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Cat tipping over water dishes
My grandma and I have tried putting weights down on our cat's water dishes, but grandma's cat tries to splash it out anyway. We've had to restrict the water dishes to the bath tub and down in the basement.
Another problem: We can't leave any water out anywhere on the table. Last Sunday I found the paper wet because one of us left a watering can and the cat overturned it.
Most of the time we try to take care of it by draining our cups after eating, but those few times when one of us forgets is a problem.
Is there a way to train the cat not to splash water or tip over cups. Neither of us can figure out why he does it. I've noticed he seems to stand there looking at his dish for a long time before deciding if he wants to paw at it or drink.
Another problem: We can't leave any water out anywhere on the table. Last Sunday I found the paper wet because one of us left a watering can and the cat overturned it.
Most of the time we try to take care of it by draining our cups after eating, but those few times when one of us forgets is a problem.
Is there a way to train the cat not to splash water or tip over cups. Neither of us can figure out why he does it. I've noticed he seems to stand there looking at his dish for a long time before deciding if he wants to paw at it or drink.
This was really interesting to read! I never thought of why our cat moved the dish, but you're really not in doubt when he is eating or drinking: The dishes are moved, especially the water bowl. I've thought that when it is filled to the range, he's ok with that and it's so heavy he couldn't move it, but once it is little left he'll start pushing it around far ways around the floor. We tried with a mat under it to prevent it from moving, but nope - that made it all worse and he tipped it over instead.
One thing he has always done though is to put his toys in the food dish to keep a constant watch over them even when he's eating (we've got two cats so he's probably guarding his toys from the other). When he put it in the water he taught that he'd have to get his nose under water to get it up again so I'm glad he taught that! It was a one-time only...
Thanks for a great thread!
One thing he has always done though is to put his toys in the food dish to keep a constant watch over them even when he's eating (we've got two cats so he's probably guarding his toys from the other). When he put it in the water he taught that he'd have to get his nose under water to get it up again so I'm glad he taught that! It was a one-time only...
Thanks for a great thread!
We use a two quart glass bowl. It's very heavy, and even half filled is plenty of water. They can't splash it out (some try).
Most of our cats are toilet drinkers. Their fascination with the toilet is...disturbing. It does mean you have to keep a clean toilet...but I suppose it saves us the trouble of filling the water dish as often. :)
I'd forgotten about the issue of kitty having difficulty with moving water. I was thinking more in terms of their bloody mindedness!
I've tried cat grass, but have yet to have one of ours take an interest. Then again, we just gave them a big ball of yarn to play with and NOT ONE has touched it in two days. I'm very disappointed, I thought this was a kitty classic!
Most of our cats are toilet drinkers. Their fascination with the toilet is...disturbing. It does mean you have to keep a clean toilet...but I suppose it saves us the trouble of filling the water dish as often. :)
I'd forgotten about the issue of kitty having difficulty with moving water. I was thinking more in terms of their bloody mindedness!
I've tried cat grass, but have yet to have one of ours take an interest. Then again, we just gave them a big ball of yarn to play with and NOT ONE has touched it in two days. I'm very disappointed, I thought this was a kitty classic!
We use weighted bowls. (one is a plastic dish and the other has a rock plunked in) The water dishes don't get tipped over, but he splashes the water out with his paw if he can't bat the dish around with his paw. I guess that just means we cannot place water for them to drink anywhere but the basement and the bathtub.
I wouldn't suspect eyesight, unless he's farsighted. Can cats get hyperopia? He seems to do well with long range vision. He can run after treats and toys.
Hmmm, I'll have to observe more. I was sort of puzzled when I threw a treat and it ending up landing on him. He seemed to have a hard time finding it.
I notice he seems to spend a lot of time resting in the bath tub near his dish. I don't know why. I guess he just likes it there?
I wouldn't suspect eyesight, unless he's farsighted. Can cats get hyperopia? He seems to do well with long range vision. He can run after treats and toys.
Hmmm, I'll have to observe more. I was sort of puzzled when I threw a treat and it ending up landing on him. He seemed to have a hard time finding it.
I notice he seems to spend a lot of time resting in the bath tub near his dish. I don't know why. I guess he just likes it there?
There could be a couple of reasons for your cat doing this with water. Some cats are just fanatical about wanting fresh, running water to drink, and if the water in the bowl is "moving", to them it's fresher than if it's just sitting there. Sometimes it has to do with their eyesight. The way one of the vets I used to work for explained it to me was that cats can see moving objects much more easily than they can see stationary objects. Water is clear, and is often difficult for them to see in the bowl. I have seen this with my own cats in the past, someone will go to take a drink and will end up actually putting their nose in the water because they couldn't tell how far down the bowl the water was, leading to a bout of sneezing to get the water out of his nostrils. Ever since the time Toemy accidentally stuck his whole nose in the water, he dips his paw into the water bowl before he takes a drink so that he can see how far down the water level is, lest he end up dunking his nose again.
