[milmol]

Originally Posted by MarellaK

Cats drink what they want to drink and most cats don't drink very much, particularly if they eat wet food which has a lot of water content. My vet says that a sign of a sick cat is a cat who has started to drink more than it normally does.

If you want to be sure your cats are getting enough fluid I would take a gamble on the pet fountain. Somebody posted a link to Amazon on another thread where the Catmate version (which I have) is on special offer at around £20. My cats love it though it did take them a few days to get used to it and I was starting to think I had wasted my money - I spent the full £30 last year. Those of us who have cat water fountains seem to find them very good - I can't see any posts from anyone who's bought one and regrets it.

Is your cat flap fitted now? My cats drink a lot outside too, mainly in warmer weather, but I'm fortunate to have an outdoor fish pond with a waterfall and water filter. There's plenty of water around at the moment with the snow starting to thaw a little.

Thanks MarellaK once again - your posts have been so reassuring these last few weeks! Yes the flap is in - went for the microchip one and had a new back door to fit it in! these little darlings are leaving me broke!! good job they're worth it!
They've both been through it but this is not the weather for getting them use to it - 1 they aren't incentivised to go out and get wet & cold in the snow, and 2 its already getting dark when I get in from work and I really don't want them out in the dark yet.
I think I am just stresing about anything and everything at the moment, so the drinking thing I probably just need to leave them to it.

[MarellaK]

Originally Posted by milmol

Thanks MarellaK once again - your posts have been so reassuring these last few weeks! Yes the flap is in - went for the microchip one and had a new back door to fit it in! these little darlings are leaving me broke!! good job they're worth it!
They've both been through it but this is not the weather for getting them use to it - 1 they aren't incentivised to go out and get wet & cold in the snow, and 2 its already getting dark when I get in from work and I really don't want them out in the dark yet.
I think I am just stresing about anything and everything at the moment, so the drinking thing I probably just need to leave them to it.

Yes, I agree that this is not the weather for encouraging cats to go outside. I am a vocal supporter of letting cats outside, if they want to, but I seem to be the owner of 3 indoor cats at the moment!

I worried so much when I took on my first cat Tabitha, I was back and forward to the vet for every little ailment, I bought loads of cat advice books (no internet back then, for me anyway) and was constantly fretting when I was at work and it was raining or snowing even though Tabitha had a cat flap and was a highly intelligent and sensible cat who hated bad weather.

I don't seem to worry so much about my current cats probably because I am more experienced now - but I still worry if they seem under the weather or are out for longer than normal.

There's nothing wrong with worrying or asking questions. I have learned a lot over the past few years from some very knowledgeable posters. I actually learned about cat water fountains from this forum as well as the microchip cat flap (I've always had a magnetic flap since 1995 and I actually also had to buy a new back door when I moved into this house ).

I'm sure you're looking forward to better weather. My cats love being outside with me when I'm gardening at the back and front of the house, I'm sure they think I go outside with the sole purpose of playing with them.

[milmol]

I really dont know what I would have done without this forum!!!

[Northcroft]

I got a 10 month old kitten/cat
She doesnt touch water where she eats in the kitchen, but I give her pouches of Whiskas and she loves the Tesco biscuits.
She goes outside all day and I did see her earlier eating snow

[Susan_A1951]

A great forum - and such an informative thread!
I have had my rescue cat now for three years and during that time, have never seen him drink anything and it does worry me. He doesn't like milk. I put a water bowl beside his food bowl and change it every day - but it is never touched. Because of this, I feed his exclusively on wet food - and he licks off the jelly, but usually ignores the meat. So hopefully he is getting enough liquid through his food.

After reading this - I am seriously looking at getting a water fountain - but have a feeling it will sit there unused. Otherwise, he seems in very good condition.

[LYNN(E)]

years ago our family had a cat she died 1972 a week before her 20th birthday & she would only drink milk a real fusspot
but it didn't do her any harm
back in 1953 when we got her there was no fancy cat foods she lived on Coley & the occasional tin of Top Cat the only cat food she'd eat !! & a daily "Tibs" vitamin tablet
So I wouldn't worry too much hope your cat lives a long & happy life

[LoopyDog]

I sometimes boil chicken for my dog. I keep the water and put it aside for the cats. They love it.

[milmol]

Originally Posted by LoopyDog

I sometimes boil chicken for my dog. I keep the water and put it aside for the cats. They love it.

Ooh good idea.
I am much more relaxed about the drinking thing now thanks to everyone on here. You just base your opinions on your previous experience, I guess, and my childhood cats always drank plenty of 'ordinary' milk (we were oblivious to the harm!) and my only other cat liked drinking water.

I didn't help the situation by giving them milk when they arrived home and seeing them love lapping it up
Still, I'm learning all the time!!

[Nesta Robbins]

I think just always leave out a bowl of water and if he/she seems healthy don't worry. Funnily enough in all the 9 years we've had her, until the other day, I'd never seen our second cat drink any water - and would have assumed he didn't like it, until this recent cold weather. I think they must get enough moisture in their cat food and outside, eating grass and whatever else they get up to. It's only when it's all frozen with the dry atmosphere indoors that they seem really thirsty.

[ffawkes]

Not sure why the obsession with giving cats milk.

