Cat owners... what do cats drink?

[DonMichelle]

Sounds stupid but there's been a cat 'visiting' me (when she's hungry, don't think it's owners look after her very well :( ) and I've been feeding her all sorts (roast beef, turkey, tuna, even bought some cat food) but she doesn't seem to drink the water I give her (someone told me cats can smell the chlorine used to clean the water so they don't drink it!?!?) She likes milk but I've been told it isn't good for them, gives them diarrhea?!?!

What do they drink?

Updates

+1 y

She also rubs herself a lot againt bricks, chairs, anything pointy... fleas?

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+1 y

She's just had a tin of tuna and some dry cat food for tea... she's becoming a fat cat :) A lot healthier looking, always purring hahaha

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+1 y

The cat is becoming chubbier by the day :)

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+1 y

Any way to tell if she's pregnant?

She's not been spayed (I spoke to her neglectful owners... bastards) and she seems to be eating and sleeping alot, becoming very chubby around the hips, typical lady ;) hahaha

Any way to tell whether she's got kittens brewing within? A cat pregnancy test maybe? :) ?

[Married-in-PA]

WATER. Although most people "think" that cats drink milk primarily, this is incorrect. It's certainly okay to give a grown cat a little tasting of milk - avoid giving them the whole bowl, it's unhealthy for cats in large quantities, because of the sugar and fat content in most whole milk.

Cats are obligate carnivores, which means that they need more water (by weight distribution) than you do to survive, because it's required in their digestion (meat is harder to digest than vegetables) - especially if you are feeding them dry cat food. Wet food is always best, but don't try to make it yourself - because cats require complex organic acids - such as Taurine.

A Feral cat CAN smell Chlorine and other chemicals in tap water, which is why she may choose not to partake of it. Rest assured, the wet food (especially the tuna) you are offering her contains at least 70% water - which is exactly what a cat needs (about 67% of a cat's body weight is water, compared to our 78%. If you really want to give her a treat, offer her fresh, cool bottled water. Believe me, she will be very appreciative.

Trust me, I've had 21 cats over the course of my life. I love and respect cats, they make great friends, and cunning companions.

[Married-in-PA]

By the way, the "rubbing" she is doing, is actually called "bunting" - she is leaving her scent on your property. This is both a sign of territorial marking (which is instinctive), but it's also a sign she is comfortable with you... She is kinda saying "hey, a friendly human lives here, see?" - be lucky it's not a MALE feral cat that's not-so-happy-with-you... they mark in different ways.

[Blobb]

Mine isn't big on vodka, but he likes rhum a fair bit so we do that together. He beat me twice at shots contests!

[cun7n1nja]

Cats are notoriously fussy sometimes, lol, though mine will drink from anything if there's water in it; the toilet, a dripping faucet, a glass, etc. If she won't drink the water, she's probably not thirsty. But if you're still worried about it, pour some of the tuna water from the can into the water you have set out for her. The additional flavor and smell should change her mind, haha. Too much milk WILL give them the runs. I only give my cats a tiny bit of cream very occasionally. Once they've passed the stage of infancy, milk isn't necessary [they just enjoy it], they're primarily carnivores.

As for the rubbing up on things, she's scent-marking. Totally normal. If she's an outside cat, it's entirely possible that she has fleas, but that's not why she does that. She probably rubs up on you too, right? Especially with her face? It's a combination of affection, and marking things with her scent. =]

[DonMichelle]

You seem to know cat behavior very well :)

She's forever weaving inbetween my legs, rubbing herself :)

[toulouse]

GOT MILK ^^

I always feed stray cats milk. I never heard it causes problems. Try lactaid milk. Maybe they are lactose intolerant ;)

[AliceMcKay]

Don't feed cats milk, it makes them sick.

[toulouse]

yea I get it,. but I've never noticed anything happen. why do story books always give cats milk. they should be sued.

[ihatework]

in moderation it's OK, harsh crowd today.

[KittyOG]

some cats are lactos once they get older , its best to feed them water maybe mix hard food with the water

[toulouse]

lol yea harsh ;)

[DonMichelle]

We've been giving her goats milk... goats milk!

The cat eats and drinks better than some people, she's a queen (and not even my cat! :) !)

[toulouse]

niice.. see if it was lactose. goats milk has so much less. there you go. good call lol

[Standingpretty]

You can get a brita filter and purify the water,that might help. If a cat is thristy enough, it will drink anything. Just give it time. DO NOT give an adult cat milk, it is not good for them anymore after they are not kittens. That is good that you are giving her meat, that is very good for cats. Unless you see a cat scratch itself with it's claws it's just marking it's territory and massaging itself. Cats rub themselves on sharp corners all the time for attention (I would know, I live with five cats). The only way to tell if a cat is preggers is to take her to the vet. Good luck with your new friend!

[beccatheegg]

I have three cats, if you're worried about dehydration just feed her(him?) wet cat food along with water, it has all the nutrients they need and it'll help hydrate them. Also if it's a stray, it could be getting water from other places. I put water out for my girls (all inside cats) everyday and it's seldom that I catch them drinking it. But most of all, if it's a kitten and it's kind and sweet, think about getting him/her checked out for worms, fleas, heartworm, etc. and putting them up for adoption so they can find a nice forever home. If she has a sweet demeanor and seems healthy, you could even take her to a kill free shelter and they can check her out and find her a forever home.