Most pet stores sell weighted water and food bowls that are much wider at the base than they are at the top. These bowls would be extremely difficult for your kitty to tip over, and might be a good investment for you to make.
Ghilly
Most pet stores sell weighted water and food bowls that are much wider at the base than they are at the top. These bowls would be extremely difficult for your kitty to tip over, and might be a good investment for you to make.
Ghilly
I don't think I've come across the "roses" you describe, but yes there are clubs for growing and breeding roses. (Although I don't know about your kind...I guess there are clubs for that too.) We grow a few vegetables here too with whatever limited space we have with our small patch of lawn. Cucumbers are one of my grandma's traditions along with Swiss chard and zucchini.
But yes the process of growing is fun to watch even if it is not instant. Flowers are rewarding because of the beauty. Some flowers are edible. Nasturtiums pack a nice radish like punch and add nice color to a salad.
To keep on topic for the sake of the community:
We also plant cat grass. (wheat and oat grass). I found it works best to plant at least two batches in two separate pots. That way one can be inside to get chewed up while the other is left outside to grow and recover. And then we switch off ever so often. With that system going, we were able to keep a good batch of cat grass growing for almost the entire season.
But yes the process of growing is fun to watch even if it is not instant. Flowers are rewarding because of the beauty. Some flowers are edible. Nasturtiums pack a nice radish like punch and add nice color to a salad.
To keep on topic for the sake of the community:
We also plant cat grass. (wheat and oat grass). I found it works best to plant at least two batches in two separate pots. That way one can be inside to get chewed up while the other is left outside to grow and recover. And then we switch off ever so often. With that system going, we were able to keep a good batch of cat grass growing for almost the entire season.
Heh heh...I got it. I used to grow...um...let's call it
"Roses" for the sake of argument using a pyraponic system. :->
I did a lot of paring and cloning to get "roses" with excellent potency and large "petals". it was a high nutritional diet with a forced grow lighting cycle. :)
I think I enjoyed the process of growing more than I did the end result. I did work in gardens growing up, but always fruits and vegetables, never flowers. There's nothing more satisfying then seeing a good crop of corn, carrots or lettuce come in all big and healthy!
"Roses" for the sake of argument using a pyraponic system. :->
I did a lot of paring and cloning to get "roses" with excellent potency and large "petals". it was a high nutritional diet with a forced grow lighting cycle. :)
I think I enjoyed the process of growing more than I did the end result. I did work in gardens growing up, but always fruits and vegetables, never flowers. There's nothing more satisfying then seeing a good crop of corn, carrots or lettuce come in all big and healthy!
I realize my explanation about the African violets may be confusing. Think breed names, like Siamese or Spynx. The hybridizer can name their hybrid African Violet and distribute their variety. They can't officially name an African Violet they didn't breed. (although unofficial names are welcome as long as it is noted that way)
No Name violets are like mutts/crossbreds. Some may be “purebred” or named varieties, but lack the papers that prove it is a “purebred” So they get called NOID. A mixed breed cat is considered a DSH.
No Name violets are like mutts/crossbreds. Some may be “purebred” or named varieties, but lack the papers that prove it is a “purebred” So they get called NOID. A mixed breed cat is considered a DSH.
Thanks. I pick a bright setting and I don't use the flash. The flash tends to make things look washed out. My camera is a Sony Cybershot DSC-H7. There's a few manual settings. I pick a low shutter speed, somewhere around 20 or so. It takes a steady hand which I don't have, lol. I try though. There's a feature that tries to keep the image steady, so I can get a reasonably focused image. And I take lots of photos, so I can pick the best out of there.
Another thing I do is get very close to my subject. (the cat) If I were to stand off in a distance and zoom in, then I may not capture the same detail. In that photo with the two together close up, I plunked the camera down within a foot or so.
I do name some of the African violets, such as Plenty of Blue. (the blue one). I'm not serious into showing african violets, but maybe some day I will. The NOIDs are No ID violets you get at a store. They may come without a tag or the tag says nothing outside "African Violet" They are often beautiful violets and worth growing. They just can't be shown in official african violet shows.
The named varieties I didn't name. Some of the varieties are registered. If the African violet has an official name, I note that in my description. If it doesn't have a name then I note that too.
The Wintry Rose african violet I got from a friend along with a few others. I have a few others fron another african violet friend and I'm waiting for them to start blooming before showing them off.
