For months, my cat had an annoying nightly ritual: jump on the bed, scream directly into my face, and sprint to the bathroom. She had become addicted to running water from the faucet and demanded I wake up to open it for her.
No matter how clean her water bowl was, she wanted running water. Eventually, to get a decent night's sleep, I bought a fountain. And it worked. She stopped waking me up. And it made me wonder: why do pets seem to prefer flowing water, and should we listen to that instinct?
As it turns out, yes. Very much yes.
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Do Animals Prefer Flowing Water
Many animals are naturally drawn to moving water. In the wild, flowing water is usually safer than still water. It’s less likely to contain bacteria, debris, or be contaminated. It’s likely that a lot of indoor pets still have this instinct.
Pet owners notice the difference too.
One Reddit user shared their experience:
“They definitely prefer the fountain to a stagnant dish. Plus it keeps it circulating and fresher. We recently upgraded ours to a porcelain fountain and it keeps so much cleaner than the plastic ones and keeps the water cooler too. Although we do have one that is obsessed with the shower and is teaching the youngest his ways….” — Reddit user, r/cats.
That’s one reason fountains work so well. The constant movement mimics a clean flowing water source in the wild. Products like the Petcube Fountain are designed to mimic that natural flow while filtering out impurities.
Movement, sound, and freshness all signal “safe water” to a pet’s brain. A still bowl just doesn’t send the same message and this is a good instinct because research shows that harmful microorganisms start growing in a bowl of stagnant water in as little as 24 hours.
Do Cats And Dogs Drink More From Flowing Water
Dogs and cats both tend to drink more from flowing water, but this is especially true for cats.
Cats evolved to get most of their water from prey, not bowls. When they eat dry food, they need to drink more to stay hydrated, but many don’t drink enough on their own.
Dr. Brian Zanghi, a pet nutrition researcher, explains: “Cats eating dry food receive considerably less water from food but drink significantly more water. However, this volume of water ingested through drinking when cats are fed a dry food does not typically compensate for the water received in wet food. Unfortunately, pet parents have a misperception that their cat drinks sufficiently.”
Flowing water helps close that gap. Cats often drink more frequently and for longer periods when water is moving. Dogs benefit too, especially after exercise or in warm weather, though cats tend to show the biggest change.
Better hydration supports kidney health, digestion, and overall energy, especially important as pets get older.
Conclusion
So, if your pet seeks out the sink, the shower, or the hose, they’re not just being goofballs. They’re following instinct.
Flowing water feels safer, tastes fresher, and encourages pets to drink more. Listening to that instinct can make a real difference in your pet’s health.
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