Why the Cat Water Mat Was a Complete Waste of Money

Every so often, I come across a pet product that looks so promising I can’t resist giving it a try. The water mat for cats was one of those. It sounded fun, interactive, and like something that could keep my cats entertained for hours. I watched a few reels of kittens playing on the mat and it looked adorable. Unfortunately, it turned out to be one of the most disappointing purchases I’ve made for my fuzzy babies.

At first glance, the idea seems cute: a little mat filled with water that your cats can paw at, move around the plastic fish inside, and play with. The reality? Not so much.

My Experience With the Cat Water Mat

At first they were scared of the water so I let it sit in the living room for a week so they got used to it. I did everything I could to make this toy appealing. I plopped my cats onto it, splashed it around myself to show them how it moved, dragged their favorite string across it, and even sprinkled catnip on top. Nothing worked. My cats were simply uninterested like, completely indifferent.

No pouncing, no pawing, no curiosity at all. If anything, they just gave me the side-eye for trying so hard to convince them this thing was fun. I probably enjoyed myself more just showing them how it works. 

Who Might Actually Like It?

Honestly, the only scenario where I can see this product working is with very tiny kittens, maybe under 2 months old, when absolutely everything is new and exciting. Beyond that stage, most cats will likely just ignore it the way mine did.

Better Use for It

Here’s the funny part: the water mat actually seems better suited for human babies. I could see it being a decent little tummy-time mat in the summer when it’s warm. But for cats? Hard pass.

Not a Pawsitive Experience

Save your money. Cats are simple creatures, they’d much rather play with strings, hair elastics, or pompoms than a gimmicky water mat. While it might make for a cute Instagram purchase, the reality is it’s not worth the cost or the space it takes up.

If you’re looking to spoil your cats, skip the water mat and stick with tried-and-true toys they’ll actually enjoy.