You know that cats should always have a supply of water, especially if you are feeding them dried food. There on your nice clean kitchen floor is a bowl of nice clean fresh water, in a nice clean bowl.
What does your cat do? Maybe gives the bowl a sniff and walks away from it, or just ignores the bowl completely, as if water were the last thing a self respecting cat would consider drinking.
"Okay", you think to yourself, "Kitty just isn't thirsty at the moment". But then later, you happen to spy your cat busily lapping up stale water from a puddle in your garden as if it was nectar.
Cats are self-reliant, independent creatures, but surely your cat is not going to turn its nose up at the nice clean water you provide, just to let you know it can survive without you? After all, kitty does not reject the food you provide even though it is perfectly capable of catching mice.
No, the answer is not your mouser's independence. Tap water is usually treated with chemicals, often chlorinated strongly enough for a cat to smell it. Cats noses are far more sensitive than human noses and many cats find this chemical odor very offensive. Stale water in puddles and pools has a far more attractive smell are far as a cat is concerned. Puddles may be full of rotten vegetation and microbes, but cats find this organic soup very tasty.
As well as the off-putting odor of chemicals in tap water, cats find the smell of detergents repugnant. So, because you diligently clean your cat's water bowl in the interest of hygiene, the detergent that you use deters your cat from drinking from it. You use the same detergent to wash your cat's food bowl, why then, does your feline friend eat heartily from the bowl, and not be repelled by the smell of the detergent? This is because the aroma of the fish or meat is stronger than the smell of the detergent.
With the water bowl, the combination of the two unpleasant smells, the chemicals in the tap water and the detergent, means that your cat will only quench its thirst from the water bowl if there is no better smelling option to be had.
So, what can you do? You need to rinse your cat's bowl more thoroughly than you would a plate for a human. Remember feline noses are far more sensitive than ours, every trace of detergent needs to be rinsed off. Secondly, let the water from the tap stand for a while before putting the bowl down for your cat, this will allow the chemicals to dissipate.
These two things should have kitty drinking happily from the dish, unless, of course, kitty has got so used to drinking from puddles it just can't kick the organic water habit!
About The Author
Larry Chamberlain
If you have a pet related web site and you wish to reproduce the above article you are welcome to do so, provided the article is reproduced in its entirety, including this resource box and live link to http://www.best-cat-art.com.
Cat art posters, art prints, cat calendars and cat collectibles. Great cat gifts for yourself or your cat loving friends.
Wood Dale Chicago prom limo .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareShy dogs are more common than most people think, but... Read More
Before you decide to give your dog canine arthritis medicine... Read More
I've been around many people who try to lead a... Read More
One of the biggest question asked of the discus breeder... Read More
Bringing home a new puppy, ushers in a wave of... Read More
You know what it's like. You see a cute curly... Read More
Perhaps the best way to train your westie pups not... Read More
Wondering how to begin crate training your puppy or dog,... Read More
Dog obedience training begins with the owner. There are several... Read More
I was doing some research on dog health when I... Read More
Most parrot people are aware of some of the basic... Read More
What is Canine Distemper?Canine distemper is a highly contagios disease... Read More
You may be hearing more talk these days about "Essential... Read More
Everyday someone asks me, "How do you start a pet-sitting... Read More
Lemon TetraGlassily transparent, the lemon tetra (hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis) could appear... Read More
You can't imagine the kind of varieties of Goldfish there... Read More
Occasionally, some of us get to do work that is... Read More
It happens all too often. A family or cat friend... Read More
Can you comprehend a time when dog food, cat food,... Read More
If your life is so busy you literally only have... Read More
If you are seriously considering keeping fish as pets or... Read More
Puppies are a bundle of newfound joy. You've prepared the... Read More
Over the last 15 years, I have raised nine orphaned... Read More
The answer is "no" if you are the type who... Read More
Pet DoorsAre you considering installing a pet door for your... Read More
Antigo wedding limo ..Cat arthritis is not a very common ailment among healthy... Read More
What you feed your dog is really SO important for... Read More
This is the story of my dog called Shandy. He... Read More
Who let the dogs out?Remember this song which gave birth... Read More
Are you considering buying a dog for your child or... Read More
Have you ever held any Westie puppies? These tiny creatures... Read More
As a pet owner, no doubt you want to give... Read More
Just because we moved out to the country a couple... Read More
Part2: Does your puppy want to be crate trained?Yes! in... Read More
I really do not hope your are eating something, but... Read More
It is important to choose a sugar glider breeder carefully.... Read More
Dog day care programs benefit the dogs of owner's who... Read More
Attention breeders, livestock owners and pet lovers! *Pets looking for... Read More
Location of your aquariumSo, you bought your very first fish... Read More
Grooming means taking care of the physical maintenance of the... Read More
When Lucky was starting to show signs of aging, we... Read More
If there is an art to getting horses to load... Read More
One of the most difficult hurdles that any new puppy... Read More
Have you ever wondered what a dog thinks, or if... Read More
Pet ContainmentIf you just recently became a pet owner or... Read More
If your kids have been begging you to get a... Read More
Dogs and kids, it's a combination that at it's best... Read More
Beautiful as they are, Boston Terriers have some genetic traits... Read More
Sadly, there are several household items which we tend to... Read More
Ozzie, my four-month old Rottweiler peered up at me with... Read More
Pet |