Q: My 18-month-old cat, JennyAnyDots, has an odd tendency to drop round objects, such as rubber bands, hair bands and almost anything circular, into our dogs' drinking water. She is extremely well-behaved other than this unusual habit. Is this normal behavior among cats?
A: In the wild, cats sometimes will take their prey back to their den or nest to hide it from predators. Cats that live indoors don’t really have a “nest.” Because the food area tends to be consistent, cats often consider their food and water dishes as their safe spot within their territory. This explains why sometimes the dishes become the preferred spot for storing their favorite things, such as toys. In other words, you’re cat’s behavior is perfectly normal.
Regards,
Arnold Plotnick, DVM