brita water

My cat seems to knock over the water more when its from the brita pitcher so does this mean cats prefer cold tap water

Hmmmm....I use filtered water to fill my cats' bowls.  They drink it just fine without trying to knock the bowls over.  That said, many cats prefer running water.  Lucy likes to drink from the faucet or the toilet.  She uses the water bowl as a last resort.  Some cats like to stir up the still water in bowls with their paws before drinking - maybe they are accidentally knocking over the bowl.  And some cats want cold water.  Try dropping a few ice cubes in his bowl from time to time.  Of course, all cats are different.  

Are you using bowls or a fountain?  You could try something with a large, flat base that is more difficult to tump.