How To Stop Cat From Spilling Water Bowl?

Spilling water is widespread among felines and can be caused by incorrect bowl design, poor water quality, dislike of stagnant water, or simple boredom.

Sometimes, the habit is a reason for concern because it may signal medical condition development. If any changes in a cat’s behavior occur suddenly, the owner should evaluate their pet’s overall health state.

The good news is that the fix is typically simple. There are numerous ways to keep a cat from spilling water.

Why Do Cats Spill Water?

Before you attempt to implement a strategy to stop your pet from spilling water, it may be worth figuring out why cats spill water in the first place. Despite a widespread belief that cats can’t stand water, there are exceptions.

Many cats find water amusing as long as they aren’t submerged in it entirely, and some cats even like swimming. So, if your cat dips its paws in the water bowl and spills it, the chances are that your kitty is simply playing.

Kittens splashing water most likely do it to learn about their surroundings. They are guided by curiosity and want to know how water works.

However, in most cases, the habit of spilling water is not deliberate. A cat that struggles to drink water out of a narrow and deep bowl may use its paw to spill some water on the floor and drink it from there.

Cat whiskers are very sensitive, so cats feel irritated when they touch the sides of the bowl. Whiskers are an important sensory tool loaded with nerves.

Some cats spill water because they don’t like its taste. If the habit occurred after you’ve switched from tap water to bottled water or vice versa, your cat might be showing that it doesn’t like the change.

Sometimes, cats spill water because of health issues, either physical or mental. If spilling water is out of the ordinary for your kitty, your cat may have anxiety, stress, or cognitive impairment.

Feline cognitive dysfunction disorder is the most plausible reason for spilling water.

The disorder occurs in senior cats and causes them to become disoriented, restless, less interested in social interactions, meow at night, and be messy when eating or drinking.

Other potential medical causes of such a habit are kidney failure, diabetes, and thyroid issues, causing a cat to drink more frequently and create a mess by pawing and splashing water.

Get a Different Bowl

Because the most common reason for a cat spilling water is an inconvenient bowl, try changing it first and see if that helps. The best cat water bowl should be made from ceramics or stainless steel for easy cleaning and preventing bacteria growth.

Ensure that the bowl is tall enough for your cat to keep its mouth above its stomach when drinking. An elevated stand is an excellent solution if you can’t find any tall water bowls.

Look for a wide, shallow water bowl as opposed to narrow, deep bowls. Your cat’s whiskers shouldn’t touch the bowl sides, so check how long they are to determine the approximate bowl size.

Choose a bowl with a non-slip bottom to prevent your cat from playing with the bowl. Alternatively, get an anti-skid mat to put under the bowl to absorb the spilled water and prevent the bowl from moving.

The bowl should be heavy enough for your cat not to turn it accidentally. Evaluate the cat water bowl placement – cats like to see their surroundings while drinking, so don’t put the bowl in the corner.

Consider a Cat Fountain

Some cats prefer to drink running water rather than stagnant water because in the wild, running water is cleaner and fresher. Lakes and ponds pose a greater risk of bacterial infection than rivers, so cats tend to stay away from them.

Even if the water in your cat’s bowl is filtered, it may not like drinking from it because of its inherited instincts. In this case, your cat may show increased interest in running tap water or attempt to drink droplets from the sink.

Try changing your cat’s water bowl for a water fountain. Your cat should have constant access to water, so letting it drink water from the tap is not an option, but water fountains mimic running water without hassle for the owner.

When choosing a fountain, ensure that the drinking area is wide enough for your cat not to touch the walls with its whiskers. Remember to regularly clean the fountain and change filters to keep the water fresh.

Change Water Type

A cat’s sense of smell and taste is far more developed than ours, so cats easily detect changes in their water flavor. Cats are sensitive to water’s mineral content and get used to a specific element ratio.

If you used to give your cat tap water and recently switched to bottled, or have changed the bottled water brand, try switching back and see if that helps.

Your cat may find the taste of new water too bland or not like a specific mineral flavor. Alternatively, you can try to make your cat’s water more appealing by adding a slice of cucumber or strawberry into the bowl.

Another trick for making water more attractive to cats is to add a bit of tuna broth to the bowl. This method works especially well with cats that are reluctant to drink because of medical issues.

Your cat may also display odd behavior related to its water bowl if you didn’t change the water type but started cleaning the bowl less or more frequently.

Your cat may either not find the water fresh enough or sense remainders of dishwashing liquid.

Fill Less Water

Sometimes, cats spill water simply because the bowl is too full. If you suspect that your cat is making a mess because the bowl is too full, try to pour less water into it.

Your cat shouldn’t have to put its entire head in the bowl to reach water on its bottom, but the water shouldn’t reach the bowl’s edges either.

Change The Water Frequently

Some cats are more sensitive to water freshness than others. A common mistake of cat owners is thinking that water doesn’t need to be changed as long as the bowl isn’t empty.

As a result, depending on the bowl’s size, water may stay in it for two or more days, becoming contaminated with bacteria and debris.

Cats have high thirst tolerance and can refrain from water for long if they don’t like its quality. Pawing and splashing, in this case, may be a cat’s way of saying, “owner, please change the water.”

But how often to change water for a cat, exactly? As a rule of thumb, change it at least once daily. If possible, pour less water and change it in the morning and in the evening.

Some cats want their water to be changed multiple times a day. Make sure to clean the water bowl with soap and water at least every second day to prevent bacteria growth.

Play With Your Cat

Cats that don’t have sufficient environmental enrichment and can’t express their hunting instincts may start displaying odd behavior, trying to entertain themselves. If your cat paws and splashes water just for fun, dedicate more time to playing with it.

Depending on a particular cat’s breed, age, health condition, and personality, it may need 15 minutes to over an hour of exercise daily. Some cat owners assume that their cat gets enough exercise if it has one chew toy.

However, not all toys are equally amusing for independent play. Cats are attracted to movement, so a plush mouse laying on the floor and appearing dead won’t trigger a cat’s hunting instinct.

Try playing with your cat using a wand toy or laser pointer, mimicking prey movements. Wiggle the toy in front of your cat, changing the movement speed and hiding from your cat behind objects.

If you’re busy, ensure that your pet has cat toys for independent play, such as a ball track toy, mouse on a spring, or puzzle toy with treats.

By incorporating more enrichment into your cat’s life, you will make it less interested in playing with water because its basic needs will be fulfilled.

If your cat will not stop playing with the water bowl, get a spill-proof cat bowl and a tray or mat to put underneath it.

Have Your Cat Checked At a Veterinarian

If your cat began pawing and splashing water suddenly without an apparent reason, evaluate whether you notice any other abnormalities in its appearance and behavior.

A sick cat pawing at water may be doing so to draw the owner’s attention. Sick cats often struggle to communicate their concerns to the owner and engage in odd behavior to show that something isn’t right.

If your cat also displays changes in appetite, energy levels, affection, vocalization, has a dull coat, or visits the litter box more frequently, have it checked at a veterinarian.

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