Like a walk through the country side living on a small farm is full of daily surprises, sometimes wonderful and amazing, and other times puzzling and sad. I hope you will walk with me as I live out my dream of living on this tiny farm. You will come to know the dogs, cats, Shetland sheep and chickens that make up this farm and what goes into keeping them happy and healthy. Come and join the journey with me.

Monday, February 01, 2010

Cats Hate Water......

Meshach--combining his morning drink with a shower...

So it started with Shadrach. I don't have a picture of Shad, but he was a big cross eyed lynx point Siamese mix. He loved water and drinking out of the bathroom faucet. So when his little 'brother' Meshach came along, it was monkey see monkey do, with pretty much everything. Shad wished pretty quick that he hadn't let the water faucet trick out of the bag though. After that happened there was much shoving and vying for prime position in the bathroom sink. Too stinking bad if I needed to use it.

Ah, the paws that refreshes..now wheres my coffee?

Then along came Sage. It took him about a half a day to discover the lure of the water. He quickly became quite pushy about it, often 'accidentally' shoving Meshach off the sink. Eventually Meshach moved to the tub faucet--it was his own personal water spout and he didn't have to put up with the now over sized Sage. He also didn't have to jump up very far, which is important when your cat bones are twelve years old.

Sage takes his turn--having the water drain off his paw is somehow very important to his routine...

Then all heck broke loose and four little pirates, er, kittens joined the household. And they all loved water, imagine that. Now, Meshach and Sage no longer have their own personal spout, and pandemonium often reigns. The big boys though just push the small(er) fry out of the way when they get tired of it, and resume their ablutions.

EXcuse me? Can't a cat get a drink around here?
(Notice paw under water flow---sometimes he likes kitty flavored water and drinks from the stream coming off his paw...)

It does make the bathroom pretty crowded and obviously cats are no respecter of privacy. At all. I haven't even tried to shut the door in years, because of the ensuing wailing and paws under the door. Good grief.

This is how you make the Water of Life flow, young grasshopper kitten..(Meshach teaches Verity the Secrets of Life)

The cats love winter, because I often leave the water trickling to keep the pipes from freezing. This doesn't make the stampede to the bathroom any less though, when I head in that direction. Go figure.

See, grasshopper, you must concentrate and stare hard then the water will flow...

So this is what Grandfather Cat told me...you have to concentrate and stare really hard....
(Verity tries to teach Tempe the Secrets of Life....)

There was one near 'drowning' Incident. I didn't see it happen, but I heard it. I had taken a shower, and was getting dressed for work. My tub is pretty slow to drain so there was probably three or four inches of water still in it. And, well, obviously curiosity did something to the cat. I heard a ker-splash, desperate scrabbling on the side of the tub. Very desperate. You could feel the quiet desperation in the air. I heard purchase gained on the shower curtain, and arrived at the bathroom door to see a rather wet missile shoot out of the room. In between laughing unseemly-ing hard I managed to corral the drenched kitty and towel her dry. Little heart was beating triple time. Poor Trinity. The one who is good and sweet and shy--of course it happened to her. It hasn't stopped her though in participating in the continuing infatuation with water affair.

However, with the impatience of youth, they resort to taking action...Verity demands the water to flow and Tempe works on the magic handles...

Cats are not very happy when the faucets aren't turned on in a timely fashion for their use. During the long power outage from the ice storm a few years ago, the cats thought I was a big meany. Why wouldn't I turn on the water? The pitiful looks and prolonged meows didn't melt my cold cruel heart. All my explanations to them fell on deaf ears. When the water came on the cats were besides themselves--they acted like they had had nothing to drink for a week!

So far nobody has figured out how to turn the water on. But I am a little worried.

How about your cat(s)? Do they love, hate or are indifferent to water?

Word spreads....Concentrate and stare hard, but still the magic water does not flow... (Tempe, Verity and Trinity)

Chaco, who wants to be just like Sage when he grows up, drinks only out of the sink faucet....

Cat myth # Number One: Cats Hate Water.
False. Not all cats hate water!

15 comments:

Michelle said...

The circus that is your bathroom makes me giggle!

Vicki Lane said...

Wonderful pictures! Too funny!

Eddie and Miss Susie Hutchins are both devotees of the Divine Trickle. Eddie also like me to put the stopper in the tub and run a little pool for his private consumption. Both will wade in water with total unconcern.

Thanks for the chuckles!

Unknown said...

There is always a stampede when I head any where near the direction of the bathroom! One of my cats will only drink out of the sink no matter what kind of bowl we provide him with!

Back in England our shower was in the tub and one of our guys used to get in with my husband in the morning, just out of the reach of the actual flow, then come back and get into bed with me with damp paws!

Christine said...

ROTFL! Too funny! One day when the weather turned bad we filled our tub up to reserve water in case the power went out. I was sitting on the throne when our cat came running through and jumped into the tub just like she always does...it only took her two seconds to come shooting out of there. I laughed so hard, I kid you not, I fell off the toilet.

Pat in east TN said...

I needed a good laugh today, and this almost brought tears to my eyes! I never would have imagined!

I need orange said...

Silly kitties! :-)

Thanks for the smile.

Louise said...

Too funny. Ten years ago, I got my first cat. At that time, my bathroom faucet had just developed a drip. I never did call the plumber, because I quickly found out that kitties will kill each other for a drink of that drip water. Ten years later, that faucet still drips.

Nancy K. said...

Oh yes ~ my kitties love the faucets. And I can't remember when the last time I was in the bathroom ALONE was...

Then again, I can't just blame the CATS for that!

;-)

Sharrie said...

Our big cat loves to have a drink when Jake gets ready for work in the morning, but he never shuts off the water like he promises he will. Can't seem to train him to do that.

T. Powell Coltrin said...

Very funny little sister. Yes Chloe and China begged for faucett water.

FYI: Chloe could jump up and open doors with her big old paws. So yes one of your little grasshoppers are planning right now "how to turn on faucett without human". I just thought I should warn you.

Kathy said...

ROFLMAO!!!!!!! Those cats must be relations to mine! It's the SAME here. Somedays I think I am just a concierge service for all of them - open that door, turn on the water, I'm done now turn off the water, I'm next turn on the water, open the door, make the bed so we can play on it and tear it apart....the list is endless.
Love it!

Angie said...

Tammy, how very funny! Each one teaches the other the joy of getting their water treat! Ha. They are so cute! These little fluff balls are a joy to you I know. I miss having kitties being in an apartment. Brandon had to settle for hermit crabs, which he named "Kenny" and "Ben"...don't ask, I'm not sure where the inspiration for the names came from (ha). They love to be sprayed with water to wake them up in the mornings...and they know their names! How funny is that?
I still miss the furry creatures that "meow" though.

Angela

Laney said...

Did you ever see this video? This kitty loves kitty flavored water too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KswnjMa-MQ

And Mesh reminds me of this kitty : http://www.theittybittykittycommittee.com/search/label/charlene%20butterbean

AJ-OAKS said...

Oh how funny your kitties are. Years ago we had a cat that used to swim in the pond. No kidding. I have pictures of it somewhere. There is only one kitty who doesn't mind water here. She is rather annoying when we are brushing our teeth! I quit putting her onto the floor because she would jump right back up. Really enjoyed this post.

Kim said...

Well, though I only have two cats now I have had many more, and until now, NONE have liked water. Now, Trouble (very ill-named, his innocent appearing smaller brother Crosby is always the instigator)is fascinated by trickles. Sometimes he plays with it, but so far he hasn't taken to drinking it that way yet. Yours are the bomb!