Is your cat continuously spilling their water bowl? You aren’t alone in dealing with this! It’s a frustration that many cat owners share. While it’s not an issue that would make the list of worst feline behaviors, it’s still not fun having to constantly clean up spills on the floor.
So, if water bowl spillage is a problem in your household, we are here to help! Here are simple steps that you can take to put a stop to this issue once and for all.
The 6 Tips & Tricks to Stop a Cat From Spilling Their Water Bowl
1. Use a Heavier Water Bowl
One of the main reasons your cat may be spilling their water bowl is that it’s too light. Lightweight bowls may be convenient, but if your cat is prone to spillage, you should consider using something heavier.
Heavy water bowls will typically be made of ceramic, stainless steel, or glass. All of these are durable and long-lasting materials, but you’ll want to be more careful not to drop glass or ceramic from high places, as it can crack and break. Such bowls also come in a wide variety of styles and color choices.
The heavier the bottom of the bowl, the better. You should have no trouble finding a heavy bowl; they can be found online or in any pet store or retail store near you.
- Difficult to tip over
- Durable
- Long-lasting
- Easy to find
- Ceramic and glass can crack and break if dropped
2. Try a Water Fountain
A lot of pet owners enjoy the convenience of water fountains to keep fresh water flowing throughout the day. Most cats enjoy drinking from actively flowing sources like sinks or bathtubs, so this is a great way to offer water just how they like it.
The fact that cats are drawn to running water helps encourage drinking and better hydration. Fountains also prevent stagnant water, thus keeping it cleaner, and they are not easy to spill. Of course, this does depend on how they’re constructed.
For the most part, water fountains are typically quite sturdy. They may come at a higher upfront cost, but they are highly recommended by veterinarians and happy cat owners.
You could run into an issue, though, if your cat uses the fountain as a play area and bats around the water, which defeats the purpose entirely. So, keep your pet’s behavioral tendencies in mind when deciding whether a fountain is a good option.
- Cats love running water
- Encourages drinking and hydration
- Keeps water cleaner
- Difficult to spill
- Typically expensive
- Some cats may play in the water
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3. Use a Feeding Station
A great way to prevent your cat from constantly spilling their water is to invest in a feeding station that holds both food and water rather than offering traditional, lightweight bowls.
You don’t want to opt for thin plastic feeding stations, as you are likely to run into the same issue of spillage, which will include both food and water in this case. You want to consider a more durable plastic or even stainless steel, wood, or ceramic for the material.
There are plenty of heavy, sturdy feeding stations that are aesthetically pleasing and have removable bowls so you can serve and replace fresh water as needed. Some feeding stations even have high backs and sides to prevent excess spillage and a tray to catch any excess food or water.
If you pick a quality material, your feeding station will last quite some time. The only issue is that feeding stations aren’t always ideal for multiple-cat households.
- Difficult to tip over
- Heavy and durable
- Long-lasting
- Convenient
- Not ideal for multiple-cat households
4. Keep Fresh Water in the Bowl
Your cat may be spilling their water because it is no longer up to their standards. If it has been sitting stagnant for quite some time, the water can fill up with hair that has been shed, dust particles, or any other type of debris in the household. If there are dogs in the home, they may have lapped up some water from your cat’s bowl and left behind their slobber, and who would want to drink after that?
Since there’s nothing quite like a nice, cool glass of fresh water, we can understand why cats would request the same. Also, if it’s been sitting out for too long, it may have taken on a stale taste.
Change your cat’s water frequently by pouring out the old water, washing and drying the bowl, and pouring in fresh water. This could solve your problem entirely and it’s healthier for your cat. That said, this can be tricky to keep up with, especially if you work out of the home most of the day.
- Promotes clean drinking water
- Better tasting
- May prevent spillage
- Difficult to maintain
5. Fill the Bowl With Less Water
You may notice a lot of water being spilled out of your cat’s bowl because it is too full to begin with. Of course, you want your cat to have access to as much water as they need, but if you go overboard, it could result in a mess.
Filling the bowl with less water should be no problem, especially if you consistently keep fresh water in it. This may not solve your problem entirely, and you may want to resort to other steps on the list, but it could be enough to mitigate the issue.
- Harder to spill
- Less water available
6. Try a Tray
If all the other steps aren’t working, try putting a tray underneath your cat’s bowl. Some cats are just more playful or messier than others, so owners must find workarounds.
A tray will not prevent spillage, but it will make cleanup much easier and will prevent water from soaking the floor by keeping it all in one spot. You can use a tray for both the food and water bowls for extra mess prevention.
- Easier cleanup
- Keeps spills in one place
- Great for food and water
- Does not prevent spills
Reasons Your Cat Could Be Spilling Their Water
They Are Intrigued
Some cats may like water, but most aren’t huge fans of swimming or playing in bodies of water. That said, a lot of cats show a lot of interest in less-threatening water sources. If you notice your cat is always hopping up on the sink to check out the running water, likes to join you in the bathroom when you’re showering, and is always messing with their water bowl, they may just be expressing genuine interest in water.
They Are Being Playful
Cats are playful creatures that will go to great lengths to entertain themselves. If your pet is always messing with their water bowl and spilling it constantly, this may just be a way to keep themselves entertained.
The Water Isn’t Fresh
If water has been sitting stagnant for a while, it will lose its freshness, and the taste will ultimately change. Lots of random debris can get into the water bowl when it is left sitting, and if your cat notices, they may not be too keen on drinking water that isn’t up to par.
There’s an Underlying Behavioral Change
If your cat is suddenly spilling their water bowl and this isn’t normal behavior for them, there may be something that has caused a change. This can be related to a change in routine or lifestyle, or they may have just discovered that playing with water is fun. While spilling water is normal behavior for cats overall, if you ever have concerns over sudden changes in your pet’s behavior, it’s a good idea to reach out to a veterinarian.
Conclusion
It’s common for cats to spill their water bowls, and there are several reasons that they exhibit this type of behavior. While it’s a common complaint among many cat owners, the good news is that there are plenty of steps that you can take to eliminate this problem or at least make it more convenient for you to clean up.
See also:
Featured Image Credit: Pickless, Shutterstock
Contents
- The 6 Tips & Tricks to Stop a Cat From Spilling Their Water Bowl
- 1. Use a Heavier Water Bowl
- 2. Try a Water Fountain
- 3. Use a Feeding Station
- 4. Keep Fresh Water in the Bowl
- 5. Fill the Bowl With Less Water
- 6. Try a Tray
- Reasons Your Cat Could Be Spilling Their Water
- They Are Intrigued
- They Are Being Playful
- The Water Isn’t Fresh
- There’s an Underlying Behavioral Change
- Conclusion
