Solve our cat's water problem?

[earthgirl]

We finally got a cat a few months ago. She is great, but we cannot figure out how she prefers her water and I wonder if she is getting enough at all. She does a lot of crying at the water bowl and then jumping up on the cabinets, presumably trying to get to the sink. (She leans down, but has not actually jumped in the sink.) She also jumps onto the table and sticks her face into our water glasses and helps herself. I once accidentally spilled some water on the bathroom counter top and she went crazy licking it up. I thought that meant she wanted to drink out of a shallow dish so I went to thrift store and got her one and she is completely indifferent to it. I really just can't figure it out and it's making us crazy. We have tried so many things- running water, shallow dishes, deep dishes, drinking glasses, cold water, room temp water, changing it out very frequently, moving her water away from her food- nothing seems to give her what she wants. She still loves drinking water that I have poured onto the counter, but for obvious reasons that can't be her main source. Any ideas? I know some cats prefer to drink out of fountains with moving water, but I have not bought one because I'm skeptical that it will suit her.

[DoubleDouble]

Originally Posted by earthgirl 

She also jumps onto the table and sticks her face into our water glasses and helps herself.

I really don't want to scare you, but three of our cats who got chronic renal failure started doing that at some point. They had other water sources, but they couldn't pass up on any water. Two of those cats developed a need for running water and kitchen / bathtub faucets. I think the fountain is worth a try. We had a few, this one from Drinkwell is ok, it has standing water and a trickle, but read the reviews on a few - some of them are a pain to clean.

And have her kidney function checked out.

[laohaire]

I think it's safe to assume she is getting enough. I'm guessing her favorite is indeed a little puddle on the counter but it doesn't mean it has to be her primary source or you have to go out of your way to provide it.

Cat weirdness with water is common. My experience:

• My male cat is seriously into the bathtub. When I am taking a bath he will come and drink from it. From the HOT bath water. He also jumps in after DH gets out of the shower and "cleans" it up. When people, including guests, go into the bathroom, he will follow, and if the door isn't latched tightly enough he'll come on in, much to the alarm of the guests. Also, guests report consternation when they are in the bathroom and think they are alone but suddenly hear loud purring from behind the shower curtain.
• My female cat does not drink directly from anything. She'll put her paw in the water and then lick it. She really likes finding abandoned cups of water (bonus find: DD's milk) and she'll do the whole paw-dip routine. However, she's extremely private about it, and we rarely actually catch her in the act.
• The family cat when I was growing up would not drink out of plastic but insisted on glass or ceramic cups. My mom would refresh a glass on the bedside table nightly for him.
• My mom's current cat prefers a specific bathroom faucet to be set to drip. They don't drip it all the time, just when he instructs them to do so.

Anyway, your cat won't die of thirst, she is just really excited about certain presentations. I know you would like to meet her preferences, but I'm guessing it's the countertop spill she likes, and if you don't want to do that, I don't blame you. She'll still invariably get the occasional "treat."

There are many different preferences, but I will say that two factors are probably universal for cats. One is that they vastly prefer glass or ceramic over plastic. And the other is they want it fresh, fresh, fresh.

[starrlamia]

my cat wont drink from his own bowls, but drinks from sinks or the dogs water bowls. Cats are quirky little creatures, and usually get their water intake through food. You can start feeding wet food (even a few times a day) to up her water intake or even add some water to her kibble. Have you tried a fountain?