Cats & Water

Faucets are often cat magnets. Both my cats will come running if the shower or any sink is turned on. Neither of them enoys getting wet, but they both love watching moving water. It's funny, because they'll both step in water like they enjoy it, but afterward, they shake off their paws and look at them like they got something horribly disgusting on them.

The running water thing got so bad, my kitten started knocking over any and every cup that had any water in it, just so he could watch the water go whoosing out of the cup. He would then tiptoe through it and shake off his paws, per usual.

Sophie would only drink water by dipping her paw into a glass of water on my nightstand and then licking the water from her paw.

Max would always get on the edge of the bathtub when I was taking a bath and swat at the water in the tub.

Max would also sleep in the bathroom sink that had a leaky faucet and would always wake up with a wet tail.

Cats seem to have a strange fascination with water for some unknown reason.

Some cats really are interested in water, especially when they are young. I had one who would jump in a full bathtub when he was a kitten. He also would splash water out of his water bowl, and tip it over if he could. I had to get a big, heavy, ceramic (dog dish) bowl for him, put a little water in the bottom of it, and put it on a huge plastic tray.

As far as keeping them away while you do dishes. Well, now you have a problem because they think it is play time. That age of kitten 6-12 months can be quite destructive because they are so rambunctious.

If you don't want them on the counters at all you can try some of the deterrent techniques such as the alarms that are set off by movement (noise and spray), or plastic bubble mats, or Sticky Paws tape to discourage them. You would put these things on the counters until they decided it wasn't worth it.

But I think you'll have to lock them up someplace out of the kitchen if you want to stop the dish washing mayhem. Sound like fun, though, except for the broken dishes.

If it's any comfort, kitten do grow up and grow out of much of this behavior. But then you'll miss their baby kitty antics.

Good luck!

One question, though, you bathe your cats? I think I did that once when I was 9 years old. And once one fell into a toilet that had Sani-Flush in it. I practically drowned her in my frenzy to get that off her. But, usually, unless they get into something, I wouldn't think it necessary to bathe regular cats.

Robin

Max curls up in the kitchen sink as Sophie walks by.

Now I understand about the bathing.

Thanks!

The kitten I had who jumped in the full bathtub (repeatedly) must have thought he needed a bath with water. But, he seemed perfectly clean to me.

Robin

My Sinbad loved playing with water when she was young. She'd shove her water bowl around to make water splash over the sides. She'd also push toy boats around (tiny plastic boats I kept around as bath toys for when my nephew was visiting) if I put them in a basin of water for her. (She also liked playing with his toy race cars, would push them back and forth and use them for pillows.) Sinbad didn't mind being out in the rain, either. She had really thick fur, and I think her dad may have been Maine Coon, since she had a "guard coat" like Maine Coons have (her mom was Himalayan but the old type of Himalayan, looked more like ragdolls now). Unless it was raining fairly hard, she'd just sit there occasionally flicking an ear if a raindrop hit it, her fur too thick for her to feel the rain otherwise. Then I'd rub her dry with paper towels or tissues when she came in, and she loved that.

Frosty loved to chase water poured from watering cans, especially if the watering can was swung around so the water fell in a wide circle or figure 8. She'd chase it till she was soaked.

Tiger liked playing with water only if it was frozen. She loved to play ice cube hockey, and she loved to run out in the snow.

Rusty is fascinated by water. As I mentioned in another topic, he now drinks almost always by dipping his paw in water, but he also loves to splash water around. He's even stepped into a sink of dishes with hot water and suds.

Cindy