Why do cats drink dirty water? What about chloride and fluoride?

Image: DALLE-E 3

Cats may drink dirty water due to a variety of reasons:

1. Proximity to Food: Cats instinctively avoid water sources that are too close to their food. In the wild, water sources near dead animals can contain bacteria, so cats tend to drink water as far from their feeding area as possible.

2. Plastic Bowls: Plastic containers can get scratched over time, allowing bacteria to build up in the small crevices. Cats have sensitive noses and taste buds, and they may refuse to drink clean water if it’s in a contaminated bowl.

3. Bowl Shape: Cats dislike lapping up water from bowls where their sensitive whiskers touch the brim. The shape of the bowl can therefore be a factor.

4. Preference for Running Water: Some cats prefer running water and may seek out alternate water sources if they’re unhappy with their assigned water bowl.

5. Old Habits: Cats have been living alongside humans for thousands of years, but they still retain some of their wild instincts. This can result in odd habits, like drinking dirty water.

6. Chemicals in tap water - see below.

Remember, it’s important to provide clean, fresh water for your cat to ensure their health and well-being. If your cat continues to drink dirty water despite having clean water available, it may be worth consulting with a veterinarian.

RELATED: Bottled water or tap water for your cat?

Some more reasons:

• Dislike of Bowl Location: If the water bowl is too close to their food, cats might avoid it due to an instinct that tells them water near food could be contaminated, as would be the case in the wild with animal carcasses near water sources.

• Sensitivity to Bowl Material: Cats have sensitive noses and may detect bacteria in scratches of plastic bowls, leading them to avoid the water even if it’s clean.

To encourage your cat to drink clean water, consider providing multiple water sources, using wider and shallower bowls, and keeping the water bowl separate from the food bowl. Additionally, regular cleaning of the bowl to prevent bacterial build up can also help.

Does the chlorine or flouride in tap water put cats off drinking it?

Chlorine and fluoride in tap water can affect cats differently. While most municipal water sources treated with chlorine are safe for cats, some cats may dislike the taste of chlorine and ammonia, which could deter them from drinking tap water. Letting the water stand for a while before serving can help, as chlorine evaporates off over time.

Regarding fluoride, it is generally safe in the levels found in tap water, but high levels of fluoride or other minerals could be harmful if consumed in large quantities. Cats can typically drink any plain water that’s safe for humans, including tap water. However, if you’re concerned about the quality of your tap water or if your cat seems reluctant to drink it, you might consider using filtered water to remove chlorine and other chemical elements.

It’s important to ensure that your cat stays hydrated, as not drinking enough water can contribute to urinary problems in cats. If you notice your cat is avoiding its water bowl, you might want to try providing water from different sources or consider a water fountain that provides running water, which many cats prefer.

How can I tell if my cat is drinking enough water?

To ensure your cat is properly hydrated, you can monitor their water intake and look for signs of good hydration. Here are some tips:

• Monitor Water Intake: A general guideline is that cats should drink about 1–2 millilitres of water per kilogram of body weight per hour. For a 10-pound cat, this translates to roughly one cup of water daily.

• Check the Litter Box: Observe how often your cat uses the litter box. Most adult cats urinate two or three times a day. If you notice a decrease in the frequency or amount, it could indicate insufficient water intake.

• Physical Signs: Look for physical signs of hydration. A well-hydrated cat will have moist gums, and their skin will quickly return to place if gently pinched (known as the ‘skin tent’ test). A dehydrated cat may have dry gums and their skin may not fall back as quickly when pinched.

• Behavioural Signs: A healthy cat will have a good appetite and energy levels. If your cat is lethargic or has a decreased appetite, it could be a sign of dehydration.

If you’re concerned about your cat’s water intake, consider placing multiple water bowls around the house, using a cat water fountain, and ensuring the water is fresh and clean. If you suspect your cat is not drinking enough or shows signs of dehydration, consult your veterinarian for advice tailored to your cat’s specific needs.

P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.

TNR volunteers feeding cats need to put down WATER with the dry food

This may be common sense to many volunteers and it may be the norm but I think it needs to be said just in case. Pretty much the only type of food that I see being put down for stray and feral cats is dry cat food. 

