Cat Learns to Turn on the Sink Faucet, Causing Cat-astrophic Flood

by Nevena Nacic

Published: April 29th, 2024

Sergio Photone/Shutterstock

A typically easy-going cat named Sam surprised his owners by learning how to turn on the bathroom sink, causing some major damage to the house.

Alana Matson, asked for some pet destruction stories on TikTok while recalling how her cat, Sam, flooded her house. Like many other felines, Sam discovered how to use the bathroom sink to drink water. Sam’s newfound skill led to utter chaos when he left the water flowing one night, flooding the upstairs bathroom.

To make matters worse, Matson was heavily pregnant at the time, and about to give birth to twins.

“Sam is normally a really low-key cat. He is an indoor cat, so typically, he’s just lounging or tucked under a blanket somewhere. He generally only makes his presence known when the terror of his food bowl being empty sets in, or he is looking for a pet,” Matson told the PEOPLE.

Matson and her husband assumed their kids, 10 and 12 at the time, were to blame for the first few times the sink was left running. The couple thought one of their kids was getting up at night and leaving the water running, but the children denied it. It wasn’t until they caught Sam in the act that they realized it had been him all along.

The family tried several things to discourage Sam from turning on the sink, including putting a rubber band around the handle. Unfortunately, nothing could stop Sam from turning on the sink to drink water and flooding the bathroom one night.

“Little did I know that after I went to sleep that night, Sam the cat would venture into the bathroom and turn on the faucet and then sit on the drain to close it in the bottom of the sink, causing the Wet Bandits to come into my house and flood the bathroom into the kitchen,” said Matson in a video.

The morning of the cat-astrophe, Matson's husband woke up first, only to discover a flooded upstairs bathroom. He cleaned the mess and went downstairs, thinking the problem had been solved. But as soon as he entered the kitchen he discovered water damage on the ceiling and water dripping on the kitchen floor.

Although her husband thought he could fix the damage with some paint and towels, the ceiling started to buckle and Matson knew there wasn’t anything they could do to save it.

“I immediately knew we had to notify our insurance company and figure out what to do. They are the ones who had a service crew to our house within hours to begin demolition and the dreaded industrial fans,” said Matson.

While the crew worked on repairing the damages, Matson went to the hospital and delivered her twin daughters. “When I left, the kitchen floor and ceiling and the bathroom floor had been torn out and three massive dryers were running nonstop. Due to the pandemic, I was only in the hospital for 36 hours, so the house was in the same state when we arrived home.”

Meanwhile, Sam was completely unaware that he was responsible for the chaos and even had the nerve to be annoyed by the presence of construction workers and dryers.

Eventually, the family had to replace the sink, because Sam couldn’t be stopped. “We tried keeping the doors closed at night, but inevitably, it would be left open from time to time, and Sam would immediately go in and turn the water on. We realized it was more proactive to replace the vessel sink with a traditional model with an overflow valve.”

Most TikTok users are happy that the family didn’t get rid of the cat instead of the sink. And although Sam has access to a cat fountain, he still prefers to drink water straight from the tap.

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Nevena Nacic

Nevena is a freelance writer and a proud mom of Teo, a 17-year-old poodle, and Bob, a rescued grey tabby cat. Since childhood, she had a habit of picking up strays and bringing them home (luckily, her parents didn't know how to say NO). When she's not writing for her fellow pet parents, Nevena can be found watching Teo sleep. To her defense, that's not as creepy as it sounds!

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As dog parents, we all want to believe that our dog is the smartest, most incredible, most amazing dog out there. Right? But there is a select group of dogs whose talent and intelligence stand out above the rest. What makes these dogs so bright? That’s what a new study hopes to understand… Known as “Gifted Word Learner” (GWL) Dogs, these dogs display an impressive vocabulary by learning the names of dozens of their toys, with some learning as many as 125 toys by name! Interested in better understanding this phenomenon and what makes these dogs so naturally gifted, researchers at Eötvös Loránd University in Hungary set out to identify any commonalities between these pups. Their recent study, published in Scientific Reports on December 14, included 41 GWL dogs from nine countries: the US, the UK, Canada, Brazil, Norway, Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, and Hungary. They put out a call for ‘gifted’ dogs, asking owners to complete and submit a self-assessment following their detailed instructions and send the results in a video. Dogs that passed that phase were then given an online vocabulary assessment test to better assess their language skills. The owners were also given a questionnaire to provide a better understanding of each dog’s life experience. “In the questionnaire, we asked the owners about their dog’s life experience, their own experience in raising and training dogs, and about the process by which the dog came to learn the names of his/her toys,” explained Dr. Andrea Sommese, study co-author. Researchers discovered some interesting connections between the GWL dogs using all this information.

