I have a stinker who also likes to play in the water. My resolution was to get a large "indoor" dog watering bowl that shoots the water out in the center and down OVER a convex dome. This way the older/taller cats just walk up to the waterer and can slurp, slurp, slurp from the top.

The shorter/smaller cat(s) slurp their water from the "water fall" running down over the dome (on the side). I'll see if I can find the exact one I purchased and post the link for you.

I keep the water bowl in the kitchen on a ceramic tile floor so never had the carpet/wooden floor issue but I loooooove the fact that the cats seem to drink more water using this waterer.

http://www.petsolutions.com/Dogit-Wa...C40001694.aspx

I especially like the fact that there is NO bowl for the cats to dip their paws into . . . they get the idea and slurp, slurp, slurp.

Good luck.