Hi,

I have a new kitten (3 months old - I've had her a few weeks). She only eats dried food but I'm struggling to get her to drink water.

She originally had plastic bowls - food was fine but she wouldn't drink the water. So then I bought ceramic bowls - same.

She will, however, jump on to the utility room worktop and drink out of the metal sink! I can even hear her at night fighting with the washing up bowl!

Any suggestions? Please!

Is the water bowl next to the food bowl? Cats will not drink where they eat. Move the water bowl somewhere else - even a few feet away from the food (like we have). We had exactly the same problem with our dry food addicted puss until I read this in a book. We moved the water and it worked instantly!

Rubbish. We have 9 cats that share food / water bowls & litter tray.All are quite close to each other.
Start them off right & there are no problems.

Not rubbish at all. It is a well-established fact that cats prefer to get their water separately from their food. Fine that yours are all happy with your arrangement but if the OP's kitten is on dry food, water intake is important. As cats don't naturally drink much - their natural meat food sources are high in water - feeding exclusively dry food messes with this balance. And the cheaper dried foods are low in protein and high in carbs which again is not a good diet for a cat. But that aside...

So have you tried putting the ceramic bowl in the utility room, SimonP? If she starts going out (not till after she's been spayed, ideally, so you don't get a kitten producing kittens) she'll probably make her own water arrangements via rainwater, puddles, etc, but in the meantime I'd try moving her water bowl - which is easy to try.

A lot of cats don't like the smell of the volatile chemicals (from being treated to make it suitable for us to drink) that come off 'fresh' water so you may also be seeing her expressing her preference for water that's been standing a while and which therefore smells better to her.

I don't necessarily agree with keeping the water bowl somewhere else, but in the case of my cat this bit is definitely true.

You could try her on rainwater. Make sure the water bowl is thoughly rinsed out so no detergent residue is left - cats sense of smell is far better than ours and she maynot like the smell as Normandie points out.
See if she likes to drink from a slow running tap - if she does then investing in a water fountain maybe the answer.

I would be concerned about dehydration. You could give wet food meantime.

some dont like tap water

something to do with the chemicals in it

you could try catching rain water - should be easy to be atm! and see if she will drink that

Charming.

You're wrong, however, as I have read this in many cat behaviour books. We had exactly the same problem with our cat, who will eat nothing but Royal Canin. Tried using rainwater, bottled water and wouldn't touch it - preferring rank puddles in the garden. Shifted the water bowl and she went to it instantly, and now always drinks after food. Still drinks in the garden sometimes.

If yours are OK with it, then fine. Don't rubbish tried and tested remedies for those who aren't.

Thanks all! I'm not sure it's the water itself as she'll happy lick the bottom of the sink so location seem to be worth a try. I'll try somewhere a bit different and see how she gets on.

Cat behaviour books !!!!
Will tell you amongst other things they wont share a litter tray.
Tell that to our 9 cats.At times some of them are in there together doing their business.

We had a cat that despite clean drinking water in the house much preferred to drink the nearest puddle or drain lid or some such when he went outside.

That's cats for you!

Well the problem with books is they generalise...some cats will share a litter tray and some wont so if you don't want issues the idea is to have plenty.

As for the water mine is next to my food bowls and the cats will use them however they all prefer the puddles in the pavement, in the kids water table or anywhere outside (I guess with rain water there is no chemicals and maybe they can taste a trace in the tap water but will drink it if pushed). Some prefer running water so if you want the maintenance you can invest in a fountain?

Must be a very fragrant household.

I don't care about your experience - I am telling you that it absolutely worked for us, and immediately. Ours drinks lots of tap water from her bowl, which is about 2M from her food.

tbh OP just try the suggestions from people on here and see WHICH ONE WORKS FOR YOUR LITTLE KITTY

every cat is different and unless you try out things, you wont know

mine has a cat drinking water fountain but prefers to go outside (no matter what the weather) and drinks out of the water fountain out there

my sisters cat demands "tap" from the bath or sink for his drinks and my others sisters cat drinks out of his water bowl next to his food in the utility room!

good luck and keep us posted

trevgo
Our cats live outdoors.

Sounds like you have many bowls. Place one of the bowls in the metal sink and put a little water in it. Once she gets used to drinking from the bowl move it out the sink and towards where you want her to be drinking.

Both Bookend and Gizmo were terrible to get to drink water when they were kittens , the vet recommended a water fountain as cats do like moving water. So go them a fountain they took to it immediately and since then they drink plenty of water

These ones are good and compact the Drinkwell Mini

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...rch_detailpage

My cat prefers water that is in a glass on the bedside table or in a glass in the coffee table... Basically any water I am trying to drink myself... Or water from the patio.

My cat does the same.