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Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)/Cat dropping things in water bowls

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Expert: Dear Tabbi - 8/29/2008


Question
So my cat has recently started dropping things into his water dish.  Every
morning when I wake up there is a different toy in each bowl.  And once he
drops the toys in there he wont drink from the water.  He has fresh water
each day and fresh food each day.  He has nothing that he needs or wants for
in his life.  Why is he doing this, and what can I do to stop it?  Am I doing
something wrong?

Answer
Jennifer,

Your cat is bored and is keeping himself amused. (Or he was a raccoon in another life....lol!) He needs a companion to play kitty games with and to keep him occupied. A cat should have friend for company when you are gone and he is alone.

Get a pet laser light that he can chase the 'little red bug', or toy stuffed mice you can throw or he can bat around, etc. Things to keep him amused and tire him out.

Another thing you can do is give him his own bowl and put some little plastic ping pong balls in it and let him play in the water with them. You can also block the drain in your bathtub and put a couple of ping pong balls in there to chase and bat around. They love that.

For fresh water, let the water drip in the bathroom faucet. Cats LOVE to drink out of there. My cats always have fresh water in their bowls but they prefer to drink most of the time out of the faucet.

Tabbi

Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)

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Dear Tabbi

Expertise

My expertise is in helping people understand their cat (or cats) and their behavior. Questions are welcome even if you don't have a cat....just a question about them. Hopefully my experience, suggestions, and comments will be of help to you...and your cat (or cats). Looking through my past responses to questions will give you additional information and/or answers too. Domestic Cats = cats (no matter what breed) who are tame or not wild, or abandoned cats who were pets that became wild, but can be tamed again. Ferals = cats who are born with one or more parents who were wild stray cats. They usually have had no interactions with people. They have an inbred distrust of humans and are difficult to socialize. They are skittish, hide, and are afraid of people. They take a lot of time and patience to work with them. A lot of kittens from shelters had a feral parent.

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Since I was a child, over 45 years, I have been owned by a LOT of cats and kittens of almost every temperament, behavior, and personality. I have had experience with neurotic, disabled (including blind), stray, and 'problem child' cats and kittens. (A few normal cats too!) Plus all the things a lifetime of owning cats and research has taught me. I also have experience in feral cat behavior (which is different from domestic cats), and some experience with feral colonies that includes colony feeding and feral cat TNR (trap/neuter/release).

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