Do cats like cold or warm water better

Do Cats Like Cold Water? Vet-Approved Facts & FAQ

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Usually, we think of cats as hating water rather than liking it, but water is a necessary component of most living creatures diets. Animals on our planet need water to survive, and most humans find that drinking cold water is more refreshing (though there are some warm water drinkers out there too!). But with all our own personal opinions differing, it begs the question of whether cats have a preference. After all, they drink water to survive; it only makes sense that theyd have an opinion on its taste. Unfortunately, theres no solid answer on what cats think because its a personal preference.

Until we can transform cats thoughts into human language, well never know whether our cats prefer warm or cold water. But it will be hard to figure out what kind of water your cat likes since they dont get that much water in their diet as a result of drinking it.

Where Do Cats Get Their Water?

The cats we know today as our friends and family are thought to have originated from Northern Africa. Our domestic feline companions evolved from Felis silvestris libyca or the African Wild Cat. These wild cats that roamed the deserts of what we now know as Egypt would be attracted to the rodents which lived in the food stores of the Ancient Egyptian villages, and the rest is history!

How does this relate to cats getting water? As desert animals, drinking water wasnt as plentiful and readily available. So, their bodies evolved to need less water than animals which evolved in less arid climates.

The bulk of a cats liquid content comes from their foods rather than drinking water. Of course, cats arent above drinking water when theyre thirsty, but a cats primary source of liquidsand thus what theyll most likely gravitate towards when choosingis their food. Cats do not have a strong thirst drive because they have evolved not to need a lot of water to allow them to thrive and be comfortable in desert climates.

In todays world, domestic cats survive and thrive in various climates. Theyre present on every continent except Antarctica, so that should tell you how survivable house cats are. They can survive in all four hemispheres, regardless of the differences in climate and topography!

Why Do Cats Get Water from Food Instead of Drinking?

In the desert, water is scarcer than in most other biomes. With water being so scarce, animals that live in desert biomes develop methods to store and process water content. For example, consider the camel capable of drinking up to 30 gallons of water in one sitting. They are evolutionarily designed to be aggressively economical with their water usage by storing it, allowing them to go more than a week without drinking anything.

Much like the camel will settle down and drink 30 gallons of water in one sitting, your cat has adapted to get their water content needs filled by processing the water in their food; this is where wild cats and feral cats get most of their water content for their diet.

Do Cats Ever Drink Water?

Of course, cats drink water when theyre thirsty, but youve likely noticed that your cat spends a lot less time at their water bowl than your dog. The cats body has a decreased thirst drive. It makes sense for an animal that evolved to live in the desert; if water is scarce and many animals go without a safe water source, having a high thirst drive is just an invitation to suffering.

Still, when your cat has a hankering for some refreshing water, youll see them lap up water from their bowl or fountain with their tongues. Cats may also dip their paws into their water and lick the water off their paws.

How Can I Encourage My Cat to Drink More Water?

If your vet has indicated that your cat needs to drink more water, you can do a few things to improve your cats experience with water and make them more likely to drink it when they get thirsty.

Its important to note that you should let your cat and your vet lead your charge. Your cat knows when they need water better than you do, and your vet can confirm whether your cats water levels are low enough to warrant suspicion. Likewise, if your vet hasnt indicated that your cat needs to drink more water and your cat isnt sick, theres no reason to suspect that theyre not drinking enough. Providing high-moisture food is a great way of improving your cats hydration level.

Start By Changing the Bowl

Cats are susceptible to minor differences like the shape or material of the bowl. They can also be susceptible to whisker sensitivity. For example, if their whiskers are pressing against the sides of the bowl, this can be highly uncomfortable. So, changing the bowl to a shallow bowl doesnt require them to put their whole snout inside.

Cats may also be sensitive to stainless steel bowls; these bowls reflect light and strain your cats light-sensitive eyes. Offer your cat a variety of bowls at different depths, sizes, shapes, and materials for discerning what your cat is looking for in a water bowl.

