This past week we decided to try to get Beau to drink more again. We’ve also switched his food onto the Royal Canin Sensitive Stomach in hopes of finding a PH balanced kibble until we can get Beau to consistently eat wet food.
In hopes of raising Beau’s water consumption, we decided to move the water bowls to different areas of the house. At the moment we have one water fountain by his eating station. One in our office and two in our hallway. At first most of his water bowls were placed near his food, but we noticed he really prefers drinking from water bowls that are further from his food. He would walk from his food to our office to drink and then make his way back to the food. At first, we thought this might be because Beau wanted to say hello to us while eating but after a bit more research we found out that it might actually be connected to food being too close to the water.
To my surprise, this is actually an evolutionary trait as water by dead animals is normally contaminated. This is more common for kitties who eat wet food though, but it’s still a precaution I’m willing to take since it’s a super simple change.
So far, it’s been looking good! Beau does seem to be to be drinking more, which we are happy about, but I’m wondering if this could have prevented some of his past UTIs. I’m glad we discovered Beau’s preference, because even if it’s a bit late… every little bit helps, you know?
Do any of your little ones have water preferences? Let us know in the comments below!
MrJackFreckles/Pipo/Angel-Minko says
October 27, 2017 at 2:43 amWe keep our food and water apart, already for years. Pipo love to dip his paw in and drink from that…so all our bowls are large to accommodate that…he made a big mess with the fountain when we had that so it was put away. Now he is drinking out of Dalton’s bowl too…and his own and MJF’s too, MOL!!!
I have two kitties who loved to drink from the tap but not the fountain…go figure!
Johnny Salib says
October 27, 2017 at 10:47 amThat’s too funny! Our little ones hate the tap. Beau actually hates the sink altogether (which is great for me, since it means I don’t find him in there licking dirty dishes), but as soon as the tap turns on (even a little) both run for the hills!
Ellen Pilch says
October 3, 2017 at 6:45 pmI recently read somewhere that cats don’t like their water next to their food, it was the first I knew of that.
Johnny Salib says
October 4, 2017 at 11:18 amRight? I’m actually surprised that I didn’t bump into it sooner!
Crystal Stewart says
October 3, 2017 at 5:09 pmGood Luck Beau. Drink lots of fluids.
Johnny Salib says
October 4, 2017 at 11:17 amThank youuu! – Beau (=^.^=)
The Island Cats says
October 3, 2017 at 4:24 pmUs cats don’t like our water near out food. We have several bowls around the house and a drinking fountain. None of them are by our foods.
You might want to think about getting Beau a fountain. Sometimes the sound of running water entices cats to drink.
Johnny Salib says
October 4, 2017 at 11:16 amWe currently have 2 fountains running in the house 🙂 He absolutely loves one of them, the other one he’s not super fond of.
Mary Bragg says
October 3, 2017 at 2:25 pmI have one cat that will come into the bathroom and look at the sink. I turn the water on to a trickle and he;ll drink for 5 minutes. I’m on a fixed income so getting new stuff has to be a planned purchase. I’m planning on getting a fountain next month.
Johnny Salib says
October 4, 2017 at 11:17 amI haven’t had a kitty who likes to drink from the tap yet, but the videos are sooo cute <3
da tabbies o trout towne says
October 3, 2017 at 12:48 pmdoodz….R food dishez N water dishez is like milez a part…..well, ewe noe we R knot good at math…pluz they R raized up ta chest level sew we can drink standin up ore sittin down in stead oh bee in sorta
scrunched over….my waterz dish iz act shoo a lee a “toy dawg” waterz dish …standz bout 4 5 inchez off de ground…werkz grate !! 🙂
tuna of moon ~~~~~~~♥♥
Johnny Salib says
October 3, 2017 at 2:14 pmOooh, I’ll also look into that. I like our drinking fountains and want many more in the house. They seem to get Beau to drink lots more!
Tamago says
October 3, 2017 at 12:20 pmIt’s great Beau is drinking more! Sometimes I scoop water with spoon and let my boys drink from the spoon. They like it 🙂
Johnny Salib says
October 3, 2017 at 2:11 pmOoo I’ll try the spoon thing! I haven’t though of that
Eastside Cats says
October 3, 2017 at 11:44 amWe’ve tried everything to encourage Angel and Chuck to drink more water, but we always come up short. Glass bowls, ceramic bowls, wide bowls, tiny bowls, fountains, multiples, different water, ice cubes, cold or warm, upstairs, downstairs…all we get is a big NOPE!
Which is why I add a generous amount of filtered water to their canned food at every meal.
Johnny Salib says
October 3, 2017 at 2:11 pmThat’s definitely a good way to get liquid into them. If you ever cook with bones, I’d make them broth too. That has done us wonders!
mommakatandherbearcat says
October 3, 2017 at 10:59 amI’ve heard this before – that cats like water bowls further away from their food. It’s funny how food and water bowl placement can change what the cat eats and drinks so drastically. A couple years ago, we had ants around Bear’s food bowl. I moved it from the family room where we spend most of our day to the bedroom in the back. Bear dropped 1.5 pounds (much needed BTW). I don’t know if he’s getting more exercise walking up and down the hall or if it’s a matter of the food bowl not being in front of him most of the day anymore … but I’ll take it!!!
Johnny Salib says
October 3, 2017 at 2:10 pmThat’s great to hear! Hopefully it will help Beau lose weight too… he has gained quite a bit being on his vet diet 🙁