I have been recently been feeding this little female stray cat that has been hanging around ,yard. Everytime i place a little paper cup next to her with water she wont drink? Why is that? Then after she leaves my yard and starts to look for water(i know this because it was raining today and she was drinking the puddle) any suggestions?
2007-07-19 08:54:43 · 14 answers · asked by XoFaithXo 3 in Pets ➔ Cats
Just to make a note...she has eaten from my hand before and she comes very close to me so she is very comfortable with me
2007-07-19 15:01:19 · update #1
Also i do use regular water not tap...i am planning to catch her and take her to a no kill shelter who is waiting for her...
2007-07-19 15:02:12 · update #2
Try putting the water in a wide bowl or even a plate. Cats, especially strays, are very particular creatures. She is not going to stick her head in a little narrow cup, because she won't be able to see her surroundings while drinking-strays will be very careful that way; they won't do anything that will make them feel vulnerable, especially considering the sad lives some strays lead. If she can't see her surroundings, she is vulnerable to potential predators (dogs, mean humans, etc).
Usually house cats who have been raised in a loving home or have lived in one for a long time will be trusting enough to stick their heads in cups to drink (my boy cat will! *lol*) But some house cats, especially if they were strays before, never get over that primeval caution.
I'm sure she would drink water if you offered it in a wide, shallow bowl or a plate-that way she could still be on the lookout while drinking.
Try it, and let us know! Good luck! :)
2007-07-19 09:04:50 · answer #1 · answered by Saiph 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Some animals are picky about were there water comes from. My cat drinks from the faucet. She never likes drinking from a bowl. But she will if she absolutely has to. It may also be the quality of the water. Or, the fact that it is a cup not a bowl. Also, rain water is better for her than processed water. She knows that.
2007-07-19 16:03:02 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The shape probably is a problem with her. A bowl of water works much better. They want water close to the ground, not raised up high. I'm sure she does need water, find a metal or ceramic bowl for her at a rummage sale if you don't want to use a cereal bowl of yours or buy a new one, and set it out in the shade so the sun won't warm it up too much.
2007-07-19 19:25:39 · answer #3 · answered by Elaine M 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You might try a different, more shallow bowl and put some ice in it. Some cats like that especially when it is hot outside.
You also might try leaving a bowl outside to collect rainwater. At least then she's not drinking water filled with motor oil, fertilizer, dirt and other things.
2007-07-19 17:01:02 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cats can be funny about what kind of bowl / cup they eat / drink from.
Some people reckon its just fussiness on the cats part but I personally think it has something to do with their whiskers - apparently the nerves at the ends of the whiskers are really sensitive. One of our cats recently had some of his teeth removed so his mouth was very sore - whenever his whiskers came in contact with something he'd cringe.
I reckon you should put the water in a flat container.
Good luck
2007-07-19 16:06:37 · answer #5 · answered by sallymac 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The paper cup may be too narrow. Cats don't like to drink out of anything narrow enough for their whiskers to touch the sides.
Try giving her water out of a deep saucer or shallow dish. Use glass, porcelain, or metal...some cats are allergic to plastic and get sores on their chin from plastic dishes. It would help her health if she had clean water to drink at all times.
Thank you for helping the little stray.
2007-07-19 16:04:33 · answer #6 · answered by Kayty 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
When I adopted my cat from the shelter, I had the same problem. She just wouldn't drink out of her kitty dish that I would place by her food. One day I had some water in a coffee mug (for myself) and she started drinking out of it. That coffee mug has been her permanant water bowl. Some cat are just wierd that way I guess. Just experiment with different kinds of containers. Also, most cats develop sores on their chin if they eat or drink out of plastic bowls for a long period of time.
2007-07-19 16:03:19 · answer #7 · answered by JESSICA 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Try using a different container for the water instead of a paper cup. Try a glass or porcelain bowl maybe. You can tap it with your fingers in front of her or mimic drinking it to see if she gets the picture. And try using bottled water instead of tap water in case maybe the chlorine smell is making her not want it
2007-07-19 16:02:42 · answer #8 · answered by Marcella 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Thats kinda strange. But maybe she doesnt want tap water. Maybe it looks to clean for her and she just wants dirty water.
Also, if shes a stray then you need to bring her to the pound so they can fix her and find her a home. If you dont then she might get pregnant and have kittens and since shes a stray they might all die.
2007-07-19 15:59:51 · answer #9 · answered by dbrooke407 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe she doesn't know what it is that you are handing her. she is used to drinking out of puddles and not out of cups. If you have any other pets, try to get them to demonstrate for her. She might get the hang of it on her own. If not, then that is okay too. Cats don't need too much water and what she gets outside should be good enough for her.
2007-07-19 16:03:20 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