Worried about my cat?

Question

Ever since my cat was a kitten she never liked drinking milk or water from a bowl, she preferred drinking from puddles etc. She never looked for any drinks now in the last couple of weeks she has started pushing the top from the fish bowl and drinking from this (I have observed her without her seeing me and i am sure that she is not trying to get the fish). Also if there is a cup in the sink with water in it she will drink from it and is also looking for water. Does this sound like a kidney problem or something cause i know that cats really suffer from these problems. She is only 4 years old. Just looking for some answers before i take her on her much hated journey to the vet

Answer 1

Hi hun,

No I don't think this has anything to do with a kidney problem. Cats often dislike drinking from the bowl, and they prefer to drink slightly 'dirty' water, like puddles or from drips off the tap.

The signs of kidney problems are excessive urination, lethargy, being sick and generally appearing under the weather.

It's most likely that your cat has suddenly realised there are other ways to get a drink.

Have you tried putting her water on a shallow saucer instead of in a bowl? It might help her, as it looks more like a puddle. Also, you could just leave a clean cup in the sink and put some water in there - as long as she's drinking, that's all that matters really!

The website below has more about kidney problems in cats just to put your mind at rest:

http://kyky.essortment.com/kidneydiseasep_rnlk.htm

I don't think you need to take her to the vet... but you might want to keep her away from the fish! ;-)

xx Emmie

p.s. oh, also make sure you don't give your cat cow's milk, as it usually gives cats upset tummies due to the high amount of lactose in it.

Answer 2

It's actually pretty normal. Some cats have a hard time telling exactly how deep the water in a bowl is, and don't want to get their noses wet, so they prefer to drink from shallow water sources or with their paws. Also, lots of cats love the taste of aquarium & fish bowl water, and running water. It might be an indication of a possible problem if she's drinking more water than she normally does, though. Watch her litterbox to see if she seems to be urinating more than usual. If she seems to be urinating/drinking more than normal, you can take her to the vet for a checkup.

I would suggest getting her a kitty water fountain to drink from. My cats LOVE their water fountain. You can find different types of cat water fountains at most pet stores. Another thing you can do is be sure to change her water regularly, and float a small clean plastic object such as a ping-pong ball in the water so she can tell how deep it is.

Most cats are lactose intolerant, so it's not a good idea to give them regular milk or it may upset their stomachs. If you really want to give your cat milk, you can find milk made for cats at the pet store, or you can give her lactose-free milk - remember, moderation is key when giving any kind of treat.

Hope this helps!

Answer 3

First of all never give cats milk, it causes problems in their digestion. Second of all this is normal for cats as I have several nit pickers who love to drink from anything BUT the bowl. Make sure she does not drink water from the fish tank it's not healthy. Try using a bowl that is smaller, and make sure the bowl is filled at all times. Or try using a dish that way it creates a puddle : )

Answer 4

My cat does the same thing. I got him a year ago; found him wandering the streets. He's eight. He is neurological and has hyperthyroidism, but I think this is a behavior problem rather than a medical problem. Scruff her [pick her up by the scruff of skin behind her neck-it doesn't her] and put her in front of her water bowl when you catch her drinking from things she shouldn't be drinking from. She'll learn eventually. Close toilet lids, don't let water collect in the sink, etc. She'll learn she has no choice but her water bowl. My cat is getting much better. Hopefully yours will too.

If you're worried, by all means take her to your vet and get full bloodwork done. Because of her young age, I'm not too worried, but you never know and it's better to be safe than sorry. If she has any of these other symptoms, I would definitely get her checked out.

• Loss of appetite
• Increased thirst
• Frequent urination or increased volume
• Poor hair coat
• Depression and/or vomiting

http://www.thepetcheckup.com/works/screen/kidney_disease.html

Good luck!

Answer 5

It seems that she wants to drink only not from a bowl, try putting her water in a wide glass. My cat loves to drink my water whenever she gets a chance, don't give her milk, they can't digest it the way people do. also try a clear glass bowl some cats don't like plastic or so I've heard. I don't know what the vet could find just by looking at her only give you a fat bill and frighten the poor kitty. She just doesn't like her bowl and is adventurist.

Answer 6

One of my two cats is an extremely fussy drinker- she much prefers to drink out of the tap or a bowl of fresh, cold water. I never did really get it, I guess shes just fussy. But she's just always been that way & shes almost 10 now! I suppose some cats are just fussier than others? Maybe if you have a waterbutt or something like that collecting rainwater, try giving her water from there & see how she responds to that?

Answer 7

Cats really enjoy being awkward and unpredicatble. One of mine (Milly) will only drink water from the jug we use to fill up our iron so we have to leave it on the side topped up all the time. I am amused but not surprised that your cat drinks from the goldfish bowl. Do you leave water down for you cat and has it been drinking that a lot? If so this could be worth checking with the vet. Cheers and miaowwww!

Answer 8

My cat will drink out of a running tap instead of her water dish, its quite funny when she sticks her head in the running tap water and gets soaked. I wouldnt worry too much just yet. I have heard that cats dont like eating or drinking from a bowl that is too small, as they dont like the sensation of there whiskers touching the side of the bowl x

Answer 9

My cat is a window-licker - yep, she licks at the conservatory door after its been raining, and she looks like she is really enjoying herself too. She'll also drink out of the bird bath and any puddles! Unfortunately she is a diabetic and we are supposed to watch how much she drinks.

She also drinks from her bowl, but then if the door is not open she's too lazy to go outside through the flap!

Cats will drink where they want to drink, but don't give them normal milk as they can't digest it properly.

Enjoy her antics!

Answer 10

I wouldn't worry about her .I have 3 cats and they all drink dirty water in the garden even though I have 2 bowls of fresh water in the house and 1 outside.1 of them rarely drinks the fresh water I don't know why but it doesn't seem to do them any harm.