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.
Cats do not like their food and water right next to each other. Cat behaviorists believe this may be due to cats hunting away from their water source in the wild. Cats also do not enjoy the scent of food while drinking water. In addition, they are turned off by food particles in their water.
In the wild, cats don't like to eat near their water source. If it ends up there, they'll often drag the food to another spot. That's because evolution has taught them that their prey can contaminate their water.
Find a quiet place.
If there's lots of noise and footfall around where your cat's food and water bowls are located, it could leave them feeling too uncomfortable to eat or drink. Try and find somewhere in your home that's less busy. A quiet hallway is a good place, or maybe a spare room that isn't used.
By raising the height of the cat's food bowls, the chances of indigestion are also reduced. This encourages your cat to enjoy their food as well as makes their lives more comfortable. Elevated food bowls and water bowls also encourage them to eat and drink properly and stay healthy.
They Make Eating Easier
Did you know that some cats find reaching down in a bowl challenging? Having an elevated position eliminates this problem. In addition, the tilted design of raised pet bowls has higher edges which means that your cat can enjoy easy access to food and water without bending over too much.
An elevated cat bowl will allow gravity to move the food she's eating downward from her mouth and directly into her stomach. Now her esophagus no longer has to move that same food upward towards her stomach as it must when she's hunched over her food bowl on the floor.
Where should I put my cat's water bowl? Just like their food, your cat's water bowl should be somewhere relatively quiet. A hallway, for example, may be too busy for them, even if they are very sociable. Put your cat's water bowl somewhere clean and odour-free – and far away from their litter tray!
Many cats, like humans, prefer their beverages chilled. You'll promote more water consumption if you serve it cold. It's hard to keep refilling your kitty's water bowl, but luckily you can buy products that keep it chilled for hours.
Although having cats share a bowl is often easier, saves space, and creates fewer dirty dishes, there are so many reasons cats need their own bowls! Eating separate is instinctively how cats eat most comfortably. Plus, separate bowls reduce stress and promote peace when cats aren't competing with each other for food.
Bowl shape and size
Your cat may be avoiding their water bowl because it finds drinking from it uncomfortable. Some cats won't drink from deep or narrow bowls because they don't like their sensitive whiskers rubbing up against the sides.
“It's hard for cats to get water, because they can't really see still water well, and they may feel vulnerable sitting at a bowl, especially if it's in a corner, so they have their back to other cats who might jump on them,” Greco says.
If your cat likes to drink out of a water glass, leaving one out for her at night can actually be a great way to get more moisture into her. That's important because cats have a low thirst drive that can lead to chronic dehydration. The risk of problems like kidney disease goes up when a cat doesn't drink enough water.
Even if your cat prefers to eat their food in a few sittings, don't be tempted to leave wet food out all day, as this increases the risk of disease-causing bacteria developing. After a maximum of four hours, throw out the old food and wash the bowl properly with soap and water before refilling with fresh food.
This common feline behavior is probably instinctual. Wild cats dip their paws in water to see if it's safe to drink and check how deep it is. Your cat might be doing the same. If your kitty is older and remains seated as they drink from their paw, they could be experiencing joint or mobility issues like arthritis.
If you have more than one cat, it may be best to change the cat litter more often, every 2-3 weeks. If you use a non-clumping litter and have only one cat, changing the litter twice per week is a good guideline. If you have more than one cat, every other day may work better.
In most cases, experts say giving your pets hard water probably won't cause any problems. The minerals in hard water (calcium, magnesium, and iron) shouldn't lead to any health issues. However, some veterinarians do advise against giving cats and dogs untreated tap water, and that's not because of the minerals.
There are very solid reasons why veterinarians recommend cat fountains. Cats crave moving water because in the wild, which cats still very much are, only moving water is safe. Still water is often stagnant, filled with bacteria and can be lethal. Cats are instinctively aware of this.
The number of times your cat goes to the water dish will depend on her preferences and personality. Most cats should drink about 4 ounces of water per 5 pounds of body weight in a day, give or take an ounce in either direction.
Plastic and metal bowls can taint the water, so try using a ceramic or glass bowl instead. Cats usually prefer wide, shallow bowls as it allows them to keep an eye on their surroundings while they're drinking and keeps their whiskers from touching the sides of the bowl.
Giving cats bottled water isn't inherently dangerous or bad, as long as the bottled water in question is high quality and fresh. In an emergency or while traveling, bottled water is a great option. At home, though, your cat should be just fine drinking tap water, especially if you run it through a simple filter first.
The big factor, whether you leave food out all the time, feed several meals, or just two meals a day, is to make sure you aren't giving them more calories than their daily intake needs. You should not just fill the bowl whenever it's empty — this can lead to your cat becoming overweight or obese.
Keep in mind that cats are natural “crouch” eaters; they do not like to eat in a standing position. The ideal height for a raised feeder is the cat's knee height (approximately 4” to 6”); this eliminates the need to lift up the head while eating or drinking. Avoid the use of deep bowls in elevated feeders.
If a bowl is too deep or steep, cats' sensitive whiskers rub against the sides of the bowl causing whisker fatigue. (Yes, whisker fatigue is actually a medical condition. Read more here.) Whisker fatigue is uncomfortable and causes cats to stop eating, leaving leftover food behind.