Why Do Cats Use Their Paws to Drink? And How To Stop It?

If you are one of the owners of a cat, you already know how to deal with your cat’s drinking habit. Cats have always had the habit of drinking water from their food bowl or glass.

However, when they become thirsty, they have to drink something else. They will often use their paws to reach water that’s around.

You might wonder why they do this, but this article will give you some good tips on how to get rid of your cat’s paw drinking habit.

Why do cats dip their paw in water?

It’s practically second nature for a cat to put its paw in a bowl of water. The domestic cats’ wild forebears shed light on why they lick their paws after drinking.

Despite their predatory nature, cats are not always the top dog in any particular habitat. That’s why kids need to be wary of what they consume and where they go, just in case anything bad is waiting for them.

Since some predators may be waiting below the surface of the water, a quick dip of the paw might reveal any potential dangers.

It’s not uncommon for wild cats to evaluate the water’s quality by dipping a paw into it.

They need to test the water for safety by drinking a little amount because stagnant water or animal waste might pose health risks. Your domestic cat may be sniffing the water before drinking by dipping a paw in.

Cats wet their paws for more than just aesthetic purposes. While cats have good peripheral vision, their ability to focus on specific details is far weaker. They have excellent hunting skills because to their keen eye for movement.

However, familiarity with their surroundings is essential, and sight alone is not always sufficient. Particularly true with elderly cats.

Cats can gauge the level and quality of water by dipping a paw into it. In this way, they may avoid being wet, which is something they generally detest.

We should take our cat in for an eye exam if we see that it is doing this more often, especially as it ages, because it is probable that it has an ocular condition. If we notice that one of our cats has a hazy eye, it’s probably due to allergies.

Why is my cat drinking water with their paw?

As a result of their reluctance to submerge their entire heads, it’s possible that cats sip from their water bowls by dipping their paws in.

There are a few possible explanations for this: the water is too cold, they can’t see the water line and don’t want to stick their snout in, or they don’t feel secure lowering their head down since it leaves them exposed.

1. They’re uncomfortable

A cat may drink with their paw instead of their mouth if the water bowl presents any discomfort.

Bowl is too narrow

The whiskers on your cat are probably very sensitive. Cats who are overstimulated may strive to avoid situations in which their whiskers could come into touch with items.

It might be painful for them if the sides of their water bowl push on their whiskers if the bowl is too small or if the water level is too low.

When you picture a wild cat, chances are you’ll picture it drinking water from a body of water like a pond or stream. They’re just sticking their tongue in the water and not touching anything with their whiskers.

Bowl is too high

In order to drink from a pond, stream, or even a puddle in the wild, a cat would have to go down low. Even though they are drinking from a dish and not a pond, they still like to sit in this position.

Many commercially available water bowls, and especially water fountains, are elevated much above floor level, which might make sipping water uncomfortable for your cat.

Bowl is too low

This is probably common knowledge, but I thought I’d mention it nonetheless. If your cat is elderly or injured, it may be painful for them to crouch down to drink.

If this is the case, they may also try to use their paw to eat, in which case you’ll need to move their food dish higher up.

2. They can’t see the waterline

When the water level in the dish is low, your cat may have trouble telling where it begins. You probably know how unpleasant it is to get water up your nose, so you can relate to your cat’s desire to avoid that situation.

After repeatedly placing their face in their water dish, they may have learned to drink with their paw instead of their face.

3. They feel vulnerable

Predators are more likely to attack a wild cat when it is eating or drinking since the animal has its head lowered and its rear is open.

Your cat’s natural urge to hide while drinking water from a dangerous source hasn’t been honed out of him even if he’s never faced danger in the wild.

Your cat may be nervous of consuming liquids or food if there are other animals in the home, especially a large dog.

It’s possible that your cat has been frightened before when drinking water, either by the sudden appearance of an intruder or the sound of a loud noise.

They may now be afraid to lay their heads down because they link the slightly painful experience with their water dish. Possible behavior indicating readiness for action includes maintaining an erect position and plunging a paw into the water.

4. Their water is unpalatable

Some felines may use their rough tongues to lick water from a dish. Nonetheless, most people would rather drink clean water or even moving water. This is due to the fact that standing water poses health risks in the wild.

They would be better off if they drank from a running stream. It’s possible that your cat like the taste of the water you’re drinking, and that’s why it drinks from your glass or even the faucet.

