Why does a cat touch water with its paws before it drinks: four reasons

Cat owners have often noticed an interesting feature of their pets: before drinking water, they usually touch it with their paw, as if to test it. It is better not to leave a full glass in a place accessible to the animal.

Sometimes, when they want to rinse their paws in the owner's cup, cats can knock it over or splash water on the floor. OBOZREVATEL has analyzed why cats check the water with their paws before drinking.

Reason 1

If a cat is used to wetting its paw in its own water bowl, it is probably just playing. The cat's bowl is on the floor, so it usually gets small debris, dust, and crumbs. This all becomes a kind of entertainment for the animal. The cat can simply catch whatever is floating in its bowl.

Reason 2

Cats put their paws into the owner's glass or cup of water when they are thirsty, but the container is too narrow to be able to reach the water with their muzzle. There is another reason - the cat does not want to get its whiskers wet, so it dips its paw in the glass and licks the water off. Some pets turn cups over to drink the spilled liquid.

Reason 3

By dipping its paw into the container, the cat may simply be checking to see if there is enough water. Veterinarians also say that in this way the animal can make sure that no predators lurking in the water and that it is safe to drink.

Reason 4

Instinct tells cats that they should not drink stagnant water. Predatory animals will choose to drink water in flowing places because they feel that dangerous microbes multiply rapidly in stagnant water.

Cats can drink water from fresh rain puddles, but in most cases, they will first touch it with their paws to check its quality and safety.

Earlier, OBOZREVATEL revealed what indoor plants are poisonous for cats.

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