Why Do Cats Paw At The Floor Before Drinking Water?

If you’ve noticed your cat pawing or scratching the floor around their water bowl before taking a sip of water, you’re not alone. This quirky behavior can seem puzzling at first, but like most things cats do, there’s often a deeper reason behind it.

Cats are instinctual creatures, and pawing the floor before drinking may be tied to their natural instincts, comfort, or simply a preference for their environment. Or they do it once and it becomes a habit!

Instincts from the Wild

Cats are predators by nature, but in the wild, they’re also prey. Before drinking from a water source, wild cats would often paw or scratch the ground to check for safety, disturbing potential threats like insects or snakes that might be hiding nearby. This behavior might also serve to mark their territory around the water source, leaving their scent behind to signal ownership.

For our quirky, domesticated cats, this instinct can linger even though they feel safe and comfortable at your home. Pawing the ground could simply be their way that makes them feel as if the water source is safe before they lower their guard to drink it.

Creating Familiarity and Comfort

Another reason your cat might paw at the floor before drinking water is merely because he or she feels comfortable. By pawing the ground, our cats may be trying to create a familiar and comfortable space around their water dish. Cats often scratch or knead objects to make them smell like home, thanks to the scent glands in their paws. This act could make the area feel safer and more inviting before they settle in for a drink.

Investigating Their Environment

Cats are naturally curious creatures. Pawing at the ground may be a way of investigating their surroundings, particularly if the surface near their water dish is new or different. They might be testing the stability of the bowl or simply exploring the texture of the floor around them.

In fact, some cats, pawing at the water is linked to their eyesight. Cats don’t always see the water that well so pawing at the ground helps them sense the presence of the water by creating small ripples or vibrations that confirm it’s there.

Some cats even place their paw in the water bowl for the same reason. To make certain that the water is there before drinking it.

Marking Their Territory

Cats have scent glands in their paws, and when they scratch or paw at a surface, they’re also leaving a scent mark. This may be an attempt to mark their territory around their water bowl, signaling that the area—and the resource—belongs to them. In multi-pet households, this behavior may be more common, as cats feel the need to assert ownership over their water supply.

This Behavior Becomes A Habit or Preference  

Some cats may develop the habit of pawing the floor before drinking simply out of preference. Cats are creatures of routine and once they’ve started a particular behavior, they’re likely to repeat it consistently. For others, it may just be a quirky personal trait, with no particular deeper meaning. Just they like doing it!

Should You Be Concerned With this Behavior?

Generally, when a cat paws at the floor before drinking water, the behavior is quirky, but harmless and doesn’t indicate any health issues. However, if you notice your cat excessively pawing, spilling water, or refusing to drink the water, it’s always good to check that their water bowl is clean and in a quiet, comfortable location.

Cats can be picky about their drinking water, therefore it is important that their water bowl is accessible may help reduce any odd behaviors. And clean!