Why is My Cat Refusing to Drink Water?

Although cats supposedly hate water, they still need to drink water to stay healthy. If your cat is refusing to drink, it can lead to illnesses that can be serious and dangerous. It can cause dehydration, which is an imbalance of water and electrolytes, which can lead to health issues for your feline. Your cat can be refusing to drink water for a number of reasons, some of them being:

• A lack of available water
• Blood loss 
• Shock
• Fever
• Heatstroke
• Lifestyle and diet

Cats, like humans, need to drink a lot of water. Cats are made up of primarily water, just as humans are, and not drinking can cause some serious health issues. If your cat has suddenly dropped their water intake, it may be wise to take them to the vet for a checkup and to ensure that there is not a more serious cause behind it.

There can be many causes to your cat refusing to drink. Some of them can be as simple as stubbornness, and others can be as complicated as heatstroke. Drinking a sufficient amount of water is important for your feline, as it is necessary for all of their biological processes. Some possible causes are:

A Lack of Available Water

Your cat could simply be refusing to drink water because they are picky about the kind of water that is available to them. Your cat may be fussy about their water if it has been left out for a long time.

Sometimes even the type of bowl can play a part in the amount of water that your cat drinks. If the bowl is too big or small, it could make a difference in whether or not your cat wants to drink. 

Some cats don’t like when their whiskers brush against the sides of a bowl and therefore may refuse to drink from a bowl that is too small. Some cats prefer stainless steel bowls over ceramic, or vice versa.

Blood Loss

Blood loss can be either internal or external. External blood loss can be seen, possibly coming from bites, fractures, bleeding after delivering kittens, nose bleeds or injuries and wounds from other accidents. Internal blood loss can be obtained by trauma, poisoning, blood clotting disorders or hookworm and other internal parasites. 

Shock

Shock may also keep your cat from drinking. Shock is caused by a lack of blood flow due to an imbalance in the amount of oxygen and nutrients in the body. Shock can be extremely dangerous for your cat and requires veterinary intervention. 

Fever

A fever can also stop your cat from drinking. Although the only way to know if your cat has a fever for sure is by taking its temperature, there are other signs. Common causes of a fever in cats include bacterial, fungal, and viral infections. 

Heatstroke

Heatstroke can be very dangerous and it is important to know the signs. Heatstroke occurs when a cat's internal body temperature exceeds 104 degrees Fahrenheit. If you suspect that your cat is experiencing heatstroke, they should be brought to the vet immediately as it can be life threatening.

Lifestyle and Diet

You should also consider the lifestyle of your pet. If you own an outdoor cat, it is possible that they are able to find water from streams and ponds while out adventuring, and therefore will need less water from home. How much exercise they get will also play a part. If your cat tires themselves out too much, they can easily become dehydrated. 

The more active your cat is, the more water that they will need, and they should naturally consume more or less, depending on their needs. If you feed your cat wet food, they will not need to drink as much water as they would if they eat dry food, since they will be getting some of their water content from the wet food.

Determining the cause of your cat’s refusal to drink water can be a challenge, and if you have any concerns that it may be serious, then you may want to consider bringing your cat to the veterinarian to ensure that they are in good health. 

If your cat has internal blood loss, they may require x-rays or ultrasounds to determine the source of the bleeding. External bleeding will be treated by cleaning and dressing the injury, or some cases may require surgery. 

If you suspect shock, it is important to stay calm and proceed to the veterinary clinic immediately.  A cat with a fever for over 24 hours or a temperature of above 106 degrees Fahrenheit should be brought to the vet. Unless you suspect heat stroke, shock, illness or injury, bringing your cat to the vet for refusing to should not be necessary. 

If your cat is acting normal but the water in their bowl never seems to go down, then consider their lifestyle and try to find out if they may be getting water from some other source. Try different size and types of bowls and water to see if your cat has a certain preference.

To prevent serious incidents like heatstroke, avoid leaving your cat outside for long periods of time in extreme temperatures. You should never leave your cat or any pet in a parked car, as the interior can quickly get hot and the intense heat will cause your cat to experience heatstroke. 

If you cannot find a way to get your cat to drink more water, you could feed them wet food as it has moisture and will add to their water intake. If your cat is not drinking from their bowl, try experimenting with different types. 

Place bowls of different shapes, sizes and materials around the house and see which ones get used the most in order to determine what your cat prefers. Sometimes adding ice cubes or bath toys to your cat’s water bowls can increase their interest in drinking. 

You should ensure that your cat has water available at all times in order to prevent dehydration. It's important to monitor your cat’s behavior and drinking habits, because even if it may not seem like a big deal, it could be a symptom of something more serious.

Unsure why your cat is refusing to drink water? Chat with a veterinary professional today for more information.