Cat not drinking

[China Doll]

Hi All,

We got a cat last week from a rescue centre who has settled in extremely well. However he doesn't seem to drink anything at all, (I've seen him drink twice from his bowl on the first day so I know he knows where it is), he's not going outside yet so not drinking puddle water, he doesn't drink from the toilet (lid is always down), his water bowl is always fresh and not overly cold and is left to sit so I don't think it's the chorine. We have also tried different depth bowls/plates and that doesn't seem to make any difference. He has biscuits available at all times and eats 1.5 pouches of jelly or gravy cat food in the morning and evening, he has a great appetite.

He appears totally healthy, in no distress, loves to play, is very active and is very friendly with us. Should we be worried about the fact he's not drinking any of his water? Is it possible he's getting enough from his food? I've generally gone with the feeling that he knows where it is and he'll have it if he wants it but it plays on the mind a little.

Cheers :c)

[Eve]

Nush loves cotton buds too! Mish loves chasing sweet wrappers on the laminate floor and has a thing for tubigrips, she carries them round in her mouth like a kitten!

[nungate]

Jenna, do your cats slide all over the laminate floors? Mine do - often and they frequently forget to duck as they go careering under the dining chairs!
Mind you it doesn't seem to stop them, then there's the "free running" across the entire house when the paws don't touch the ground, sometimes it's like living in a Tom and Jerry cartoon but without the mice - or is it just in this house?

[juhurst27]

yes highly likely,the wet food is as it says 'wet' and most cat dont drink much else while they get that, however i have an eletric cat water filter under the kitchen table out of the way and ill sometimes catch then slurping from that. i think they like it because its away from the general trouroughfare and also because its filtered and constantly moving which cats like.they are quite cheap, quiet and well worth it. i have 8 cats but typically, too i will see them drinking out of a muddy old puddle sometimes when we are all outside just chilling. dont worry. julia

[wolf63]

nungate - I get used as an obstacle in a racetrack when I am trying to sleep at night. The leap onto the bed and stomp all over me and then take off around the rest of the house. They sound like elephants on the stairs. :-)

[nungate]

Yeah, so much for feline grace!

[China Doll]

Eric skids in the kitchen too.

If this works then it should show him conquering his mount everest with his trusty 'ball'... http://s1081.photobuc...¤t=P1010320.jpg

[boxtops]

China, he's lovely - he doesn't look dehydrated! I really wouldn't worry, I gave up putting down water for my boys aeons ago, I just kept kicking it over in the kitchen.... they go outside where there is a big pottery saucer full of rainwater and assorted outside grot, and lap from there when they are thirsty. There is plenty of liquid in pouch food. He looks like a happy boy :-)

[nungate]

He is a sweetie! Henry has white paws so not quite a twin after all! I saw your post about catching a cat. Leave the cat carrier in the same room with a familiar blanket or such inside, then try a few catnip drops and while distracted by the treat, you hold him fast and get him into the box - we tend to hold their two front paws and two back paws and get them into the carrier. Best piece of advice? Long sleeves and maybe a scarf around your neck to prevent scratches. Getting the puss into the box after the visit to vet (or as he is know in this house the tooth fairy never ever mention v-e-t!) will not be a problem they can't wait to get out to the surgery! Having said all that, the only one we have a problem with is Molly - I have the scars to prove it!

[China Doll]

I'm looking forward to him going outside, not for a few weeks yet but he's been out and I've carried him (he's not had his boosters yet), I think he will like to drink out of pots holding rain water.

Next thing I'm not sure about is collars. I hate collars on cats, always have, we've all heard the horror stories and I don't think they're very effective for treatment of fleas. However, we do live near a busy main road, we're set back and it's out front (cat flap is out back) but he's already curious about the noise. I'm wondering whether I should cave and get him a reflective collar with tag? (He's chipped)

[boxtops]

We don't hold their feet, nungate - we just hold the cat at arm's length so they can't kick. It you've got big cats, that just wouldn't be practical, ours are 5.5 - 6 kilos.

[nungate]

Molly is a big girl and that's the only way we can get her into the box by holding her paws together so holding her at arms length wouldn't really work. I just hold her firmly close to me with her paws together and her back legs tucked under my arm and she goes in without too much wriggling - though I have to be quick to close the door as she can turnaround very quickly and is back out of the box again! She's sitting here at my feet agreeing with me - just handed me a paw! She doesn't seem to be sure as to whether she is a cat or not as she chases her tail, growls and hands me a paw - she's quite a gal!

[Eve]

I've always got collars which have elastic and an easy release system so they can get it off easily if it gets stuck on anything and has room for movement should anything happen.

I have tags done, little discs which have their name and my mobile number on (though one has lost theirs!). Got them done in Timpsons. It really worked with Heathcliffe who was such a wanderer and used to get all kinds of texts and calls about his whereabouts. A much quicker way of someone getting in touch with you if they need to than waiting (and sad to say bothering) to get them swept for a chip.

As for catching, try sticking it somewhere not obvious and making out like it's not somewhere for the cat to go and ignore it (staying close), chances are he will be in there like a flash!

[China Doll]

I'm not worried about catching him at all, I think I answered a question about that.

Thanks for the collars information. :c)

[boxtops]

Since we lost Rover, our vet told me that he's now bought a GPS doofit for his cat, and he can track where she goes - I wish I'd had one for Rover but he hated collars and regularly got himself hanging on window handles and branches, so I took it off him. I told this to the vet and he said yes, but at least if his cat got into trouble he'd know exactly where to look for her. Something like this http://www.pawtrack.com/

[boxtops]

^^ He did say it needs charging every few days, which seems to be a bit of a drawback (plug your cat into the USB port, hmmm!).

[China Doll]

I'm not really so worried about him wandering off as I am if he gets too curious about that road, I'm thinking glow in the dark or something.

[Barmaid]

Not read all the answers so forgive me if I am duplicating. I had this problem with a cat. Turns out, if you let tap water settle, the chlorine becomes more "tastable". My solution: Buy cheap spring water.

[China Doll]

S'ok BM, we've established he's just fussy and he does drink water if you boil chicken in it first! We've put rainwater out for him now :c)

[Barmaid]

Glad you sorted it. They are manipulative little sods! Welcome to being a Slave.

[Athley]

I see on the bookcase you have covered up Snaggy's 1001 Things to Put in a Seedy Bap !!!!




.................... Eric it totally gorgeous !!!!!!!!! :o)