The Cat Behavior, ExplainedAccording to cat behavior expert Pam Johnson-Bennett, cats have a number of motivations for wetting their paw. Cats dislike deep water bowls for another reason. Cats may also dip their paw because it creates ripples in the water. If you think it might be for personal security reasons, try having multiple water bowls for the cats in your home. In rare cases, cats might be interacting with their water bowl owing to poor eyesight due to age or a health condition.