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One of my two cats likes to drink out of the toilet. I'm worried he's going to get sick from the chemicals in toilet cleaning products, plus he sometimes likes to lick me. Is there anything I can do to stop this other than keep the toilet lid down all the time? Maybe something harmless but distasteful to cats that I can put in the toilet tank?
I purchased a Petmate fountain and I've seen him drinking from it, so I would like to stop him from drinking out of the commode.
If you're having a hard time remembering to close the lid, or if other people are, take a picture of him drinking toilet water and tape it to the top of the tank. I did this with a pic of my drenched kitten after the 2nd time he fell in the toilet!
Just keep the toilet lids down and keep the Petmate fountain clean. I've had experience with fountains, and they tend to get slimy from the cats' saliva. Also, gunk tends to start collecting in the small spaces, so make sure you wash your pet fountain out about once per week, and refill it with clean, water. I actually used a baby bottle cleaner to get into those tight spaces that after awhile can get pretty disgusting. Please avoid tap water as it contains substances that a cat has a tough time digesting. One off the top of my head is flouride.
Either keep the lid down or stop using the chemicals that go in the tank. I clean my toilets once a week and flush them twice. Then the animals are free to drink.
Just keep the toilet lids down and keep the Petmate fountain clean. I've had experience with fountains, and they tend to get slimy from the cats' saliva. Also, gunk tends to start collecting in the small spaces, so make sure you wash your pet fountain out about once per week, and refill it with clean, water. I actually used a baby bottle cleaner to get into those tight spaces that after awhile can get pretty disgusting. Please avoid tap water as it contains substances that a cat has a tough time digesting. One off the top of my head is flouride.
I don't even use bottled water for my family but now I'm supposed to buy it for my cats? I don't think so.
My cats have always had plain tap water and it's never had any ill effects as far as I know. However, I do plan on buying distilled water for the fountain, mainly because the water here is very hard. I don't want crusty deposits gumming up the pump. One of the local grocery stores sells reusable gallon sized jugs and lets you refill them for $0.30 a gallon, so it's not too expensive.
I don't even use bottled water for my family but now I'm supposed to buy it for my cats? I don't think so.
I said the same thing to my vet. lol He explained his recommendation wasn't due to what is in tap water so much, but because of what tap water and combined cat saliva does to the drinking fountain. Something about it being able to get germ-y fairly easily. I don't remember his exact explanation/details now...I tossed the fountain not long after. It is easier to wash a water bowl every day, then it is to clean a fountain once a week. IMHO
The toilet thing is driving me nuts. No one can remember to close it and so I find myself washing it out every time I use it. Dawn and brush, then flush until there are no soap suds. Geez, I bet the environmental police would have a field day with me.
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