Why does my cat like to stick his paws in his water dish? He hates baths but loves to splash around in his water dish, the toilet, and sometimes the shower. Help, it's causing a mess.

He's making sure the water he drinks is clean!
I had this problem with one of my cats. He splashed water everywhere and I tried everything to minimise the mess until I came up with the obvious solution ........ I moved the water bowl into the shower cabinet. Now he can splash and splosh as much as he wants.

Just because a cat doesn't like showers or baths doesn't mean they aren't curious. Depending on his age, it may be a phase. I don ahve several cats that are cross-eyed, however, that test to see how high the water level is before they drink. I also have a couple of cats that like to drink out of the sink, play in the shower and the toilet. Because the water is a moving object, but has no color it seems to fascinate kitties. If your kitty is not cross-eyed or has no depth perception problems; keeping his water bowl level at half may help. If you don't have his litter box in the bathroom, you may want to try closing the door. If this does not work for you, close the toilet lid and the shower door. Reprimanding your kitty will not work. Unlike dogs, they don't usually take punishment well or actively. If your kitty is lass than two years old, this may be his simple "kitten" curiousity. He may or may not grow out of this. By lovering his water level or keeping fesh water daily in his bowl may do some good. Keeping his bowl on a small mat can help with some of the spillage also. Keep your chin up, hope some of this helps and good luck.

Awww it's only water. It will dry. It is fascinated with the water because it can't see it. Some people put food dye in a water bowl for that reason. It can't tell the depth of the water and doesn't understand what it is.

Maybe he sees a reflection and has to bat at it . They just love to play . Keep toliet seat down and put a towel under bowl. Well about the shower cant make too much a mess its the shower. I guess be happy he is so playful. Cats can be amusing for us. My cats put balls in my shoes for me to play with them and guess they have a way of talking to us. Well enjoy your lil one.

this is my max,he often sticks his paw in his bowl,i don't think it's the bowl cause he does it in the sink as well i think they just love to play in water,he's so cute when he does it.

I have no idea why, but you aren't the only one with a cat that does this. We have a large white cat, that doesn't particularly dislike water, but doesn't enjoy baths. Meanwhile, he loves to sit by the shower when it is on and also bats and hits his dish water all over and makes a mess. He seems to prefer water off the floor. If you have a tub that you don't use, like we do, try running a bucket or dish under the tub faucet. It won't solve the cats behavior, but it will keep your floor dry.

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