Change the Waters Flavor

Theres always a healthy debate surrounding water and whether it has no flavor or is water-flavored, but theres one thing we can all agree on, and thats that different water tastes, well, different. Theres a reason the tap water from your neighbors sink tastes different than the one from yours: the water is chemically different.

As water travels through the pipe system, it picks up everything that changes the flavor. People can tell when the water they drink contains chemicals that might poison them. So, try filtering your water to see if it makes it more palatable to your cat.

Final Thoughts

Unfortunately, we cant tell you whether your cats prefer their water at room temperature or over ice, but we can always learn about our cats preferences by observing them ourselves. Thats the best way to find out what your cat likes, so try to change some stuff up and see if your cat likes it more than their old setup!

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Featured Image Credit: Creative Cat Studio, Shutterstock

Do Cats Like Cold Water The Interesting Facts!

Maybe youve seen the cute videos of cats licking big blocks of ice online, or maybe youre looking for ways to keep your cat cool in the hot summer months. Cold water might be natural for you, but what about cats that evolved for natural sources of fresh water in the wild? Do cats like cold water?

Cats like cold water. Cold water is fresher, safe for cats, and leads to better overall hydration. Cats can also drink cold water with ice cubes. Some cats will not drink water that is too cold or below room temperature.

Lets dive in and see why cats sometimes like cold water, why sometimes they dont, and what precautions you should take if youre giving your cat very cold water.

Is Ice Cold Water Bad For Cats

Cold water is one thing, but is ice cold water different? Ice cold water, either fresh from the freezer or ice cubes added, is significantly cooler than water fresh from the tap. In some cases, that may encourage your cat to drink more; in other cases, they might be tempted to wait for the water to warm up a little.

Ice cold water isnt hazardous, but it can cause some complications. The most common complication of water thats too cold for your cats is brain freeze. Cats have a very similar sensation to the kind of brain freeze you get if you eat too much ice cream, and it can discourage them from drinking if it keeps happening.

Usually, ice cold water isnt an issue in terms of keeping your cats warm enough. Thats because your cats fast metabolism and fur help maintain its temperature. However, cats are usually most comfortable in an environment that slightly warmer than humans prefer. That means that your cat may not want to cool off in a room thats a little too warm for you.

Worse, if the room is slightly to the cool side, your cat may not want to drink ice-cold water because theyre already chilled.

So, while ice-cold water is unlikely to be harmful to your cat, it might be uncomfortable. Since cats already tend to have a hard time staying hydrated, its essential to consider whether the temperature of their water might prevent them from drinking enough.

Is It OK For Cats To Drink Cold Water

It is okay for cats to drink cold water. There are some theories that cats might prefer cold water because it seems fresher and cleaner to them. That may be because freshwater sources like rivers and streams, which tend to be colder than standing water, might also have been safer for cats to drink from.

However, there are always a few odd cats that prefer warmer temperatures for their water or room temperature. Please pay attention to the temperatures your cat is most likely to drink water, and youre probably better off choosing that temperature regardless of whether its hot or cold.

But dont worry too much if your cats water is consistently a little on the cool side; as long as theyre well-hydrated, they probably like it that way.

Can Cats Have Ice Cubes In Water

Yes, cats can have ice cubes in water. However, its important to make sure the cubes are an appropriate size so your cat does not choke on them.

You may have seen the cute videos of cats fascinated by large pieces of ice and baking trays. Before you get too worried about those cats, ice is safe for cats and can even be a fun toy. Putting a few ice cubes in your cats water might be one way to get them to stay a little more hydrated if they like cool water.

However, putting ice cubes in your cats water doesnt come without risks.

The most common risk from ice cubes in water is brain freeze. Fortunately, brain freeze isnt severe; its just a little uncomfortable for your cat. The other common problem with putting ice cubes in your cats water is that the ice may damage their teeth. No, just drinking cold water wont damage your cats teeth. However, if your cat tries to eat the ice while theyre drinking, they might damage their teeth on the ice cubes.

