Cat drinking from the tap: why it happens, and how to get them drinking elsewhere
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A cat drinking from the tap is often after water that moves, which seems fresher to them than a still bowl, or a water station in a better spot than theirs. It isn't a whim, nor in itself a sign of illness if the habit is a long-standing one: start by offering them elsewhere what the tap gives them.
Why does your cat drink from the tap rather than their bowl?
According to International Cat Care, some cats like drinking moving water, most prefer a wide, shallow bowl where their whiskers don't touch the sides, and many would rather not drink right next to their food.
The UK charity Cats Protection traces this taste for running water back to the African wildcat, the domestic cat's ancestor, for which flowing water was safer than stagnant water. Watch yours: the reason that brings them to the tap changes the answer.
| What draws them | The giveaway | What answers it |
|---|---|---|
| The movement and sound of water | They bat at the stream, come running as soon as the water flows | Water that circulates continuously |
| Freshly poured water | They snub their bowl but drink water you have just poured | Water changed daily, or filtered continuously |
| The bowl itself | They snub a narrow, deep or half-empty bowl | A wide, shallow bowl, filled to the brim |
| Where it sits | The water bowl is touching the food bowl | A water station well away from food |
| Height, or your company | They only drink when perched, or only when you are in the room | A raised water station, a shared moment: not a new accessory |
If movement is what draws them, a quiet cat water fountain reproduces the essence of the tap: a pump keeps the water circulating, and a filter cartridge catches hair, dust and bits of kibble on every pass. The rest of the feeding corner is in the food and water collection.
Why does your cat drink from your glass or the toilet?
The glass on your bedside table often ticks the same boxes as the tap: recently poured water, up high, away from their food. The same International Cat Care page notes that some cats like drinking from a glass, and suggests an unbreakable one if it sits up high.
The toilet appeals for a similar reason: according to VCA Animal Hospitals, many cats find cool, constantly replenished water there that seems fresher than what's in their bowl. But that water isn't meant for them: if the bowl contains cleaning products, even a few licks can cause serious health problems, and toilets can harbour bacteria that upset digestion. VCA's simplest advice: keep the lid down.
My cat only drinks from the tap: what can I actually do?
Start with what costs nothing, one change at a time: International Cat Care points out that cats don't like sudden changes to their water.
- Move the water away from food. Right next to the kibble, it is often ignored.
- Try a different bowl. A wide, shallow bowl in glass or ceramic, filled to the brim: according to International Cat Care, cats generally prefer glass and ceramic to plastic.
- Add more water stations. Enough that they never have far to go (International Cat Care suggests, for example, one on each floor), including a raised one if they like high surfaces. The best places are covered in where to put your cat's water.
- Refresh the water every day. Yesterday's water can't compete with the tap. On the type of water itself, read what water to give your cat.
- Add moving water if movement is what they are after.
With a fountain, keep the old water bowl beside it for a week: your cat will choose for themselves. If they are wary of the sound of water, first put the fountain next to their usual water bowl, switched off, for two days, then turn it on, away from where they sleep.
The tap, without the tap
Its upgraded quiet pump, fitted as standard, is designed to run continuously, overnight included, without being heard; its splash-guard rim keeps chin and chest dry. Discover the quiet fountain →
Will a fountain be enough to wean them off the tap?
Not always: a fountain answers the cat looking for moving water, not the one who comes to the tap for something else.
- If they want height. If they only drink happily when perched, a fountain on the floor won't change that. An unbreakable bowl on a sturdy piece of furniture, away from food, is the better fit.
- If they come for you. If they only drink at the basin when you are there, every morning, it may be the ritual they are after as much as the water. Keep it if you enjoy it, as long as they have water they like while you are out.
- If it's the worktop that bothers you. Then the issue is no longer water: read your cat jumps on the kitchen worktop.
Before buying anything, move or raise a simple bowl: it's the cheapest test there is.
Drinking from the tap, or suddenly drinking more: when to see a vet?
A cat who has always loved the tap is nothing to worry about. What should alert you is a change: a cat who starts drinking noticeably more than before, and everywhere. According to the Cornell Feline Health Center, chronic kidney disease makes cats urinate and drink more, and it affects up to 40% of cats over 10 and 80% of cats over 15.
New thirst, a wetter litter tray than before, weight loss: that calls for the vet, not an accessory. And if your cat drinks too little instead, the article my cat won't drink water tackles the problem from the other side.
Frequently asked questions
Should you leave the tap dripping for them?
International Cat Care lists a dripping tap among the sources of moving water worth trying. It's a good way to find out whether movement is what draws them, but left dripping day and night, it's a constant waste of water. A fountain, by contrast, keeps the same water circulating.
Should you scold them for drinking from your glass?
No: they are simply drinking where they like the water. Cover your glass at night and give them their own, unbreakable, set up high and refilled with fresh water every day.
How long does it take a cat to accept a fountain?
There's no guaranteed timeframe. The quiet fountain's product page suggests a one-week transition, with the old bowl beside it, so the cat can choose on their own. If they're still drinking from the tap after that, go back to the table at the top: it may be height or your company they're after. Don't remove their usual water to force the switch: that would mostly mean taking water away from them.
Key takeaways
- A cat drinking from the tap is often after moving water, freshly poured water, or a water station better placed than their bowl.
- Moving water away from food, choosing a wide bowl and adding water stations costs nothing: try those first.
- A fountain can replace the tap for a cat drawn to movement; it changes nothing for one who wants height or your company.
- New or clearly increased thirst is a matter for the vet, not an accessory.