Last Updated on January 28, 2023 by admin
It seems that cats have a deep-seated instinct to hide and protect their prized possessions. This instinct is inherited from their wild ancestors who used to stalk, capture and then hide prey. By putting toys in their water bowl, cats are tapping into this primal instinct and are essentially trying to mimic their ancestors’ behavior. Additionally, cats may be trying to cover up their scent by submerging the toy in water. This helps them to hide their toys from potential predators and also washes away any trace of their scent.
The Natural Instincts of Cats
Cats put things in their water bowl because it’s in their nature. Cats are naturally driven to collect and gather, which is a behavior that is likely inherited from their wild ancestors. This instinct is most obvious when you watch a cat hunting. When your cat hunts and kills its favorite toy, it mimics natural hunting instinct. To protect its fresh “kill,” your cat will bring its prey back to a safe place, such as their water bowl. This behavior, known as “gathering,” is an instinct that drives cats to seek out food, toys, and other objects and bring them back to their territory. Cats put food in their water bowl because they see it as their territory. It’s a common behavior that’s linked to hunting and gathering instincts.
Why Cats Put Toys in Water Bowls
It’s possible that cats put their toys in the water bowl because they feel it’s the safest place for their prized possession. Cats have a natural instinct to hide their prey, so by depositing their toy in the water bowl, they might be trying to disguise or wash off any scent that predators may be able to identify. This would help ensure that the toy remains safe and secure. Similarly, cats may also be trying to hide their prey from other predators, in order to keep it all to themselves.
Cats’ Desire to Extend the Fun
Many cats love to play with toys, so it’s not uncommon for felines to bring their toys to their water bowl. Bringing a toy to their water bowl may simply represent your cat’s desire to extend the fun further. Contrary to the stereotype, some cats might not be storing or hiding their toys in the water, they might just be playing with them. It’s most likely a result of your cat’s natural instincts which would drive them to bring fresh prey to the safety of their nest or in this case, the water bowl. But when your cat bats a plush mouse around its water bowl, it might just be trying to entertain itself. It’s possible that cats view water as “cleaner” than other surfaces and find it amusing to play with their toys in it.
Theories Surrounding Cats and Water Bowls
Many theories have been proposed to explain why cats put things in their water bowls. One of the most common theories is that your cat’s wild instincts are kicking in and they feel the drive to hide their freshly caught prey. Another theory suggests that cats think the toy is real prey, so they drop it into their water bowl to hide it. Feline behavior researchers believe that cats are engaging in a behavior known as ‘gathering’, which is an instinct inherited from their wild ancestors. This instinct helps cats to protect their prized possessions by hiding them away from other predators. Furthermore, cats might be trying to disguise or wash off the scent of their prey by placing it in the water bowl. Ultimately, all of these theories try to explain why cats are putting toys or other items in their water bowls—to protect and hide their prey from other animals.
Cats Viewing Toys as Prey
It is thought that cats view their toys as prey and attempt to hide them in their water bowls to protect them. Cats have a natural instinct to hunt and capture prey, which might explain why they are trying to hide their toys in the water. While this behavior may seem strange, it is part of their natural instinct and understanding of their environment. This could also be why cats attempt to disguise or wash off scent from their toys before depositing them in the bowl as a way of protecting them from potential predators.
Feline Behavior Researchers’ Theories
Feline behavior researchers have their own theories about why cats put toys in their water bowl. Cats are driven by their hunting instinct which explains why they bring their toys to their food and water bowl. Cats are seeing their toys as prey and bringing them to the safety of their nest, similar to how cats in the wild would bring fresh prey back to their den. Another theory suggests that cats may be trying to disguise or wash off the scent of their toy so other predators cannot detect it. This theory is based on the fact that cats in the wild would often bring prey back to a water source before consuming it.
Cats Depositing Valued Possessions
Cats may also be driven by an instinct to protect their prized possessions, which is why they often deposit them in their water or food bowls. If a cat cherishes a toy, they may deposit it in a bowl to keep it safe. Feline behavior researchers feel that this could be the reason why cats put things in their water bowls, as they are responding to their natural instinct to guard their valued items. This instinct is inherited from kitty’s wild ancestors, who liked to cache their prey in order to keep them safe from other predators. It’s possible that cats view their toys as prey and so they are tapping into their wild instincts and hiding them in water bowls.
Stalking, Capturing, and Hiding Prey
Cats have a natural instinct to stalk and capture prey, inherited from their wild ancestors. This instinct is still present in cats today, and is often expressed through their play behavior. When your cat is playing with a toy, they may be mimicking natural hunting behavior and attempting to capture and hide their prey. When they don’t have a nest to hide it in, they may choose to put it in their water bowl instead. This could be an attempt to disguise or wash off the scent of their prey, as well as to protect it from other predators.
Disguising or Washing Off Scent
One theory suggests that cats may be attempting to disguise or wash off the scent of their catch when they put it in the water bowl. Instincts inherited from their wild ancestors could be driving cats to stalk, capture, and then hide their prey in safe places. This could explain why cats often put their toys in the water bowl, as they view it as a safe spot where they can stash away their prized possessions. Cats may also be washing off the scent of their prey, in order to avoid losing it or becoming another animal’s meal.
Cats Wanting to Hide Prey from Other Predators
It is believed that cats, due to their wild instincts, want to keep their prey safe from other predators. Cats may put their toys in their water bowls as a way to hide them from other animals and protect them from being stolen. This behavior is thought to be a leftover from their wild ancestor’s instinct to hide their prey and keep it safe. Cats may also be attempting to disguise or wash off the scent of the toy or food item, so that other predators cannot locate it.