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The 5 Most Frequently Asked Cat Questions Answered
Why wont my cat drink from a bowl?
And could it be potentially harmful if my cat drinks from a bowl?
I noticed with ALL my cats (and I have 5), that they simply were not interested in fresh water sitting in a bowl for them. I would regularly clean the bowl, offer fresh water, change the bowl itself, but the reaction was always the same, alittle sniff but little to no drinking.
I could see that (when and if), they would drink almost out of urgency rather than at the appearance of fresh water being offered to them.
Considering all my cats have different personalities and different likes and dislikes, to have them ALL react this way for such an important part of their life, I found this very concerning. I knew it would be a common problem.
Why was this happening?
What could I do ensure their health and well-being?
After researching the issue I found some interesting information:
- It is believed cat's primal instincts warn of potential harm of drinking still water. Instinctively they know the water being stagnant is not desirable to drink as it can quickly harbor and breed germs.
- Tap water is also full of contaminants although you may find your pet will happily drink out of a tap when it is dripping or running, tap water in general contains many potentially harmful substances including fluoride which is toxic to animals.
- Actually one of the biggest but least known reasons is to do with their whiskers. If their whiskers are getting pushed and squashed (from the bowl), this causes them great discomfort, even pain. As a result they can develop whisker fatigue which can be distressing for cats. These cats can also become aggressive at meal times. Cats will refuse to drink and sometimes eat, they can meow at you and pace up and down in efforts to let you know about the issue.
- Cats are stimulated more by sounds than sight so the quiet of a still bowl does not attract them to drink.
- Cats do not like their water being close to their food. The food particles can go into the water bowl contaminating the water. The food can also make the water smell. Also ensure the litter box is a safe distance away from both water and food bowls. Kitty litter can easily enter food and water bowls posing serious health risks.
- The position of the bowl can also create discomfort for the animal when crouching down to drink or eat as it is not at an ideal position to support their spine and can also cause vomiting in cats due to the position.

Why water is important
Now firstly, water is essential for cats, and not milk. Milk is now considered old-school and if you are still offering your cat/s milk, it would be ideal to slowly transition them to water. They do not need milk, infact it is argued they are in fact intolerant to milk/lactose so yes water is best.
And honestly water is one of the few essentials cats really need. Apart from food, shelter and love, water is absolutely essential. Which is why cats are considered one of the easiest pets to care for.
Water, fresh and clean water needs to be available for them 24/7, this is essential.
Here are the reasons why:
- Regulates body temperature
- Maintains moisture in eyes, nose, mouth and lungs
- Maintains skin elasticity
- Lubricates joints
- Cushions the nervous system and organs
- Excretion and elimination of waste products
- Overall nourishment and digestion
Reasons why Tap water is unhealthy for pets
- Minerals: Such as iron which is a corrosive and can be damaging to pets digestive organs
- Lead: Consumption in large amounts can cause acute stomach pain, vomiting, and diarrhea in some pets.
- Fluoride: Is toxic and dangerous in high levels. Putting unnecessarily strain on the kidneys to eliminate it from the body. Plus, it can cause cancer in pets – as well as humans.
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Arsenic: Although high amounts of arsenic are rarely found in tap water, ingestion can lead to abdominal pains, sluggishness, or even unconsciousness. No amount of arsenic is ideal.
- Giardia: A parasite transmitted by discharges of fecal waste into water, food, soil, and other surfaces. Giardia can cause diarrhea in animals as well as humans.
- E. coli: Some strains of E. coli bacteria are harmless. But when infected with a dangerous strain, your pet may show symptoms like low body temperature, depression, increased heart rate, diarrhea, vomiting, lack of appetite, lethargy, and weakness.
- Water Hardness: Water containing high amounts of dissolved magnesium and calcium could cause pets to experience urinary health issues, such as incontinence, tract infections, cystitis, and crystalluria (an overproduction of crystals in urine).

How to provide the best source of water for your pets health
Offering your pet a water drinking fountain is the ideal way to ensure your pet is receiving fresh, healthy water.
There are several reasons why having the pet drinking fountain available for your cat, dog or other pet can be an excellent idea.
Cats, (as well as dogs) can stop drinking from standard water bowls for a number of reasons as detailed above, offering running water, naturally attracts them to drink from the water
Cats prefer running water, running water from a pet fountain is oxygenated, preventing harmful germs to harbor and breed as they do in still water
Did you know that cats have a low thirst drive? In the wild, most of a cat's water intake would come from their food, which is high-moisture-containing meat, so they do not naturally have high thirst. However they don't receive this moisture from their pet food which may cause or exacerbate a myriad of feline health problems for indoor, domesticated cats, including urinary tract and kidney diseases. The fountain encourages them to drink more
With the encouragement to drink more provided by the drinking fountain, pets hydration requirements are more likely to be met, potentially reducing the risk of numerous health issues
Water fountain being at the right height supports the pets posture, making it comfortable to drink
Water fountain does not obstruct the cats whiskers making drinking comfortable and reducing the risk of whisker fatigue
Check out: https://pettish.co/fountain
The benefits of the Fountain of health
After looking at several models and seeing their pros and cons,
We recommend the Fountain Of Health for the following reasons:
Clean Healthy, Water- The unique replaceable design filter can effectively filtrate the hair, odor, and chlorine. Consequently, the fountain gives cleaner water to pets which reduces the risk of developing illnesses. Charcoal filter helps remove and absorb odors and bad taste.
Pump Design The unique designed blue pump DR-DC160 is deployed with a customized suction cup to keep noise to a minimum. The high-quality impeller guarantees durability and longevity for this product.
Quality Materials The Pet Drinking Fountain is made of finely polished antibacterial PP plastic. The stainless steel option is SUS304 Food Grade Stainless Steel. Eco-friendly, non-toxic, odorless, and durable
Large Capacity - 5-7 days (cats & small dogs) With an 81 ounce/2.4 liter capacity there's no need to replenish the water frequently. This drinking fountain can meet the drinking needs of cats, dogs, birds, as well as other pets of various sizes.
No need to worry about your pets not getting enough fresh drink when you go to work or are away from home for the day.
Visual Indicators Equipped with LED, to display the water level, you can keep tabs on when to replace the water as required. When working, the LED is blue. The product does not work until the water level exceeds the pump.
Easy Clean A simple quick-release structure is designed for easy removal and cleaning.
Free Shipping there are no nasty surprises with delivery fees, free shipping is offered for your order
Conclusion In all of the above cases, Fountain of Health, drinking fountain can encourage your cat to drink more. The water looks more like a natural source in the wild would and often tastes better. The flowing water keeps the water from building up harmful substances, keeping it oxygenated. And the water is filtered which removes many harmful substances, making it clean and healthy for your pet
The Fountain Of Health is the perfect solution for clean, healthy drinking water your pet will love. And you will have peace of mind knowing your offering the best for your pet in ample supply.
If you would like to purchase the Fountain of health for your pet you can find it here: https://pettish.co/fountain
About The Author
Being a fur-parent of multiple cats, as well as an experienced breeder of Ragdoll cats, I am always looking for the best products to offer my cats to support their well-being, health and longevity as well as their overall happiness.
And if it makes my busy-life easier, that's a bonus!
I can then, confidently recommend the product to my customers and assist them to offer the same to their furbabies.
Check out: https://pettish.co/fountain