Keeping Cat from playing in Water Bowl

[kamik86]

Put a big cookie sheet or a larger, higher rimmed one called a sheet pan underneath.

In a cat's world, there is so little to keep them occupied & to play with throughout the day. I have long suspected that they sleep so much out of boredom rather than needing to sleep. Be thankful that a little water does the trick in helping her pass the time.

My cat likes brown paper bags. So, I have to put them all down on the floor after emptying them, so she can inspect what came into the house.

Mine like bags and boxes of any kind... one of their favorites lately is the boxes that big packs of bottled water come in. The cardboard tray on the bottom and plastic on top. We cut open one side to get the water out and after they love to play in it.

 

[izzy]

My cat does this too. She is also obsessed with sinks and will sit of hours waiting for someone to turn the water on.
I don't know of a way to stop it. We just think it is cute and wipe it up after.

Our cats must be related! My does this, too! Every morning before I leave she is sitting there in the sink, waiting for me to turn it on so that it drips out slowly. (And yes, I do turn it on.) Whenever my parents keep her, she sits in the bathtub waiting for them to turn the faucet on whenever they come in the bathroom. (And yes, they turn it on, too.)

I tried everything from putting a towel down to putting the water bowl in a shallow pan to catch the water she splashes around. No dice on any of it. I finally resorted to putting her water bowl in the bathtub in my second bathroom. This way she can splash around as much as she wants and it stays somewhat contained.

 

[torinsmom]

We have one cat I call the water boy. He is always putting things in the water, like toys, rubber bands, etc. Then he will play in the water. If I leave out a plastic water bowl for the dog, he will dump the whole thing over. I had to buy heavy ceramic bowls for the cats' water. I tried towels, but didn't like the smell, so I just wipe it up as it happens. This same cat will sit by the water bowl if the water is more than 12 hours old and just look at it until I refresh it.

OP, if your cat is messy with litter, try a covered box.

And remember, dogs have owners; cats have staff!

 

[Kitty 34]

If you figure it out please let me know! Mine will take their bowl for a walk. I will find it several feet away from where it belongs. I have tried a non skid mat, different types of rugs and towels. They will just grab the mat and drag it around. No matter what type of bowl they use the will push the edge down to tip it over. I finally put their water in our downstairs bathroom shower that isn't used often so that the mess wouldn't be a problem! It is back out since we had guests that use that shower so I am interested to see what happens. They currently have a metal dog bowl with a non skid bottom but they are still moving it around.

We had a plug in recirculating water fountain for them but they would actually grab the cord and unplug it and use the cord to drag it around!

Put a folded up towel under it to help absorb the water and be prepared to change it out every day (maybe several times a day!).

OMG, I thought my cats were the only ones that did this!!

 

[pixiefairy]

My one year old cat does that too! She also eats with her paw. Only the wet food and it's just hilarious. My friend who I got her from says that she has a few cats that do that too. She also has an affection for those squinkies toys...she finds them, carries them and puts them in her water bowl. I have also found her food bowl across the room in the middle of the floor.

 

[castmemberb4]

My little girl likes to wash her toys !
She dosen't splash a lot just puts them in there and takes them back out.
I use a vinyl placemat with a non skip backing.

OP - If you're thinking of going the boot tray route Target has some in their Dollar bin right now.

I also have a little guy who will get in the shower after you turn it on but dosen't like to be in there with us I guess we splash too much.

 

[SC Minnie]

Our gray cat will bump the water bowl until it moves then will drink. I thought she did it so she could tell if there was really water in there. The white one didn't do it until he saw her do it. Now he splashes water everywhere instead of just making it move.

The gray cat also will take some food in her paw and set it outside the bowl to eat. The white cat saw her do it so he does it now too. I remember the first time he saw her he stared at her and I could see the wheels turning. He them imitated what she did.

Cats are funny, funny creatures.

 

[Gigi22]

We've only had one cat who liked to get into the water bowl with his front paws. He would stick a paw in, pull it out, then lick the water off. Repeat. His brother and sister lapped up water from the bowl like other cats.

 

[AnOtHeRdIsNeYfReAk]

Sounds like my cat. I tried bigger bowls, heavier bowls, tiny bowls with a very small amount of water. Nothing helped so I found a flat bottomed bowl and taped it down with some pretty heavy duty tape. That is the only thing that works. She still likes to walk in the water and tries to move the bowl, but I don't have a huge mess to clean up 5 times a day.

 

[leight]

Add my cat to the list. He loves to play in the dog's water bowl. Makes a huge wet mess but won't drink from it unless it is pristine clean. The dog also makes a mess because when she drinks she seems to carry some in her mouth that drips all around. I've just gotten used to it and change the water many times during the day. Dh can't stand it but he just doesn't like my cat. Or should I say he doesn't like working for MY cat.

 

[englishteacha]

My mom's cat likes to play in her water bowl. Mom gave up and put her water in a low, square Pyrex bowl. It's harder to tip over, but kitty still likes to splash in it.

 

[disney1990]

We keep the cat's water bowl on a plastic tray so that the water is contained.