Do you have a cat who has suddenly discovered their new skill of turning on faucets? Do you find yourself wondering if you may have left the faucet on, only to later catch your kitty red-handed? Well, you’re not alone. I, myself, have a furry faucet offender in my home. In this article, I will tell you exactly why cats seem to be so obsessed with turning on faucets and how to curb the behavior so your water bill doesn’t skyrocket!
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Why Do Cats Love Faucets So Much?
Let’s first dive into why cats love faucets. I mean, it seems like a random thing for cats to like, right? Then again, cats do like some very strange things…
Cats love faucets because they know that cold, trickling water comes out of them. Our furry friends are extremely observant, as you probably know. They will quickly make the connection between running water and the shiny piece of metal sticking out of the sink. Once cats experience this magical water, they will oftentimes discover that they enjoy drinking this water more than the stagnant, warm water from their bowls.
Why Cats Turn on Faucets
Cats are very smart, with some breeds being smarter than others. It stands to reason that they would eventually figure out how to make the magical water come out of the shiny piece of metal themselves. They have one goal, and one goal only. To get to the cold, trickling water!
My cat Hazel figured it out pretty fast. I was this close to calling Ghost Busters about the poltergeist in my house that kept turning on the bathroom sink faucets. Once I figured it out, I was actually very impressed at how Hazel was able to pull the faucet up with her paw. But then panic set in…how was I going to keep her away from all the faucets in the house?
If your cat has also started turning on the faucets in your home, there are some things you can do to stop this from happening.
How to Stop Your Cat From Turning on Faucets
Having had first-hand experience with the faucet-loving quirk that some cats seem to have, I’m going to share with you some ways I’ve kept this from reoccurring in my home.
1. Keep Doors Closed
Now, I know this may not be a solution for everyone. This would involve closing the doors to all rooms in your home that have a faucet (bathrooms, laundry rooms, etc.). This isn’t always feasible, and this doesn’t solve the issue of the kitchen which may not have a door. However, it can help significantly cut down on the number of faucets your kitty has access to. Just make sure that your cat isn’t trapped inside before you close the doors!
2. Clicker-Train Your Cat
If you’ve never heard of clicker training, it is a technique used to redirect your cat away from unwanted behavior. For instance, if you catch your cat trying to turn on a faucet, you can offer your cat a treat by throwing it on the ground to get them away from the faucet. Once they leave the faucet alone, pair the reward (treat) with the sound of the clicker. This builds positive association between the clicker and the treat. Now you can use the clicker in the future to keep your cat away from the faucet!
You can find a pet-training clicker on Amazon (such as this one: https://amzn.to/4lkuxXl).
3. Cat-Proof Your Faucets
While there isn’t much on the market for specifically cat-proofing your faucets, there are products available that allow you to child-proof a faucet. And let’s face it…cats are pretty much just as smart as children, so this should do the trick. You can find faucet locks on Amazon (such as this one: https://amzn.to/43BxCvB) that should work with most standard faucets.
4. Invest in a Cat Water Fountain
Considering the main reason why cats turn on faucets is because they like to drink the cold, trickling water, it may help if you get a cat water fountain. These fountains produce a steady stream that may satisfy their natural inclination to drink moving water. I personally have this cat water fountain from Amazon (https://amzn.to/3E3B7k0) and my cats love it! They drink so much more water than when it’s just sitting in their bowls.
In Conclusion
Cats are curious little creatures, and they never seize to amaze me with their intelligence. If your cat’s hobby of turning on faucets is causing chaos in your home, try implementing the suggestions above. I have no doubt that you will find what works best for you and your furry friend in no time!
Did you find this article helpful? Let me know in the comments!
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