Crazy cat water behavior question

CoppysGirl · 01-29-2007, 03:39 PM

My rescued cat, Ruby, has some very strange water habits.

Her history: Was rescued about 9 months ago from a Ruby Tuesdays restaurant (hence the name) where she was caring for three young kittens. Didn't trust a soul except the kind woman who was feeding her (she was the dishwasher at the restaurant and fed her leftover food). So, you get the picture: she was eating teriyaki chicken and leftover pasta bowls regularly and obviously not getting the nutrition she needed for those babies and her. The babies were all born blind and had major health problems (respiratory mostly). Anyway, after she was rescued, her and two of her kittens started living life the domestic way. For the first three months, she was kept in a room with her two kittens, lots of toys, food, water, and litter box. They did well. I didn't want to overwhelm her with being in a new place, tons of people, DOGS, etc, so that's why I kept her in the room for three months. After the kittens were fixed, vaccinated, and placed in new homes, Ruby began living in my room. She slowly opened up to me and became more loving. Then, she was given free reign of the house and put in charge of terrorizing the dogs (which she took great pride in doing well

). We're now living in an apartment where it's just the two of us. No doggies anymore. She is now two years old and a sweet, little girl.

The question: She has strange drinking habits. She drinks readily out of a bowl, but when she does, she sort of paws away from it. She ends up dragging the bowl all over the table before she drinks, sometimes spilling it. It's the same sort of motion she would make in the litter box with the paws moving away from the dish. Why does she do this? None of my previous cats did this and they were all rescues as well.

Any insight would be great!

Heres some pics so you can put a face to a name:

pippy · 01-29-2007, 03:47 PM

I do not have the answer to your question other then cats are quirky that way..mine have odd behaviors to, I chalk it up to everyone having their own individuality and don't think to much on they why part! (because we'll never know

)

**Orchid** · 01-29-2007, 03:51 PM

This may be a myth, and it may not, but I have read that some cats have issues with depth perception close up and they will "play" with their water to find out how deep it is so they don't stick their nose in it.

Maybe fact, maybe fiction, but I have a cat who always paws at the water before he drinks.

OSUJillyBean · 01-29-2007, 03:58 PM

Raccoons will actually wash their food & paws in streams. *shurgs* Maybe yours is trying to be neat.

CoppysGirl · 01-29-2007, 04:03 PM

Well she's not actually putting her paws in the water bowl, it's just around it. Then, she'll catch the edge of it and it'll tip over.

OSUJillyBean · 01-29-2007, 04:04 PM

Petsmart, Walmart, and other places sell pet bowls (most likely in the dog area) that are stainless steel and wide at the bottom to prevent tipping. That may help with the mess.

Justwannago · 01-29-2007, 04:12 PM

i have no idea some animals have weird quirks we had a dog that used to push her food all over the kitchen before eating it and my cat dips his paw in the water and licks it off

CoppysGirl · 01-29-2007, 04:17 PM

Yeah, I have those untippable stainless steel bowls for my dog. I didn't even think about getting them for my cat - didn't think I needed them. Guess I do!

lonearrow · 01-30-2007, 10:06 AM

I have a cat that does the very same thing and he was a rescue off the street. Had to get a heavy "crock" bowl so he couldn't turn it over but he still splashes water out.....

I think it's the depth perception thing.
I have seen other cats reach in and touch the water with a paw before drinking so it makes sense.

Hideaway · 01-30-2007, 11:01 AM

I have two cats that do that. I even tried getting a water bowl with the jug on top to make it heavier so he couldn't tip it not to mention run out of water. Don't you know we had the whole bottle on the floor!

Never the less we'd rather a little water than a lot. The depth perception thing was our best guess too. Although one of my two water spilling cats also likes to get in the shower with me!

farmergal · 01-31-2007, 07:26 AM

I was talking to my mother one day about my cats odd water behaviour. She said that water has a film on it that cats try to remove. This is why they paw at it. My cat won't drink out of a bowl. Flat out refuses too. She prefers instead to lick the water dripping from the faucet.
Guess I better not fix that leaky faucet.

My mother suggested I get one of those fountain pumps and put it in her water bowl as it would keep the surface agitated.

They sell drinking fountains for cats but they are pricey. I haven't looked at them in the past few years maybe the price came down.

