How to Encourage Your Cat to Drink More Water

Many cats don't drink much from a bowl, especially if they eat mostly dry food. Small changes to how and where you offer water can make a real difference. Try a few and see what your cat prefers.

Move the water away from food

Many cats prefer not to drink right next to their food. Try a separate water spot in another part of the room, or a different room.

Put out more than one bowl

Several water stations around the home, including upstairs, make it easy for your cat to drink wherever they are. This matters even more in homes with more than one pet, where a cat may avoid a bowl another animal guards.

Try a wide, shallow bowl

Some cats dislike their whiskers touching the sides of a narrow bowl. A wide, shallow bowl made of ceramic, glass or stainless steel is worth a try. Fill it to the brim so your cat doesn't have to dip their head in.

Keep it fresh

Refresh water at least once a day and wash bowls regularly. Cats can be put off by water that's been standing, or by a bowl that smells of detergent, so rinse well.

Running water

Some cats are drawn to moving water, which is why they drink from dripping taps. A cat water fountain keeps water circulating and filtered. Not every cat takes to one straight away, so keep an ordinary bowl out while your cat gets used to it. Clean the fountain and change the filter as often as the maker recommends.

Add moisture to meals

Wet food contains much more water than dry food, so adding some wet meals increases your cat's daily water intake without them drinking more. Change diet gradually, and ask your vet if your cat has any health condition.

Watch the litter tray

You can get a rough sense of whether your cat is drinking enough from the litter tray. Very small, infrequent clumps can be worth mentioning to your vet. So can much larger clumps than usual, as a sudden increase in drinking can matter too.

Quick checklist

• Water placed away from food
• More than one water station
• A wide, shallow bowl, filled to the top
• Fresh water every day
• A fountain to try, alongside a bowl
• Some wet food in the diet, if suitable

Compare cat water fountains, or read cat water fountains: what to look for.