There is a perfectly good bowl of fresh water on the kitchen floor. Your cat walks past it, jumps onto the bathroom sink, and stares at you until you turn the tap on. Or it sips from your glass, the shower floor, or the plant saucer. It looks like a quirk, but it is usually your cat telling you something about the bowl.
Why your cat prefers the tap to the bowl
Moving water is easier to notice and seems fresher
International Cat Care notes that some cats like to drink from moving water. Writing for Vetstreet, veterinarian Dr Marty Becker explains that cats can find still water hard to see, that running water may seem safer and fresher, and that the sound and movement of a dripping tap attract them.
The bowl is next to the food
International Cat Care says cats prefer not to drink next to their food. Cats Protection explains that their wild ancestors kept water and food apart to keep water clean. If the water sits beside the food bowl, the tap may simply be the better option.
The bowl is too narrow or too low
Both charities recommend a wide, shallow bowl so the whiskers do not touch the sides. International Cat Care also says cats like to drink from a full container, so a half empty bowl that forces them to dip their head deep is less appealing.
It feels exposed
Dr Becker quotes feline specialist Dr Deb Greco: cats may feel vulnerable sitting at a bowl. A bowl in a busy hallway, by a noisy washing machine, or in view of another cat can feel unsafe. Up on a sink, with a view of the room, a cat may feel more in control.
The taste
Cats Protection notes that some cats find the chlorine in tap water off putting. Water that has stood in a plastic bowl for a day may also taste stale to a cat.
You turned it into a ritual
If you turn the tap on every time your cat sits by the sink and stares, it learns a reliable way to get your attention. This is the same learning pattern behind a cat that wakes you at 5am.
When it is a health sign, not a preference
A healthy cat that has always preferred the tap is a different story from an older cat that has suddenly started drinking from every glass in the house.
How to make the water bowl more appealing
- Move water away from food. In a different spot, or even a different room, and away from the litter tray.
- Use a wide, shallow bowl. Ceramic, glass or stainless steel. International Cat Care says glass or ceramic is generally preferred over plastic.
- Fill it to the brim. So your cat can drink without pushing its face into the bowl.
- Add more stations. International Cat Care suggests one water bowl per floor of the home, plus one extra in multi cat households.
- Choose quiet spots. Away from foot traffic, cat flaps and noisy machines, ideally where your cat can see around it while drinking.
- Try moving water. A pet fountain, introduced gradually, or a ping pong ball floating in a large bowl. The Cornell Feline Health Center notes that some cats drink more when given a fountain, though preferences vary.
- Try different water. If your tap water is strongly chlorinated, try filtered water (as long as your tap water is safe to drink).
- Refresh it daily. Wash the bowl and give fresh water every day.
Is drinking from the tap a problem?
| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| Healthy cat, always liked the tap | Fine. Offer good bowls or a fountain too |
| Cat demands the tap at night | Offer a fountain and stop responding to the demand |
| Drinks from your glasses | Cover glasses; offer a wide glass or bowl of its own |
| Drinking more than usual overall | See your vet |
| Drinks from the toilet or plant saucers | Close the lid; keep cleaning products and fertiliser out of reach |
If your cat also likes to push your glass off the table first, read why cats knock things off tables.
FAQ
Why does my cat only drink from the tap?
Usually because the bowl is in the wrong place, the wrong shape, or not fresh enough, and moving water is more appealing. Many cats also dislike drinking right next to their food.
Is it bad for my cat to drink from the tap?
For a healthy cat, no, as long as your tap water is safe to drink. The concern is only if your cat is drinking much more than before.
Do cats really need a water fountain?
Not always. Cornell notes that some cats drink more with a fountain, but preferences vary. A wide, full, fresh bowl away from food works for many cats.
Why does my cat drink from my glass?
A glass is full to the brim, often fresh, and usually somewhere your cat likes to be. International Cat Care notes that some cats prefer drinking from a glass or tumbler, so you can give your cat its own.
When should I worry about my cat drinking a lot?
If your cat is drinking clearly more than usual, or you see more or bigger litter clumps, see your vet. Kidney disease, diabetes and hyperthyroidism are common causes in older cats.
Sources
This article is for general information and is not a substitute for advice from your veterinarian.
