Weird cat thing...does your cat do it?

Hey, PK... Good to see you!

Let's see. Out of the 15 or so cats we've had over a lifetime, I have had a couple who used their paws quite a bit more than the others when they ate or drank. But what you're describing I've only seen a few times with other people's cats. So my answer would have to be a "guess" but I'm guessing maybe... 5 to10% of cats use their paws to scoop up their food? Again, it's just a guesstimate based on my own cats, friend's cats, & the cats I've known as a vet tech. I know it isn't common, but it's also not... uncommon, lol! Does that make any sense at all? Anyway, it's a lot of fun to watch, isn't it?! Hope all is well with you...

Hi there,

I had a cat that would do that with human food, out of a bowl or off a plate if it was something he particularly enjoyed. I think he was trying to convince us that he deserved human food... but we never gave in, with the exception of an occasional treat.

I also had a cat that would put his paw in his water bowl and lick the water off his paw. Now I thought that was fairly bizarre. Sometimes he would also sit on the rim of my bathtub while I was bathing, and insert paw into water and grab a drink for himself.

Since only one of my cats presently exhibits this behavior, I suspect it is a recessive gene that these cats carry enabling paw manipulation to get at the "goodies" <grin>. If it were dominant all cats would have it.

Troublesniffer

Owned by cats for over 40 years

Member Cat Writer's Association.

I have read several times before that Maine Coons have been known for this.

"The term 'coon cat' was coined because the brown tabby Maine Coon's black and brown stripes and thick, striped tail resemble a raccoon's. The resemblance is enhanced by the Maine Coon's dexterity with its paws: most Maine Coons occasionally use their paws to drink water and eat dry food"

My cats have never done it, but I've seen it on video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVe431wKUkE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQUieeBmTlY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VWBVbxHMEc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gtLw9DgzHQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9MGcWOI1gE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kc8rIh1WWEY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVKALKRwVv8

I also noticed that in almost all of the videos I found the cats have plastic bowls!

Stainless steel or glass food/water bowls are the best choices. Cats have an excellent sense of smell, and since their noses are so close to their mouths, they work hand in hand. Often cat's don't like plastic because it makes their food/water smell like plastic, (and they‘re also harder to keep clean, and bacteria will remain in the bowl). Also, if the bowl is too deep/narrow the cat may refuse to use it because their whiskers are very sensitive and they don't like them touching the side of the bowl.

"Twisted Whiskers" by Pam Johnson

In the 90's, TV adverts for a UK brand of cat food, featured a white cat named Arthur eating from the tin with his paw. He was so popular that the manufacturers re-named the cat food after him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v55d3L4T3Iw

Perhaps your Peatnut is a TV star in the making.

I have a cat that does it, too. She was born in our house, and never been around another cat who does this.

I also have another cat (the above cat's sister) who uses one paw to 'scratch' the top of the water dish, and then lick the water from her paw.

My one cat used to dip her paw into the water and lap it off, but ive never seen a cat pick up their food. one thing that i love my 2 cats will do is when i make them "beg" and they stand up for the treat, they will put the treat between their paws and eat it, but thats rare for them.

My cats don't do that. Ferra eats very daintily, Louie eats like a pig, complete with sound and Leopold scarfs and leaves to crap onthe floor. Lately, Louie the Large has been playing with dryer sheets. Apparently they are a LOT of fun. Leopold still loves to play soccer with an ice cube and Ferra loves strings. She's sitting on the desk leaninig over to head nudge me with love every few minutes. She's such the sweetie pie!

Louie the Large will punch us in the face when the alarm goes off. He wants us to get up so he can have the warm spot. I have also caught him dipping his paw in the water dish and licking water off that way. leopold like to play in the water in the toilet. He loves water. He also like to play cowboy with the dog I babysit.

lol my cat doesnt but i think all cats have strange little things they do. my cat uses his paws like hands all the time to pick things up and play with.

Yeah. Hunter sometimes does it, but Zelda does not unless she is grabbing something that got stuck under a dresser. Hunter also tries to catch treats in the air with both paws. he can't quite do it, so it almost looks like he is batting at them. It's really funny.

hahah!!! My Luigi (maine coon) does that with his water and food! Its the most adorable thing in the whole world!! He is such an interesting cat - he even does backflips off the wall when I'm playing with him using the laser pointer!

He's so clean and neat all the time - he even lines his toys up in a row next to his water dish.