Rather odd cat behavior. Anyone knows about this?

[Sneipen]

Hello Escapists!
So, i have this cat. She's about eight years now, and overall a healthy and cuddly cat, but she's got this odd feature. She seems to have a thing for water, Running water to be precise. She goes completely batshit insane around water. For example: I cannot move close to the sink on the toilet before this little fur ball appears and starts "meowing" away like a wounded seal. Then she starts begging at the sink and so forth. She seem to want to drink it, as when i turns the water on, she'll jump up and drink away.

This goes for anything that dispenses water. Sinks, showers, you name it. She's been water-crazy for the last two or three years ago. We figured it was just odd behavior. But the last few weeks, she's really been nagging a hole through my head. To the point where I'll hear her scratch at the door and scream away when I'm in the shower, and fight like a maniac to get in when i open the door to leave.

Any idea what this is all about? She don't drink much from her water-bowl, despite me changing the water like all the time (2-5 times a day the last few weeks). It's to the point now that she runs outside to lick water of old plastic bags. It's ridiculous!

So, once again. What do you think my fellow Escapists? Anyone seen anything like this before?

 

[mad825]

All cats are individuals like us?

I used to have a cat that would only purr if it could claw my neck. Also another cat that I know would get very...Sexually active when being fed.

 

[arsenicCatnip]

You might invest in a cat drinking fountain (something like this [http://www.amazon.com/LARGE-Fresh-Clear-Drinking-Fountain/dp/B000688XLY]). Your cat may just want a source of water that continues to circulate... they tend to prefer these because the water is always fresh.

 

[Owlslayer]

My cat also really likes water that's flowing. He doesn't even have a water bowl or such anymore, just drinks from the sink. Every time i go near the sink he runs and jumps on top of it.
But yeah, all cats are different, i suppose.
For example, my cat sleeps on his back quite often, haven't really seen other cats or animals do that. And by back, i really mean face-and-4-paws-up, on the back.
Also, a cat drinking fountain is a good idea, though i haven't bought one myself. But I've heard cats really like those.

 

[Sneipen]

Yeah, i suppose it's just odd behavior... We used to have a drinking fountain, tho i don't recall what happened to it.
Oh, and your cat, Owlslayer, ain't the only one. This one do that as well, mate.

 

[DigitalSushi]

Its because running water (like a stream) doesn't have predators in it I think, a lot of animals seem to like running water.

My cat used to have a thing for ice cubes, watching a cat have brain freeze is hilarious to watch, he used to be all like "SOLID WATER? what will they think of next?"

 

[ddrfr33k]

My parents' Golden Retriever (yes, dog) does that all the time. He likes to chase the sprinkler, specifically. Especially when my mom is trying to water the flowers.

 

[Avistew]

Cats generally prefer running water, like many other animals. It's an instinct, running water is cleaner than water that just sits there. A water fountain could be a good idea, unless you don't mind turning taps on an off all the time.

However, if your cat has been drinking a lot more than before as well you might want to see a vet about it. I might be paranoid because an old cat of mine got diabetes but we figured it out because she was peeing a lot more than she used to. So that could be it. So if you have reasons to think the amount of water is much higher (and it's not explained by something else like it being super hot) you might want to check with a vet.

 

[LT Cannibal 68]

i have a funny situation with my dog, every time i play dead space 1 or 2 he seems to just blank out and stare at the screen. can dogs even tell whats on the tv?

 

[Flutterguy]

Not really anything you can do to stop it, animals develope these wierd habits when stuck indoors the majority of their lives alone I suppose.

 

[AnAngryMoose]

I heard somewhere that cats prefer running water to still water. My cat rarely drinks from his bowl these days and seems to prefer drinking from the tap.

 

[BrassButtons]

As others have said, it's probably no big deal. You might want to get a fountain (if, like our cat, yours decides that drinking from a normal bowl is simply unacceptable). However you should also talk to you vet about it. This could be a sign of illness, and the sooner you find out the better.

 

[SiskoBlue]

Cats generally prefer running water, like many other animals. It's an instinct, running water is cleaner than water that just sits there. A water fountain could be a good idea, unless you don't mind turning taps on an off all the time.

However, if your cat has been drinking a lot more than before as well you might want to see a vet about it. I might be paranoid because an old cat of mine got diabetes but we figured it out because she was peeing a lot more than she used to. So that could be it. So if you have reasons to think the amount of water is much higher (and it's not explained by something else like it being super hot) you might want to check with a vet.

Exactly this. Cats are sometimes suspicious of standing water (doesn't help that they've been in-breed for years and then domesticated by keeping the development stunted) so cats often have weird behaviours.

But if they're really going nuts for water it's a common sign of diabetes or other kidney problems. Cats get lots of kidney problems (in-breeding).