water bowl bumping

[Trinityagain]

Our Bouncer cat has an issue with our water bowl. We had to start using a water bowl designed for a 50 lb+ dog because she would tip the bowl we had been using. Now she head bumps it hard enough to make it go thump and spills a bit. We are going to be getting hard wood floors soon and I really would like to find a way to keep her from doing this. Any thoughts? It is not a big deal but it can be really irritating at 3 in the morning when it sounds like Godzilla is approaching...yes the thumps are that loud, they echo thru the whole house. Fortunately all it takes, usually, for her to stop is a very stern "BOUNCER!!!" from hubby or myself :rolleyes:

[KittyGurl]

Well, how old is Bouncer?

If she keeps this up, you might have to get out a spray bottle. Spray her with water whenever you catch her in the act. If you see water on the floor next to the water bowl and Bouncer isn't there, do not spray her. Also tell her "No!" strenly, but do not yell or make a loud sound, like hitting your leg, to get her attention away from bumping the bowl.

Good luck and keep us updated.:)

[Trinityagain]

She is about 11 or so. Has been doing this for the last 5 years give or take a few. It isn't often and we do grab the spray bottle as well....I would just love to know what is going on in her fuzzy little head.....

[RICHARD]

I would just love to know what is going on in her fuzzy little head.....

The same thing that goes on in Ed's head...

I gave up on trying to stop Tropical Storm Ed from wetting the floor.
Now, I just laugh and carry on....being careful not to fall on my head.

[cassiesmom]

This is a Cassie thing too - I've seen her do it but I can never figure out exactly why she thinks it's necessary. "Water ... bowl ... must ... be ... right ... HERE." I'll try to get photos but she usually stops doing it if she notices me watching.

[pkohler01]

Hi

My three cats used to do this. I dont like the idea of the spray bottle so I try to figure out a deeper meaning to their actions. As it turns out, I found that my cats prefer moving water. I resolved this by doing the following:

- leaving the bathroom sink on at a trickle

- buying a water bowl that swishes the water around. the one I got is a thing with kind of an inverted bowl over it and the water pumps up and trickles over the edges into the base.

[krazyaboutkatz]

My cat Sunny will be 7 years old on the 25th and he's been playing in water his whole life. I tried using a drinkwell fountain and he would just make a mess and splash all of the water out. Now I'm back to using regular water bowls but I have to put them inside of a clean litter box. This way if he decides to play, the water goes inside of the box and not all over the floor or carpet. Good luck.:)

[lbaker]

:o When I first read the title "Water Bowl Bumping" I thought it was under the "Cat Games" Forum. It sounds as though Bouncer has made up his own game and simply enjoys it :rolleyes: KAK's idea of putting the bowl inside a larger litter box (maybe on a towel or spongy surface?) would take care of the spillage issues too.

[KitCat]

Put a cake tin or some other object underneath so it will catch any water that's spilled.

[Jessika]

Is there any way to get a tray or something to set the bowl in, like a stand of some sort? Or would she bump it out of that too?

The only other idea I had was somehow weighting the bowl down somehow, maybe with weights or... hey... you could always superglue it to the floor... :P

[Sundance]

I've had the same problem with 2 of my kitties, and I kept getting bigger and heavier dishes until I ended up with a very heavy ceramic dog dish with straight sides. I set it on a piece of rubbery shelf liner, and no matter how hard they butt the dish, it doesn't move ;) The only way water gets on the floor is if I spill it as I set the dish down...and that's my fault! Good luck!

[BC_MoM]

Sundance: What should I get for my dog? My Border Collie Molly likes to bump and tip her water bowl too. Should I get a horses water bucket? :D

[cassiesmom]

Reading the last couple of posts reminded me about Dycem, which is a non-slip material that we used to use when I worked at the Rehabilitation Institute. It's wonderful stuff. You put a piece of Dycem under a china plate, for example, and it keeps the plate from sliding around. Useful for neuro patients who needed to eat without the plate getting away from them. Look on their Web site (dycem dot com). It's really, REALLY sticky.

[Sundance]

Sundance: What should I get for my dog? My Border Collie Molly likes to bump and tip her water bowl too. Should I get a horses water bucket? :D

I wish I knew! We once had a dog that tipped her water the second you put it down. I never did figure out how to stop her from doing it, although a heavy-duty rubber-bottom, tapered bowl (narrower at the top) helped somewhat. Did you try asking in the dog forum? :confused:

[lvpets2002]

;) I am sorry I have to laugh due to this sounds like my household.. Calitt has always been the worst.. Heck the other day she tipped the big water bowl upside down && it was full of water.. :p Water went everywhere.. However its not everday.. Its just ever now & then..

[Trinityagain]

The really funny thing is, Bouncer hasn't bothered the water bowl since I posted this :rolleyes:

[VTJess03]

Sasha doesn't mess too much with the water bowl, but the food bowl is fair game...her bowls are up on the counter in my spare bathroom (the spare bed and bath room are 'her' room). I started putting her bowls up on something to keep the dog from eating all of her food (or just laying there and guarding the cat food from the cat). Now, though, when Sasha is finished eating what she wants, and gets bored, the bowl ends up on the floor, like she's trying to give Belle dog treats or something. Once the bowl is empty and the food has disappeared, she's not happy until the bowl is wedged behind the toilet, or somewhere equally difficult to reach.

I guess I should be grateful that my dog and cat have such a great relationship; now, if I could just get them to stop ganging up on me... :rolleyes:

[KittyCrazy]

My cat has ALWAYS played in the water and will NOT drink it normally. She insists on slapping the water with her paws and then licking it off OR she likes to fling it up in the air and catch it with her mouth when it comes down on her face. Then, as if I did this to her, she'll squawk at me like I'm the one who got her face all wet! Sheesh!

Anyway, in order to not have water all over the place and create dangerous situations by having slippery floors when unsuspecting family members walk in to the room, we have moved her water dish into the bath tub. That way she can splash and play all she wants and then we just keep refilling the dish for her. :)

[Nimitz68]

My Cat Nimitz used to do that with the Petmate Drinkwell fountain, until I got the Ultimate Bubbler from Petmate. I know, I sound like a commercial, but I have to tell you all, it is the best thing out there. My cat Nimitz would tear open the bag and the activated charcoal would spill out into the water. He would literally knock off the top part of the fountain, and also tip it over to where water was all over my hardwood floor. I think he liked to play in the water, yet he hates it when I give him a bath. I got the Petmate Ultimate Bubbler, and that has never happened since. It has a big resevoir that holds a lot of water, and it produces bubbles from a plastic tube with holes in it that oxygenates the water, and provides a fresher tasting water for both my cats. I think with that product, it is harder for my cats to knock it over or bump it.

[Freedom]

Here is a pic of the Bubbler mentioned above.

http://www.americas-pet-store.com/details/prodid/1615.html

I couldn't get the enlarged photo to copy, but just click on it.

Some people haven't been able to get their cats to use it, lol. But that didn't sound like too many.

[Nimitz68]

Here is a pic of the Bubbler mentioned above.

http://www.americas-pet-store.com/details/prodid/1615.html

I couldn't get the enlarged photo to copy, but just click on it.

Some people haven't been able to get their cats to use it, lol. But that didn't sound like too many.

Freedom;

I got mine from Petsmart. It cost less there with a PETCO PERKS card. My cat Nimitz would also move the Petmate Drinkwell Fountain all around, until I got the Bubbler. Now he has a hard time moving it around. mwahahahahaha. :) Now only if I can get him to stop consuming soooooo much food. I think he is super spoiled now. I have cut back his feedings, but as soon as I do that, he meows constantly until I cave in.