I'm also expermenting with hybridizing some myself. When they start blooming, I plan to name my favorites. I can give an official name to any African Violet I breed. And if I breed two named ones I can register the offspring if I desire.
Another thing I do is get very close to my subject. (the cat) If I were to stand off in a distance and zoom in, then I may not capture the same detail. In that photo with the two together close up, I plunked the camera down within a foot or so.
I do name some of the African violets, such as Plenty of Blue. (the blue one). I'm not serious into showing african violets, but maybe some day I will. The NOIDs are No ID violets you get at a store. They may come without a tag or the tag says nothing outside "African Violet" They are often beautiful violets and worth growing. They just can't be shown in official african violet shows.
The named varieties I didn't name. Some of the varieties are registered. If the African violet has an official name, I note that in my description. If it doesn't have a name then I note that too.
The Wintry Rose african violet I got from a friend along with a few others. I have a few others fron another african violet friend and I'm waiting for them to start blooming before showing them off.
I'm also expermenting with hybridizing some myself. When they start blooming, I plan to name my favorites. I can give an official name to any African Violet I breed. And if I breed two named ones I can register the offspring if I desire.
You have an upside down cat! :)
You should name the african violets...how about fred and ginger? They may get jealous of your cats!
They're lovely kitties, although they look lazy. I'd suggest motivational therapy.
A question; how do you get such a good picture of a mostly all black cat? Most of my attempts end with a pair of bright eyes in a smudge. Is it a lighting setting? I'd love to put some photo's up, but most of our guys are black making for tricky photog problems for me.
You should name the african violets...how about fred and ginger? They may get jealous of your cats!
They're lovely kitties, although they look lazy. I'd suggest motivational therapy.
A question; how do you get such a good picture of a mostly all black cat? Most of my attempts end with a pair of bright eyes in a smudge. Is it a lighting setting? I'd love to put some photo's up, but most of our guys are black making for tricky photog problems for me.
That describes Sahib pretty well... I think he just likes to tip over things... Grandma and I think he even turned on the bathroom sink on a couple occasions.O_O
BTW I got a couple picts up. The black one is Sahib and the tabby + white one is Waldo. Waldo is my cat and snugglebuddy. Sahib is grandma's cat. He can be a snugglebuddy too but he may spontaniously nip you or try to pull your hair with his teeth. :P
Judging by the way they are posed in my pictures, I think Waldo was trying to kick him but was too tired to carry through.
BTW I got a couple picts up. The black one is Sahib and the tabby + white one is Waldo. Waldo is my cat and snugglebuddy. Sahib is grandma's cat. He can be a snugglebuddy too but he may spontaniously nip you or try to pull your hair with his teeth. :P
Judging by the way they are posed in my pictures, I think Waldo was trying to kick him but was too tired to carry through.
i also have a cat that is a brat..i say that lovingly..lol
she will tip over anything that has water in it....flower vase cups ...doesnt matter to her ...and she now is starting thi running thru the house like a little kitten and chases balls anything she can get to move...she is 8 yo n ow and she is definitly queen of the house....take care...deb
she will tip over anything that has water in it....flower vase cups ...doesnt matter to her ...and she now is starting thi running thru the house like a little kitten and chases balls anything she can get to move...she is 8 yo n ow and she is definitly queen of the house....take care...deb
One thing that can help you figure out a cat is that they spend a lot of time trying to figure US out. :)
generally, if they get a reaction from us from something they do...they go with it. It must be a heady feeling of power for a cat to know it can get a five foot+tall/ 100 + pound creature to do what it wants every time!
generally, if they get a reaction from us from something they do...they go with it. It must be a heady feeling of power for a cat to know it can get a five foot+tall/ 100 + pound creature to do what it wants every time!
My cat tips things over and pushes them off tables if I'm not playing with her enough. Maybe this is just a good way to get your attention and get a nice game of chase started when your too busy doing meaningless people stuff. I recommend more play time.
Or your cat just thinks you look funny when youre angry ;)
Or your cat just thinks you look funny when youre angry ;)
This is no accident. If he can't tip ove rthe dish he pulls it with his paw until he can. If he can't tip it over he will try to drag it. If he can't drag it then he gets his paw in and swashes it out.
I can try washing the water dishes thoroughly and wee if that makes a difference. He seems to be facinated by dirty water though. Go figure.
Or it could be he wants some kind of attention. I haven't figured out.
Savas, if you want to know, this cat has guts, either that or impulsive. A few times he tried to jump on the table right in plain view of us. Then he is surprized that he gets a rather immediate response.
I hope to upload some picts of the cats in my photo gallery soon. They are cute cats.
My cat Waldo usually doesn't tip things over, but if he wants something and I am ignoring him, he will bat things off one by one. Object one falls, makes crash, then Waldo looks at me, meows. If that doesn't get a response, then he goes on and knocks the next thing over, looks at me and meows.
