Water bowls and food bowls must not be placed together, because cats still retain many of their instincts. In the wild, food and water rarely appear in the same spot. Therefore, cats tend to drink water wherever they find it rather than from a fixed location.
Why Cats Prefer “Unconventional Water Sources”
Many cat owners have noticed the same phenomenon: cats ignore the water in their bowls but show great interest in water in the sink, washbasin, or even the toilet. This happens for a reason: you should never place the water bowl right next to the food bowl, and it is equally mistaken to put the litter box, food bowl, and water bowl together. After all, it is unthinkable to have a dining area share the same spot as where one relieves oneself.
Scientific Recommendations for Setting Up Your Cat’s Drinking Stations
Separate the Food Bowl from the Water Bowl
Based on animal behavior research, it is advisable to place the food bowl and water bowl some distance apart. If they are too close, a cat’s subconscious will deem the water unsanitary or unclean when it is right beside its food.
Increase the Number of Drinking Stations
You can also prepare several water bowls placed in different corners of your home so that your cat can drink water wherever it goes. In multi-cat households, the number of water bowls should exceed the number of cats by at least one.
Offer Running Water
If you like, you can provide your cat with some bowls of “running water” (i.e., a flowing water source), since cats are more attracted to moving objects. This measure can also help encourage them to drink more water.
Original article by KPTer, if reproduced, please cite the source: https://www.kaipet.com/en/cat-doesnt-drinking-water-learn-properly-place-water-bowls-food-bowls
Comments(2)
Great tips! I’m curious if the type of water bowl material, like ceramic versus plastic, also makes a difference for cats?
@CriticX：感谢您的真知灼见，CriticX！您提出的问题非常棒。虽然本文侧重于水碗的摆放，但水碗的材质确实会影响猫咪的偏好。许多主人发现，与塑料相比，陶瓷或不锈钢材质的碗因各种原因更受猫咪青睐。