Why Do Cats Put Things In Their Water Bowl?

Cats are interesting pets that can provide years of entertainment and companionship. Often, our pet cats leave us questioning their actions as we observe unusual behaviors.

It is quite common for owners to find their cats putting things inside the water bowl.

Many theories surround why cats put things in their water bowls, but most theories revolve around your cat’s instinct. Cats are likely viewing their toys as prey and simply bringing their game to a safe area.

This behavior is more common when toys look like natural prey animals and is common in multi-cat households.

Although there is no real danger to watching your cat put their toys in the water bowl, there are some instances to watch out for.

You never want your cat to put a battery-operated toy in their water or an item that could potentially contaminate the water.

To stop your cat from continuing this behavior, it may help to stop buying toys that mimic prey. You can also put ice cubes or floating plastic items in the water bowl to deter your cat’s actions.

What Kind of Things Do Cats Put In Their Water Bowls?

Cats are curious little animals that have some pretty exciting and entertaining behaviors.

It is most common to see a cat dunk their favorite toy into the water bowl. This behavior holds especially true in multi-cat households or with toys that look like prey animals.

Although toys are the most common things to find in the water bowls, cat owners report seeing various items sinking in the water.

Also Read: Will Cats Starve Themselves If They Don't Like The Food?

On occasion, food, ping-pong balls, scraps of paper, and even fabric have been reported floating around in the water bowl. It is not uncommon to see a cat drag its favorite blanket or bedding to the water bowl and dunk a fabric corner.

Why Is My Cat Dunking Its Toys in the Water?

There are many theories for what could be drinking your cat’s urge to dunk its favorite toys in the water bowl.

To be honest, animal behaviorists do not have a definitive reason for the behavior but do have a few ideas.

Hunting Instinct

Your cat may be dunking its toys in the water because they are attempting to hide their prey. When your cat hunts and kills its favorite toy, it mimics natural hunting instinct.

To protect its fresh “kill,” your cat will bring its prey back to a safe place, which is often the water bowl.

Hiding its toy in the water bowl keeps the prey safe and hidden from other potential animals in its territory.

Gathering Instinct

Another possible theory to your cat’s curious behavior is that your cat is simply gathering its favorite toys and stashing them in a safe place.

This behavior is similar to a mother cat that will collect her kittens and bring them back to the safety of the nest. Your cat loves its toys and considers its water bowl a safe area for its collection.

Removing Smell

Part of a cat’s natural instinct includes hiding the evidence of a fresh kill. The last thing a cat in the wild wants is another animal approaching and stealing its prey.

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One theory surrounding this odd behavior in cats centers on the idea that the cat is trying to wash off the “fresh kill” smell by dowsing it in the water.

Learned Response

Some animal behaviorists believe that a cat will repeatedly bring its toys to the water bowl because it has received a favorable response from the owner in the past.

Whether you laughed or applauded your cat’s fresh kill, your cat was thrilled with your reaction and wants to please you continually.

Enjoyment

Cats do some bizarre actions and are curious by nature. These animals love to explore and play, and there is an equal chance that your cat may be dipping its favorite toys in the water bowl just for fun.

Swatting and batting at a toy floating in the water bowl may provide different stimulation and a fun new game to play.

Training

Another theory suggests that a cat may be putting its toy in the water bowl as a way to help teach you, its owner, how to hunt.

By bringing prey back to a central location where you frequent, your cat could be trying to give you some pointers on your own hunting tactics.

Is This Behavior More Common In Multi-Cat Households?

Interestingly enough, owners with multiple cats report seeing this behavior more often.

This behavior may suggest that dunking the prey in water may, in fact, be an attempt to claim a kill and stake claim on territory in the house.

Cats often consider their food and water bowl a safe haven, so protecting well-earned prey from potential household rivals is a common behavior.

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Are Certain Breeds More Prone To Putting Things in the Water Bowl?

While this behavior is not necessarily common, it is certainly reported by cat owners worldwide. It doesn’t seem like one breed or another is more prone to this action, but it varies from cat to cat.

Some cats may have strong hunting instincts and never dunk a toy in the water bowl, while other cats may be major couch potatoes who drown their toys daily.

It really comes down to the individual cat and its personality.

Should I Stop My Cat From Putting Toys In The Water Bowl?

For the most part, it is relatively harmless to watch your cat put its toys in the water bowl, and many owners just chalk this up to another adorable cat behavior.

However, your cat dunking its toys in the water could become problematic and potentially dangerous if your cat has battery-operated toys.

Cat toy manufacturers sometimes make battery-operated toys to mimic live movement, attracting your cat. If your cat decides to dunk these toys, it could become potentially dangerous.

If your cat is prone to this behavior, avoid buying battery-operated toys to keep your cat safe.

How Can I Stop My Cat From Putting Toys in the Water Bowl?

Although it may be cute to watch your cat carry its toys to the water bowl, this is not always an attractive behavior.

Cats will sometimes put toys in water that cannot be submerged, forcing the owner to fish them out of the bowl continually. This fact is especially true with battery-operated toys.

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To stop your cat from putting its toys in the water bowl, consider buying toys that don’t look like prey animals. Because toys mimic prey, your cat is more likely to collect them and drown them in water.

Avoid toys that are shaped like prey or feature fur and feathers. You can also try to put plastic fish meant for the bathtub or ice cubes in the water to deter your cat from placing its own inappropriate toys into the water bowl.

What Should I Do If My Cat Puts Things In The Water Bowl?

Because there is no immediate danger to watching your cat put toys into the water bowl, there is really no action required on your part.

Simply observe this fun behavior and make sure your cat is only dunking appropriate items.

If you notice your cat repeating this routine throughout the day, it is a good idea to continually refresh your cat’s water to ensure contamination hasn’t occurred.

Aside from the mild inconvenience of potentially having to clean up water, there is really nothing you need to do differently when raising and living with your pet cat.

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