Cats drink more water when it matches their preferences. Proper temperature, clean running water, multiple bowls, and suitable bowl designs can encourage hydration.
Pay attention to these details to get your cat to love drinking water! 1. The right water temperature Test your cat’s preference for cold and warm water. In summer, they generally prefer slightly cooler water, while in winter they prefer slightly warmer water. In theory, water around 35°C—which is close to the body temperature of their prey—is what kittens prefer. 2. Preferred Water Quality You can test options like bottled purified water, tap water, filtered water, and cooled boiled water. From a health perspective, cats may not have a clear preference; however, mineral water with high calcium and magnesium content is not suitable for daily consumption. 3. Running Water Cats naturally prefer running water, which is why they often sneak sips from toilets or kitchen sinks. You might try a water dispenser, but be sure to clean it thoroughly and replace the filter regularly.
4. Increasing Water Stations Place several water bowls around your cat’s usual activity paths and favorite spots. The goal is to ensure that whenever your cat feels even the slightest urge to drink, water is right in front of them.
5. Choosing the Right Water Bowl Studies show that shallow, wide bowls that don’t press against a cat’s whiskers are more suitable for drinking. However, since cats these days have such unique preferences, it’s worth expanding your options: dark or light colors, various hues, ceramic, clear glass, or stainless steel; deeper or shallower bowls; and flat or slanted rims.
