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)

[China Doll]

I should also mention that he goes to the toilet regularly and there is no abnormality in his stools or urine.

[ummmm]

Brian used to only drink out of a glass/cup on the work surface. He'd also drink droplets from the sink.

[Buenchico]

Your feline friend is simply getting all of the liquid he needs from those pouches of food. I got a cat from a rescue centre and ensured that he always had fresh water but it was three years before I ever saw him bother to take a drink from the bowl. Similarly, my present cat (who still 'officially' belongs two doors along the road but who lives and eats here!) has never been seen to drink water.

Chris

[Eve]

They aren't always the biggest fans of tap water, especially if he's a rescue cat and used to getting his fill outside.

With the weather being so crap, how about collecting some clean rain water and seeing if he fancies that?

Mine don't seem to drink from their bowl (they always have fresh water available) but they will drink from a dish I have outside to collect rainwater for them.

If he is thirsty enough he will drink. Keep an eye though.

[China Doll]

He plays with the tap in the bathroom if we let it trickle out but doesn't really drink it as such.

That's kind of what I'm leaning towards Chris but just wondered if anyone else experienced differently.

[micmak]

He is probably getting enough fluid from his food. I would withdraw the dried food for now and see how it goes.

[China Doll]

He was previously an in-door cat Jenna, he's never been outside. Rainwater idea is good though, shouldn't be a problem getting that!

[ladybirder]

Next time it rains put a jug outside and catch some rainwater and see if he likes that. I have the same problem with my cat and she has kidney problems. Turns her nose up unless a) it's rainwater from the roof terrace or b) it's what I'm drinking!

[237SJ]

My mum`s cat`s vet said cats are funny things. You can put a bowl of water out for them and they will ignore it, then they`ll go outside and drink from a puddle. He wouldn`t survive without water so he is obviously getting liquid from somewhere so I wouldn`t worry about it.

[kat1]

All our cats at our rescue centre drink tap water. Don't like the thought of cats not drinking at all as this can cause kidney failure later in life. You could try cat milk (please don't use our milk) My late cat always ate grass so got most of her water from that.

[B00]

<<<Is still reeling from CD getting a cat? Is this a new fuzzy warm tender side she's revealing?

Corrrr!

[jackthehat]

She'll be fattening him up for Christmas.........:oP

[B00]

Ahhh yeah, didn't think of that- silly me!

[China Doll]

Thanks for all the answers...

Boobies... I've always liked cats, and this one is a tempremental little s0d who likes to attack snag's toes... what's not to like?! ;0)

[Athley]

Hiya CD - our 2 cats drink differently. The one prefers a diet of biscuits and he drinks quite a lot whereas the other prefers wet food (which has been pointed out as containing a lot of water), so she doesn't drink much at all. They both drink outside though from the water feature in our garden and also from the birdbath (which is probably bird flavoured! so that explains that). I'd only be worried about him if you notice any change in his toilet habits otherwise he's probably OK.

[China Doll]

Hi Athley,

I'm going to call battersea tomorrow and just double check what his drinking habits were like there, if they say he drank loads there then I'll know it's abnormal behaviour for him, if not then he probably is fine. I'm also going to do that collecting rain water idea as think it's a good one, in the past I've had cats who drank water from outside. He'll be going out in a few weeks time.

[old-wos-is-name]

My cat only drinks water from the fish pond or spillage from the water butt. But, if you gently smell the tap water the chlorine/disenfectant smell is overpowering, so to a cat it is probably something akin to petrol.

[NoMercy]

I have heard that rainwater is toxic. Cats are not big drinkers. Alfie started drinking more tap water once i bought a brita filter. Previouy he had only drunk bottled water when we lived in spain.

[Eve]

Mine are still standing No Mercy :)

Hope it works China, I'm not known as the crazy cat lady at work for nothing...I maybe shouldn't admit that should I...

Cats tend to be very demanding when they want something so if all else is fine and he looks and seems healthy, chances are you'd know if he wasn't getting the water intake he needed.

Ps (whispers) I hear catnip and socks go well....

[Arksided]

If the cat seems fine then no problem, I once knew a cat (Mums) that never drank milk as a kitten, fresh tap water was placed every day (West Yorkshire) but never seemed to drink much at all, and believe it when I say he lived to be seventeen (human years) of age. I don't see a problem.