It turns out that there are various reasons associated with a cat’s history from the wild that might refuse to drink from their bowl.

Why Won’t My Cat Drink Water From Her Bowl and How To Get a Cat To Drink Water
Here are ten reasons why they do not drink from their bowl.

1. Cats cannot hear the water from their bowl

Cats have a powerful sense of hearing, and the water in a bowl is invisible, making them think it is empty. The sound of dripping and flowing water entices them more to drink it.

This is why it is recommended to get a water fountain for your cat, they will enjoy drinking water much more.

You may be thinking, “If drinking water is important, why won’t my cat drink water from her bowl?” don’t worry because we got you covered.

There are many reasons for this behavior, and in this article, we will mention them and provide tips and tricks on how to get a cat to drink water.

How Much Water Cats Should Drink?

According to a study conducted by Dr.Julia Fritz, DMV, healthy cats need daily between 100 to 130 mL of drinking water per 2 kg of body weight. That means if you have a 1-kg cat, she will need to consume about 50 to 65 mL of water daily.

Notice how we did not use the word “drink”? That’s because cats do not necessarily need to get their daily water needs just by drinking. 

On average, a can of wet food is made up of about 70% to 80% water. Let’s say you feed your cat 100 grams of wet cat food a day.

That means your cat is already ingesting 80 mL of water. On the other hand, dry food only consists of 10% of water; therefore, more water intake should be given to your cat. 

How To Know If Your Cat is Not Drinking Enough Water Daily

If a cat doesn’t drink enough water daily, it could result in pressing complications. Dehydration happens when the normal body fluids, such as water and electrolytes, fall below the critical needs.

If your cat is not drinking enough water, it doesn’t mean they are already suffering from dehydration, but it’s often a fairly common reason or dehydration symptom.

It can be difficult to tell if your cat is dehydrated by just monitoring their water consumption. However, there are telltale signs that you can visually see to know if they are already experiencing dehydration: 

1. Loose Skin

To check if your cat’s skin is loose, gently pull a bit of your cat’s skin located on their shoulders. It should quickly go back to normal placement once released; however, if your cat is dehydrated, their skin will reposition slowly. 

2. Sticky Gums

If a cat’s gums feel dry and sticky, then they are most likely dehydrated. Healthy, hydrated cats generally have moist gums that exhibit their water intake.

3. Lethargy

If your cat suddenly becomes lazy and sleepy more than usual, they are likely to be dehydrated. Other visual signs are if your cat is less playful, doesn’t socialize with people around her, and is less likely to greet you when you arrive home. 

4. Loss of Appetite

If a cat does not eat voluntarily, it is often a crucial sign that there something is wrong with their health, even if it’s not dehydration. Always monitor your cat’s food eating habits and if they don’t eat for more than 24 hours, it is best to go to your veterinarian.

5. Vomiting or diarrhea

A cat experiencing this vomiting or diarrhea will quickly become dehydrated due to the excessive excretion of vomit and bowel that contains mostly water.

6. Sunken Eyes

If your cat’s eyes seem to be sullen and sleepy, it is a sign that they are dehydrated. 

7. Panting

Unlike dogs, our feline friends do not pant. But if they do, they might be overheated that can lead to dehydration.

8. Less Urination

Always examine your cat’s litter box for abrupt changes in urination and elimination. Keep in mind that if your cat is not peeing regularly, it can be a sign of urethral obstruction. 

Why Won’t My Cat Drink From Her Bowl?

There are times when we see our cats drink water from a dripping faucet or your glass on the table, even though you just placed freshwater on their bowl.

It turns out that there are various reasons associated with a cat’s history from the wild that might refuse to drink from their bowl.

Here are ten reasons why they do not drink from their bowl.

1. Cats cannot hear the water from their bowl

Cats have a powerful sense of hearing, and the water in a bowl is invisible, making them think it is empty. The sound of dripping and flowing water entices them more to drink it.

This is why it is recommended to get a water fountain for your cat, they will enjoy drinking water much more.

2. They are already getting hydrated from their food

As we have tackled earlier, most canned wet food contains high moisture content. Additionally, cats from the wild get most of their daily water needs from the prey they eat and rarely need to drink water.

This instinct becomes hotwired with our domesticated cats.

3. Avoid placing their bowl in one corner

Cats believe that facing away from their surroundings makes them easier prey, making them feel exposed and in danger.

4. Instinct tells them that stagnant water is not safe

Stagnant water outdoors is more prone to getting infected by bacteria and has the potential to make cats sick.
Cats believe that running water is free from contamination, so cats will instinctively be drawn to it. 

5. Running water feels colder

Admit it, drinking ice cold water hits differently than room temperature water. This is also true for cats. The temperature of water seems to affect the taste in a more pleasant way for your cat. 

6. It’s too close to their food dish

Cats in the wild eat their prey far enough away from their water source to avoid contamination. For the same reason, cats do not like to drink from a water bowl close to their food bowl.

7. Their whisker touching the bowl makes them bothered

Cats have extra sensitive whiskers and they get whisker fatigue when they touch an object, messages are transmitted from the sensory organs on the base of their whiskers to their brain.

So when their whiskers suddenly touch the edge of the bowl, this can feel overwhelming to your cat.

8. Dripping water is pleasurable to play with

Although cats are known for being hydrophobic, they still enjoy playing with drops of water with their paws. Playing with these water drops makes them feel much safer from it than splashing a big bowl of water.

9. Running water tastes different

Cats can distinctly taste the difference between still water and running water. They feel like running water is more oxygenated, giving it a fresher, more quench-thirsting taste. 

10. Tap water has fluoride

Fluoride is added by the government to tap water reservoirs to reduce the chance of having tooth decay. Although humans cannot taste the added fluoride, cats have a stronger sense of taste, which can be unpleasant for their drinking experience. So it is recommended to always give your cat drinking water.