Why Does My Cat Move Their Water Bowl? 4 Vet Verified Reasons

Cats are curious creatures. They are entertaining but can certainly be a challenge at times. Cats can also leave you scratching your head at some of their peculiar habits.

One of those habits is moving their water bowl before they take a drink. Not every cat pushes the water bowl across the floor before they drink from it, but many do. While this is a relatively normal occurrence in cats, there are cases where it’s because the cat is anxious or stressed. You want to ensure this isn’t the case with your feline friend.

We’ll discuss a few reasons why your cat moves the water bowl before they drink and more below.

The 4 Likely Reasons Your Cat Moves Their Water Bowl

1. The Cat Is Playing With the Water

Cats are playful animals, and it’s possible that the cat just enjoys playing with the water. If you’ve ever owned a cat, you already know they’ll take anything and make it into a toy. So, your cat might be moving the water bowl because it’s fun.

Cats are fascinated by water, as evidenced by their fascination with the water coming out of the faucet and pawing at your bath water when you run a tub.

Moving the water bowl might be your cat’s way of enjoying the water and their fascination with it. Although it’s clear to you that the water in the bowl is for your cat to drink, the cat might not see that as clearly as you do.

2. The Cat Doesn’t Like Where the Water Bowl Is

It’s also possible that your cat doesn’t like where their water bowl is located. Moving the water bowl might be the cat’s way of telling you that the current location is unacceptable. While not all cats care where they drink their water, many don’t like it to be beside their food bowl.

This goes back to their ancestors that moved their prey away from any bodies of water to prevent it from contaminating their water source. Try moving your cat’s bowl away from their food to see if it makes a difference.

3. The Cat May Be Trying to Make the Water Move

Even though cats have been domesticated for centuries, they still retain some of the traits they had when they lived in the wild. One of those survival traits was never to drink water that was standing still. Cats drink from streams, rivers, and other moving water in the wild.

Your cat pushing the bowl around could be because they’re trying to make the water move so that they feel more comfortable and natural to drink from it.

4. The Cat Could be Testing the Water Level

Most cats are particular about the level of the water in their bowl as well. Your cat may be splashing some of the water on the floor so they can drink from the shallow puddle instead of the deeper bowl.

When Is It Time to Call the Vet?

While it’s normal for a cat to move their water bowl before they drink, if the moving is becoming excessive, it might be time to make an appointment with a vet.

Your cat may be moving the bowl because they are stressed or anxious. If moving the water dish is a new development accompanied by other signs of stress, such as urinating outside the litter box, an upset stomach, or excessive grooming, you might have a problem.

It’s also essential that your cat drinks enough water to stay hydrated, and it’s best to monitor your pet while playing with the water dish to ensure they are drinking enough. One way to ensure they drink enough is by purchasing a cat water fountain.

If you feel that your cat’s behavior is unnatural, it’s best to contact a vet for an appointment. We all want what’s best for our furry friends, and while it might seem silly to contact the vet over a moving water bowl, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Conclusion

As previously stated, not all cats play with their water bowls, but for those that do, there’s usually a logical reason for their behavior. However, if you notice any of the signs above in your cat, combined with moving the water bowl, it’s best to contact a vet to see if there’s an underlying cause for your feline friend's behavior.

Featured Image Credit: kalyanby, Shutterstock