Cats and water: 5 curious behaviours explained by an expert

Many cats behave in surprising ways, making us laugh or even giving us a hard time when it comes to water. Here are a few insights to help understand some of their reactions.

long-haired cat on the first step of an in-ground pool

Fear of water

Let’s begin by dismissing the belief that cats have an innate fear of water. A lot of cat owners will tell you about bringing their pets into the shower and or even into the bath. Certain breeds, such as the Turkish Van, love water so much they’ll jump right in! A fear of water is most often caused by negative experiences, i.e., falling into the bath, being punished with a spray water bottle, being submitted to a forced scrubbing, etc.

Keeping a clean kitty

Note that, contrary to dogs, cats should never be cleaned unless they had an accident or have a specific health condition. Cats have an immaculate self-cleaning ritual, so washing them removes their own scent, which they took great pains to coat daily, and which is essential to them for a number of reasons. In addition, other cats may no longer recognize a washed cat since it wouldn’t have a distinctive scent on their fur. If you absolutely insist on washing your cat, try using a powder shampoo.

ginger cat leaning towards a dripping faucet and trying to catch the water with its paw

Paws not straws

Raise your hand if your cat puts its paws in the water dish before drinking it, or if it drinks straight with the paw! As you’ll see, you’re not alone. This is a common behavior that could be due to the fact that cats don't have very good visual acuity. When your cat goes to drink, especially from a bowl with still water, they will dip their paw to create ripples, which allow them to better assess the water’s distance from them. After that, a lot of cats will discover the joys of playing in water, and voilà : you’ve got yourself one water-loving cat!

Drinking straight from the tap

Raise your hand if your cat drinks from the tap! Everyone who's raised their hand should invest in a water fountain. In nature, the sound of a stream can often encourage a cat to drink.

However, since cats are originally from the desert, they are not very good drinkers. This is one of the biggest problems with indoor cats: many don't drink enough water because they're not stimulated to drink. Although drinking from a fountain or water bowl is an individual preference, a water fountain can increase your cat's water intake, which is particularly important during heatwaves. This will also go a long way in preventing many health problems and costly visits to vet.

Useful tip

The first time you bring a fountain into the house, don’t activate the motor right away, and place treats all around the fountain. You can even add a couple of drops of tuna juice to make the water even more alluring (remember to remove the filter when using tuna juice). Once they feel at ease, then you can turn the motor on.

tabby cat drinking water from a white fountain bowl on a ceramic floor

For the love of bowls

Plastic bowls are not recommended for certain cats. This porous material can often form a slimy film which cats do not enjoy. Ceramic or stainless steel bowls are often the better choice.

The shape of the bowl can also be important. Every feline will have particular preferences in terms of bowl shape and height. The best way to determine your cat's preferences is to give him several options and let him choose.

One last tip

Place your cat’s food bowl in an area that allows them to observe their environment while eating. If you must place their bowl in a corner, avoid placing it so that they would have to face a wall; rather, leave enough space for the cat to eat and drink with their back against the wall. This way, they can better monitor their surroundings!

As you can see, not all cats hate water, even if they sometimes need a little help to drink enough of it!