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Expert: - 9/22/2008


Question
Hi.

My kittens have recently taken up the habit of "digging" in their water bowl, thus knocking it over. Multiple times daily I have to clean up spilled water.

Why do they do this? They've never done it before. They're 6 months old and have very good table manners.. until the past few weeks.

It is becoming ridiculous. :(

Thanks,
Kayla

Answer
Kayla,

It sounds like you have water babies when it comes to your kittens. This is perfectly normal behavior for some cats and I would just suggest that you use a fairly heavy "tip proof" dog food bowl, preferably ceramic for their water and then they will at the very least not be able to spill the entire contents of their bowl onto the floor. My eldest cat is a water baby with a similar habit of tipping lightweight water dishes over and I have yet to find a humane way to stop the behavior, however if you do find something effective to humanely stop the behavior, please let me know...I would advise that you ignore the behavior any time that you see it happening because if you make a production out of it then the cats may simply respond by making an even bigger mess with their water bowls. You shouldn't try to correct the behavior in any way that could potentially deter the kittens from drinking their water, because in order to be healthy they should be drinking as often as they need to. You could try placing the water bowl into a large shallow plastic tote as this would minimize the amount of water ending up on the floor.

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Ali

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I am the proud guardian of 5 mixed breed cats ranging from 12 weeks to 13 years old and one purebred ragdoll. I have 20+ years experience working with mixed breed cats from a variety of different situations. I have fostered cats/kittens with special needs/behavioral issues. I have rescued/rehabilitated/re-homed a variety of stray/abused cats. I can offer advice on managing feral cat colonies, rehabilitating strays and finding them forever homes. I can help you to determine whether a cat is stray or feral, there IS a significant difference. Improperly introducing a new cat/kitten can result in aggression between newly introduced cats because cats are territorial by nature and they don't like sudden changes in their environment. To learn more about a peaceful way to introduce a new cat into a home with other cats please check out my previous answers on this subject. Proper nutrition for cats can be confusing, I recommend checking out catinfo.org which was created by a veterinarian (Dr. Lisa Pierson) who takes a common sense approach to explaining feline nutrition. Cat behavior and instincts are different from those of humans, I can help you understand your cat's needs so that you can meet them adequately and have a balanced, psychologically and physically sound kitty. Cats vary in personality, energy level and intelligence, different approaches may be required to achieve results in terms of training and interaction with your feline companion. An intelligent, high energy cat must be kept busy or they will make their own fun. I am NOT a licensed veterinarian and I can't offer medical advice. If your cat is ill/injured my advice is always the same: get prompt medical treatment provided by a veterinarian. If finances are an issue I will try to find resources in your area that can help with medical costs or make other choices to ensure the welfare of your cat.

Experience

I have fostered feral and stray cats, rehabilitated and homed cats that many people recommended euthanasia for. I am willing to make an effort to do the research and ask questions because I care enough to find solutions to behavioral problems rather than giving up. I have an interest in the use of alternative therapies to help provide the best possible care for all cats and I can say in all honesty that I've seen some incredible things happen for some incredible cats and their human caregivers when the right alternative therapeutic modality is used by a qualified veterinarian with expertise and experience in the field.

Education/Credentials
I've earned my diploma as a veterinary assistant with honors.

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