How Do Dogs And Cats Drink Water

by Amy Shojai | Jun 8, 2026 | Cat Behavior & Care, Dog Training & Care | 3 comments

How do your pets drink? Do your pets drink from toilets? In these incredibly hot days, our dogs and cats drink water even more to cool off and stay healthy.

I found these videos and they were just too good not to share! I’ve written before about why they choose to slurp from that “porcelain throne” but not the “how” it’s done. Read on for details about how pets drink.

KarmaSink — Karma will get in the toilet, too, so we make a habit of shutting the lid. Image copr. Amy Shojai, CABC

How Pets Drink

Did you know that cat and dog tongues not only are designed differently, but they work in ways you’d never expect to drink. I suspect there’s a reason cats evolved as desert creatures able to manage to conserve their water–because they are NOT particularly efficient at drinking.

But neither are dogs. The video explains why some dogs make such a mess of drinking. I always thought they scooped water forward–but get a load of that slow-mo!

So are your pets messy slurpers? Do they drink from the toilet? Do tell!

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Stay up to date with the latest book giveaways and appearances related to my September Day pet-centric THRILLERS WITH BITE! Amy Shojai, CABC is a certified cat & dog behavior consultant, a consultant to the pet industry, and the award-winning author of 35+ pet-centric books and Thrillers with Bite! Oh, and she loves bling!

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3 Comments

Deb w on June 26, 2021 at 9:07 am

So interesting! Didn’t know dogs made like tongue-buckets! We have over the years had two cats (not related to each other) who scoop water (one from bowl, one from faucet) with paw and put it in to their mouths! One out grew this trick; the other continues the habit as an adult! Amazing to watch!
Reply
- Amy Shojai on June 26, 2021 at 9:20 am
  
  I know! Fascinating to see the mechanics of it all. Thanks for commenting, Deb. I’ve heard of cats paw-scooping but none of mine have done that…yet! *s*
  Reply
- Amy Shojai on June 26, 2021 at 9:20 am
  
  I know! Fascinating to see the mechanics of it all. Thanks for commenting, Deb. I’ve heard of cats paw-scooping but none of mine have done that…yet! *s*
  Reply

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