Expert: Brandy - 12/31/2006

Question
Hello, I don't know if you'll be able to help me, but I was wondering if there was anything I could do to help my kitten drink normally from her water bowl. She dips her paws in it constantly, pushes the bowl around the kitchen, and always tips it over onto the floor. We tried getting a new bowl that was bigger and heavier so she wouldn't be able to knock it over, but now she just scoops it out onto the floor. I worry that she doesn't drink enough, but I catch her drinking out of the sink faucets, and the shower. I love her dearly, but stepping in puddles every morning is pretty annoying. Is there anything I can do? Thank you for your time.

Answer
My cats do it all the time, and it's pretty hard to figure out if the puddle around the kitchen is due to our 80+ Golden slobbering his water, or any one of my Maine Coons paddling through.

My guess is that the cat cannot 'see' the water and paddles the water to see where it is in the bowl (because dunking the muzzle in water is so...so doglike. She's drinking from faucets because she can see the water.

The is a sort of water 'foutain' sold at several pet supply stores (average price $50) which might help.

I know I'm heading to the store to get one after having to mop my kitchen for the upteenth time.