They don't need it (in fact it can be harmful) - just leave out water in a bowl and change it daily, if they're thirsty they'll drink it , if they're not they won't. They might be getting water from their food or out of puddles - leave them to it, they know what they need and where to get it better than you do!

[milmol]

Originally Posted by ffawkes

Not sure why the obsession with giving cats milk.

They don't need it (in fact it can be harmful) - just leave out water in a bowl and change it daily, if they're thirsty they'll drink it , if they're not they won't. They might be getting water from their food or out of puddles - leave them to it, they know what they need and where to get it better than you do!

You're not kidding!!! I just wish they could tell me & help me out a bit!

[Nesta Robbins]

Originally Posted by milmol

You're not kidding!!! I just wish they could tell me & help me out a bit!

Ah Milmol - they're little rascals aren't they and give us more to worry about in this bad weather. Mind you, they are so clever and enterprising, it's amazing how they "find a way!"

My two are outdoor cats, but I got them a litter tray for this bad weather. They refused point blank, preferring to poke their heads out of the cat flap to survey the white wilderness! Squeezing themselves right up against the wall of the house, they both tentatively and daintly tiptoed around the outside where there was just a tiny one inch gap, without snow remaining - carefully ensuring their precious paws remained as dry as possible. Then after doing the business, must have thought, b*gger that and just belted back in the house, faster than Usain Bolt!

[MarellaK]

Originally Posted by Nesta Robbins

Ah Milmol - they're little rascals aren't they and give us more to worry about in this bad weather. Mind you, they are so clever and enterprising, it's amazing how they "find a way!"

My two are outdoor cats, but I got them a litter tray for this bad weather. They refused point blank, preferring to poke their heads out of the cat flap to survey the white wilderness! Squeezing themselves right up against the wall of the house, they both tentatively and daintly tiptoed around the outside where there was just a tiny one inch gap, without snow remaining - carefully ensuring their precious paws remained as dry as possible. Then after doing the business, must have thought, b*gger that and just belted back in the house, faster than Usain Bolt!

My Bernard and late Tabitha looked absolutely horrified when I produced a litter tray for then during a bad spell of snow about 3 or 4 years ago. They did exactly like yours

[dollymarie]

One of mine isn't so keen on the snow, the other I've had to beg to come in because he's bouncing about like a loon out there

[Northcroft]

I think I've got the hardest 10 month old kitten/cat in the area.
She was fast asleep on a block of ice at 3pm, and was still there snoring away at 10pm, and didn't really want to come into the kitchen where she sleeps at night.
Her coat was freezing, her paws were freezing, and she was struggling when I carried her indoors.
Madness

[VOICEINTHENIGHT]

Originally Posted by dollymarie

@voiceinthenight

Sorry but why are you letting them drink from the loo considering all the yucky things that go down there.

Also don't you ever put bleach down the loo to clean it? Bleach will poison the cats!

I am not as stupid as you made me out to be in your post. The lid (seat) on the loo is usually down to stop this habit but if you know kids and cats. enough said!

[thefairydandy]

Originally Posted by ruthiebabie

Try filling mugs and placing them around the house. We did this after Missy was diagnosed with cystitis. She sniffed them, ignored them and then as soon as we weren't looking started drinking from them! Like the bucket person I forget sometimes it looks odd to new visitors as to why Ive mugs on the floor with water in them. But it works for us.

I would second this and say also that cats are not very fond of drinking near where they eat or poo, so make sure your waterbowls aren't near either. Our cats drink outside, but only started taking water from the bowl after we moved far away from their food, and refreshed it regularly.

[annette kurten]

lots of cats won`t drink water from a bowl, mine drinks from the tap or a puddle but never a bowl.

[Lost_Soul]

One of my cats doesn't drink a lot but she goes mad when i open a can of tuna in spring water, i drain it into a bowl for her and she drinks it all...she wont eat the tuna though?!!

[susie-4964]

Originally Posted by Nesta Robbins

I think just always leave out a bowl of water and if he/she seems healthy don't worry. Funnily enough in all the 9 years we've had her, until the other day, I'd never seen our second cat drink any water - and would have assumed he didn't like it, until this recent cold weather. I think they must get enough moisture in their cat food and outside, eating grass and whatever else they get up to. It's only when it's all frozen with the dry atmosphere indoors that they seem really thirsty.

I agree. Our indoor cat drinks from his bowl, taps, etc., but the outdoor one doesn't. I assume he must get water when he's foraging outside, he seems to prefer the "mature" variety!

[mcflooze]

Neither of mine will drink from a bowl, but lap it up if it's in a glass. Classy kitties.

[malaikah]

Originally Posted by dollymarie

Sorry but why are you letting them drink from the loo considering all the yucky things that are in there!!

cata are very fussy This is simply demonstrative of how spotlessly clean voiceinthenight keeps their pan!

[topcat3]

get whiskas cat milk its lactose free it wont upset their tummy

but they dont actually need loads of fluids, cats dont drink much water

[mabbus-cattus1]

My cat wouldn't drink tap water from a bowl inside the house but if I put the same bowl of water outside by the back door he used to drink from it.

[milmol]

this thread has been really enlightening. both cats are still refusing water in their bowl in the house but enjoy cat milk ... they definitely love it but thanks to this thread I know I don't have to spend a fortune keeping their bowls full of it!!! Their water bowls are there if they need to drink and they also go outside now so the milk is more of a treat