Cats have a well-earned reputation for being finicky when it comes to drinking water or just about any liquid there is. All mammals need hydration to stay healthy and alive, there has to be some way we can supply our four-legged picky friend with some liquids.

Dehydration in cats usually occurs when they cannot find a good water source and lose too much water in the meantime. If you have a stray kitten or an outdoor cat, they become dehydrated when they experience excessive water loss. Cats lose moisture by sweating through their paws.

As a cat parent, hydration and water intake is always a significant issue. Your cat hates water and doesn’t like drinking it, bathing in it, or touching it. As a result, they now have some severe thirst issues that are leading to health problems.

Cats don’t let us know when they’re feeling unhealthy or ill. But, their dietary habits tell us plenty. And if your cat’s hydration habits have changed, it may be time to take a more in-depth look into how they’re feeling.

We all know that cats hate water. Water possesses a texture that’s strange to them, it weighs down their fur, and they can’t control the water’s movement when they’re in it. As such, it’s common for cats to usually stay away from the liquid. But putting this habit aside, this is not something you should let your cat carry on with.

The average domestic cat spends five hours every day grooming itself. If its hair becomes wet, its coat becomes very heavy, which makes them slower to move. Instinctually, this makes them easy prey for any predator.

Typically, if your cat needs water, it seeks water one way or another. That’s why we recommend keeping water bowls in every room of the house. But, if you see that your cat is staying away from water, and has done so for a while now, here are some reasons:

Water for cats doesn’t come from a water bowl alone. Kittens get their water from wet food as well as freshwater. They also require a special water source. You can’t give a kitten simple tap water and expect it to stay happy and satisfied.