Why does my cat drink toilet water? Is it safe? How do I stop it?

Sweetie is doing something that is extremely common in cats. Some cats (and dogs) simply prefer to drink water that is in motion versus stagnant in a bowl. If you prefer that your cat does not drink from a dripping faucet but she refuses to drink from the regular bowl, many pet stores sell water fountains that continually cycle the water. This is often the best solution for cases like one you are describing. In terms of the safety of the water, this is hard for me to speculate about. If the water is safe enough for you or your family to drink, it is almost certainly safe enough for Sweetie. If your water source is coming from a well or spring and is not routinely tested, use of a bottled or distilled water may be a safer option.

Drinking from salt water pools is generally safe. A properly maintained “salt water” pool has about 1/10th the salt of sea water. Increased salt intake can make cats drink more and urinate more. Additionally, cats with heart disease, kidney disease, and those eating salt-restricted diets shouldn’t drink from saltwater pools. If possible, employ a pool cover or a barricade to restrict access. Always provide fresh, clean water for your cat. You can place a bowl indoors as well as on the way to the pool to deter your cat.

Unfortunately many cats drink from places they shouldn't, it's just the way they do things. i would recommend blocking the way to the sump pump water if it is possible and buy him an electric fountain to drink from, cats usually love them.

I am afraid you may have to live with this....automatic waterers are great, but often the water gets warm and then the cat does not like it anymore. Also when the water is too close to the food, cats will not like to drink from it. Toilet water is cool and pretty much running water, and many cats prefer that. So it is likely that your kitty will keep preferring that. You can try moving the waterer at least 6 ft away from his food and put ice cubes in it to keep the water cool in summer.

You have nothing to worry about, my cats are exactly the same, they will prefer every other option that seems to be fresher than their bowls, i tried a fountain bowl for a while but it never really replaced their need to drink from wherever they could.

Thank you for contacting Pet Coach with your concern about Kora! Oh my, that’s not good she drank bleach water from the toilet! It's not safe for cats to drink bleach water, but animals typically do not ingest enough bleach to cause toxic effects. You may see vomiting, drooling, abdominal pain, and a sore throat. Give her plenty of fresh water, and take her to the vet if you see any of those signs. Do not allow her access to the toilet in the future to drink from it. I recommend getting her a cat water fountain to drink from, it will give her a supply of fresh water at all times, and in my experience cats love drinking from them. Best of luck, I hope this helps!

Cats are very picky with different "flavors" in their food or water. You can leave a bowl of fresh water out and a bowl of water with the Fresh Breath added in. If he ignores the treated bowl and drinks from the plain water, then you will have your answer.