Turkish Van not drinking enough water

Turkish Vans are famously water-obsessed — they'll splash in a bath or chase a running tap — so it's telling that yours still isn't drinking enough from a bowl. That's actually pretty common with the breed: they're drawn to moving water, not standing water. Worth knowing that cats evolved in arid environments and have a low thirst drive to begin with, so most cats on dry food are chronically underhydrated, and kidney disease is the leading cause of death in older cats. A water fountain and wet food are the two most effective fixes. Quick questions: is your Turkish Van on dry food, wet food, or a mix? Does she have any kidney or urinary history? And have you ever tried a fountain before?

That's helpful. The evening wet pouch is great, but with mostly dry food she really does need to be drinking well throughout the day. Given that Turkish Vans are hardwired to respond to moving water, a fountain isn't just a nice-to-have here — it's probably the single thing most likely to actually get her drinking more. Can I ask: does she ever show any interest in the tap when you're running water? And roughly where do you keep her water bowl at the moment?

That tap behaviour tells you everything — she wants moving water, she's just not getting it. Also, cats instinctively avoid water placed near their food (in the wild, prey near a water source signals contamination), so that bowl placement is likely putting her off too. Moving it to a separate room alone might help a little, but the fountain will make the real difference. My recommendation is the Drinkwell Platinum Pet Fountain. It has a free-falling stream that mimics exactly what she's already drawn to at the tap, a large 1.5-litre reservoir so it doesn't need constant topping up, and a replaceable carbon filter that keeps the water fresh and appealing. It's quiet, easy to clean, and well-suited to a single cat. For a Turkish Van with her tap-drinking habit, I'd expect her to take to it quickly — probably within a day or two.

It's a fair concern — some fountains are genuinely fiddly. The Drinkwell Platinum disassembles into straightforward parts and is dishwasher safe, which makes weekly cleans easy. The carbon filter should be replaced roughly every two to four weeks — they're cheap and widely available. If you stay on top of that schedule, slime and buildup aren't really an issue. One more tip: place the fountain away from her food bowl, somewhere she already spends time — near her favourite napping spot works well. Given she already loves the tap, I'd be surprised if she doesn't take to it fast.

Two small things that make a real difference: first, gradually increase the wet food — even shifting to a 50/50 wet and dry split would meaningfully improve her daily fluid intake. Second, try offering a second water source in a different room; some cats drink more when they have options in their territory. But honestly, for a Turkish Van who's already chasing the tap, the fountain is going to do most of the heavy lifting. You're in good shape.