Cats can be very capricious in choosing a way to quench their thirst. Sometimes a container of water left for them near the feeder does not satisfy their demanding taste. And as soon as you open the tap, they run to drink. It happens that a cat drinks from a bowl, but without pleasure and constantly tries to play with the water with its paws. She can pour the water and then drink from the floor. Very often, cats prefer the toilet or bucket to their bowl. And if a cat goes for a walk outside, she will definitely drink dirty water from a puddle.
Does a cat need water?
This question will seem strange to many, but in cats kept at home, insufficient drinking can become a big problem, especially if the owners do not pay enough attention to this issue. As a rule, cats drink little liquid. This is how the instincts of wild relatives manifest themselves in them. In nature, cats obtain fluid during the hunt; caught and eaten prey saturates the animal's body with the necessary fluid, so wild cats do not need to drink a lot, unless it is very hot.
Domestic cats do not have conditions for hunting, their living conditions are very different from natural ones, but there are still cases when the pet stubbornly does not want to drink from a bowl. And if the cat regularly eats dry food, this situation can become fatal. When a cat drinks little, it can very quickly become dehydrated, and, as a result, problems with the excretory system arise. Dehydration is characterized by such signs as: lethargy of the animal, very small amounts of urine, dry mucous membranes, viscosity of saliva. If such signs appear, you should contact your veterinarian. An experienced doctor will conduct an examination and prescribe the necessary medications for treatment, which can be purchased at a veterinary pharmacy.
Why do cats prefer running water?
There are different versions explaining the cat's whim to drink from anywhere but from its bowl.
- Natural instincts and ancestral memory. A cat is a predator. In the wild, predatory animals try not to eat their prey near a water source, so as not to contaminate it with food decomposition products. And for pets, a container of water is most often placed near the feeder. And because of natural instincts, animals try to drink further from food.
- Some scientists hypothesize that running water contains fewer pathogenic bacteria, and animals instinctively feel this.
- Hunting instinct. Perhaps cats perceive the movement of water as an imitation of running, chasing game, so they often play with flowing water.
- Water from a running source is cleaner and cooler than stagnant water in an animal's bowl.
Can cats drink tap water?
Tap water contains a lot of chlorine, so its composition is harmful to both people and cats. If a cat regularly drinks water with bleach, there is a high risk of significantly damaging the animal’s urinary and digestive systems. In addition, raw tap water contains many harmful impurities and bacteria. Therefore, cats are not recommended to drink tap water.
Some owners will argue that their pets always drink tap water and don’t get sick. If the cat has a strong immune system and does not have chronic diseases of the urinary system, the disease may not occur just because of tap water. Very often, cats become ill unnoticeably, so that the owner notices the disease when it is too late to start treatment.
How to leave your cat alone at home while on vacation
There's nothing better than relaxing on the beach in the summer, hitting the slopes at your favorite ski resort in the cooler months, or simply spending time with your far-flung family. However, if you're a pet owner, you probably feel pretty limited when it comes to making and executing any travel plans if they're likely to last more than a day or two.
If you are a cat owner, you may just be in luck. Cats tend to be much more independent by nature, which makes it easier for you to leave them home alone without worrying about their safety and happiness. However, this does not mean that you can simply abandon your cat without taking special precautions. In fact, if you're going to be leaving your cat at home while you're away for more than a few days, there are a few steps you'll need to take to make sure your feline friend is happy and healthy at all times.
- Hire a pet sitter.
While this may seem like just an extra expense, it's always smart to have someone check on your kitten every day. This way, if your cat gets stuck in the room, runs out of food or water unexpectedly, or gets sick, you'll have someone who can help her while you're away.
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- Not only give the house key to your nanny, but also to a good friend or other family member.
This way, if something happens and your nanny is unable to get to your home for a few days, you have a safety net.
- Buy a couple of water dispensers.
While it may seem normal to simply leave the water bowl out, the truth is that the water often evaporates from these dishes too quickly, which can leave your kitty without water for an extended period of time. Having two water dispensers ensures that your cat always has fresh water and gives you a little margin for error if one of them fails.
- Use trash cans, phone books or any other heavy objects you may need to completely or partially block interior doors.
This allows your cat to have full access to the house while you're away, without the fear of accidentally slamming the door and getting trapped during her escapes.
- If you're particularly concerned about separation from your furry friend, try installing a couple of motion-activated webcams in areas they'll frequent, like water bowls and litter boxes.
These cameras are usually tied to apps that you can access at any time, making it easier than ever to visually confirm your cat's safety.
- To be safe, try to either move all indoor plants outside or move them to another room and close the door.
Most common houseplants are actually poisonous to cats, and while your pet usually can't chew them, the stress of being home alone can cause them to do so, which can lead to serious illness.
- Even if your cat isn't known to chew electrical cords, unplug everything she can reach before you leave.
Again, stress often causes cats to temporarily become accustomed to new behaviors such as chewing, making cords a good target. For added safety in any case, consider using a bitter or cat repellent spray on your cords to protect both your cat and your cords from damage.
- If you have a particularly ferocious cat, you may want to remove light bulbs from any lamps or other lighting sources that they might knock over while playing.
Broken light bulbs can, of course, pose a serious fire hazard.
- Although your pet sitter should come every day, it's a good idea to invest in an automatic pet feeder just in case.
Before you leave, you will insert a specific portion of food into each of the device's compartments. At the same time every day, your cat will drop this food into the bowl. This is a great way to make sure your feline friend is getting the nutrition he needs while you're away.
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- Just in case an emergency arises, post veterinarian information on the refrigerator or other obvious place where the pet sitter can find it if needed.
Also, leave a cash amount that can be used in case of emergency.
