If you have a cat who hates water, then you know how frustrating it can be when your cat refuses to drink.
You may even try giving them water in different ways such as using a spray bottle or pouring from a cup. But nothing seems to work.
It’s not just a matter of getting the right amount of water into your cat either. They need to enjoy drinking water so that they actually want to do it.
And if your cat doesn’t seem interested in water, then it could mean that they’re suffering from dehydration.
So what exactly causes this problem? The main reason why cats don’t like water is that they dislike the way that water makes their fur feel.
If your cat has long hair, then they’ll find that water dries out their coats and makes them itch.
This means that they won’t want to go near any source of water unless they absolutely have to.
But there’s another reason why cats don’t really like water.
As well as being afraid of the feeling that it gives their coats, cats also hate the way that water makes them look.
Even though they might think that they’re clean, they still don’t like having wet fur sticking up everywhere.
So if you’ve got a cat who isn’t keen on water, then you should definitely keep an eye out for signs of dry skin.
But while it’s true that cats don’t like water because of the way that it feels, it’s also true that they don’t like the way that it smells either.
In fact, many cats will refuse to drink anything that smells bad. This includes tap water, which is often full of chemicals.
So if your cat doesn’t like the way that water smells, then you should probably consider changing the type of water that you give them instead.
Another common reason why cats don’t enjoy water is because they simply don’t like the taste.
Many cats prefer sweet drinks over plain water, especially if they’re used to eating food with added sugar.
So if your cat is always asking for something sweet, then you should definitely change the kind of water that you use.
As well as making sure that your cat likes the taste of water, you should also ensure that they like the way that it looks too.
If your cat loves playing around in puddles of water, then he or she will likely enjoy doing so in a bowl rather than a cup.
Similarly, if your cat enjoys swimming, then you should get him or her a pool toy to play with.
The bottom line is that if you want to help your cat to enjoy water, then you should make sure that they like the way it tastes, smells and looks first.
Once you’ve done this, then you can start offering them water in different ways.
For example, you could offer them a bowl filled with fresh water instead of a cup.
Or you could fill a dish or saucer with water and place it next to where your cat usually plays.
If you’ve tried everything else and your cat still doesn’t seem to enjoy water, then it could be time to take action.
There are plenty of reasons why cats don’t like drinking water, but if you suspect that they’re dehydrated, then you should seek medical attention immediately.
Your vet will be able to diagnose whether your cat needs fluids by looking at his or her condition.
How To Make A Cat More Comfortable With Water
Cats love water, but sometimes they just don’t like how it makes them feel. They may even try to avoid it completely.
But if you want to encourage your cat to enjoy water more, then you need to understand why they don’t like it.
Here are some tips from our experts to help you do just that:
Keep It Clean
You know that your cat hates when you splash dirty dishes all over the kitchen floor. Well, the same goes for water.
If your cat has a problem with getting into things that have been left lying around, then you need to make sure that any water bowls you put down are kept clean.
Otherwise, your cat will be less inclined to drink from them.
Add Some Flavors
There are lots of ways to add flavors to water. You can buy flavored water bottles, or you can mix up your own concoctions using fruit juice or milk.
The key thing here is to keep the flavorings simple. Just a few drops of lemon juice or orange juice in the water won’t go amiss.
Use Fresh Water
Fresh water is better than bottled water anyway, but it’s even better if you can give your cat fresh spring water straight from the tap.
This will mean that there aren’t any chemicals in the water that might upset your cat.
Get Them Used To It
It’s important that you introduce your cat to water gradually. Start off by giving them a small amount every day, and work their way up to bigger amounts over time.
Try to keep the water in a bowl or other container that they can easily access.
If they don’t seem interested after a while, then stop offering them water until they show signs of wanting to drink again.
Offer Different Types Of Water
Your cat may prefer one type of water over another. If this is the case, then you should consider changing what you offer them.
For example, you might find that your cat prefers plain water to flavored water. In which case, you could try adding a bit of apple cider vinegar to the water.
Conclusion
To conclude, if your cat isn’t enjoying water, then you should look closely at the reasons behind this.
By doing so, you’ll be able to figure out what you can change about the situation to help improve matters.
I am aiming to shed new light on these amazing pets and hopefully change some people’s opinions on them. Also, let’s talk about wild cats - they’re just as awesome as domestic cats!
So, stay a while and learn more about domestic and wild cats from Windhaven Ocicats.
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