Expert: Becky - 1/11/2005

Question
I have recently noticed that my cat (male) is not (rarely) drinking water out of his water bowl.  I noticed this one morning when he was on the sink while I was brushing my teeth and he was trying to drink the water that was coming out of the faucet. I figured he was thirsty so I cupped my hands and he drank 2 fills. After the first fill he kind of made a noise and he looked like a cat trying to hack a furball or something. Anyway I figured that was because he drank to fast, seeing as how he was sooo thirsty!
Well, I clean his food bowl (water and food side by side, one bowl) daily. Put clean water (I do this twice daily). I also put another water bowl out in another place (did this just yesterday). I don't think this is a big problem, yet I do not want to have him thinking that I will always be giving him water with cupped hands!!!!!
Thanks for any input/advice.

Answer
David,
Believe me, if your cat is thirsty, he will drink what you put out.   Cats are just very smart and try to push their owners as far as they can.  Mine love to drink out of a running faucet, and will sit on the sink and howl until someone turns it on for them!  I must admit that I do it for them all the time, and now they are very spoiled!!  But, if I didn't do it, they would drink out of their water bowl.  I think they are very smart, and know that is water running and since you conveniently made a drinking bowl out of your hands, he took advantage of it!  He will probably expect it now....lol

God Bless,
Becky