from the tap.
Water is too cold or too hot for your cat’s liking.
Your cat doesn’t like the location of her water bowl. If her water bowl is near her litterbox, she may stop drinking.
Water isn’t clean. Make sure that you change out her water daily.
Your cat is sick. Health issues such as kidney disease, diabetes, and heatstroke can cause your cat to stop drinking water. If your cat isn’t drinking water, you should take her to the vet ASAP.
How Do I Tell if My Cat Is Dehydrated?
Symptoms of dehydration in cats are sunken eyes, dry mouth, constipation, skin elasticity, and panting.
You should take your cat to the vet if she displays any of these symptoms.
It can be hard to tell if your cat isn’t drinking water because you may never see her lapping away like her water bowl like a dog. After all, cats naturally don’t drink much water.
What Should I Do if My Cat Isn’t Drinking Water?
If your cat gets a clean bill of health from your vet, you can now try changing your cat’s bowl, moving it to another location, or allowing her to drink from the tap.
If your cat prefers to drink from a moving water source, try purchasing a motion sensor water fountain for cats.
Changing your cat’s diet to wet food or adding water to dry food can help ensure that she gets enough water throughout the day.
Works Cited
“Cat Won’t Drink Water: Potential Causes & Emergency Cases,” American Vet,
“Reasons Why Your Cat Should Drink More Water,” Hill’s Pet, 1 Jan 2018,