This is for the obvious reason that is much more durable particularly in hot climates. It doesn't go off rapidly. This means that all the cats can take advantage of the opportunity to feed. 

But the problem with dry cat food is that it leaves the cat mildly dehydrated. In a hot climate the cat might become a little more dehydrated than normal if they solely feed on dry cat food. 

They need water to rehydrate. Even them they'll probably be slightly dehydrated as cats are poor drinkers and don't fully compensate for the lack of water in dry kibble. 

Dehydration can lead to illnesses such as cystitis because the urine becomes less dilute which in turn encourages a bacterial bladder infection which is cystitis. 

The potential to developing cystitis is exacerbated by stress. The life of a stray and feral cat is stressful.

The food for stray and feral cats should also be put down for a set period of time. That is probably well known as well. 

The idea here is to avoid criticism from neighbours who believe that in feeding feral cats you are also feeding 'vermin and pests' and unwanted wildlife. 

The compromise is to put food cat down for a limited time which the cats get used to. The cats are fed and the opportunity for wildlife to feed is severely limited. 

This doesn't necessarily preclude entirely wildlife feeding on dry cat food but it hopefully deals with the potential or actual criticism by others. 

There are some people who don't like TNR. They think it doesn't work and that it attracts unwanted animals. 

TNR volunteers need to appease these detractors; to keep them happy if they are to successfully discharge their work.

Michelle Pfeiffer has just noticed that her cat uses her right paw to drink water

Hello Magazine tells us that Michelle Pfeiffer was stunned to discover that her cat drinks water using her paw. Specifically her right paw. It is as if the earth has moved off its orbit. The online newspaper paints the event as if it is the most shocking thing that has happened in history of humankind. But it's just something that is very normal. We see a lot of it.

Michelle Pfeiffer has just noticed that her cat uses her paws to drink water. This is her cute cat. She looks like a Ragdoll, perhaps. Her name is Bella .Screenshot from video by Michell Pfeiffer.

And a lot of people have thrown their hat into the ring to try and figure out why domestic cats like to do this. They want to give her their valuable advice. They say that Maine Coons in particular enjoy drinking water with their paw.

I am not sure that that is correct. Individual cats because of their character might use their paw from time to time when drinking water from a bowl. The habit is not necessary breed-specific.

Enjoy doing it - inquisitive

There might be a specific reason but often times I believe that they do it because they simply prefer to drink water that way. And why not? Humans do it. When humans drink from a stream they use their hands. Admittedly humans don't have feline tongues. The tongue of a cat is designed to "pick" water up using surface tension and inertia. They don't actually scoop up the water with their cupped tongue but employ some fancy physics to get it into their mouths.

When I've seen cats drink water with their paw, I've seen a cat that is entirely healthy and normal. There is no apparent reason why they're doing it. In that case, I would say they do it because they simply want to do it. It's a variation on the usual method. This may be borne out of boredom. It makes drinking water a bit more interesting.

Other reasons

You could theorise on a range of possibilities such as the domestic cat's wildcat ancestor occasionally drinks water this way in order to test it or to be cautious about a potential predator under the water. I've heard that said before.

The classic reason is that the bowl is too small and cats don't like their whiskers brushing against the side of the bowl because they are super-sensitive. Therefore they are forced to use their paw instead. This may, indeed, be a reason.

RELATED: Why is my cat not drinking?

Stimulation

Another thing that you might notice when you see a cat using their paw like this is that they look at the water falling off it. They look at what is going on inquisitively. They seem to be interested in the way the water falls off their paw. There may be something in that. It may provide us with a hint as to what is going on in their mind.

To me, it hints at a need for stimulation. They are injecting something different into their lives and trying to stimulate their brains. They make the world more interesting around them. This is the reason why cats knock an item off a mantelpiece or a table. This is not vandalism 😉. I think drinking water with their paw has the same underlying reason as knocking objects of tables and mantelpieces.

When they knock something of a mantelpiece they watch as the item falls to the floor and bounces. They are creating something which is animated and therefore interests them. I'm driven to conclude once again that this activity originates in boredom and a lack of stimulation.

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My message to Michelle Pfeiffer is to test out that theory by playing with her cat more if she has the time; to see whether her cat stops drinking water with her right paw.