So I noticed a behavioral change in my cat around the same time I got pregnant. She used to not drink her water unless the bowl was filled completely to the brim. Then suddenly, she started sticking her paws in it, then it turned into nudging causing the water to spill everywhere! I've tried to place a mat underneath, and that just leaves me with a constant wet mess, and it's causing mildew. YUCK! I tried a heavier bowl, but I guess she is supercat, and is still able to knock it over. I'm so tired of the wet mess and constantly refilling her bowl. Aside from being extremely odd, I have never had any sort of problems with her before, and she has always been a perfectly behaved cat. What can I do????????????
2006-10-26 03:11:51 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Cats
petco has a waterfall drinking thing for cats...cats like running water ...i bet that fixes the problem...lol..picky spoiled cats...mine love that thing ...gl !!!
2006-10-26 03:15:04 · answer #1 · answered by Jake S 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have had two cats that have done this. It drives me crazy. And yes the heavy bowl did not help. My cat only became more determined and pushed harder. I tried the water dish that you attach a 2 liter bottle to and I think it ticked him off. LOL!!! He held onto the base with his paw and pushed the bottle with his head and popped the bottle right off - then I had a flood. I found a bowl with a big suction cup on the bottom that worked really good. but they are hard to find. The fountain kind did help but still needed a mat- I used a small boot tray- holds more water. Still a mess to clean up on occasion but it is easier to clean. All of a sudden after all this time my 8 yr old cat finally stopped messing with the dish all together for some reason. Yeah no more messes. LOL!!! Good luck.
2006-10-26 03:42:45 · answer #2 · answered by Andrea R 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cat's often dip their paws into water to test temperatures and depth. Certain bowls make it extremely difficult for kitty to tell exactly where the water is and it's dangerous for them to just stick their nose in and snort water. Pregnancy hormones causes a lot of different side effects and might be affecting her perception. Also kitties sometimes can't tell if the water is even there! Try a special cat bowl with rubber rim to prevent her from sliding the water around, always make sure the water is changed daily and is neither too cold nor too warm. Also watch to make sure the cat doesn't have any developing vision issues. If nothing works, it could just be an odd quirk certain cats have. I have one cat who would only drink out of the toilet, another who did exactly what you're describing for years. We called that one The Lady of the Lake because each time we walked into the kitchen there she was sitting in the middle of her own personal lake.
2006-10-26 22:45:57 · answer #3 · answered by ConstantCupcake 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is a strange behavior, since cats usually don't play in water! Don't put so much water in it. Just enough for her to have the drink she wants. You will have to give her water more often, but there won't be so many spills. My cats likes to drink out of the fish aquarium filter! I guess it taste fishy......I do keep fresh for them too! You could also put her bowl in a large lid with a lip, so the spill will not go all over the floor. Take care and congratulations on your new baby.
2006-10-26 03:20:25 · answer #4 · answered by Rea 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try getting her a heavy, wide-bottomed bowl with the slide-proof rubber bottom. Also, I do hate the mildew that's under my cat's placemat, too. So I have her food & water bowl on a tray with legs like the ones people use for breakfasts in bed. She loves it because it's the perfect height and it also eliminates food & water from messing up the floor. I got the tray at Walmart for like $3.00 or so.
2006-10-26 03:29:15 · answer #5 · answered by Lin B 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
cats do play in water. Mine wait outside the shower so they can jump in and walk around after I get out. She's just being a cat. She may be bored, do you try and have a romp with her every day? Also I have found that placing the water dish up on a little block of wood that's about an inch high seems to discourage tipping. They'll pull it down so it's halfway on and halfway off, but they don't spill it.
2006-10-26 03:21:58 · answer #6 · answered by Kacky 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You could get one of those constant refill water containers. You fill the huge container, tip it upside down into the stand and it is always full and not tipable. I bought it at Walmart. I don;t think this behavior has anything to do with you being pregnant, I think your cat is just playing. You could also use a very heavy dog bowl for the water that is too heavy to tip.
2006-10-26 03:16:58 · answer #7 · answered by Sandy B 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
WOW! Our cats must have been separated at birth, lol.
My Lola does the exact same thing, to a "T". What finally stopped her is I now use a rubber bottomed DOG waterbowl. She can't move it at all.
She will only drink it if it is filled right to the brim. She'll follow me around and when I get the water to fill it she meows and meows like she's getting a special treat! My Lola has diabetes though, so she drinks alot of water.
Try the rubber bottomed dog bowl, it worked for me. And I don't even have a towel underneath any more!
Good luck!
2006-10-26 03:17:57 · answer #8 · answered by BVC_asst 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have a cat who used to do the same and then all of a sudden she just stopped doing it. I put the bowl filled with water in the bath tub.
2006-10-26 04:25:27 · answer #9 · answered by Sunspot Baby 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My cat does this sometimes when I need to freshen his water. Getting a pet water fountain should solve the problem.
2006-10-27 06:54:53 · answer #10 · answered by Divalicious 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
she is feeling that you are not giving her enough attention and she is acting out. I would give her a few more hugs then normal and tell her you still love. once she knows that she wont be pushed aside she will be fine. My cat did the same thing.
2006-10-26 04:31:26 · answer #11 · answered by carla b 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