Why are cats so quirky about drinking?

When it comes to drinking, most dogs aren't very picky. Slimy water bowl, muddy puddle — even an open toilet bowl will do in a pinch.

But cats, on the other hand, are typically much more particular. Some won't drink out of a water bowl if it's near their food bowl. Others prefer a fountain or even the kitchen sink. Some picky kitties won't sip from plastic or metal containers. Some of these preferences harken back to their ancestors and survival instincts. But in some cases it's just cats being ... well, cats.

Here's a look at the quirkiness of feline beverage preferences and what you can do to make sure your kitty gets enough to drink.

Cats like running water

You put a lovely, fresh bowl of water in front of your cat and it just sits there untouched. But turn on the tap and your kitty laps up the dripping water. There might be several reasons that your cat won't touch unmoving water. Instinctively, your cat might know to be suspicious of still water, realizing that stagnant water isn't always safe, veterinarian Dr. Deb Greco tells VetStreet. Their wild DNA tells them that still water can be contaminated, so they know that running water is safer.

Another reason they might not like being hunched over a bowl is the precarious position it puts them in.

“It’s hard for cats to get water, because they can’t really see still water well, and they may feel vulnerable sitting at a bowl, especially if it’s in a corner, so they have their back to other cats who might jump on them,” Greco says.

The dripping or running water from the tap — or the swirling water from a kitty recirculating water fountain — probably tastes better too because it's cooler and oxygenated. Plus, the movement makes the water more attractive, as you likely notice if your cat paws or splashes at the water.

Source: http://www.mnn.com