A water bowl beside the food dish is convenient for a person carrying both. It may not be the location the cat prefers. Offering another suitable drinking place can help you learn how your cat uses the home without removing the familiar supply.
Cats Protection recommends separating food and water and keeping both away from litter trays. Think about access too: a bowl behind a frequently closed door is not reliably available, and a busy passage may discourage a cat that prefers a quieter spot.
Change one detail and observe
Keep fresh water available while trying a second location. Use stable, clean bowls that are easy to wash and suitable for the cat. Place them where spills will not create a slipping hazard for people or pets.
Watch which places are used over several ordinary days. Avoid concluding that a bowl is rejected after one brief visit. Household routines, other animals, and the cat’s preferred resting places can influence when it drinks.
Make cleaning part of the arrangement
Refresh water regularly and clean bowls with appropriate rinsing. A fountain also needs the manufacturer’s cleaning and filter routine; moving water is not automatically clean water. If you use one, keep another dependable water source available as appropriate.
In a multi-cat home, distribute resources so one animal does not have to pass another to reach every bowl. Older cats or cats with mobility difficulties may need easily reached options; discuss individual needs with a vet.
A marked increase or decrease in drinking, difficulty drinking, or other changes in health should prompt veterinary advice. Do not assume that a new preference explains a significant change. Your observation note is useful precisely because it can distinguish a routine choice of location from something that deserves professional attention.