Since a cats teeth are smaller than your teeth, that damage can happen a lot faster for cats than it does for people. If you notice that your cat is trying to take a bite out of an ice cube, you should take the ice cube away. That way, you can avoid expensive dental procedures and help keep your cats mouth and teeth as healthy as possible for as long as possible.

What Temperature Should Cats Water Be

Your cats water temperature should be between 50 72 degrees. This is the standard temperature humans consume cold water, and generally, that is acceptable for cats. Cats have different preferences though, so whatever temperature they enjoy is also a safe bet. As you turn the faucet, youll get an idea of where your cat likes their water.

Still, water can present some issues, especially as it warms throughout the day. That might mean that you should keep an ice cube or two in your cats water fountain, it might mean that you need to keep your water a little warmer than average, or it might mean that your cat will settle for whatever room temperature water happens to be available.

You have to worry about your cats water temperature when they arent drinking enough. In those circumstances, temperature, water bowls or fountains, and other techniques to improve hydration might be suggested by your vet. Usually, it takes some trial and error before finding the right combination of temperature water and presentation to get your cat to drink enough.

Do Cats Like Warm Water

Some cats do prefer warm water. Most cats prefer water thats room temperature or colder to warm water. But that doesnt mean that your cat isnt an exception.

We are not entirely sure why this is, especially since most cats prefer cold running water to warm still water. That doesnt mean theres necessarily anything wrong with your cat if they prefer their water on the warm side. Just make sure youre giving them plenty of access and that its the right temperature for them to drink.

Why Does My Cat Only Drink Warm Water

Its hard to answer this question without knowing the cat youre talking about, but there are a few possible reasons we can mention here.

Some kittens seem to prefer warm water to cold water, possibly because its more similar to their mothers milk. We dont know for sure that this is why kittens prefer warm water, but its consistent enough that it seems like a reasonable theory.

If this is why your cat likes warm water, especially if they are a kitten or a very young adult cat, they may outgrow this and start to prefer room temperature or cold water at some point.

Your cat may also prefer warm water because the temperature in your home isnt quite warm enough to be comfortable for them, in which case there using the warm water to preserve body heat.

Lastly, your cat may prefer warm water because theyre prone to brain freeze, especially if youve given them iced water in the past. If you suspect this might be the reason your cat prefers warm water, avoid giving them ice for a few months, and they should get used to room temperature water again.

Can Cats Drink Boiled Water

Yes, cats can drink water thats been boiled and then cooled. Cats however cannot drink water that is not cooled or immediately after boiling. this can lead to serious injuries and burns.

Boiling water can be a way to make sure your cat has a safer water source if you dont have a filtered water hookup in your home.

Just make sure its always cool to room temperature, or colder, before serving your cat. The last thing you want is for eight to warm water bowl to turn them off drinking.

Final Thoughts

Cats are somewhat prone to kidney disorders because its not in their natural evolution to drink a lot of water. From an evolutionary perspective, cats evolved to drink water in small quantities because they could get most of their hydration from their diets. More importantly, standing water poses an evolutionary risk because its often a source of parasites and disease.

If youre struggling to get your cat to drink water, the temperature might not be the only problem. Cats evolved to trust running water more than standing water, so a cat fountain may be an excellent way to encourage your cat to drink more.

Cats also tend to prefer water sources that are placed further away from their primary food source. This makes sense since cats are carnivores, so their food sources are potential sources of pathogens after a very short time in the wild. Moving your cats water dish a little further from their food dish may be one solution to chronic dehydration.

Its also important to consider the season when youre choosing your cats water temperature. Some cats may appreciate cold water in the summer but not be interested in the same water when its cold in the winter.

Like most things, keeping your cat well hydrated and healthy is a matter of negotiation between their particular needs and environments. Keep experimenting until you get it right, and dont get discouraged if your first few attempts dont work.

My name is James, and welcome to FAQCats!

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