You do your best to make sure your cat is always happy and healthy; this includes ensuring that your cat is fed and has a fresh bowl of water available at all times. However, it can be frustrating when your cat starts to get into the habit of continuously knocking over their water bowl.
While your cats’ behaviors may seem strange, there’s likely an explanation behind it. By having a better understanding as to why your cat is knocking over their water bowl, you can take corrective action to ensure that your cat is staying hydrated.
Why Your Cat Is knocking Over Its Water Bowl?
You just gave your cat a full bowl of water, only for it to knock it over and spill it everywhere. It can be very annoying! Why would a cat do this? There are a few likely explanations.
Your Cat May Be Looking For Attention
Although it may seem silly, some cats just like the attention they get from doing something sudden and messy (like knocking over a bowl of water). If your cat has gotten a strong reaction from you previously after knocking over their water bowl, there’s a chance that it just wants to get a reaction from you.
Your Cat Is Picky
While most cats aren’t too picky about their water, some are. If your cat is repeatedly tipping over its water bowl, there’s a good chance that it’s trying to tell you that it doesn’t like it. This is will be more likely if you have recently moved to a new place with a different water supply than what your cat was used to.
Something Else Is Going On
If none of these explanations seems to apply to your cat, it’s possible that something else could be going on. It’s possible that your cat may be experiencing some discomfort from a tooth/oral problem while trying to drink, for example. As a result, it may be trying to get your attention by knocking over its water bowl over.
Stress Or Anxiety
Another possibility to consider is that your cat is knocking over its water bowl out of stress or anxiety. If your cat seems to be knocking over their water bowls while you’re away or while displaying other signs of stress, then this could be the cause.
There Could Be Something In The Water
Your cat may be trying to tell you that there’s something wrong with their water by trying to knock it over. For example, if you keep your cat’s water bowl next to its food bowl, there could be ants or other insects making their way into the bowl. This may be bothering your cat.
How To Discourage Your Cat From Knocking Over Its Water Bowl
So, what are some things you can do to discourage your cat from tipping over its water bowl? You may want to start with something small, simple changes, like switching to a different water bowl.
If your cat seems to be knocking over its water bowl, then it could be that your cat is looking for running water to stagnant water, which some cats prefer. The good news is that there’re cat drinking fountains you can try to see if that resolves the issue.
If you think the water could be the problem, you can try filling your cat’s bowl with filtered or bottled water to see if that solves the behavior.
You can also get non-tip water bowls that are weighted in the bottom; this makes them more difficult for a cat to tip over and may be worth trying, as it can certainly discourage the behavior. If none of the above solutions makes a difference, then it could be time to see a vet so you can rule out any health problems causing your cat to knock over its water bowl.
Here Are Some Alternatives That You Can Try
Bowl With Water Dispenser
An alternative to the standard water bowl is one that has a water dispenser that keeps the water topped up. These bowls are normally made from plastic, and some with an upright water bottle attached. As the cat drinks, the water bottle starts to slowly drain, keeping the water at the same level all the time. Although this isn’t the same as providing your cat with constant running water, it means you won’t have to top the water up as often. This is a good option if you’re often out of the house.
Cat Water Fountain
A water fountain is great for cats that are reluctant to drink standing water. For example, if your cat tends to drink from the tap or other places they shouldn’t, it could be because your cat prefers fresher, running water. A cat water fountain may be the solution to a cat knocking over its water bowl.
Cat water fountains are usually driven using very small electric motors. After filling the bowl with water, a small fountain in the middle will keep the water circulating. This gives your cat the option of either drinking from the bowl or from the water as it falls. The good thing about these types of products is that many cat water fountains also include filters, which can help remove dust and hair, keeping it as fresh as possible. More expensive cat water fountains will also cool the water, which is perfect for the summer months.
Where’s The Best Place To Keep A Cat’s Water Bowl?
Similar to their food, a cat’s water bowl should be somewhere relatively quiet. For example, a hallway may be too busy for a cat, even if your cat is very sociable.
Make sure to keep your cat’s water bowl somewhere clean and odour-free – and far away from its litter tray! Just like us, cats are very clean animals. They prefer to keep things separate. For your own peace of mind, it’s also a good idea to keep your cat’s water bowl on an easy-to-clean surface, like tiles or laminate flooring.
If you have multiple cats, make sure you have a water bowl for each of them, even if they often like to share. Even better, leave water bowls and several points throughout your home, so your cat always has somewhere quiet to drink wherever they are.
