Fresh water for my cat...?

Question

I always leave water out for my cat but how often should I completely spill it and wash the bowl and put new water in?? Is it okay to just add more water for a while... not sure. Right now I'm constantly washing the bowl but is it okay to leave it for a few days and just refill??

She's an indoor cat

Answer 1

You're doing the right thing. You wouldn't want to drink water that's been sitting around for several days would you? Think about all the particles of dust, mold & mildew spores (and Lord knows what else) that are in the air and settle down on surfaces, including your cat's water dish. It's always best to supply fresh water on a daily basis and to clean the bowl every time you refill it. I have 2 water dishes and I just throw one of them in the dishwasher with my other dishes every night. The extremely hot water in the dishwasher will kill any bacteria as well.

Answer 2

Even water bowls pick up bacteria easily, which multiply the longer you leave them in residence.

Wash out the bowl every time you refill it. And you should be refilling it at least every day.

By the way, the same goes for you. If you re-use a water bottle, it should be washed out every time you empty it, or at least once a day. I saw a news item done on this just last year, and it's pretty disgusting just how dirty water containers can become when not washed between uses.

Answer 3

Every day. Think of it this way: would you like to be drinking water from a used cup that only gets washed every 2 ot 3 days, or getting refills over water that has been there for over a day? OF COURSE NOT! Cats and pets in general need a fresh supply of water every single day.

Answer 4

Cats like fresh water!
I wash my cats water bowl at least every other day, otherwise yucky slimy residue will build up in the bottom and sides...
Guess you could see long long yours will stay clean without 'pond-scum' buildup and go by that, but surely washing the bowl is not a major task that it really matters if u do it every day or every 3 days. Now lets talk about the litter-box...Augh!

Answer 5

I think it's alright to leave it for a couple of days if for some reason you can't wash it. I wash my cats' bowl every day because I wouldn't want to drink water that's been sitting out for a while and my cats won't drink it if it isn't fresh anyway.

Answer 6

It's best to wash it every time you put new water in, although, as long as you wash it once per day it should be fine. How many times a day do you refill it? I have six cats and I give fresh water with their meals, which is twice daily. Hope this helps!

Answer 7

My cats get clean fresh water every day. algae will begin to grow in the bottom of the bowl in a couple of days. That's why it feels slimy. It only takes a second to wash a bowl. Just give her clean water everyday.

Answer 8

I only wash my dog and cat's bowl every 3 days or so. Then I dump it and wash the bowl and add fresh water. I take tap water and let it set for a few days, we have chlorine in the drinking water and it dissipates some. I have 2 and keep switching them for fresher water.

Answer 9

I change the water in my cats dish daily sometimes twice a day just because I can't stand it when fur and dust gets in there. I typically wash the dish every few days. It doesn't take much to change the water daily so there's really no reason why you shouldn't.

Answer 10

I washed my cats' bowl daily until I got the recirculating filter/fountain that I have now. If you're interested in this little gizmo, have a look at the link below. The picture shows the biggest model; there's a much smaller one suitable for cats that I highly recommend.