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Conference misery::feline_v1

Title:Meower Power is Valuing Differences
Notice:FELINE_V1 is moving 1/11/94 5pm PST to MISERY
Moderator:MISERY::VANZUYLEN_RO
Created:Sun Feb 09 1986
Last Modified:Tue Jan 11 1994
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:5089
Total number of notes:60366

3732.0. "Why Toilet Water??" by WILLEE::MERRITT () Fri Jun 22 1990 17:04

    Why oh Why do my kitties insist on drinking water from
    the toilet?   I leave a bowl of spring water near there 
    food, a bowl of tap water which I try to keep ice in it
    on the porch and a glass of water on the counter. (Poco 
    likes to drink out of a glass) and they still insist
    on drinking out of the toilet.  Yuk!!
    
    This morning I was brushing my teeth and all three cats
    were lined up at the toilet ready for their drink.  They
    even have to struggle to lap it so they won't fall in!!
    
    Why oh Why!!!  I wish I could train them to do what a
    toilet was meant for.    
    
    Sandy (Tamba, Poco and Barkley)
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
DateLines
3732.1You could keep the lid downVAXWRK::SKALTSISDebFri Jun 22 1990 17:487
    I solved this problem by making sure that the lid is always DOWN.

    Also, if you are leaving the cats ice water, the water may bee more
    cold than they like. I've found that mine prefer their water at room
    temperature.

    Deb
3732.2No accounting for taste(s)AUSTIN::CHERUBINIFri Jun 22 1990 18:5713
    To each his/her own...
    
    It is impossible to account for taste among humans, much less other
    species. I have a dog who prefers to get her drinks from the excess
    off some potted plants we have outside. One of our cats eats
    catantaloupe and blueberries and likes earwax.
    
    There is no accounting for taste. Our cats have drunk out of the
    toilet for years. I wouldn't be at all concerned, assuming you
    don't clean your toilet with chemicals regularly.
    
    Ralph
    
3732.3Mine, too!...BOOVX2::MANDILEFri Jun 22 1990 19:029
    That's why I keep the lid down.  Mine will drink it no matter
    what! (yes, even if it's blue! Yuk!, not to mention poison!)
    
    My opinion is that they like it because the water is "changed"
    so freqently.
    
    Still, YUK!
    
    L-
3732.4Warning Critters Can Easily Drown While Partaking the Drink!MEMIT::GORSKIFri Jun 22 1990 19:5317
    Just this Monday, my 10 week old kitten took a flying leap
    onto what he thought was the toilet lid and instead landed smack in the
    middle of the toilet bowl!  Was he ever surprized.  Happily, he was out 
    before he could get even get wet, (and I was around to "fish" him out if
    necessary).
    
    However, there is a moral to this story, ALWAYS LEAVE THE LID DOWN,
    pets have been known to drown while attempting to drink from toilet
    bowls. They slip into the water and are unable to get back up/out.
    I understand that this is not a rare occurrence.  (Yes, my other
    rescued kitten/cat also would love to drink from the "spring" but I
    now make a conscious effort to ensure that the lid is down/closed.)
    
    Someone suggested that I put a shallow bowl of water into the bath for the
    critters to drink from.
      
    
3732.5aerate the water with a "bubbler"FORTSC::WILDEAsk yourself..am I a happy cow?Fri Jun 22 1990 20:258
in Cat Fancy, I read that a woman has installed a fish tank aerator in
a small deep bowl for her cats.  It keeps the water bubbling and she
said her cats LOVE their water now that they are used to the bubbles
and noise.  It would satisfy the need for "moving" (translate in cat
language to FRESH) water.  I'm seriously considering installing one 
in my house for the furbags....anything to keep 'em drinking water...

				D
3732.6CIRCUS::KOLLINGKaren/Sweetie/Holly/Little Bit Ca.Sun Jun 24 1990 05:094
    Re: Why oh why do cats drink out of the toilet?
    
    Or, as someone said, "Why oh why does my owner pee in my water dish...."
    
3732.7Good reasoning, and mannersWILKIE::IVESTue Jun 26 1990 13:4914
    KEEP THE LID DOWN........  read an article once that said after a
    person relieves themselves there are over 350,000 germs in the toilet
    and when you DON'T put the lid down when you flush about 100,000 escape
    into the air. Talk about YUK.!!!!! That should make ANYONE put the lid
    down when they flush, "even husbands."
    
    I often wonder when people have finished using the toilet and go to
    the sink and "run" water over their hands, what they are accomplising.
    NOTHING, it takes soap and water. Hope I never have to eat food they
    have prepared.
    
    My 2 cents worth
    
    Barbara
3732.8don't worry, be happyMARX::BARLOWTue Jun 26 1990 17:5023
    
    I think that if they like toilet water, so be it.  I had a cat that
    lived for 21 years and drank out of the toilet constantly.  It didn't
    hurt her!  One of my cats runs to the bathroom and eagerly waits until
    you're done using the toilet.  When you flush it he jumps up on the rim
    and bats at the moving water for awhile, then drinks it.  It makes him
    happy.  Actually, my cats also wait until I'm done in the shower and
    then run in to play and drink.  So maybe the fresh water theory is
    right!
    
    On the other hand, you could use dehumidifier.  Dehumidifiers
    accumulate water in a bucket.  If you cut a small hole in the bucket
    and used a hose, you could channel the water into a bowl.  (Best to do
    outside or in the basement cause the floor will get wet.)  That would
    provide fresh water with less germs, I think.
    
    My advice is : don't worry about it.  If it doesn't cause real problems
    and it makes them happy without inconvenincing you, then let them be
    happy.  I think quality of life is more important than quantity.  (if
    only cats could write living wills!)
    
    Rachael