Cats touch water before drinking due to instincts to check for freshness and danger (like bacteria in stagnant water) by creating ripples, gauging depth to avoid falling in, and improving visibility for drinking, plus avoiding whisker fatigue and food contamination by using their paws. Pawing makes the water move, mimicking fresh running water, which is more appealing and safer, a behavior stemming from their wild ancestors.
Marking Territory and Communication
By scratching the floor near their water bowl, your cat might be leaving behind scent markers from their paw pads. This behavior communicates to other animals that the area is claimed, even if there are no other pets in the household.
It's an instinctual behavior
In the wild, cats do this to make sure water is safe. This is also why a cat will sometimes lick or sniff at their paw after sticking it in their bowl.
In the wild, running water was safer than still pools, so swiping at water could be a way to “test” it. It's also why some cats are drawn to faucets, fountains, or even tipping over your glass. For others, it's just fun. Cats are curious by nature, and a paw in the bowl turns water into a mini game.
Cats "ekekeke" (chatter or chirp) due to intense predatory focus, expressing excitement, frustration, or even trying to mimic prey to lure them closer, often seen when watching birds or bugs through a window but also with toys, indicating their hunting instinct is kicking in. It's a sound of arousal and focus, sometimes seen as a rehearsal for the killing bite or an attempt to communicate with their target.
New Cat? Set Realistic Expectations! You can expect that it will take your cat some time to get used to the new routines and environment. The 'Rule of Three' means that you can gauge the time it might take for your cat to fully acclimate to his home in threes: three days, three weeks, and three months.
To say "I love you" in cat language, use slow blinks, offer gentle head/cheek rubs (scent glands), let them initiate contact, provide interactive play, and simply share calm presence, mimicking their natural affection signals like grooming and trust-building.
Natural Instincts at Work
By pawing at water, cats are able to check for movement or debris, helping them decide if it's safe to drink. Pawing also lets them gauge the depth of the water and avoid falling in. Even though your cat lives safely indoors, those ancient instincts still influence their behavior.
Cat behavior red flags signal potential medical or emotional issues, including sudden changes in eating/drinking, litter box problems, excessive vocalization, increased hiding, aggression, lethargy, or changes in grooming (like overgrooming or stopping). Because cats hide illness well, any significant deviation from their normal routine, such as increased thirst, appetite changes, or unusual hiding, warrants an urgent vet visit to rule out serious underlying conditions like kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, diabetes, or pain.
Urination or defecation (pooping) outside the litter box falls into two categories: toileting and marking. Toileting often indicates an underlying medical condition or incomplete litter box training. Marking, or middening, occurs when a cat uses feces instead of urine to make a statement or communicate.
The top "silent killers" in cats are Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), often progressing until 75% kidney failure, and Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM), a heart muscle disease, both often showing few symptoms until advanced stages, along with Hypertension (High Blood Pressure) and Hepatic Lipidosis (Fatty Liver), leading to sudden illness or organ failure if undetected. Early detection through regular vet check-ups, blood tests, and monitoring for subtle changes like increased thirst/urination, weight loss, or hiding is crucial for managing these common, often hidden, feline diseases, says this article.
Here are five signs that you and your cat share a special bond.
Cats get most annoyed by loud, sudden noises (vacuums, thunder), strong smells (citrus, vinegar), changes in routine, dirty litter boxes, and unwanted handling like being picked up or stared at, as these disrupt their sense of security and sensory balance, triggering their sensitive hearing and instincts for control and safety. Unexpected movements, unfamiliar scents, and being forced into costumes also cause significant stress and annoyance for felines.
Your cat is marking its territory by scratching
And when your cat scratches around the food bowl, it knows perfectly well it isn't burying prey. It's simply acting on instinct – just like when hunting. So there's no point in scolding your cat for scratching around its bowl.
Cats are known for their preference for fresh, moving water. If the water in her bowl is stagnant or unappealing, she might resort to using her paw to create movement. Additionally, the size or shape of the bowl could be uncomfortable for her, prompting her to find an alternative way to drink.
Why Do Cats Scratch the Sides of the Litter Box After Pooping? It's normal cat instinct to bury urine and feces after they've used the litter box. This is to prevent them from being located by predators and because they're very clean animals.
You can tell if a cat is sad by noticing changes in their behavior, like loss of appetite, excessive sleeping or hiding, poor grooming, increased vocalization (especially mournful cries), changes in litter box habits (urinating outside the box), or showing uncharacteristic aggression or clinginess, as these often signal unhappiness, stress, or illness. Always consult a vet, as these signs can also point to medical issues.
House soiling in cats, also called feline inappropriate elimination, is the most common behavioral complaint of cat owners. Problem behaviors can be urine and/or stool deposited outside of the litter box, or marking behaviors.
They will hold their tail low to the ground and may flick it rapidly back and forth as their anxiety mounts. Their eyes will widen, and their pupils dilate, as they remain alert for danger. Their ears will begin to turn out to the side, shifting lower on the head, or begin to twitch.
Cats say "I love you" through actions that show trust and affection, like slow blinking (a "cat kiss"), head-butting (bunting) to mark you with their scent, kneading ("making biscuits"), showing their vulnerable belly, and bringing you "gifts" like toys or prey, all signaling they feel safe and consider you family. They also show love by purring, rubbing against you, following you, and holding their tail up high with a slight curl.
Some cats won't drink from deep or narrow bowls because they don't like their sensitive whiskers rubbing up against the sides. If the water bowl is in a location that is noisy, busy or has other strong smells around it, your cat may not feel comfortable enough to drink and only drink a minimal amount, or not at all.
use a wide bowl as cats like to drink without anything touching their whiskers. use a ceramic, metal or glass bowl as plastic can taint the water and put your cat off drinking. make sure their water is away from their food and litter tray.
To apologize to a cat, use a soft, calm tone of voice, offer treats or toys, engage in gentle play, and use slow blinks to build trust, focusing on actions and reassurance rather than words, as cats understand tone and trust more than human language. Give them space first, then approach calmly and let them initiate physical contact on their terms to rebuild your bond.
Research suggests that cats' short term memories last around 16 hours, which means they can remember recent events and react accordingly. If a cat has had a minor scare—such as a loud noise or being bumped by accident—it may remember and act skittishly for a short period.