5. It is fun

That cats drink from their paws is partially explained by the fact that they find the practice pleasurable. A cat will investigate anything in its vicinity in the hopes of finding amusement in it.

Playing with water is included under this category. While this is normally not a cause for concern, it may be an indication that they need additional environmental enrichment in the form of toys or scratching posts.

6. They feel unsafe or stressed

If your cat is being worried, agitated, or apprehensive, you may notice that they are drinking water more regularly with their paw. Keep an eye on your cat while it drinks from its paw to watch if it looks about.

They may feel unsafe because of changes at home, such as the introduction of a new cat or a relocation. They could use their paw as a watering hole so they can keep their eyes on the world around them as they drink.

If their water bowl is in a noisy area of the house, they may also feel anxious when consuming water. The proximity of their dish and litter box make be stressful.

7. They are sick

Finally, it should be mentioned that the cat may use its paw to sip water due to a medical condition.

They may be suffering from conditions that make it hard, if not impossible, for them to stand without assistance, and being able to drink with their paw helps them maintain their balance.

Going to the vet to rule out physiological issues is necessary in these situations.

Why does my cat dip their paw in the water before drinking?

A cat that dips its paw into the water before drinking but doesn’t really use its paw to drink is probably simply exploring the water’s edge.

If the water is still, they may dip their paw in it a few times to make ripples, which will show them how deep they need to put their head into the bowl.

How do I get my cat to stop drinking water with their paw?

This is normal behavior, but if it suddenly begins, you could worry. Alternately, you could not like them because of the water they tend to spill on the ground, which can be dangerous. Try out a few of these options.

1. Talk to your Vet

Call your vet if you notice any changes in your cat’s behavior, including the introduction of any new behaviors, such as drinking water from their paw.

It’s important to rule out any ailments that might be causing the behavior by having them checked thoroughly. You should also check that your cat is not suffering from any injuries or joint discomfort.

2. Try a different bowl

When a habitually hydration-oblivious cat starts avoiding the water bowl, it might be due of its awkward form or placement.

If you watch carefully, you could see that they yank their head back when their whiskers contact the bowl, indicating that they don’t want to drink from it. Consider switching to a broader and even even shallower saucer or bowl.

If they seem to be having trouble getting up from other places while they eat or jump, it might be an indication that their bowl is too low for their mobility and that they would prefer a model that allows them to consume water while standing up.

3. Keep water at a consistent level

If you have a cat, you should give it clean water every morning. You should also clean their water bowls on a regular basis to prevent the growth of germs.

By consistently filling the water bowl to the top, your cat will learn to associate that location with the availability of fresh water.

4. Try a cat water fountain

Some of the alternatives listed below for cat water fountains will ensure that the water is constantly flowing.

If your cat has trouble seeing the water’s edge, and is therefore using its paw to drink, moving the paw around the bowl might assist it locate the water. Alternatively, they can use a spout to get their water.

5. Move their water bowl

If you suspect your cat has been frightened before, you might try relocating the water bowl to a different spot in the house.

To put it another way, this will assist them learn to associate something other than their water dish with a traumatic experience. The water bowl should be placed a few feet away from any walls or furniture.

It’s convenient since your feline friend can drink water while resting in the corner. protecting their privacy while letting them survey their surroundings.

6. Bowl of the right size and height

If your cat is having issues eating from its dish, you may want to try upgrading to a larger bowl and elevating it to a more comfortable height.

All cats benefit from elevated bowls, but this doesn’t imply it’s necessary for every cat. This is especially true for elderly or disabled animals.

7. Enriched and calm environment

Finally, if you notice your cat drinking water out of their paw, it might be a sign that they are feeling anxious, insecure, or agitated. Lack of environmental enrichment is a significant contributor to feline anxiety.

The answer might be quite easy to figure out. If there is a lot of foot traffic or a lot of noise, the cat may find the current location of the water dish to be excessively stressful; thus, we should relocate it to a more peaceful area.

Even if the dish is placed in a quiet area apart from the litter box, the cat may still be anxious for other reasons. You should investigate the root of the problem in such instances.

A vet or ethologist may be of use to you. Our essay on relieving stress in felines could prove helpful.

Conclusion

Why do cats use their paws to drink? Because they’ve evolved over millions of years to be able to do so. Cats are also very intelligent animals and they know how to keep themselves hydrated.

They have a special type of blood called Plasma which allows them to drink water through their paw pads.

source https://catshint.com/cats-use-paws-drink/