Is It Ok to Put Ice Cubes in a Cat’s Water Bowl? Vet-Reviewed Pros & Cons

Most cat owners know that keeping a cat hydrated can sometimes be a challenge. Hydration is important for cats, and it's even more important in the hot summer months. However, getting a cat to drink water is not always easy, and some people resort to putting ice in their cat’s water bowls to entice them to drink, which brings us to the question: is it ok to put ice cubes in your cat’s water bowl?

Thankfully, it is relatively safe to put ice in your cat’s water bowl with a few precautions.

In this post, we’ll take a look at how to safely add ice to your cat’s water bowl and the precautions you should take to ensure your cat’s safety.

Can I Put Ice in My Cat’s Water Bowl?

In short, yes, you can put ice in your cat’s water bowl, but ensure the ice cubes are not large enough to cause a choking hazard. Most cats are fascinated with ice, and putting ice in their water bowl can entice your cat to drink water because the ice will intrigue him enough to want to play with it ¹.

What Are the Benefits of Adding Ice to My Cat’s Water Bowl?

Adding ice to your cat’s water bowl has a few benefits. Let’s take a look.

1. Entices Your Cat to Drink

Adding ice to your cat’s water bowl can persuade your cat to drink. Most cats do not drink enough water, and some people resort to buying automatic water feeders because the swirl of the water strikes a cat’s curiosity. Some cat parents have to feed wet food to provide hydration as well.

However, if you still need help getting your cat to drink, putting a few ice cubes in the water bowl may help.

2. Improved Hydration

Some cats prefer cold water to water at room temperature and vice versa, which could explain why some cats don’t drink enough water. Adding a few ice cubes to the mix allows your cat to at least lick the ice cubes, which many do and enjoy, and it provides hydration at the same time.

3. Provides Stimulation

Cats are curious by nature, and when your cat sees ice cubes in his water bowl, he may have the desire to play and bat the ice, which can lead to your cat either licking the ice for hydration or actually drinking the water the ice came from. If the ice becomes a game, the likelihood of your cat drinking water is higher.

What Are the Drawbacks of Adding Ice to My Cat’s Water Bowl?

While it’s safe to put ice cubes in your cat’s water bowl, there are a few precautions you should take into consideration. Let’s check them out.

1. A Possible Choking Hazard

Big chunks of ice should be avoided because your cat could choke on the ice. If you add ice to your cat’s water, ensure the ice is in smaller pieces so your cat doesn’t choke.

2. It Makes a Mess

As we’ve mentioned, cats love to play with ice, and they may bat it around in the water bowl. Keep in mind, however, that this will likely cause a mess on the floor, which could cause someone to slip. If you notice water on the floor, clean it up as soon as possible.

For added safety, you can place a mat underneath your cat’s water bowl to prevent water from splashing onto the floor.

3. It Could Damage Teeth

Cats have baby teeth that will fall out and develop into adult teeth,  just like humans. These baby teeth fall out at an early age to give way to the permanent set of teeth. That said, a cat could damage his permanent teeth if he chomps down on ice frequently—he could break a tooth by fracturing the enamel which is irreversible. When the enamel is damaged, it could make your cat more susceptible to cavities and sensitivities to hot or cold.

4. It Could Cause “Brain Freeze”

Just like humans, cats can get brain freeze, which we all know is an unpleasant feeling. If your cat gets brain freeze from the ice, it may hinder your efforts in getting your cat to drink water in general because he’ll associate water with the bad experience.

Brain freeze, which is technically called sphenopalatine ganglion neuralgia, happens when the blood vessels in the throat or mouth cool too rapidly, which causes dilation of the blood vessels. When this happens, the brain interprets the sensation as pain.

Should I Give My Cat Ice Cubes?

You can put ice cubes in your cat’s water bowl, but we don’t recommend solely putting ice in the bowl; you don’t want that to be the only way your cat will drink water, but it’s fine on occasion as long as you take the necessary precautions to keep your cat safe with ice cubes.

Final Thoughts

If you have a finicky cat who never seems to drink water, go ahead and try putting a few small pieces of ice in the bowl. Keep in mind that some cats prefer water at room temperature as opposed to cold water, and it may be trial and error to see which one your cat prefers.

Clean up any spills on the floor, and supervise your cat while the ice is in the water bowl.

Featured Image Credit: New Africa, Shutterstock