Dear Sinéad and Siouxsie:
I have a 7-year-old BIG male named Norman who has to have a shower at least
once a day. It's amusing and tricky to shower with him, but I've managed.
Now he's graduated to needing to play with his water in his bowl. It was annoying
to constantly clean up the mess in the kitchen, so I spent the money to get
that flowing water bowl. I thought maybe he just needed to have running water.
No go. He just makes an even bigger mess. I have 4 cats and they're all gonna
end up dehydrated because I'm giving out the water a little at a time. Help!
Any ideas?
-- Norman's mom
Siouxsie: Well, Norman's Mom, you've got an odd cat there!
Sinéad: Not that odd, actually. Some breeds of cats seem to like water more than others. The Turkish Van is one breed that loves to go swimming, and our wild cousins (like tigers, for example) also seem to enjoy a bath in a creek from time to time. And Mama once had a Maine Coon cross--a big male, too--that loved to have baths!
Siouxsie: But really. Cats and water? Taking a shower with their people? Man, that's just wrong!
Sinéad: That's a little harsh, Siouxsie.
Siouxsie: We asked Mama if she had any ideas about what you can do for your water-loving cat.
Sinéad: The most important thing is to accept that Norman likes to swim and play in water. Once you've done that, you can take some steps to make sure he limits his water play to appropriate places.
Siouxsie: You said you bought one of those flowing-fountain bowls, and Norman just makes more of a mess. There is another kind of product that might help--an automatic waterer.
Sinéad: The automatic waterer dispenses a small amount of water at a time, so it would be difficult for Norman to make a mess and render all the water undrinkable. Mama says it's expensive, though. It could cost $80 or so to get one with a timer, but gravity-fed waterers can cost as little as $7.
Siouxsie: If Norman is tipping over his dishes, you can help eliminate that problem by getting heavy dishes that are wider on the bottom than they are on the top. Some of these dishes even have nonstick padding on the bottom so they won't slide around.
Sinéad: Yes, this is a good and inexpensive way to go. Siouxsie used to tip over our water dish all the time until Mama bought us a nice ceramic water dish that she couldn't knock over. Mama says it cost her about $5 at a discount fashion and home-decorating store.
Siouxsie: You might also want to put down some absorbent cloth, so that in case Norman knocks over the water dish, it won't ruin your floor or upset your downstairs neighbors.
Sinéad: If you own a house and it has a basement or a patio with a concrete floor, you could always feed and water the cats there and avoid any floor problems!
Siouxsie: Then after you've got the water dish situation set up so that all your cats can drink to their hearts' content, maybe you can provide Norman with a special place to play in the water.
Sinéad: Yes, some place appropriate! Maybe you can put a couple of inches of water in the bathtub before you leave for work in the morning so he can play around in the bathroom. Leave towels on the floor so he can shake off and dry himself, too. Mama says you can get really cheap but absorbent bath towels at Reny's or other discount stores.
Siouxsie: If you have the space for it, Norman might even enjoy a kitty water gym. This was an idea Mama had, and if we liked water, we'd want one too!
Sinéad: You can buy a child's wading pool--made of hard plastic, not the inflatable kind!--and put a little bit of water in it. Some of these pools have little seats in them, but you can also add a plastic foot stool so he can climb out of the water and be in the middle of his pool. Some toys that float might be fun for him to bat around, too.
Siouxsie: A basement would be a good location for a kitty pool. And put a tarp under it so Norman doesn't get water all over the place when he climbs out. Again, leave some towels so he can get himself dry.
Sinéad: Of course, in this cool weather, if you're going to let your cat get wet, he needs to have a warm place where he can go while his fur is drying. If you don't want to let him in the house (to sit on your furniture and leave wet spots), then make sure your basement is warm enough to keep him comfortable.
JaneA: And don't forget to videotape him while he's playing in the water. You can probably win a prize on "America's Funniest Home Videos" (on ABC) or "The Planet's Funniest Animals" (on Animal Planet)!
Siouxsie: Mama! That's mean!
JaneA: Hey, a cat that likes to play in water? Nobody's going to believe it unless Norman's mom gets it on tape. In the meantime, Norman's Mom, here are some web sites where you can find pet supplies, including water dishes with timers:
Of course, most independently owned pet stores will also be able to order waterers if they don't have them in stock, and they will certainly appreciate your business.
Sinéad: We hope this helps you, Norman's Mom. It is rather odd to have a cat that loves water, but that just goes to show that all cats have individual personalities and preferences, too.
Got a question? Need some advice? E-mail Sinéad and Siouxsie at advice@paws-and-effect.com. None of the advice in this column is meant to be a substitute for regular veterinary care.
