# My cat...what's so special about tub water? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 19, 2021, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cat-whats-so-special-about-tub-water/952768 "2021-10-19T16:26:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2021, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cat-whats-so-special-about-tub-water/952768/21 "2021-10-19T21:08:20Z")
My cat drinks toilet water. I sometimes go to the bathroom and see his fluffy bum sticking up out of the toilet. His front paws are bracing on the inside of the bowl and he’s slurping up water and whatever else is floating around. I will have to get a photo some time. IN the meantime, here is one of him laughing at one of his own jokes. [![Google Photos](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Dj3U5yCPmnVGCtVkRmL0y27Bj_9fpQrDI7oWXyhCE13spO2j7r1Wvwc4fXA-y5XJlVOZmwLALlHalgBKdycuTJwSs47_5MKOmjFKpOa8uIFpC1lvBfyK9rkcZ3LZZ3EgnmVfEsPwUwk=w600-h315-p-k "New item by Jonathan Skogstad") ](https://photos.app.goo.gl/KeEnp7a7odr9M1PH9) ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2021, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cat-whats-so-special-about-tub-water/952768/22 "2021-10-19T22:04:57Z")
Well if we’re posting photos now, here are two of my current felines: [[Album] Dmitri and Finn ![](https://i.imgur.com/TV5zgbT.jpeg?fb "Dmitri and Finn") ](https://imgur.com/a/Z19HtCS) ETA: is there a way to get rid of the strip at the top that is cutting off part of the photo? It’s really quite a lovely picture, but it looks stupid the way it’s presented. ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2021, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cat-whats-so-special-about-tub-water/952768/23 "2021-10-19T22:09:29Z")
> [@CairoCarol](#): > > is there a way to get rid of the strip at the top that is cutting off part of the photo When we ‘open’ it or ‘click’ on it, it shows up without the ugly top strip. Your kittens are beautiful! :skritches to all: ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2021, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cat-whats-so-special-about-tub-water/952768/24 "2021-10-19T23:06:13Z")
My cat will usually run into the bathroom when I turn the shower on, then sits and stares at the water running down the pan to the drain. She doesn’t drink it, and doesn’t climb into the shower, just sits and watches it. Sometimes she’ll curl up on the bath mat and wait for me to get done and step out, then stare at the leftover water making its way to the drain. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2021, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cat-whats-so-special-about-tub-water/952768/25 "2021-10-19T23:21:52Z")
She who started the thread: [![](https://i.imgur.com/E3gzyQn.jpg) ](https://i.imgur.com/E3gzyQn.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2021, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cat-whats-so-special-about-tub-water/952768/26 "2021-10-19T23:30:56Z")
Adorable little blep. Here’s Allie, aka the Princess: [![Imgur](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50311613308_2779ea0ebe_b.jpg "Her Majesty Allie") ](https://www.flickr.com/photos/seanette/50311613308/) And Felix (RB): [![Imgur](https://live.staticflickr.com/8252/8653498783_5f8c69eaeb.jpg "FELIX00") ](https://www.flickr.com/photos/seanette/8653498783/) ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2021, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cat-whats-so-special-about-tub-water/952768/27 "2021-10-20T00:05:21Z")
I suspect that the people soup thing may be accurate for the puddles. It gives it a slight flavor–maybe meaty, maybe just “you.” However, for the faucet, it wouldn’t surprise me if cats evolved to prefer running water than the stagnant stuff that could have a lot of nasties in it. Heck, maybe that also has to do with the puddles: it’s water that isn’t normally there, and thus must be fresh. I don’t have cats, but all the dogs I’ve noticed didn’t give a crap where the water comes from. However, none of them particularly liked bath water because it was associated with, well, baths. And none of them particularly like them. (They may enjoy the water for a bit, but they get very annoyed by all the manipulations and how long it takes.) Reese did jump in the tub a couple times when he was lonely, but that stopped as soon as we started bathing him. Heck, he tends to avoid the bathroom altogether now, even though he’ll follow me everywhere else when we’re alone. The only other exception is that he won’t go outside with me if it’s sprinkling or just finished raining. I’d always joked he was like a cat in that respect, but I guess not. ---
**Author:** ![HelenGawn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@HelenGawn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HelenGawn)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2021, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cat-whats-so-special-about-tub-water/952768/28 "2021-10-20T02:21:33Z")
When I lived with my sister, one of her cats would cry for me to follow him into the back bathroom. He’d jump on the counter, and I would turn on the sink faucet. He’d look at it, paw tentatively at it, then get down and scurry down the hall. I was expected to follow to the front bathroom and turn on the water there. After checking with the paw, he’d finally drink from the running stream. No idea what the difference was. I presume he drank out of the bowl when we were out. My current sweetie, Nadine, likes to lick the condensation off whatever I’m drinking. Here she is with her favorite: [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oBKLQ4FYh4\_KGXoWCDv\_XHjbyulK6YnH/view?usp=sharing](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oBKLQ4FYh4_KGXoWCDv_XHjbyulK6YnH/view?usp=sharing) ---