Why Are Labradors Fat? Scientists Have the Answer

The friendly, playful, and trainable Labrador is one of the most popular dog breeds around the world. But, few canines are as obsessed with food as Labrador retrievers - and now scientists think they have discovered why. According to new research, a quarter of labs are predisposed to obesity due to a genetic mutation.Approximately 25 percent of Labradors face a double-whammy of burning fewer calories and feeling hungry all the time because of an anomaly. Scientists explain that this obesity-causing combination means dog owners must be strict when feeding and exercising their labs to keep them fit.The mutation is found in the gene called POMC, which plays an important role in energy use and hunger, and affects how dogs behave around food. Around 25 percent of Labradors and 66 percent of flat-coated retrievers are affected by POMC mutation, which puts these dogs at risk of obesity and causes increased interest in food.Researchers found that although these dogs don’t need to eat more to feel full, they are hungrier in between meals. The study also showed that dogs with the POMC mutation use around 25 percent less energy when resting than dogs without it. As a result, these pooches don’t need to eat as many calories to maintain a healthy weight. “We found that a mutation in the POMC gene seems to make dogs hungrier. Affected dogs tend to overeat because they get hungry between meals more quickly than dogs without the mutation,” said Dr. Eleanor Raffan, a researcher in the University of Cambridge’s Department of Physiology, Development, and Neuroscience who led the study. “All owners of Labradors and flat-coated retrievers need to watch what they’re feeding these highly food-motivated dogs to keep them a healthy weight. But dogs with this genetic mutation face a double whammy: they not only want to eat more, but also need fewer calories because they’re not burning them off as fast,” she added.The study found that the POMC mutation alters a pathway in dogs’ brains associated with body weight regulation. The mutated genes trigger the starvation signal that sends a message to the body to increase food intake and conserve energy.The study involved 87 adult pet Labradors, all at a healthy weight or moderately obese. The dogs were subjected to several tests, including ‘the sausage in the box’ test. The dogs were first given a can of wet dog food every 20 minutes until they couldn’t eat any more. All labs eat huge amounts of food, but what’s interesting is that dogs with POMC didn’t eat more food than the dogs without it.On a different day, all dogs were given the same breakfast. Three hours later they were offered a sausage in a box made of clear plastic and a perforated lid, so the dogs could see and smell the sausage but not eat it.Scientists discovered that labs with POMC mutation tried harder to get the sausage than the dogs without it, showing greater hunger. In another test, the dogs were allowed to sleep in a special chamber that measured the gases they breathed out. This test showed that labs with POMC mutation burn 25 percent fewer calories than dogs without it. According to researchers, people are often rude to owners of fat dogs, criticizing them for not feeding and exercising their dogs properly. However, this study has shown that labs with POMC are trying to increase their energy intake by looking for food all the time. Keeping these dogs slim is challenging, but possible. Spreading out daily food rations, by using puzzle feeders to slow down feeding or scattering the food around the yard so it takes longer to eat are ways owners can keep their Labradors distracted from constant hunger. Join the PetGuide community. Get the latest pet news and product recommendations by subscribing to our newsletter here.

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Study Reveals the Most Expensive Locations for Pet-Friendly Airbnbs

