Okay, so I wanted to share something that happened when I first got my little furball, Max. It was pretty worrying for a bit there. I noticed pretty quickly, maybe the second day he was home, that his water bowl seemed… untouched. Like, exactly the same level as when I filled it.
First Spotting the Problem
You know how it is, you get a new kitten, you want everything to be perfect. I set up his food bowl, his water bowl, nice clean litter box, toys everywhere. But day after day, that water level just didn’t seem to drop. I started watching him like a hawk. He’d eat his food fine, play like a little maniac, nap in sunbeams, but walk right past the water bowl. Didn’t even give it a sniff.
Trying the Obvious Stuff
My first thought was maybe he didn’t like the bowl. It was a standard plastic one that came in a set with the food bowl. So, I swapped it out. I dug out an old ceramic bowl I had, nice and heavy so he couldn’t tip it. Filled it with fresh water. Nope. Still ignored it. Then I thought, maybe it’s too deep? Or too small? I tried a wider, shallower glass dish next. Same result. He just wasn’t interested.
Then I remembered reading somewhere that cats sometimes don’t like their water right next to their food. Instinct, apparently. Something about contamination in the wild. Okay, easy fix. I moved the water bowl across the room, away from his food station. Still nothing. I even tried putting a second bowl in a different spot, just in case location was the issue.
Thinking About Hydration Sources
I started to get properly worried. Was he dehydrated? Was something medically wrong? But he seemed perfectly fine otherwise – energetic, good appetite for his food. And that was the clue, actually. I was feeding him mostly wet kitten food at the time, the kind with lots of gravy. I realized he was getting a lot of moisture from that. Kittens have tiny needs, maybe the wet food was enough?
But I still felt uneasy. I wanted to see him drink water, you know? For peace of mind. I did a bit of thinking, remembering cats I’d had before. Some were picky.
The Breakthrough Moment
Then it hit me. One time I left the bathroom tap dripping slightly, and I saw Max batting at the drips, even licking a few off his paw! It was like a lightbulb went on. Maybe he preferred moving water?
So, I took a chance. I went out and bought one of those relatively inexpensive pet water fountains. The kind that bubbles up or flows down a little ramp.
- Cleaned the fountain thoroughly.
- Filled it with fresh, filtered water (figured I’d go all out).
- Plugged it in and set it up where his old bowl used to be.
I didn’t push him towards it, just left it there. Took about an hour. I peeked around the corner, and there he was! Cautiously approaching the little bubbling sound, then dipping his head down and taking a long drink. It was such a relief!
Keeping an Eye On Things
Since then, he’s used the fountain consistently. I make sure to clean it regularly and change the filter, because hygiene is important with those things. I still give him wet food, but now I know he’s also drinking water properly. It was a bit of trial and error, figuring out his little preference. Sometimes they just have their quirks, these little guys. If you’re worried, definitely check if they’re getting moisture from wet food, try different bowls and locations, and maybe consider a fountain. And of course, if you really think something’s wrong, a vet check is always the best bet. But for Max, it was just a case of wanting his water to move!
