Why Does My Cat Like Running Water?
And how do I make him stop asking for the faucet water!
by Rita Reimers, Multi Cat Behavior Expert
The age old question: why do my cats beg for the faucet?
Rita,
My sink is no longer my own… My cats run to the sink as soon as I head for it, waiting for me to turn on the water.
Why do my cats seem to be obsessed with running water?
Edna
Hi Edna,
I am fighting that battle right now with my 7-month old kitten, Sweetie Pie. Ever since she got big enough to jump up to the vanity and see the running water, she has become enthralled.
In fact, each morning she waits on the stairs for me to head up to my office. As soon as my feet hit the stairs, so does she. Of course, along the way she pauses to make sure I am following her up, and she then leads me straight to the bathroom and begs me to turn on the water. I laugh every morning!
There are a few reasons cats get interested in running water:
- Cat in nature do not drink water that is not moving. They search for running streams and that is when they drink. Of course, our domestic cats don’t get much choice, so whenever they see a running “stream” coming from your faucet, they’ll be naturally attracted to it.
- If their water bowl is not washed out and refreshed daily, they may start hanging around your sink, waiting to grab a drink of fresh water when you turn it on.
- There are medical conditions, such as Diabetes, Hyperthyroidism, and Liver Disease, that cause your cat to be abnormally thirsty. If your cat is suddenly drinking large quantities of water, take him to your veterinarian immediately for a full check up.
- Curiosity is of course another reason your cat may be fascinated by running water. As I mentioned, my kitten Sweetie Pie has been obsessed ever since she first saw water running from the kitchen faucet.
If you don’t enjoy sharing your sink, another alternative is to provide your cat with a cat fountain. A word of caution – pet fountains must be throughly cleaned and the filter changed often to prevent mildew build up, which could make your cat ill.
Two of my favorite pet fountains are made from stainless steel and ceramic: the Pioneer Pet Raindrop Ceramic Fountain and the Drinkwell Zen Pet Fountain.
Or, you can be like me and enjoy your cat’s enthusiasm for your sink, even if they learn how to turn the water off while you’re using it, like my Sweetie Pie does!
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