water bowl bumping

**Trinityagain** · 08-20-2007, 10:54 AM

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

**KittyGurl** · 08-20-2007, 01:05 PM

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** · 08-20-2007, 01:09 PM

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** · 08-20-2007, 07:57 PM

Originally Posted by Trinityagain

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** · 08-20-2007, 10:29 PM

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** · 08-21-2007, 11:37 AM

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** · 08-22-2007, 01:19 AM

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** · 08-22-2007, 02:42 PM

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

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** · 08-23-2007, 04:27 PM

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

**Jessika** · 08-23-2007, 04:40 PM

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** · 09-17-2007, 11:21 AM

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** · 09-18-2007, 01:42 AM

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?

**cassiesmom** · 09-18-2007, 01:09 PM

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** · 09-18-2007, 04:09 PM

Originally Posted by 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?

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?

**lvpets2002** · 09-18-2007, 04:35 PM

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..