There's no doubt they are rather intelligent in their own ways. Just trying to figure them out is the puzzle. Although with Waldo's case, I think he was trying to make his point clear.
I can try washing the water dishes thoroughly and wee if that makes a difference. He seems to be facinated by dirty water though. Go figure.
Or it could be he wants some kind of attention. I haven't figured out.
Savas, if you want to know, this cat has guts, either that or impulsive. A few times he tried to jump on the table right in plain view of us. Then he is surprized that he gets a rather immediate response.
I hope to upload some picts of the cats in my photo gallery soon. They are cute cats.
My cat Waldo usually doesn't tip things over, but if he wants something and I am ignoring him, he will bat things off one by one. Object one falls, makes crash, then Waldo looks at me, meows. If that doesn't get a response, then he goes on and knocks the next thing over, looks at me and meows.
There's no doubt they are rather intelligent in their own ways. Just trying to figure them out is the puzzle. Although with Waldo's case, I think he was trying to make his point clear.
Heh heh... so many theories! I think we're all right.
My other favorite is a cat I had who wanted to be fed but I was occupied...
he went over to a glass on a shelf across the room and looked at it and then me...
I said;
"Don't you DO IT!!!"
He sniffed the glass, and after a moment, casually and deliberately knocked it to the floor..then watched me with tense muscles, in preparation for the leap to the window so he could make a clean getaway should he decide that retreat was the better part of valor should I give chase. :)
My other favorite is a cat I had who wanted to be fed but I was occupied...
he went over to a glass on a shelf across the room and looked at it and then me...
I said;
"Don't you DO IT!!!"
He sniffed the glass, and after a moment, casually and deliberately knocked it to the floor..then watched me with tense muscles, in preparation for the leap to the window so he could make a clean getaway should he decide that retreat was the better part of valor should I give chase. :)
My cat is also obnoxious about water.
he drinks from the bowl, any glasses that are left out, and his favorite is running or dripping water from the sink.
Sometimes they tip their bowls on accident. Kitties can't see that well very close to their faces and they don't want to embarrass themselves so they will try to create motion in the bowl so they know how far down to put their head.
Also it may be instinct, since outside moving water is usually clean and stagnant water is sometimes unsafe to drink.
Regarding the tipping of glasses, I watched my cat do this a couple of times and figured out that he only tipped the glasses when he was unable to fit his head any farther into them. If you tip the glass, the water comes out, and if the people aren't watching this means you get to drink the water off of the floor/table/whichever.
luckily for me he stopped doing this after he turned a year old.
good luck with your mischief maker!
he drinks from the bowl, any glasses that are left out, and his favorite is running or dripping water from the sink.
Sometimes they tip their bowls on accident. Kitties can't see that well very close to their faces and they don't want to embarrass themselves so they will try to create motion in the bowl so they know how far down to put their head.
Also it may be instinct, since outside moving water is usually clean and stagnant water is sometimes unsafe to drink.
Regarding the tipping of glasses, I watched my cat do this a couple of times and figured out that he only tipped the glasses when he was unable to fit his head any farther into them. If you tip the glass, the water comes out, and if the people aren't watching this means you get to drink the water off of the floor/table/whichever.
luckily for me he stopped doing this after he turned a year old.
good luck with your mischief maker!
Linda is right. I will only add this;
We do not train cats, cats train us (it only appears to be the former through clever manipulation on their part). :)
Seriously, the only way to "train" a cat is through positive/negative reinforcement...and the negative is a bad idea, as it rarely goes well. Generally you have to make the cat think that what you want is fun and/or a good idea.
They do make a cat "Water Dispenser" that is nearly impossible for them to make a mess with. But cups left about, as kitty has made clear, are fair game.
We do not train cats, cats train us (it only appears to be the former through clever manipulation on their part). :)
Seriously, the only way to "train" a cat is through positive/negative reinforcement...and the negative is a bad idea, as it rarely goes well. Generally you have to make the cat think that what you want is fun and/or a good idea.
They do make a cat "Water Dispenser" that is nearly impossible for them to make a mess with. But cups left about, as kitty has made clear, are fair game.
One cat of mine does this. I use the really heavy ceramic dishes, BIG ones...so they are heavy, and I don't fill them up all the way. Also, I make sure the water inside is always clean.
My cat has a kidney problem and drinks a lot, and is obsessed with water...you may want to get your cat checked out to make sure that he does not have a problem and is only being mischevious!
My cat has a kidney problem and drinks a lot, and is obsessed with water...you may want to get your cat checked out to make sure that he does not have a problem and is only being mischevious!
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