She spills her water all the time!

My 8 mo old, Geisha, has a water fetish....though she wont submerge herself in a pool of it, she likes the sink and the tub and often tries to drink the water that drains after I am done showering. I dont like her to drink tap water and give her only bottled water. But everytime I fill her water bowl up, she sticks her paws in it and eventually tips the bowl. She does this about 3 times a day and now she wants to do this to the new kittys water. I had to change the babys water about 4 times in 4 hours last night. I dont know why she is doing this and it is getting a little annoying and will eventually be expensive as bottled water isnt exactly cheap. And now since Ive had the new kitten, Geisha hardly touches her own food but runs in the kittys room and scarfs down Sakuras food. And they eat the same exact thing! This water thing has gotten really bad since I brought home Sakura though Geisha has always liked to stick her feet in water, but I cant keep cleaning up wasted water on two ends of the apartment. If anyone has had a similar experience please give me some advice!

I would invest in a pet fountain, when the cats have running water, they are intrigued enough to not tip over the bowl, and besides if you keep your petmate or drinkwell full it is hard to tip over.

I would feed them in separate rooms, because of the food aggression. That way both cats get their fill- Just keep Geisha out of the room until your new kitty has eaten. Either that or feed Geisha on an elevated platform- table, counter, cat post so she knows she is Alpha

An alternative is a wide, heavy bowl that can't be tipped over placed on a pet tray with raised rims to contain spills. But a pet fountain is the best solution.

Geisha eats and drinks out of one of those Retro diners with the removable SS dishes (easier to clean, I guess?) so whenever she starts playing in the water she tips one of the dishes and the water just spills out under the feeder onto her placemat. Its really gross and im worried about bacteria and whatever else building up if I dont change it in time. I have been feeding Sakura in my bedroom (Geisha eats in the kitchen) and today i closed the door. As soon as I changed the babys water (for the 20th time today) and the bowl hit the floor Geisha came screeching around the corner and straight for the kittys bowl. So i had to lock her out. I hate having to alienate her from my room like that, since she is allowed to go wherever she pleases but i cant keep cleaning up water. The automatic waterer is a good idea but im funny about plastic bowls and stuff. Ive heard they like to give rashes and harbor bacteria. And will feeding Geisha on the counter or something really make her feel that she is Alpha? If i move her bowl will it freak her out? Im trying my best not to step on her toes too much since ive had the new kitty. Thanks for the suggestions!

Seems like a pet fountain would be nice and work well, but if you don't want plastic, how about a heavy duty stainless steel pet bowl? We have a great big one that all the animals drink out of, dog included, and it works great. It's like a big watering hole. It never gets knocked over and I have one that loves playing with the water....dipping practically his whole leg in the water and then sucking the water off his toes....pretty funny. Kitty toes must taste good. Anyway, I don't think a cat could ever knock this bowl over. You may get some spilled water from the dripping kitty toes sometimes, but I don't think that can be avoided if you have one that has a "water thing" going.

Originally Posted by Geisha_Girl

but im funny about plastic bowls and stuff. Ive heard they like to give rashes and harbor bacteria.

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I think that's only for food bowls.

The pet fountains come with filter, and running water does not harbor bacteria, stagnant water does.

LOL! I am sorry, but these scenarios are interesting to me. I have never had any kitties like this....but Sasha is fascinated by a bubble bath.

Hey its ok you stole my thread. Apparently Im not the only one that has a cat that thinks shes a duck. Just before I started writing, Geisha stuck her paw in her water and then stuck it in her food. Shes so nasty! Ive looked at those auto-water things; they look pretty pricey and quite frankly I think they are an eyesore. I know Im sounding difficult, but I like Geisha to have pretty things for some reason or another. Shes stayed out of the babys water today even after I changed it. Thanks for the suggestions and the funny scenario, thread thief .

Originally Posted by Geisha_Girl

Hey its ok you stole my thread.

Apparently Im not the only one that has a cat that thinks shes a duck. Just before I started writing, Geisha stuck her paw in her water and then stuck it in her food. Shes so nasty! Ive looked at those auto-water things; they look pretty pricey and quite frankly I think they are an eyesore. I know Im sounding difficult, but I like Geisha to have pretty things for some reason or another. Shes stayed out of the babys water today even after I changed it. Thanks for the suggestions and the funny scenario, thread thief

.

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This is an eyesore?



I think it's kind of nice-looking myself. I have two.

Theyre a little big and clunky and besides they dont have matching food bowls. I am little compulsive and like my stuff to match. But thats just me. And do remember, I live in an apartment the size of a matchbox, so space is kind of an issue as well. I see what you guys are saying. But I dont think I really got my point across the way I should have-I thought that when Geisha went into the bedroom and spilled Baby Kats water, she was being rotten. Maybe Ill make my points more clearly next time. No beef here.....

Ya know, if your dilemma is clean water, then I might have a solution. My cats used to do that, too, and their water would constantly be dirty, until I went to Wal-Mart and got a self-waterer and an auto-feeder. They match, and the self waterer keep a constant flow of water, keeping it clean. After a while, Billy started scooting it everywhere, and that's my dilemma right now, but it may be different with your kits. They are only $5 a piece at Wal-Mart.

Here's a pic of them....

If only I werent so uppity about pretty colors...............

Originally Posted by Geisha_Girl

I thought that when Geisha went into the bedroom and spilled Baby Kats water, she was being rotten.

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I really don't think cats do things purely out of spite. Maybe our point is being missed, too: there is a solution to your problem if you're willing to be a little bit flexible.

I was going to say too, she is only 8 months old, still quite yet a kitten. Perhaps she will grow out some of this stuff. Right now, I'm guessing she just thinks it's all about water fun! Another thought, how about a place where she can play with water? Maybe put a bowl of water in the tub where it won't get everyting wet and then she can play to her heart's content and not get things all wet. Or, just plug the tub and put some water in. I don't think they need much, just a small puddle. You mentioned you use bottled water and don't want her playing with the water from the tub....you could just put some bottled water in a nice bowl or container, or the tub. You could even put a little floaty toy in the water, like a ping pong ball. That's what I did when Marcellus was a kitten. It worked wonerfully. It kept him occupied for a long time (Chasing ping pong balls in the tub is an absolute blast for kitties.) As he got older, it didn't seem to matter quite so much. Although my Marcellus still loves dunking his paws in the water, as he a matured, he isn't quite as messy, just a few drops now and then. Another thought, since you like pretty matching things for your cats, how about some kind of pretty container that would contain the food dishes and then the water could just drip in there and not on your floor? I know you are worried about bacteria but I'm sure if you just cleaned it up once daily that wouldn't be problem. I would bet there would be something you could find at a nice department store. Or how about a nice pretty mat under the dishes, a large one, that would match things how you would like? It seems like you won't totally beat the problem but you and your Geisha could meet each other half way. And I would place bets that she will settle down.

I second the fountain idea. My cat also liked to drink from a leaking faucet. But since I fixed the faucet, it no longer leaks. I got a pet fountain. It encourages them to drink water. You can feel it up with bottled water if you like. I just use filtered water. You also change water in it-I do every couple of days anyway.
The cats love the running water.