Vet Explains the Wild Reason Cats Avoid Water Bowls Near Their Food

If your cat is ignoring the water bowl next to their kibble but happily drinks from a dripping faucet or puddle outside, there’s actually a good reason for it, and it goes back to their wild instincts.

A UK-based veterinarian, who goes by “Cat” on TikTok, recently shared a viral video that’s changing the way pet owners think about where they place their cat’s water bowl.

Wild instincts drive modern behavior

In the video, which has been viewed over 12.5 million times, Cat explains that cats are hardwired to avoid drinking water close to where they eat.

“If there’s water near where a mouse or rat was, chances are that water’s been used as a toilet,” she said. “So they are absolutely hardwired to never, ever drink close to where they eat.”

That instinct is why cats often refuse to drink from bowls positioned next to their food.

Even if the bowls are in separate dishes but placed side-by-side or on the same mat, many cats will turn their noses up.

To fix this, Cat suggests placing your cat’s water bowl far from their food on the opposite side of the room or even in another room altogether.

Running water and smart placement can help

This instinctive behavior also explains why so many cats love to drink from taps, showers, or fountains.

Moving water feels fresher and less likely to be contaminated.

Pet food company Encore backs up this idea, advising that food, water, and litter boxes all be kept well apart.

They also recommend choosing a quiet, low-traffic spot for feeding and drinking, since cats prefer calm environments.

One viewer summed it up best in the video’s comments:

“My daughter did a science project on this. Our cat drank twice as much when the water bowl was away from the food.”

Sometimes, the key to a healthier, happier cat is just a little distance.

Our team may have used AI to assist in the creation of this content, which has been reviewed by our editors.