Why Does My Cat Put His Paws in the Water Bowl?

All cats act differently, often, according to their breeds. However, even within the same breed, domestic cats have their own idiosyncrasies which usually confuses their owners. There are many things that cats do which people have not been able to decipher. For example, cats dip their paws in their water bowls. A few theories may explain this bizarre but comical behavior.

  1. Moving Water

    • When cats dip their paws in water, they might be trying to make the water ripple. Cats prefer to drink from moving water, which tends to be cleaner than water which has been sitting for a long time and has accumulated germs. Most water sources in nature include moving water, such as lakes and rivers. Even in the house, cats like to drink running water from faucets and bathtubs.

    Marking Territory

    • Cats consider their food to be their territory. They may put their paws in water to mark their property. Sometimes, cats put their toys in their food and water bowls because they like to keep their property together. Cats rarely leave their possessions in areas that they are not familiar with or do not consider their own.

    Locating Water

    • The eyesight of a cat is not good when seeing things up close like the surface of water. Since cats do not like to get their whiskers or nose wet, they may dip their paws in the water to be able to tell how deep the water is located. Once they know where the water is, they can sip it without having a mishap, like getting wet.

    Playing With Water

    • Cats may not like the taste of the water that is stagnant. When they put their paws in, they may be trying to stir up the water to improve the taste. Like children often do, they may be playing with water because they do not want to drink it.