Cat afraid of water dish?

My cat is afraid of her water dish. I realize many cats are afraid of water, but she seems to be scared to death of her water dish and the metal sink in my kitchen. At first I thought the sink scared her because it resembles the examination counter at the vet's office (where she trembles).

I'd like her to drink more water and I don't like her getting it from the tub after I shower or from the slight drip of the faucet, so I got her one of those waterfall geegaws where the water trickles down an incline and is recirculated.

I'm trying to understand what thinking is going on in that peach pit of a brain of hers. I adopted her from a shelter about 7 years ago and she's always been reluctant to go near a water dish (although she does enjoy smacking the heck out of it so that all the water goes flying).

Any ideas? I mention it to the vet and he gets all cryptic. This isn't a debate on an article of faith, I just want to know how to get my cat to drink more water and why she's afraid of sinks and water dishes and how can I de-afraid her?

Hi there, my cat also smacks the water out of her dish. I try to give my two cats a bath once a week. If I don't, Cassy will start swatting all the water out of the dish. For a year I tried to figure out why. After reading your post,
I realized that maybe your cat wants a bath and she is trying to tell you.

I used to change dishes, scolding her, and I finally realized it, after a year, that all she wanted was a bath.

You said your kitty drinks from the shower and sink-two places that one can give a kitty a bath. Although, I put mine in the tub.

Can you try a heavy ceramic dish with a picture at the bottom? Stimpy used to knock water out and tip bowls all the time too. I figured out he couldn't tell the water level. He can if the bowl has a picture on the bottom.

Thanks for the advice but those aren't the problem.

I have tried a dish with something in it to allow her to "see" the water. She smacks more to the side of the dish, as though she's hoping for something better under the dish.

Her reaction to the sink is more like a "Oh, no. I'm not going near that! Are you crazy?"

She doesn't want a bath, because whenever I try to "casually" bring her to the sink, it's always the same reaction.

She will start to "back up" in my arms and her back legs will spread apart and her claws (back, she was declawed in the front before I got her) will activate.

Obviously I don't try the idiotic "well, if you're afraid of heights, have your friends forcibly dangle you out a window even as you scream for them not to" approach of forcing her to the water dish or shoving her into the sink. But I really would like her to start drinking water. If she wants to be afraid of sinks, well, we all have phobias.

Again, all advice gratefully accepted.

Originally Posted by adering

Thanks for the advice but those aren't the problem.

I have tried a dish with something in it to allow her to "see" the water. She smacks more to the side of the dish, as though she's hoping for something better under the dish.

Her reaction to the sink is more like a "Oh, no. I'm not going near that! Are you crazy?"

She doesn't want a bath, because whenever I try to "casually" bring her to the sink, it's always the same reaction.

She will start to "back up" in my arms and her back legs will spread apart and her claws (back, she was declawed in the front before I got her) will activate.

Obviously I don't try the idiotic "well, if you're afraid of heights, have your friends forcibly dangle you out a window even as you scream for them not to" approach of forcing her to the water dish or shoving her into the sink. But I really would like her to start drinking water. If she wants to be afraid of sinks, well, we all have phobias.

Again, all advice gratefully accepted.

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I wonder if something more like a saucer or plate would work? Corelle makes "pasta bowls" now that look like a plate but the edges are up like a bowl. Or even those cat saucers (stoneware) from petco or target.
http://www.petco.com/product/7171/Bo...at-Dishes.aspx