How many water stations should a multi-cat home have?

At least one per cat, ideally one more than that, placed in different parts of the home. Cornell flags territorial conflict around resources as a quiet reason cats drink less than they should. A shy cat can quietly give up rather than push past a bolder one to get to the only bowl. Spreading water stations out across the home means a nervous cat always has a route to water that doesn’t go through a confident cat’s space. The same logic applies to litter boxes (one per cat plus one). In a small apartment, even two bowls 10 feet apart can make a real difference.

When to call a vet: if one of your cats is suddenly drinking much more or much less than usual, mention it to your vet, since changes in drinking can signal kidney disease, diabetes or thyroid issues.