My cat won't drink from the bowl, but instead puts his paw in the water and licks it. Is that normal?

Question

He is a sweet little guy, but he fell off our balcony onto our hard wood floor foyer when he was like 3 weeks old. He seems fine, but not all that bright. I am wondering if this is a result of the fall.

Thanks!

Answer 1

I have one cat who does this. I have also seen nature shows where there are even big wild cats that do this. It's just personal preference :)

Answer 2

As long as he is active and doing all the normal kitten "crazy" things---Yep, he's just fine--he's a boy, and they have a thing (when they are kittens--some even into adulthood, like mine) to want to play in the water. Mine likes to play in the toilet. Naturally, I keep the lid down so he can't. But, I am sure, when you're not watching him, he IS drinking normally out of his dish. If not, try changing dishes. You said he is a little guy--is the dish too high for him to comfortably drink out of? For some strange and totally unknown reason, all of my "boy" kitties have played in and are totally fascinated by the water in the toilet. NONE of my "lady" kitties have ever done this. Guess it's a "guy-thing". However, if you notice that anything else seems to be "not-quite-right" with the little guy, I would take him to your vet, and also explain the fall from the balcony. Good Luck.

Answer 3

This is normal. Since some cats show that they have no depth perception, they will do this. My mom used to put food coloring in the water (different color than the bowl to make it darker) and the cat went back to drinking normally. No big deal.

Answer 4

Oh poor lil guy for falling! No that is not a result of the fall. Cats drink water a hundred million different ways - they are weird like that. Mine will drink from the sink but only when I am home. They drink weird like that because somehow it makes them feel like the water is fresher.

Answer 5

Totally normal, just a different way to drink. Had an old cat that used to do this with all sorts of snack/drinks. I don't think it's because of the fall he had, just a personal choice of his.

Answer 6

It's not a question of brightness, my cat did that all his life. I would turn the faucet on in the bath tub, just a trickel, he would play every morning in it. I thought it was cute.
His mother hated the tub, but alway drank off of her paw, too.
Maybe it's a learned behavior, passed down.

Answer 7

It must be normal for him. I had a Siamese that seemed none too bright. He would only drink out of a dripping faucet. But he lived a long time and was a great source of joy and humor.

Answer 8

He's a "paw-dipper" :)
It's not all that common, but it's completely within the realm of "normality". My sister has a cat who drank like this for all of her seventeen years.
One of my favorite cats that I ever owned was a sweet, kind-of-dopey neutered male. So enjoy your precious little guy...he sounds like he has a delightful personality!

Answer 9

It's normal - one of my cats does that too. I ended up getting my cats a water fountain with a filter to help keep the water clean, because he kept getting litter in the water bowl. He uses his paw to drink from the fountain, too.

some different types of water fountains:
http://www.petmate.com/Catalog.plx?ID=205
http://www.hagen.com/uk/cats/addinfo/catit_water_fountain.cfm
http://www.petfountain.com/

Answer 10

I had a cat that did that, and he also put his kibble in the water and ate the pieces one at a time with his paw. He was very healthy and very entertaining. I wouldn't worry unless the vet tells you othewise.