Why Do Cats Drink out of the Toilet? (And How to Stop Them With 4 Simple Ways)

If you’ve ever wondered why cats drink out of the toilet, there’s a reason for this behavior and it’s based on instinctual behavior.

When a cat drinks out of the toilet, it is a signal that he is sick. You may think it is funny, but the truth is, it’s actually pretty serious.

It can be a sign that your cat has kidney problems, urinary tract infections, liver problems, or other health conditions.

Why Does My Cat Drink Toilet Water?

You’ll probably be a little perplexed by your cat’s habit of drinking from the toilet bowl. Even when you supply your cat with clean, fresh water every day.

Why would a cat choose to ingest anything that was contaminated with bacteria and parasites?

You may find it nasty, but for cats, it is entirely normal to drink from the toilet bowl. Despite the fact that it is extremely harmful, it is surprisingly frequent. To understand why cats drink from the toilet, we first need to know why they do it.

The Churning Water Mesmerizes Cats

The mesmerizing swirl of the water in the porcelain throne may be one of the reasons why cats prefer drinking from it, either for pleasure or for hunting.

In addition to appreciating their beautiful image in the water’s reflections, they may also see them as an opportunity to play.

Running water was perceived as more safe by cats in the wild than stagnant or motionless water. Your cat’s primitive instincts may be triggered by the sound of toilet water pouring and whirling.

For cats, flushing their toilet bowls is second only to that of their canine counterparts when it comes to water preferences.

The fact that they won’t drink from a toilet that still has crap in it gives you some peace of mind. Contrary to popular belief, cats do not find commodes repulsive. They’re baffled as to its purpose.

Toilet Water Is Cleaner Than Cats’ Water Dishes

Toilet water can actually be cleaner than the water in a cat’s bowl if it is kept clean on a regular basis.

While every time you flush the toilet, fresh water replaces the old, water in your cat’s dish may have remained for some time, become stagnant and may also include food waste, hair, whiskers and other debris and become sticky due to saliva from your cat.

Flushing often oxygenates the toilet water, which results in a purer, cleaner flavor. The water in a porcelain bowl stays colder longer than it would in a plastic bowl.

The temperature of the toilet water can also be reduced by tiling the bathroom.

Cats’ Mouths Are Mighty Bacteria Blasters

Cats’ mouths are full with bacteria that are capable of tackling dangerous compounds in raw meat and even little amounts of bathroom odors. Cats’ immune systems are also quite strong, so they can deal with a variety of contaminants.

Toilet water use is a natural part of human life. It harkens back to the days when cats in the wild preferred to drink bacteria-free chilly water than warm water.

If a cat drinks lukewarm water, a bacterial colony may grow to 38, 000 cells in less than 48 hours, and that’s only from bacteria that got into the water from one sip.

A cat’s keen sense of taste may be shown in her selection of water bowl.

Cats Want to Be Far From Their Scuzzy Water Bowl

It’s possible that cats prefer to drink from toilets since they’re so far away from their own stagnant, filthy water. For them, it doesn’t matter how stylish and expensive their water used to be.

Cats will not want to be near it if their owners haven’t changed it. They won’t drink it and will instead go to the bathroom.

Their prey was their only source of hydration in North Africa’s deserts, where water sources were scarce and scarce. In this way, cats learned acclimated to the fact that their water supply was separated from their meal.

Peace. . quiet. . and a cool drink!

Cats Want to Escape Commotion

Keeping cat food in high-traffic locations like kitchens is common. This set-up might be difficult for cats that are particularly sensitive.

High-strung cats sometimes find solace in drinking alone in the restroom, much like a stressed-out person might.

Convenient Location

If your cat is thirsty while using the restroom, it may turn to the toilet bowl for water. A bowl of warm water is unnecessary because it has access to a vast water source. Why could a cat get into your bathroom?

• In search of some fun with the commode paper.
• The bathroom has a wastebasket.
• Are you curious about what’s going on behind closed doors?
• Bathrooms with ceramic tile and porcelain fixtures keep you cool in the summer heat.

It may be difficult for your cat to give up drinking from the toilet once it realizes that it is possible.

More Flavorful

Cats can’t get enough of flushed toilet water, especially if it’s been a while since the last flush. The water will be revitalized and oxygenated as a result. This is preferable to a bowl of tepid, stagnant tap water.

The chlorine contained in tap water might also cause some cats to be picky about their water supply. To a cat, it smells weird and unwelcome. The cat will seek out a water source that it perceives as being safer and cleaner.

The porcelain that surrounds a toilet bowl serves to keep the water within it cold. If you get the timing correct, the cat will enjoy a refreshing drink of ice-cold water. Like the cool water of a rushing stream, this appeals to a cat’s primal instincts.

Cats are inquisitive creatures, so you’d think they’d stay away from the toilet water if they could smell the cleaning supplies.

It was reported in the Journal of Medical Toxicology that 15 percent of 248 cases of veterinary poisoning over a three-year period had been caused by home chemicals.

Make sure your cat doesn’t show any indications of poisoning if you find him or her drinking out of the toilet bowl.

Wide-eyed stares, vomiting and diarrhea, agitation, and difficulty breathing are just a few of the symptoms. If this is the case, you should get your cat to the veterinarian as soon as possible.

Moving Water

A lot of people underestimate the intelligence of cats. There is a good chance that your cat will learn how to flush the toilet from watching you.

When flushing the toilet, some cats prefer to drink the flushed water as it refreshes. This is a treat for all of a cat’s senses.

Flowing water means it is at its purest and most nutritious. For a cat to drink, this is the most sanitary method possible.