[Darkfairie17]

Cats usually drink water, don't give cats milk they will get sick. I have 5 cats at home and they all drink water. Maybe the cat isn't thirsty? If a cat is really thirsty they will drink. If you think it is the chlorine, then I would try giving it some bottled water.

[Darkfairie17]

As for rubbing herself on things. That is normal cat behaviour. They like to rub their cheeks on stuff a lot, as well as leaving their scent on things around them. She is just laying claim to her territory :) I would suspect fleas if she was biting or constantly scratching herself.

[KaKaya]

Cats drink water...like every other animal. :) They can drink milk too, but it gives them the...well it makes them have to go to the "bathroom" a lot. Rubbing is just like she's petting herself. She's also "marking her territory" because she has scent glands on her head in front of the ears.

And GOOD for you to help take care of the kitty when someone doesn't take care of their pet.

Thank you!

[xx_ueh_xx]

they drink water, don't give her milk at all It makes them sick and gives them nausea and diarrhea(or just a little because well sometimes we can't help but give in..). And I don' know why female cats rub themselves, I was told they do this when they're right before the "coupling" phase...

[xoelitebabiixo]

fleas are possible but nothing to stress over, most animals have them whether you notice or not.

i notice my cats don't drink sink water but they drink milk and out of puddles but I only give them small amounts of milk because it does make them sick.

and when I noticed my cats prego I saw a signifigant gain of weight in the lower part of body and if you feel under her belly you may start to feel milk nipples and that's how you'll know because they don't develope until they are prego

[DonMichelle]

love the term prego :)

[xoelitebabiixo]

haha I didn't feel like typing the entire word

[beerY33]

I don't own a cat, sorry, but my friend does, and I'm pretty sure it just drinks water... How long has it been ignoring the water? Also, you probably should feed her mostly cat food and not so much of the roast beef, etc.

[beerY33]

Cats rub against stuff. Normal.

[KittyOG]

just keep putting water for her , preferably filtered .. she might have some other source for water I know my cats do .. the toilet or the sink lol

[charizzle]

they drink water. it's probably not thirsty. just leave the water there, it'll drink it when it wants to.

[Shaun]

You're right about everything, but leave the water out.

[Shaun]

Mine like to drink out the toilet.

[DonMichelle]

How many do you have?

[Shaun]

I'm down to one, I've had as many as four at a time.

[tex151]

Leave out water for it, my cat will drink from the sink sometimes, or even the toilet.

[mokaladybuggie]

I don't have a cat , I have a kitten. I have heard feeding them any type of fish will cause them hairloss and no milk is not good for any cat. :)

[tex151]

Where did you hear this from? Cats eat fish all the time, the food they eat has fish in it, open up a can of tuna and the cat will show up. If the cat is loosing it probably has allergies, but fish will not cause hair loss to every cat.

[mokaladybuggie]

maybe it depends on the kitten kind, but I have a Persian kitten and the veterinarian told me I'm not suppose to feed him any type of fish.

[Aitsume]

As far as I know fish won't hurt a cat if it's fed in moderation. The bad thing is when a cat is on a diet with too much fish. They get malnourished, and can die. And the little bones, and maybe the mercury? Also tex151, the fact that a cat likes it isn't a good judge that it's good for them. I mean, cats also love antifreeze.

[tex151]

You don't just buy a fish from the store and feed it to your cat, it's in their cat food. Most cats will eat whatever they can catch, birds, rats, lizards. It's a cat not a human a cat, if its an inside cat then go to the store and buy it cat food it's in the pet isle how hard is that?

[beccatheegg]

She probably is just putting her scent on things, as well.

[Anonymous]

that's so great your cat is gaining weight and being healthy. awesome news

[summer_]

Cats drink water. It may be not thirsty. I saw cats drinking water from pools and even from toilets.

[angyismytitle]

they drink water and occasionally milk

[angyismytitle]

To tell if she is pregnant is when you ccan feel individual lumps in her tummy. But usually when they are pretty far alone. Otherwise the vet could tell you.

[DonMichelle]

Will that harm the kittens, squeezing the lumps I mean?

How long does it take for the kittens to develop?

[angyismytitle]

No it won't, and you don't squeeze you gently feel them. Umm... I don't know how long the pregnancy lasts, but once they're born it takes 6 weeks until they will be ready to leave the mother. If that's what you meant.

[DonMichelle]

I can't feel individual lumps BUT she is a bit lumpy around her hips and she's eating and sleeping alot... she's asleep on my bed as I write this :)

[angyismytitle]

haha it sounds to me like she is. Kittens are a handful, my cat had kittens a few weeks ago.

[DonMichelle]

And did your cat eat and sleep a lot when she was pregnant?

Any changes in behavior ?

[angyismytitle]

Yeah she was more huggable more loving I guess.

[nannyb]

Beer

[brunettebelle]

Just plain water.

[JennyBenny318]

Water.