Fav water bowls?

My lot have them all over the house with two in the livingroom, tho' I'll admit they're not *proper* bowls one is a plastic Flora container and the other a black plastic container something or other foodwise came in. They're both much the same size but the Flora bowl is often untouched, they all head for the black one.

A couple of days back I put a even bigger plastic *bowl* down that had contained some Rocket leaves, this time clear plastic, in the hope it'd save me having to refill the black bowl so often, plus I thought it'd be easier for them to use as it's much bigger, but so far they've all ignored it in favour of the black bowl.

They're not this fussy about food bowls/plates, so why about water bowls?

Ian

Maybe they can't *see* the clear plastic one. I have read that they don't like their whiskers touching the side of bowls but again, why does that only affect them where water is concerned and not food, little fusspots couldn't give a monkeys fig what their food is placed in.

You could be right about the whiskers thing Kath, even th'o they'll eat out of their metal food bowls, as often as not some food is left round the edge.

I've seen Max dip his nose too far into the Flora bowl, but as it's white he should be able to see the water level ok.

Ian

Cats and their drinking habits must be the ultimate confusion to us mere humans, we've all talked about fresh clean water out everyday , running taps etc but they'll still drink the manky water from a puddle, so I think we've just not got to think about it too much cos we'll never fathom them out.

True enough Kath, I wonder if they'd prefer it if I filled their bowls with dirty rain water?

'EDIT'

The black bowl was empty when I got up today, yet the other two were untouched. I can't believe they struggled to get the last drops from one and ignored the other two, which ar right next to it, but that seems to be the case

Ian

Well cats aren't the only confusing animals, my rabbits will drink one of their water bottles dry yet completely ignore the other and these two bottles are side by side, only difference is, they prefer the yellow one.

Hmmm, yes, this is a very amusing and confusing "trait" of all cats!
I ALWAYS change Princes water at each feed, ie, twice a day, and in the years we have had him, I could count on my fingers the amount of times Ive seen him drink from his water dish, as for the "skanky" bowls that we have dotted around the garden, and the mucky puddles, well.......
Cats eh......................

I've got some blackboard paint so I'll try using that on the outside of large clear plastic *bowl*. If I can get them using that it'll save me having to refill the smaller fav bowl several times a day.

Ian

This could go either way, it could be a success or a complete waste of time, let us know.

It's done and should be dry by the time I get back from shopping, then it's up to them

Ian

Oh can't wait to hear the outcome of this.

It'll be later as the paint hasn't quite dried yet. I can't see why it won't work tho', but cats being cats

Ian

It's just been filled and put in the living room, time will tell.

Ian

At least Fudge used it last night so there's hope the others will (they might have to if I move their fav bowl)

Ian

Oh the water bowl fiasco. Malo would not drink out of anything unless it was blue in colour, so we purchased a blue bowl especially, which he refused to use and drank out of Bonnie's non-blue bowl, whereas Bonnie took a liking to the new blue one. So we swapped. They both now drink out of the non-blue bowl situated at Malo's food point and the blue bowl remains untouched!!!

Joanne

Buddy has a black plastic bowl and he always seems to stick his nose in first to see if there is any water in it, when I can see that there is. Daft lad.

Said bowl has now had a second coat of blackboard paint and will soon be dry. I'll replace the other two bowls and see what happens, it should be ok and it's big enough for two cats to use at the same time, as long as that's one at each end.

Ian

Bola has had a drink out of the new bowl now but Dexter, being a cat, ignored both black bowls and drank from the margerine tub, the same one he usually avoids like it's full of rottweiler blood

Ian