Ease of Access

If the water flow in your toilet is high enough, your cat will find it easier to drink from the bowl. If it has problems with its back, legs, or neck, it may choose to drink from the toilet bowl rather than stoop and drink from its own.

A hidden source of pain may also cause your cat to seek out toilet water. Your cat may blame its water bowl for its pain if it has dental problems. An allergic reaction to the plastic in your cat’s water bowl is another possibility. This is a regular occurrence.

Take a look at how cats are affected by whisker tiredness. Air vibrations provide a wealth of information to a cat’s whiskers.

Eventually, the whiskers will become infected if they rub against a water dish. According to the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, cats prefer to eat and drink from whisker friendly bowls.

Entertainment And Fun

Drinking from the toilet may be a game for cats. Perhaps it was unwinding a toilet roll before dipping its claws under the running water. If your cat had a good time, it won’t be afraid to do it again.

Like we said before, cats are mesmerized by the motion of toilet water spinning. Curiosity will take control if the cat observes this long enough. This whirlpool may make your cat ponder what would happen if it decides to take a sip from it.

Another reason why your cat may be taking a drink from the toilet is boredom. Cats may engage in actions they are well aware are unsuitable in order to garner attention.

It’s possible that your cat is trying to elicit an emotional response from you.

Is Toilet Water Dirty?

Dr. Patrick Mahaney, a holistic veterinarian in Los Angeles, California, believes that the threats are genuine. Allowing your pet to drink from the toilet disgusts me.

In the opinion of Dr. Mahaney, if you were to swab a typical toilet, you’d run into trouble. If you don’t clean your toilet on a regular basis, your dog or cat is at danger of developing an illness, such as E. coli.

Because our feces might be contaminated with coli and other microorganisms.

When we are ill, our susceptibility to infection is substantially increased. Toxic infections like Giardia can be transmitted from humans to their pets by drinking contaminated toilet water, according to Dr. Mahaney.

It’s not just bacteria and parasites in the digestive tract that pose a threat. Chemotherapy patients’ urine and stools may include harmful chemicals they’ve excreted throughout treatment.

Despite the fact that the likelihood of pets being exposed to these substances is minimal, there is still a possibility.

Toxic Toilet Cleaning Products

The chemicals we use to clean our toilets are another source of risk related with toilet water use. Chlorine bleach products are one of the worst offenders.

Chemicals such as sodium hypochlorite (salts), sodium peroxide (acid), and other substances can be fatal if ingested by humans.

A decent rule of thumb is to keep your pet out of the bathroom for a few hours after you’ve cleaned. And never use the toilet cleansers that come with the tank.

As the bowl is refilled, chemicals are released into the water, contaminating the water forever. It’s also a good idea to keep an eye out for signs of poisoning.

Chemical burns in the mouth and throat, as well as other significant consequences, can occur if toilet bowl cleaners are improperly diluted.

Vomiting, drooling, redness around the mouth, stomach ache, and a sore throat are all signs of bleach poisoning in dogs.

In the opinion of Dr. Katie Grzyb, a veterinarian at One Love Animal Hospital in Brooklyn, New York, any poison is harmful to a pet.

For healthy animals, intake of bleach in toilet bowls should cause no more than moderate stomach distress, according to Dr. Coates, who agrees with the previous statement.

How to Stop Your Pet Drinking from the Toilet

Restrict Access To The Toilet Bowl

Keep the door to the bathroom shut and the toilet lid closed. Your cat should not need access to the bathroom unless it has a litter tray there owing to space constraints.

Toilets are only one of several cat dangers in public restrooms. Cats are clever enough to figure out how to open the lid of the toilet, so be prepared with a clip.

Scent-Based Deterrents

Your cat may stay out of the bathroom if you use essential oils or air fresheners. A few of the smells that most cats find repulsive are:

Alternatively, you may cover the toilet or the surrounding area with something repulsive. Sticky things under the paws are abhorrent to cats. Apply some double-sided tape to the area where the cat can get into the toilet. ”

Alternative Water Sources

In the event that your cat is averse to drinking from the faucet, it may resort to drinking out of the toilet bowl. If the chlorine scent is too strong for your cat’s nose, find another water source and use it instead.

Your cat may like drinking spring water that has been filtered or bottled.

If your cat isn’t interested in drinking from a regular bowl, a water fountain may be the solution. This is like playing in a toilet bowl, but without the danger. There will be a steady flow of cool, refreshing water from a water fountain.

Change Water Bowls

Move your cat’s water bowl around to see if it has an issue with it. It’s likely that your cat will ignore the water if it’s placed too close to food or litter.

The cat may be suffering from whisker tiredness if it continues to show little interest in drinking. Get a larger bowl and make sure your cat can drink without its whiskers coming into contact with the sides.

If you’re short on time, you can use a saucer that’s rather deep. Get a porcelain water bowl if your cat is still reluctant to drink since it will mimic the chilly water of a toilet bowl.

Talk To Your Vet

If you attempt these alternatives and your cat continues to drink from the toilet, you may wish to consult your veterinarian. It’s possible that this is the result of some type of underlying medical problem.

Even if the odds are stacked against you, it’s still a good idea to rule it out.

Conclusion

The main reason that cats drink out of the toilet is because there’s something wrong with the toilet. Cats aren’t going to drink out of a toilet bowl that has something wrong with it. The same thing goes for humans.

There’s no need to pour cat food into the toilet bowl if the toilet isn’t working properly. Don’t waste your money buying expensive cat litter or cat food when you can fix the problem yourself for free.

source https://catshint.com/why-do-cats-drink-out-of-the-toilet/