Why Do Cats Play with Their Water?

Cats generally have a negative rep for being afraid of water, yet cats have a habit of pawing, playing, or splashing water! It might be amusing initially, but it also tends to produce a large mess, owning a cat who slaps at the water in the bowl. However, the query arises, "Why would cats indulge into something like this?”. There are a bunch of positive feline explanations for this behavior, you may need to put on your sleuth specs to figure out which one is the reason for your cat’s nasty behavior!

REASONS OF CATS SPLASHING WATER

• CATS FIND MOVING WATER FUN

Cats pawing at, playing with, or even splashing in a water dish is not as uncommon as you would assume. Despite, popular belief, some cats enjoy water if it is not targeted at them, as it is during a bath and regard water as a fun toy. They adore its shiny surface and the way it makes a splash when they strike it. This one is especially frequent in kittens, who do not generally have a crippling fear. The scraping sound of the dish on the floor, as well as the splashing and flowing sound of water, may provide infinite entertainment for juvenile cats!

• WATER COULD BE DIRTY

Cats are said to be the cleanest of all pets. They like keeping themselves and their environment immaculate. They have a keen nose and can detect filthy water if it has been sitting in the bowl for hours. If stale food or water being smelled, they will undoubtedly splash it out and will refuse to drink it. Fill in new water for your kitties every few hours to avoid this problem.

• MEASURING WATER’S DEPTH

Whenever the liquid in a cat's dish isn't flowing, it might be difficult for your cat to detect the level. Hitting at that too makes it more apparent, so the kitten knows she won't go too deep.

• SAFER DRINKING FROM PAWS

Some cats dislike hunkering down at the water bowl with their backs to the room. This is particularly frequent in multi-cat households when some cats prey on others. Rather than exposing herself to being pounced on from behind, your cat may choose to face the room and drink water from a wet paw.

• WHISKER FATIGUE

If none of the above reason seems to solve the mystery, this is most likely the most significant reason is “whisker fatigue” due to which cats drop their paws into their water bowls and drink from them. Whiskers are very sensitive, with a lot of nerve endings to let them detect air currents and figure out what's surrounding a kitty in the dark. When the whiskers are pulled backward on a frequent basis, such as when a cat reaches into a deep, narrow dish for food and water, the outcome can be chronic facial pain. Providing your cat with broad, shallow dishes for food and water will help alleviate whisker tiredness.

• OTHER HEALTH ISSUES

While this is uncommon, your cat's water dish splashing might be due to an underlying health condition. Diabetes and renal illness make cats thirstier than normal, and their desperate thirst may cause them to spill water. You'll probably see them drinking from other places of your house as well, such as leaky faucets or the bathtub, and you'll notice additional signs, such as tiredness or a lack of appetite. If you see your cat drinking more than normal or exhibiting any of these other signs, take them to your veterinarian right once.

HOW TO STOP CATS FROM SPLASHING WATER?

Let’s indulge into what you can do to avoid those bothersome puddles on your flooring!

• Purchase a heavy-bottomed bowl

Investing in a weighted water dish is the best deterrent for repeated spillers. These are often constructed of stainless steel or ceramic, and their weight guarantees that they remain securely in place. Make sure the dish you choose is broad and shallow, since this will help minimize whisker fatigue.

•  Think about getting a pet fountain

The finest cat water fountains are the perfect method to provide your kitten with fresh running water 24 hours a day, seven days a week. A pet water fountain is not only built to last, but unlike a bowl, it has no accessibility concerns.

•  Put something beneath their water bowl

 It's not ultimate solution for preventing water spillage but placing a tray under your cat's water bowl can help contain any wayward water and make cleanup that much easier.

• Purchase a feeding station

You may also try a feeding station with both food and water space. This features a high back and sides to catch splashes, and any surplus water drains into a tray below. Remove the tray and dump the water once your cat has done.

• Give them fresh water

Your pet needs continual access to fresh drinking water, and unless you have a pet water fountain, you'll need to replace their water at least once or twice every day.

• Visit a vet regularly

To avoid health related issues, frequently visit a vet, as your veterinarian can assist you in determining the underlying cause and treatment choices.

FINAL WORDS: Spills are no longer an issue!

Water spills might be annoying, but most of the time your cat isn't doing it to bother you.  Though it is true that some may create a game out of it, but this is more than likely due to the bowl being inaccessible to them, and in other cases, the behavior may be driven by a mental or physical health condition. If you've ruled out the latter, making some modifications listed above will help minimize water accidents and makes your pet's daily hydration intake easier and more pleasant.