My cat drinks toilet water. Is it because of his dental water additive?

You can try dipping the finger brush in tuna water before rubbing it on your cat's teeth to make the experience more pleasant. That may make Lily more willing to open her mouth. I would also cradle her from behind, cup her chin, and lift up her lip to clean her teeth. HealthyMouth's range of water additive products is approved by the Veterinary Oral Health Council, and has been approved for the removal of plaque. I would recommend using one of there water additive products.

Once your kitty had his dental cleaning , brushing his teeth with enzymatic tooth paste will prevent the build up of tartar and gingivitis. Brushing his teeth while he still has the excessive tartar will not remove it and also hurt the gums, as the gingivitis is painful. You can use water additives, but in my opinion they do not do much for the breath and his teeth. The bad breath is caused by bacteria in the tartar and below the gums. It will go away as soon as the teeth are cleaned.

It maybe the dog bowl is bigger or the edge of the bowl is different. I’d try a different water bowl for him to find one he likes better. Cats can be fussy but I’m sure he’ll drink out of a different type of bowl. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Oliver.

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.

It is great to hear Gracie is doing a little better! Brushing can be a help to reduce plaque levels but will not remove any solid tartar on the teeth. I would be cautious about using water additives containing sodium bicarbonate in a cat with dental disease as compromised kidneys can have difficulty in regulating acid balance in the blood. I recommend you do not use until this can be checked with the manufacturer as to levels and safety for cats with kidney disease.Once she is more stable it may be possible to perform a short dental procedure with intravenous fluids and short acting anesthetic in order to remove the source of pain and discomfort from her mouth

That won't be harmful..my cat has been doing it for many years (!!) and there is no problem with it as long as the water is clear.. The only way would be to limit the access to the bathroom, but other than that is completely normal for cats to drink from different sources of water. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

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.