Cat won't drink water - help!

[coryoon]

Hello, can someone please provide a little insight.

I have a 17-month old male red tabby cat, and he just doesn't seem to want to drink water. His hair is becoming a little dry and is shedding more than normal.

I had a leaky bathtub faucet for a couple of months, and he got used to getting his water from the constant dripping into the drain. For some reason, he preferred this over the water in his food bowl, even though I changed this frequently to make sure it was fresh.

I've since fixed the leak, and he hasn't caught on that he needs to drink the water in his bowl. He barely drinks any. I even set other bowls of water around the house as an incentive for him to drink, and he will drink out of them from time to time, but I don't feel it's enough. His hair isn't as soft and supple as it used to be.

Any advice would be appreciated.

[Traci]

Are you actually gauging how much water is being drank from the bowls? This is the only way to determine how much he's drinking on a daily basis. Just because you don't see him drinking, doesn't mean he isn't. Watch the water level in one or two bowls, each day to determine how much was drank. Keep only a couple bowls down, not several, and monitor them daily because if you don't, you have to take evaporation into account.


It's not unusual for cats to have drier fur and shedding more in the heat of summer, but if you think he might be dehydrated, best thing is to get him to your vet for an exam, your vet can determine if he's dehydrated, and why, such as a hidden health issue.