We have a senior cat that when he drinks water out of his bowl he pulls it all over the floor and soaks the place. He puts his paw in it and drags it sloshing the water out of it. We've had to put a towel under the water bowl to soak it up. Our kitten just lightly dips his paw in and pulls it slightly but does not spill it at all like our other cat. Why is he doing this and is there anything we can put in the water so he can see it better so he won't be spilling it so much?

Hi Unigirl, with all due respect to your senior kitty and yourself, I don't think the water and using a towel is a big deal. I have put up with some issues like that with senior animals and given them the benefit of a doubt. You can't put anything in the water dish because you may deter both from using the water dish at all and seeing as water is very important to cats and their urinary tracts, I would let by gones be by gones and just use a towel for the time being. If the dish is in the kitchen on a tile floor with a towel under it, it won't do much damage. Just love him to pieces you may not have him/her much longer to worry about the water being spilled.

I hope you don't take offence to my advice, it comes from a good place.

Tick

I think it has to do with his age. Did he used to do that? My cats play sometimes in the water bowl, but usually just dip their heads down and drink (without using paws).

You might try googling it, but I doubt it is his eyesight. You could probably try a few drops of food color so he can see the contrast between the water and the bowl better.

It might be something like arthritis related.

I was thinking that it was the eyesight as well. Being an older cat, he may have problems seeing the water. Food coloring could do it, but then again, do you want food coloring all over your floor? It could stain!

This may be something that you have to "live" with for the time being.

My cat refuses to drink from a bowl and has to have running water! It could be much worse! :)