Why do cats not like water?

Water cats, are two words that not many people can put in the same sentence.

It’s no secret that cats hate water, so it’s not normal to see cats in water.

However, we know the importance of water for every human being, and cats are no exception.

Even if cats conflict with water, it’s important for their bodies to function properly, and for very dirty, to clean properly.

But have you ever wondered why this happens? Why is it so rare to see cats in the water? What consequences can this bring? Well, in the next post we will answer these questions.

Are cats afraid of water?

It is not that cats do not like water, they simply feel a certain rejection of water for reasons of origin, and this rejection does not only occur in cats.

Cats have their origins in the Middle East , where deserts prevail and water is not very abundant, water was something unusual in their days and therefore they did not trust it, because it was a new and strange element. This is usually associated with a cat’s refusal to water.

However, as humans began to domesticate them, they became more and more attached to water, no longer limiting themselves so much to approach it, but even as suspicious. We can attribute this suspicion to a lack of confidence.

It’s a strange thing because just as water generates mistrust, water also generates a lot of curiosity for cats, so it’s not strange to see them carefully watching the water. Thanks to this curiosity, it is quite possible that they will overcome fear.

But, just as there are those who are afraid of approaching water, there are other cats who really enjoy water, they enjoy playing with it, observing it or swimming in it. Such cat species as the Turkish Angora, Bengal cat , pixie bob, Maine coon, and others.

Cats and moving water

As already mentioned, water is something that, apart from distrusting cats, generates a lot of curiosity and more if they notice that it is in motion.

You will be able to tell that even if they have a bowl full of water at their disposal, they would rather go and drink the water that comes out of the tap .

Or perhaps, before drinking from the bowl, she puts one leg to stir the water, even causing the bowl to tip over and drinking straight from the ground.

Or you prefer to take water from the basin, or simply drink from rainwater e.g.

It is not known for sure why they do this, there are some theories that it has something to do with not liking standing water. As a natural instinct, cats may prefer to drink moving water to avoid illness.

Or the cat may have noticed that this type of water is much colder than the water you leave in the bowl. Or simply drinking from moving water is much funnier.

How do I make my cat love water?

You should know that there is a way to make your cat love water, of course, you will not do it immediately, this process will take time, because it is something that must be done little by little, in addition, it is recommended that you try it when your cat is young.

As we said, you must accustom your cat from an early age to be associated with water, so that his fear will gradually disappear in this way.

You can buy a small bathtub, you can get it at pet stores, put it in there with a little warm water, wet it slowly, without touching her eyes, her ears, or her head in general.

While doing this, keep an eye on their reaction. You may notice that he is a little restless and stressed, if that is the case, let him go a little, and hug him gently until his tension disappears little by little, until he relaxes and adapts to the situation.

At the end of this short bath, wrap him in a towel and try to wipe the moisture out of his hair. You can also use a hair dryer carefully. Then you can brush it with the comb, let it air dry naturally.

Do this from time to time (not too much later we’ll tell you why) especially when summer rolls around.

How do they drink water?

Let me tell you that seeing exactly how cats drink water is not so easy, we can only observe how they quickly stretch and contract their tongue over the water. But thanks to technology, it has become possible to see exactly what they do with their tongues when drinking.

Cats form something similar to a U by bending their tongue back, in this way making contact with the water. Just when they touch water, they quickly pick it up causing drops of water to reach their mouths. This type of movement is repeated until they feel full and each repetition takes less than a second.

?Why does my cat not drink water

Your cat may not like to drink water, which can be worrying, because if he is not drinking well, he may have a health problem, such as a urinary tract infection. If your cat does not drink water, she could become dehydrated and cause serious health problems.

Dehydration can cause some inconveniences for your cat. You can identify dehydration if she has any of the following signs and symptoms:

• carelessness
• Difficulty or rapid breathing
• fast heartbeat
• excessive fatigue
• hollow eyes
• Paul is very focused
• Her skin will lose elasticity

But what can you do in this situation? What do you do if your cat does not drink enough water? There are ways to help our cats with this, to help them consume the water they need to avoid any serious consequences, and here are some ideas for that:

You can add more water to their food, preferably over animal feed, as it is drier than canned food.