**Author:** ![HelenGawn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@HelenGawn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HelenGawn)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2021, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cat-whats-so-special-about-tub-water/952768/29 "2021-10-20T02:22:17Z")
Sorry, don’t know the pic-in-post trick. ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2021, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cat-whats-so-special-about-tub-water/952768/30 "2021-10-20T02:48:00Z")
Nadine is very cute! ---
**Author:** ![SurrenderDorothy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/surrenderdorothy/32/1221_2.png) [@SurrenderDorothy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SurrenderDorothy)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2021, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cat-whats-so-special-about-tub-water/952768/31 "2021-10-20T02:48:08Z")
Mine likes tub water as well. I think for him, he just likes any kind of “special” water. Any novel water source, really. His bowl and fountain are okay in a pinch. But he likes water from the faucet and ESPECIALLY loves when I fill up a pitcher to refill his fountain. He drinks from the stream as I pour it in and will sit and beg for pitcher water if I’m in the kitchen. He also likes licking the condensation off drinks. I imagine if he were allowed outside, he would be all about the puddles. I think part of it comes from the same part of his brain that wants to investigate every closet or drawer I open, but immediately stops caring if I leave it open. And I think part of it is maybe just that he likes being involved in what I’m doing and wants me to be involved in what he’s doing. Like he’ll sometimes ignore the faucet until I go to brush my teeth and then all of a sudden- it’s faucet time. [![](https://i.imgur.com/SuzPget.jpg) ](https://i.imgur.com/SuzPget.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![moes\_lotion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ba0ec/32.png) [@moes\_lotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moes_lotion)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2021, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cat-whats-so-special-about-tub-water/952768/32 "2021-10-20T05:43:39Z")
[![Imgur](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51609936874_d60d8ffa08_k.jpg "Me Tooshy has shared 1 photo with you!") ](https://www.flickr.com/photos/190658303@N07/shares/1gc426) Not the tub, but a bathroom sink. Dripping faucets were an irresistible treat for the boys. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2021, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cat-whats-so-special-about-tub-water/952768/33 "2021-10-20T06:04:30Z")
Awwwww, two tuxedo cats! I lurves me some tuxxies. (I have two as well.) ---
**Author:** ![kitap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b9e5f3/32.png) [@kitap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kitap)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2021, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cat-whats-so-special-about-tub-water/952768/34 "2021-10-20T06:59:34Z")
My first kitty, Ambrose, used to rear up and stare at me in the bathtub then look at me with a look of horror. “Oh my god, mom, you’re lying in **water!** ” My late Sandstone would perch on the edge and sploosh the water around with his paws. My late Imhotep did the “yeah, I’m going to sleep on the nice dry sofa while you get wet” thing. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2021, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cat-whats-so-special-about-tub-water/952768/35 "2021-10-20T07:56:54Z")
Only four in the back claws. Makes 18 in total, should be enough. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2021, 8:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cat-whats-so-special-about-tub-water/952768/36 "2021-10-20T08:38:38Z")
> [@SurrenderDorothy](#): > > the same part of his brain that wants to investigate every closet or drawer I open, but immediately stops caring if I leave it open What the heck is my cat doing in your house? I get socks outta the drawer & he’s immediately shoving his face into it. If I shoo him off he’ll redouble his efforts; if I ignore him, he’ll hop out in a second like, “What?” ---
**Author:** ![abcdefghij](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/43a26b/32.png) [@abcdefghij](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/abcdefghij)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2021, 8:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cat-whats-so-special-about-tub-water/952768/37 "2021-10-20T08:39:11Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > “On one paw, I like to see things die violently. On the other paw, if he dies who will open up the Holy Speluchre of Preserved Prey-Meat? It is a conundrum.” “On the back paw, if we can get the body out of the tub, we’ll feast like royalty” ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2021, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cat-whats-so-special-about-tub-water/952768/38 "2021-10-20T17:21:06Z")
As a dog person, I see this as merely a method for your cat to exert its dominance over you! “HUMAN! I NEED YOU TO, UHM…TURN ON THIS FAUCET! YES, I MUST DRINK!” The fresh kitty fountain is just too autonomous for its liking. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2021, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cat-whats-so-special-about-tub-water/952768/39 "2021-10-22T03:57:18Z")
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