Adopting a kitten is all fun and games until you train it to do certain things. For example, making it drink from a bowl.
You may be confused about how to persuade him to do it, and that’s fine. The process is trickier than it sounds, and you must follow detailed guidance.
We will assist you through the following sections on how to teach a kitten to drink from a bowl. That, too, is in simple steps. So, without any hesitation, let us get started.
Can Kittens Drink From A Bowl?
Yes, kittens can drink from a bowl. However, you will need to train your kitten to do so. Usually, kittens wean after 4 to 6 weeks of their birth. You can teach a kitten to drink water from a bowl when they start weaning.
You’ll notice the kitten lapping from a bowl in about four weeks. That marks the starting time to teach your kitty to drink from a bowl.
How To Teach A Kitten To Drink From A Bowl – Step By Step Method
Teaching your kittens to use a water dish for drinking can be exciting. However, you will also need to be careful and consistent. Here is a sum-up of how to teach a kitten to drink from a bowl.
First, you need to choose a bowl with an appropriate size. Next, make sure it isn’t too big or dirty for your kitty. After that, choose a specific area to place the bowl; it’s essential in building a habit. You must also ensure that the water you will be using is not too cold or hot for your furball.
You are now familiar with the fundamentals of this training. So, let’s see the step-by-step guide where we have made it even easier.
Step 1: Choosing the Right Bowl
Choosing a suitable water dish sounds easy, but it can get tricky. The bowl size will vary depending on your kitty’s size and weight.
A cat requires between 20 and 40 ml of water per pound of body weight. But what about a cat?
A four weeks old kitten weighs about one pound. So, he needs about 20-40 ml of water per day. It would be best to choose a bowl containing at least 40 ml of water. But kittens grow up quickly; ensure you give them enough water as they grow up.
Moreover, choosing a wide bowl with which the kitten can fit its whiskers would be better. As the whiskers are pretty delicate, it wouldn’t be good for him If the bowl is too narrow.
Also, choose a bowl that’s not too deep or too shallow. Remember, your fur baby is tiny. Choosing such bowls wouldn’t do him any good because reaching the water would be hard. In addition, your baby might become irritated and find drinking water unpleasant.
Another important thing, try to use the same bowl to put out water for your kitty. It will allow him to be familiar with his water bowl and learn what to do with it.
Step 2: The Water Level
Cats sometimes need help determining the water level from the bowl they are supposed to drink.
In front of their nose, kitties have one blind spot. It means that they are incapable of depth perception. As a result, they need help locating the water level in the bowl.
So, maintain the same water level for your kitten. Fill the bowl. Filling the bowl right to the top will make it easier for him. It may encourage him to take a sip.
Step 3: Habituate the Kitten With water
Kittens can sometimes be insecure regarding their surroundings. So, it might be possible for him to get afraid of water.
One of those reasons can be the water temperature.
The water can get too cold for your cats if the water stays too long in the bowl. Or, it might happen because of the weather. When your kitten tries to drink that cold water, he may get afraid due to the temperature.
That’s why it is important to habituate him to the water.
You can splash water on his fur to adapt your kitten to water temperature. After that, get his teeny-tiny paws wet. Then, finally, put some on his body.
Be sure to take your time to accomplish this; do not rush at all. It’s a delicate process. Otherwise, cats might not feel comfortable.
Step 4: Fix The Feeding Area
The next important step would be to fix a drinking area. If you keep putting the water bowl in random places, he might need help finding it. That will put your baby at risk for dehydration when he needs a sip. Staying hydrated is essential for cats as they need it to keep themselves clean.
What you have to do is, choose a fixed location for the bowl. Now introduce that location to your cats.
Also, ensure that the fixed area is easily accessible for him to find his water bowl. Again, we recommend putting it somewhere open.
Sometimes because of the new location, he may need clarification about the water bowl. So, you can splash a little bit of water to let him know what’s in it.
Step 5: Clean the Bowl Regularly
Would you like to drink water from a dirty glass? Like you, your kitten wouldn’t be interested in drinking water from a dirty bowl. But, if you didn’t already know, cats are clean freaks.
A dirty bowl is prone to building up bacteria and other germs. If your kitten drinks from it, he might ingest parasites or viruses. As a result, your precious baby might get sick.
So, make sure your cat has a clean water bowl. Keep changing the water in the bowl at least twice a day. Clean up the surroundings as well if you think it’s necessary.
This will motivate your kitty to drink from the bowl.
Tips To Follow While Teaching A Kitten To Drink From A Bowl
We have told you which steps to follow and how to accomplish your needs. But we still have more to offer you.
These tips and tactics will help you do the job faster and better.
Tip 1: Maintaining the Temperature of Water
We have already told you that cats are prone to getting frightened of water because of its temperature. Of course, cats prefer a bit of cold water, but not it must not be cold.
Also, do not boil or apply heat to the water. If you try to heat the freshwater for whatever reason, it may lose its natural taste. Therefore, water must be kept at its natural temperature (25°C) and away from heat.
Tip 2: Use the Right Bowl Material
Water loses its taste due to the bowl’s material, such as plastic bowls. Although plastic bowls are durable, they do have certain drawbacks. For example, many cats are allergic to plastic.
Plus, the taste of plastic is unpleasant to the kittens. Whereas, You might find your kitten drinking water from the bathtub. It’s because they like the taste of ceramic and stainless steel.
These kinds of materials are also safe for kittens. Veterinarians advise using ceramic and stainless-steel bowls while training your kitten. While choosing ceramic bowls, make sure the glaze is lead-free.
Tip 3: Get A Kitty Fountain
Kittens like moving water. So, you can get a water fountain for him. The movement of water will attract his attention. And it will make him want to drink a bit more water.
It will also ensure that your kitten drinks clean and tasty water each time.
These things are easy to keep in mind. But, when it comes to making your kitten comfortable, most people miss looking at such details. So, after the short discussion, you can look for the differences by following the above tips.
FAQs
Why Won’t My Kitten Drink Water From Her Bowl?
The reason why your kitten won’t drink from her bowl is that it can be instinctual. The wild instinct of cats is to drink running water. Because running water is considered safe to drink than still water. Another reason could be the bowl could be unpleasant or uncomfortable.
How To Transition Kitten From Bottle To Bowl?
To transition a kitten from bottle to bowl, you need to introduce her slowly to the bowl. As well as encourage her to get accustomed to the bowl. Dab your finger into the bowl and allow the kitten to sip the formula off of it. Patiently and gradually lead your kitty to the bowl until they understand how to do it.
Do kittens need water at night?
Although kittens can go for 3 days without water, leaving out water for your kitten at night is recommended because kittens up to the age of 4 weeks are prone to dehydration.
Final Words
That is everything on how to teach a kitten to drink from a bowl. Guess you were worried more than you needed to be. In the end, we hope everything will turn out fine.
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