- If your cat suffers from separation anxiety, you can leave a few of your unwashed shirts or other items of clothing on your bed or other easily accessible place.
Your cat may use this scent to calm itself in your absence. Another great option for keeping your kitty at ease is a homemade cat diffuser that safely mimics natural faramons to help reduce anxiety. Calming cat collars can also calm your cat with aromatherapy, which discourages destructive behavior and unwanted coloration.
- Leave the blinds open in most rooms.
This will keep your cat outside during the day and provide plenty of great entertainment options, as well as a chance to snooze in the sun while you're on holiday.
- Leave a few lights on.
This could be a small light, for example, in the hallway and bathroom. This simply helps make your cat's environment more familiar and ensures that she feels safe while you're away.
- If your cat is afraid of being alone, you can leave the radio on at a very low volume.
Voices coming from the system can help your cat feel as if someone else is nearby.
- If you'll be going away during the winter, consider investing in a safe space heater for your cat's favorite room to keep them comfortable and happy while you're away.
Heated cat beds use self-heating technology that reflects your cat's own body heat to keep them warm and cozy without the need for electricity. These beds come in handy in case of unexpected power outages.
While it may seem like a lot of work, it's important to follow each of these steps if you really want to keep your cat safe and happy while you're on vacation. Of course, you should always talk to your veterinarian about your plans to get even more guidance for your pet and make sure he is in the right condition to be alone for an extended period of time.
How to train a cat to drink from a bowl?
Let's look at some ways to teach your pet to drink from a bowl:
- It is necessary to place a container with water at a distance from the dishes with food. After all, due to its instincts, a cat may refuse water due to its close location to food.
- The animal may not like the fact that the water is warm, so it is necessary to change it to cooler water more often.
- You can try replacing the water container itself. So, instead of a plastic container, put glass, porcelain or metal dishes. If your pet regularly turns over a bowl of water, you can offer him a more stable dish with a rubber base. Even the most playful and curious cat will not be able to turn over such a water container.
- There are also automatic waterers or drinking fountains that provide constant circulation of water. Due to the fact that water constantly passes through purifying filters, it remains clean and enriched with oxygen. This design allows the cat to drink water not only from a bowl, but also from the tap.
- You can try offering your cat different types of water. Perhaps the animal will choose one of them.
We must not forget that the cat should always have access to water. When leaving for work for the whole day, you can open the water tap slightly so that the water from it does not flow, but drips. Then the animal will be able to drink, even if the water in the bowl does not suit it.
With a normal drinking regime in cats, the risk of urinary tract diseases, as well as other chronic diseases that worsen with age, is significantly reduced. When a cat drinks enough water, the likelihood of stone formation decreases as the urine becomes less concentrated. To reduce the risk of diseases of the pet’s genitourinary system, there are also many different foods that can be purchased at the Homeovet pet store. When contacting a veterinary clinic, you can receive recommendations on feeding and drinking regime for your pet. This is especially true for older cats, who may not drink enough water, which will lead to dehydration and contribute to constipation and kidney disease.
How long can a cat stay home alone?
Everyone believes that cats are independent creatures.
They are stoic and do not demand much; they try to handle everything themselves. In general this is true, but still.
Very often we wonder how long cats can be left alone, because we go to work, to the cinema or to visit friends. What are they doing and do they miss their owners?
Is it safe to leave cats alone?
In principle, it may seem that cats don’t care whether you are at home or not, but this is not at all the case; they notice and know everything. Cats are amazingly perceptive and insightful creatures. We are sometimes unable to understand how they treat us, whether they want to live with us.
As a rule, cats come into our house at our request; they do not become our pets. Although, I must say that my cat Kira did just that, he literally threw himself at my feet when I was leaving the entrance. At first I didn’t even understand what was happening, moreover, I didn’t take him right away, I went to the store, came back and only then realized that the cat was waiting for me and didn’t leave. This is how Kira came into our family.
Of course, cats don't mind being alone, especially if your absence is the norm. They perfectly learn our daily routine and easily adapt to it. If they are unhappy about being left alone, you will know this by the pet's behavior. In my opinion, the main issue when a cat or cats are left alone is a matter of safety.
That is, could they fall from somewhere or jump out into the street or something like that.
In addition, all cats are very individual, even if they are the same breed, no two cats or cats are the same. Some are more social, others are more attached to their owner. The level of anxiety can also be different; each cat even feels and expresses hunger in its own way. Each owner knows his or her pet best and can clearly understand how a cat feels about loneliness.
How long can you leave your pet alone?
Experts believe that the maximum time a cat can be left alone is 24 hours unattended.
. During this time, she will be able to occupy herself and not get hurt or get sick.
Of course, this is a long time and nothing can be said for sure, however, there is another limit - this is 36 hours, according to veterinarians, this period is the maximum permissible from the point of view of safety and ethics
. You should never leave a cat alone on Saturday and Sunday; someone must come, change the water, change the litter in the tray, just chat with her if you need to leave or leave. The longer the cat is alone, the higher the likelihood of “pogrom” in the house and other troubles.
If we just go to work, then cats understand this moment perfectly and there will be no problems. My cats immediately understood when and on which days I would go out longer, and on which days I would come early; I open the door and someone is sure to be already sitting and waiting, and only then everyone will come up to receive their share of strokes and affectionate words. It’s more difficult with kittens, they are still small and they need someone to be with them, well, if there are at least two kittens, then they are busy. However, one kitten requires your presence.
Things to remember when your cat is alone
1. First of all, this is a tray
, a dirty litter box leads to the fact that even the most well-mannered cat will do its business in the wrong place. In principle, everything is logical, cats are big clean people! Therefore, if you still need to leave or something else, and the cat is left alone, you need to find a person who could come at least once a day and look after the cat.
