Even in the cleanest of households, the toilet is still a breeding ground for bacteria and germs that could potentially make your pet sick. Gastrointestinal upset could result from stagnant, bacteria-filled toilet water.
How to Stop Your Pet Drinking from the Toilet. “I think the best way to curb drinking from the toilet is to keep the lid down and the door closed. Also, offering several bowls of clean, cool, fresh water around the house can help to deter toilet-water drinking,” says Dr. Grzyb.
To reiterate, the question is toilet water clean? The answer is still NO! The water in your toilet is not drinkable. The toilet in your home is one of the most used fixtures, so it's important to keep it clean.
Cats drink from the sink for many of the same reasons you might notice them drinking from their paw. They could be bored, dislike their water dish, or enjoy the vantage point. Either way, it's not unsafe and might even be a good way for you to sneak some extra water into your cat's daily diet.
No pet should rely on toilet bowl water for their water source. If your pet is simply curious, keep the lid down. They could accidentally lap up human waste, chemically treated toilet bowl water or lingering bathroom cleaner — all of which are sure to make your pet ill.
Cats with dental infections, inflammation in the mouth or gastrointestinal disease may avoid drinking water due to the discomfort it causes them. Cats with underlying health issues may be more likely to become dehydrated, especially those with kidney issues, hyperthyroidism, some cancers and diabetes.
It feels more like a natural source of water
Cats love to drink fresh water from bathtubs. Cats tend to like fresh sources of water placed away from their food bowls and litter boxes, so the bathroom tends to be a natural place for your feline to find water.
Water at a cat is absolutely fine! Chucking water at a cat that is being aggressive is harmless and the best way to deal with it. I would be VERY surprised if the RSPCA acted on this,considering that,a lot of the time,they won't even do anything about real cases of cruelty.
Dr. Chris Miller, AtlasVet DC: The good news is that drinking after your cat is very unlikely to cause any significant health concerns. Cats can be finicky drinkers, but the amount one cat drinks compared to another can be highly variable.
Your cat may also prefer drinking from the sink because the water tastes better. This may be because the sink is typically free of the residue, scent or taste present in a bowl that's either not cleaned often enough or is cleaned with a product the cat dislikes.
Conclusion about tap water in Australia
It is rather 'safe to drink'. If you think the water in your supply tastes bad, then buy an especially built water purifier. You can buy a Tapp 2 water filter if you really have to buy one, and never use bottled water if you have other options available.
On average, a toilet bowl contains 3.2 million bacteria per square inch*, including germs in toilet water. This is in addition to the bacteria found on the other parts that you have come into contact with, such as the flush handle covered in as much as 83 bacteria per sq.
Your local Clearwater plumber assures homeowners that water from the toilet bowl cannot back up into the tank; water in the tank is just as clean as water from a faucet. If you clean the bowl and flush it several times, even the water in the bowl will be clean.
Cats are biologically programmed not to drink water which is near their food or near their toileting area - this is thought to be their instinctive avoidance of contaminating their water with potential sources of bacteria.
To your cat, the bathroom smells like you. The wet towels smell like you, the robe smells like you, and yes, the toilet has your scent as well. Scent means different things to animals than it does to humans. When people think about a scent, they evaluate whether the smell is nice or noxious and that's the end of it.
In Summary, Stainless Steel is the Best Type of Cat Bowl
Unlike plastic and ceramic, bacteria from leftover food and saliva cannot enter stainless steel's hard surface, so stainless steel cat bowls are more sanitary. They are also more durable and easier to clean.
Your cat can pick up a case of worms by sharing a litter box with the other infected cat. A cat can also be infected by grooming your dog or sharing the dog's food and water bowls.
In addition, cats kept indoors (that do not hunt prey or are not fed raw meat) are not likely to be infected with Toxoplasma. But, if you are pregnant, planning on becoming pregnant, or have a weakened immune system, it is important to protect yourself from infection.
However, it's important to know that cats are typically much more territorial than dogs, so don't be surprised if your cat isn't too keen on the idea of sharing a water bowl. In fact, this might even deter your cat from drinking water and lead to dehydration, which is a serious health threat.
Cats are said to follow the instincts of their ancestors in the wild and ignore stagnant water because still water is not safe to drink in the wild. Thus the still water in the bowl will be ignored. The solution is to simply invest in a smart water fountain that will keep the water moving, filtered and fresh.
The Common Law Duty of Care
It is often thought that cats have a right to roam wherever they wish. This idea is based on the fact that dog and livestock owners are obliged by law to keep their animals under control - but these duties do not apply to cat owners.
Cats can smell the chemicals in the water
Even though we might not detect them, the chemicals in the tap water give it a particular odour that a kitten's sensitive nose will pick up straight away.
PetMD also points out that cats are territorial creatures. They claim their turf by marking it with their scent. So when they sleep on top of you, they're actually marking you—and your bed—as theirs. We should be flattered by this behavior, apparently.
Cats are often quite independent creatures but if they have a strong bond with you, they may simply follow you around because they want to be near to you and see what you're up to. Or perhaps they're waiting for you to sit down so they can jump on your lap for a snooze.
Look at them standing in the partially filled tub, pawing at the water, splashing around, even shaking it off their heads casually like dogs — but never leaving the tub!