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Why Does My Cat Drink Out of the Toilet? 3 Vet-Reviewed Reasons
We often associate cats sitting by a faucet fascinated by the running water, watching a trickling stream, or dipping their paw into a glass or vase of water, but many pet parents can find their friendly feline drinking out of the toilet. It’s a sight that may not please you and leaves you wondering why on earth they would want to be drinking out of the toilet when they have their own bowl full of fresh, clean water. We’ll explain the three main reasons why it is thought cats do this, but it is important to try and stop this activity.
The toilet is a pool of bacteria and other microorganisms, with many of them being harmful with the potential to make your cat sick. It’s worth considering also that if you have close contact with your cat, these bacteria could be passed on to you too. Toilet cleaners and other cleaning agents, such as bleach, can be toxic to your cat. There is also the potential, especially for smaller cats and kittens, to fall head-first into the toilet water. While this risk is low, it does exist, and no one wants their cat to drown in the toilet!
The 3 Reasons Why Your Cat Drinks Out of The Toilet
So, your cat finds the toilet attractive, inviting, and luscious to drink. Why? It is likely down to one or all the following reasons:
1. The Water Is Cool
Felines love cold and cool water. While our pet cats are domesticated, many of their primal instincts from their original wild times remain. Wild felines like to drink from lakes, streams, and rivers because the water is generally cool and regularly running.
Due to the ceramic or porcelain material the toilet bowl is made from, the temperature of the toilet water is, for the most part, always cool and therefore very appealing to cats.
2. The Water Is Fresh
Cats dislike stale water, and since the water in the toilet is constantly changing due to flushing, the reoxygenation from the act of flushing makes it seem fresher.
3. It’s Fun!
Cats love a bit of fun and games to entertain themselves, and this activity could well be an enjoyable time for them.
How to Stop My Cat From Drinking Out of the Toilet
Strategies to stop or prevent your cat from drinking out of the toilet include:
Provide Fresh Water
Cats are fussy and very particular. They dislike stale, dirty, or warm water. Refill their water bowl several times a time to keep it fresh, cool, and free of any debris, dirt, or dust which may have landed in there.
Water Fountains
Often, the reason for toilet drinking is because of the running water aspect and its freshness. Trade the toilet for a water fountain! Water fountains provide fresh, clean, running, and oxygenated water while giving you peace of mind.
Offer Multiple Drinking Bowls
Place additional bowls elsewhere in the house. Do not place them near their litter tray, feeding bowls, in corners, or near any bathrooms or toilets.
Keep the Lid Shut!
Keep the toilet lid down or close bathroom doors to prevent your cat from wandering in.
Conclusion
This behavior can be more common than one may think, but it does need to be curbed or ideally stopped entirely due to the health and safety of your cat. There are methods available as discussed, such as purchasing a cat-friendly water fountain, and picking a few of them is the way to stop this habit. Alternatively, contact your veterinarian for help or a cat behaviorist who will be able to assist you if you are not winning at the toilet drinking game!
See also:
Sources
Featured Image Credit: Olivia Lorot, Shutterstock
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Annaliese began her career as a veterinary nurse in Edinburgh, later advancing her qualifications with a diploma in advanced veterinary nursing in surgery from London. Her work in small and mixed veterinary practices led her to become a head nurse, where she trained other veterinary nurses, managed the nursing department, conducted nurse clinics, and developed new patient care protocols.
Throughout her career, Annaliese has cared for thousands of patients and their owners, setting higher standards in nursing regimes with a focus on surgery and anesthesia. She co-authored multiple veterinary nursing textbooks and contributed to various mainstream publications in the UK and USA. After more than twenty years in the veterinary and pet care professions, she retired from clinical practice to pursue full-time writing. Having cared for thousands of patients and owners, Annaliese specialized in surgery and anesthesia. She was asked to co-author several veterinary nursing textbooks and contributed to a number of other publications in the UK and USA. After more than two decades in the veterinary and pet care industries, she retired her scrub suit and now works as a full-time writer.
Annaliese Morgan has been a dedicated veterinary nurse for over two decades, having completed a diploma in advanced veterinary nursing in surgery from London and qualifying from Edinburgh. Her professional experience includes managing a nursing department, training other veterinary nurses, providing patient care, and running nurse clinics in both small and mixed veterinary practices.
As an expert in surgery and anesthesia, Annaliese has treated thousands of patients and owners. In addition to being asked to co-author multiple veterinary nursing textbooks, she has written for a variety of publications in the UK and USA. After a long and successful career in the veterinary and pet care professions, Annaliese now dedicates her time to writing full-time. You can find out more about her work at www.annaliesemorgan.com.
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