01-29-2007, 03:39 PM
CoppysGirl Yearling Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 901	Crazy cat water behavior question My rescued cat, Ruby, has some very strange water habits. Her history: Was rescued about 9 months ago from a Ruby Tuesdays restaurant (hence the name) where she was caring for three young kittens. Didn't trust a soul except the kind woman who was feeding her (she was the dishwasher at the restaurant and fed her leftover food). So, you get the picture: she was eating teriyaki chicken and leftover pasta bowls regularly and obviously not getting the nutrition she needed for those babies and her. The babies were all born blind and had major health problems (respiratory mostly). Anyway, after she was rescued, her and two of her kittens started living life the domestic way. For the first three months, she was kept in a room with her two kittens, lots of toys, food, water, and litter box. They did well. I didn't want to overwhelm her with being in a new place, tons of people, DOGS, etc, so that's why I kept her in the room for three months. After the kittens were fixed, vaccinated, and placed in new homes, Ruby began living in my room. She slowly opened up to me and became more loving. Then, she was given free reign of the house and put in charge of terrorizing the dogs (which she took great pride in doing well ). We're now living in an apartment where it's just the two of us. No doggies anymore. She is now two years old and a sweet, little girl. The question: She has strange drinking habits. She drinks readily out of a bowl, but when she does, she sort of paws away from it. She ends up dragging the bowl all over the table before she drinks, sometimes spilling it. It's the same sort of motion she would make in the litter box with the paws moving away from the dish. Why does she do this? None of my previous cats did this and they were all rescues as well. Any insight would be great! Heres some pics so you can put a face to a name: __________________ When your horse follows you without being asked, when he rubs his head on yours, and when you look at him and feel a tingle down your spine... you know you are loved. -John Lyons

01-29-2007, 03:47 PM
pippy Long Yearling Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: minnesota Posts: 1,174	I do not have the answer to your question other then cats are quirky that way..mine have odd behaviors to, I chalk it up to everyone having their own individuality and don't think to much on they why part! (because we'll never know) __________________ Put your heart, mind, intellect, and soul even to your smallest acts. This is the secret of success.\" â€“ Swami Sivananda Saraswati

01-29-2007, 03:51 PM
Orchid Super Moderator Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 10,089	This may be a myth, and it may not, but I have read that some cats have issues with depth perception close up and they will "play" with their water to find out how deep it is so they don't stick their nose in it. Maybe fact, maybe fiction, but I have a cat who always paws at the water before he drinks. __________________ I have nothing witty or even charming to say at this point.

01-29-2007, 03:58 PM
OSUJillyBean Greenbroke Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 3,121	Raccoons will actually wash their food & paws in streams. shurgs Maybe yours is trying to be neat. __________________ "And speaking of Italy and sports cars that I stole there, you still owe me a yellow Porsche." — Alice Cullen

01-29-2007, 04:03 PM
CoppysGirl Yearling Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 901	Well she's not actually putting her paws in the water bowl, it's just around it. Then, she'll catch the edge of it and it'll tip over. __________________ When your horse follows you without being asked, when he rubs his head on yours, and when you look at him and feel a tingle down your spine... you know you are loved. -John Lyons

01-29-2007, 04:04 PM
OSUJillyBean Greenbroke Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 3,121	Petsmart, Walmart, and other places sell pet bowls (most likely in the dog area) that are stainless steel and wide at the bottom to prevent tipping. That may help with the mess. __________________ "And speaking of Italy and sports cars that I stole there, you still owe me a yellow Porsche." — Alice Cullen

01-29-2007, 04:12 PM
Justwannago Weanling Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Southern California Posts: 295	i have no idea some animals have weird quirks we had a dog that used to push her food all over the kitchen before eating it and my cat dips his paw in the water and licks it off

01-29-2007, 04:17 PM
CoppysGirl Yearling Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 901	Yeah, I have those untippable stainless steel bowls for my dog. I didn't even think about getting them for my cat - didn't think I needed them. Guess I do! __________________ When your horse follows you without being asked, when he rubs his head on yours, and when you look at him and feel a tingle down your spine... you know you are loved. -John Lyons

01-30-2007, 10:06 AM
lonearrow Long Yearling Join Date: May 2005 Location: Central Kentucky Posts: 1,289	I have a cat that does the very same thing and he was a rescue off the street. Had to get a heavy "crock" bowl so he couldn't turn it over but he still splashes water out..... I think it's the depth perception thing. I have seen other cats reach in and touch the water with a paw before drinking so it makes sense. __________________ LUV 2 G8 SPAY*NEUTERADOPT**IT SAVES LIVES

01-30-2007, 11:01 AM
Hideaway Started Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: PA Posts: 2,056	I have two cats that do that. I even tried getting a water bowl with the jug on top to make it heavier so he couldn't tip it not to mention run out of water. Don't you know we had the whole bottle on the floor! Never the less we'd rather a little water than a lot. The depth perception thing was our best guess too. Although one of my two water spilling cats also likes to get in the shower with me!

01-31-2007, 07:26 AM
farmergal Seasoned Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: New York Posts: 4,926	I was talking to my mother one day about my cats odd water behaviour. She said that water has a film on it that cats try to remove. This is why they paw at it. My cat won't drink out of a bowl. Flat out refuses too. She prefers instead to lick the water dripping from the faucet. Guess I better not fix that leaky faucet. My mother suggested I get one of those fountain pumps and put it in her water bowl as it would keep the surface agitated. They sell drinking fountains for cats but they are pricey. I haven't looked at them in the past few years maybe the price came down. __________________