Maine Coon Cats and Water: Sometimes Messy, Always Adorable

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Maine Coon Cats and water go together like peanut butter and jelly! One of their more charming (and messy) dog-like habits is their love of all things water!

As every longtime Coonie owner knows, water play isn't just a quirk - it's practically a lifestyle. The stories below come straight from our community, sharing the many ways Maine Coons get creative with water.

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black cat leaning in tubJack, contemplating a bath

If you love a Maine Coon, you probably have a water story to tell. People often ask about Maine Coon Cats and water, wondering if they like water, play in it, and if it's normal for them to.

It totally is! 

Many Coonies love to drink running water, preferably from a faucet. They'll perch next to a sink or tub and either wait patiently, or meow until someone turns it on.

Or, the extra clever ones will actually turn it on themselves! Yes, Maine Coons know how to use their paws. They will open doors, and turn on faucets when they please. 

My Leo drank running water from the sink and tub. His method was to stick his whole head under it, and lap up the streams that sprayed off the top of his head!

Maine Coon Cats and Water Play

maine coon cat in sinkBuddha in the sink

Some Maine Coon cats even take showers with their people. Mine would poke their heads in to say hi, unafraid of the shower water which I was pretty impressed by.

A few actually like baths, climbing in, "swimming around" and generally enjoying themselves in the water.

red maine coon cat in sinkIndi in the sink

At the very least, Maine Coon cats like water enough to tolerate baths pretty well.

There are exceptions to every rule, but I found that even if they didn't like baths, they put up with them, never scratching or being difficult.

This was definitely a Maine Coon benefit and a distinct difference from bathing my past moggies!

Of course, no behavior is guaranteed or universal! Toni shares of her experience:

"Each Maine Coon is different. I have had one who hated to play in water, and one who dashes into the kitchen sink and turns on the faucet by himself for playtime."

Maine Coon Cats and Water Stories:

These are all real submissions from Maine Coon families - from faucet drinkers to bathtub swimmers.

Shared experiences like these show just how consistent this water fascination is across the breed.

maine coon drinking from sinkLexie having a drink

Stacy shares, "Fire loves water, he sits in between the shower liner and shower curtain every time I take a shower and licks the shower wall."

Luna's person, Ripley, says, "She plays with everything, including the cat water fountain. She is fascinated with water and can often be seen with water droplets beaded on her face and paws. She even tries to join me in the shower!"

Parth tells us about Bloopurr, "Much like many Maine Coons, he won't drink still water and never from his water dish. He get most of his hydration from his food which he only enjoys eating in hot/warm water (weirdest guy)."

Bibsy's mom Angie shares, "He loves water, he insists on trying to drink from every water source, sinks, toilets, cuts, and even the bath tub even when he has fresh water (and yes he's spoiled and really likes it with ice).

As soon as I turn on the bath tub water he will come flying in from other floors of the house, he is obsessed with the bath tub. I swear if I let him stay in the bathroom I can NOT get a peaceful bath because he doesn't care if he falls in."

Clair says, "Reggie is a Red/White also 19 months and a nut. He will open doors and cupboards and is a very cheeky cat. He LOVES water and empties the dogs water bowl daily."

About Lucifer, Marlene tell us "He loves water, and plays in the water bowl with his tufted feet which irritates the other cats!"

Sharon's boy, Eliot "is a water hound and drinks only from running water or by dragging his paw through the water then licking it."


Maine Coon Cats and water tend to go hand in hand! If you're considering a Maine Coon, plan on water play, and if you have a water cat, tell us about him or her and we'll add it to this page!

Is Your Maine Coon A Water Cat?


Your Maine Coon Cats and Water:

Sterling!

maine coon catWho, me? I didn’t do anything!

Mary from Denver shares:

At least twice a day I have to ask, “Sterling, why are you wet?”

He will come to sit on my lap and his head and/or paws will be wet from playing in his drinking fountain or the sink or some other water source only he knows about.

It’s probably his brother’s water bowl but I’m sure he would deny that. 



Wet Cat

cat licking water

Cheryl from Brighton, Colorado:

My cat is not a full bred Maine Coon, but will scream and meow till the water faucet is turned on, after he is done drinking his entire head is wet.



Sterling's Water Fights

Carol from Albany, IN:

My Sterling loved to sit next to our cat fountain. Whenever one of the other cats walked nearby, he would take his paw and slap water at the other cats.

He was also able to hook his paw in the shower door and pull it open. Many times I had to dry off a 24 pound heap of sopping wet fur before I could dry myself! 



Watch Where You're Stepping!

maine coon cat sitting in sink
brown tabby maine coon on chair

Chryss from Colorado:

My girl Coonie, Ms. Ripley, pulls her water bowl to the middle of the bathroom floor.

Once, I stepped in it and did a split as the bowl and my foot scooted across the floor!  (I'm more careful now.)  

More Stories About Coonies and Water

If you can't get enough of these splashy tales, check out our collection of reader Q&A’s about water play and hydration habits.

From fountain drinkers to bathtub swimmers, these stories show just how creative (and messy) our water-loving Coonies can be!

Hydration Habits: From Play to Health

While most Coonies are fascinated by water, some cats can be the opposite. If your kitty suddenly stops drinking, it can point to health or preference issues.

Cat Stopped Drinking Water

by: Kathleen Shingledecker in Elkmont, AL ~New

Sir is almost 2, and he stopped drinking out of his fountain. I cleaned the fountain and his glasses. Any ideas how to get him to drink? He was really good about drinking before.

Reply:

Hi Kathleen,
When a cat who's been a good drinker suddenly stops, it’s usually worth paying attention, especially with a young one like Sir.

Sometimes they get put off by small things like a change in the fountain's sound, water temperature, or even the way it smells after cleaning.

You can try offering fresh water in a regular bowl, or even a few around the house in different spots, just to see what he prefers right now.

You can also tempt him by adding a splash of tuna water or low-sodium chicken broth (unsalted and onion-free) to make it more interesting.

Some cats will start drinking again right away when the scent catches their attention.

But because hydration is so important, if Sir keeps refusing water for more than a day or two, it's best to check with your vet.

A sudden drop in drinking can be a sign that something's not quite right - anything from dental pain to kidney or urinary issues. It's always better to ask and rule out the medical side first.

Give Sir a few options and keep an eye on his litter box for normal clumping and output while you test things out. Hopefully he'll be back to his usual fountain routine soon!

So… Do They All Love Water?

If yours dunks toys in the bowl or splashes until the floor's soaked - yes, that's completely normal. Some just take it further than others!

A few will only drink from a running faucet, while others think bath time is an open invitation to "help."

And if your Coonie isn't into water at all, that's perfectly normal too. Just like people, they each have their quirks. Most still have that gentle curiosity - they just prefer to watch from a safe, dry distance.

It's one of the things that makes this breed so much fun to live with: even their messiest moments tell you who they are.

Learn more about the habits and traits that make these cats such characters.

Head back to our Maine Coon Personality section for more real stories and everyday behavior insights from Coonie owners.

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