Thread: End of our rope.

Do they use a litter tray still? If they are soiling that then the chances are they are getting enough water. Less in = less out (by and large)

mine always drinks off his paw ... the fur seems to hold sooo much water he paddles and splashes and then basically licks the water off his paw. He very very rarely laps in fact when he does he has a coughing fit

MC s and water

One of my MCs Floyd washes in water if he can

If the bowl is normal size he turns it over
I tried a much larger bowl with the same result so I sunk it in a large wooden box so even I struggled to tip it over - He approved of this and just sat in the water bowl and washed himself . Had to stop this it was just to messy.

We have now "agreed " that he uses a large very heavy cut crystal vase which he "discovered" while I was throwing away some flowers . he cant actually get in it so puts his front legs in completely and wash them seperately..

forntunately the two kittens have not copied him.

wow i would love to see a self bathing cat ... would make showing so much easier

i will try to get a picture but he doesnt take showwers

Couldnt get a pic of floyd with his paw completely submerged but........

he has outside a little spring where he drinks


yes I can


yes I can I think

Originally Posted by Neural

Is there a way to tell if they are getting enough water? I'm worried they aren't drinking because they don't want to put their faces into the dish, and then also because of the stuff they put into the water.

There is a simple test to see if they are dehydrated or not. Lift the loose skin at the back of the neck (The scruff, where vets usually give cats injections). Gently lift it up as far as it will go then let go, if it quickly springs back down to normal position they are fine, if it's quite slow it means they are dehydrated. The amount of time depends upon the severity of dehydration.
Hope this helps,
Mick

Pina also drinks from her paw. She will lap from her bowl but like to dip her foot under the faucet and lick the water off. She does the same when "sampling" whatever we are drinking.