Put some water sources in the house, these will arouse the kittens’ curiosity and they will approach and possibly drink.

Also put bowls with water scattered around the house, it’s a good technique, at some point she will end up drinking water from one of them.

Add some flavors to the water, they can be purchased at specialized pet stores, they are expensive, but your cat will probably like them and drink the water more often.

How long can a cat go without drinking water?

As with humans, cats can go a few days without eating, but cats can’t go more than 48 hours without drinking water, in fact, not even 24 hours. It’s not good at all.

How do you know how much water you should drink?

Cat experts determine how much water she should drink based on her weight. It is recommended that the cat drink at least 50 ml of water per day for every kilogram it weighs , that is, if it weighs two kilograms, it must drink at least 100 ml of water per day.

They also set an upper limit, which is 100ml per day per kilo, meaning if you weigh two kilograms, the maximum recommended amount to drink is 200ml per day. Of course, this can vary depending on the daily activity the cat does.

It will also depend on the environment temperature. If it is winter, the need to drink is obviously less, but for this reason, the amount of water a cat drinks should not be neglected.

Whatever the temperature, water is essential. Now, if it is summer, the need for water may increase,

You must make sure that your cat is fully hydrated so that he is drinking the amount of water needed to be healthy, if he is not well hydrated, he can start to suffer from some serious illnesses.

Health problems if the cat does not drink water

If your cat is not properly hydrated, it can contract certain diseases that can be harmful in a very short time, if not taken into consideration and treated quickly and properly. Among the problems they may encounter:

• Kidney problems : such as the formation of kidney stones. Kidney failure, etc… Is actually a very common problem, especially in cats over 10 years old. This is why it is recommended after a certain age in cats to take them for regular check-ups.
• Liver problems : Diseases such as fatty liver and cholangitis are not a direct result of dehydration. But they certainly accelerate the development of these diseases and can cause the death of the cat.
• Hormonal problems : such as hyperthyroidism, which is more common in cats aged 8 years or older. This disease can cause weight loss in the cat, and have other serious consequences such as kidney or heart problems.
• They should know that poor watering in cats can be a cause of health problems. But it can also be a consequence of others. For example, if you have poor hydration, you may have kidney disease. But you could also be suffering from something that dehydrates like diarrhea.

Mineral water or tap water?

As we know, cats love to drink from taps, what are the risks in that? Well, everything depends on the quality of the water that comes out of the tap. Because there are places where the water you come out of contains a lot of chlorine or lime which can be harmful to a cat’s kidneys.

In the event that the water coming out of the tap is not the healthiest and cleanest for our cat to drink from. A good option is to buy mineral water, which generally contains fewer chemicals than the tap.

What should a cat not drink?

Just as water is very necessary to maintain the health of our cat. There are also drinks that are not recommended for cats. Because they can be very harmful to them, and among them:

• Juices : Cats do not digest some fruits well. So it is not recommended to give them juices to drink. As they can interfere with the proper functioning of the digestive system.
• Alcoholic drinks: They are very dangerous and affect their nervous system, causing dizziness, vomiting, confusion and even death.
• Coffee, tea, or soft drinks : This type of beverage contains certain stimuli that will affect your cat’s nervous system.
• Swimming pool water : This water contains a high percentage of chlorine. Which is very harmful to the cat’s digestive system and kidneys.

Is it necessary to bathe a cat with water?

It is not mandatory to give your cat a bath, unless certain circumstances arise. If your cat decides to play in a muddy puddle. Or if she has been rescued from the streets and is infested with fleas. For example, then these are situations where bathing may be necessary. Additionally, young cats may require assistance with cleaning themselves. However, some cat breeds, such as the Sphynx, have skin types that require frequent bathing.

Cats themselves are very clean animals , as they are dedicated to grooming themselves for at least 8 hours a day.

Read more: Oriental short-haired cat Do you know this breed of cat?