Are you considering taking a trip to a dream destination in the United States with your best friend by your side? If so, you’re not alone! A growing number of animal lovers are taking steps to include the whole family in their travel plans, with Airbnb reporting that close to 50% of nights booked include pets. But have you ever stopped to consider how much your furry family member is increasing the budget?The team at MarketWatch recently released a guide to pet-friendly Airbnb travel in the US with some startling stats.Data was compiled about the cost of renting 11, 676 Airbnbs and 11,753 pet-friendly Airbnbs located in 46 of the most popular tourist destinations in the United States. By comparing the average nightly cost for pet-friendly and pet-free locations, they determined the price premium or the added cost pet parents must pay to include their furry friends.While we’re not suggesting that the cost of accommodations should be the sole deciding factor for your next vacation, this could impact your top choices.According to the guide, the most expensive city is Honolulu, Hawaii, with an average night stay costing $511. This is also the destination where pet parents will face the highest price premium for booking a pet-friendly location at $345.50.If you’re an avid traveler, this likely comes as no surprise. Hawaii is one of the country's more popular destinations for luxury travel. Not only is the cost of living in the state one of the highest, but the state also charges a Transient Accommodations Tax (TAT), further increasing costs.Of the 10 most expensive tourist destinations to book a pet-friendly Airbnb, 7 were in California. In addition to Honolulu, the list includes:Monterey, CA ($509)Sonoma, CA ($488)Napa Valley ($380)Santa Cruz, CA ($339)Palm Springs, CA ($329)Boston, MA ($238)Los Angeles, CA ($226)San Francisco, CA ($226)Yellowstone National Park, WY ($219)Don’t let these costs keep you from planning your next big pet-friendly getaway. Not only did they compile a list of the most expensive destinations, but they also identified the least expensive nightly rates in the US. This list is a great way to travel with your pet without worrying about your budget.They discovered that the least expensive city to book a pet-friendly Airbnb is Oklahoma City, OK, where the average nightly rate is only $110. Other locations that made this list include:St. Louis, MO ($111)Cleveland, OH ($114)Columbus, OH ($117)Houston, TX ($119)Salt Lake City, UT ($119)Detroit, MI ($124)Memphis, TN ($125)Indianapolis, IN ($129)San Antonio, TX ($130)Booking a lower-cost Airbnb is only one of many ways to keep the costs down when traveling with your pet. Pack all your pet’s travel essentials before your trip, including a leash, food/water dishes, grooming supplies, plastic waste bags, and a first aid kit. If you are driving to your destination, you can also pack your pet’s food to avoid shopping for it once you arrive. You can gather these items by shopping local sales rather than paying a premium to get what you need on short notice. Pet Insurance is another great budget-friendly travel tip. This may seem counterproductive, adding the monthly cost of your pet’s policy to your budget. But if disaster strikes, the insurance policy can help to significantly reduce emergency vet bills.Whatever your budget, we encourage all pet parents to get out and explore, making memories with their pets by their side. You won’t regret it!Join the PetGuide community. Get the latest pet news and product recommendations by subscribing to our newsletter here.

What to Know About Cat Reproduction

With a better understanding of feline reproduction, you can take steps to prevent unwanted litters, and you’ll know what to expect if you have an intact female or male.What does it mean when a queen (intact female cat) is in heat? How long does a pregnancy last? And why does it seem that cats are so good at reproducing? Below are the basics to help you get started.  There Are Multiple Stages in the Cat Heat CycleA cat’s estrous cycle, also known as her heat cycle, consists of multiple phases. Also, females are seasonally polyestrous, so they can go into heat more than once throughout the breeding season.The stages of a cat’s heat cycle are:Proestrus – During this phase, which will last about a day or two, you probably won’t notice any obvious changes in your cat.Estrus – During this phase, which lasts about a week on average, a female cat will behave in a way that lets males know that she wants to mate.Interestrus – If a cat doesn’t mate, she’ll go into this phase, which can also last about a week on average, until she goes into proestrus again. If a queen mates, ovulates, and becomes pregnant, she will enter diestrus.If a queen isn’t in a heat cycle at all, she’s in anestrus, which can last months.Cats Can Get Pregnant When They’re a Few Months OldCats become sexually mature around 6 months of age, on average, but it can happen even sooner than that. For example, a female can go into heat when she’s a mere four months old.This means that even kittens can mate and get pregnant. If you have intact male and female kittens, this is definitely something to be aware of. Talk to your veterinarian about the best time to spay or neuter your feline companions to prevent unwanted pregnancies. Cat Pregnancy Is Roughly Two Months LongA cat’s pregnancy can be shorter at 60 days or longer at 71 days. On average, a cat will give birth in about nine weeks, or 63 to 65 days. In other words, the pregnancy will be roughly two months long.On average, a cat will have four kittens, but she might have just one or she might have six or more. A queen’s age may affect the size of her litter—for example, a cat who’s pregnant for the first time is more likely to have a smaller litter, as is an older queen.After giving birth, a cat might go into heat again sooner than you think. It might even happen while her kittens are still nursing. So, if you’re caring for a mother and her litter, it’s important to prevent another pregnancy by keeping her safe indoors and away from intact males. Cats Are Induced OvulatorsWhat’s interesting about cats is that they’re induced ovulators. Put simply, when cats mate, the female ovulates, releasing eggs from her ovaries. And since the eggs are released with mating, it times out in a way that boosts the odds of pregnancy.A queen typically needs to mate multiple times before eggs are released, and she could mate with more than one male while she’s in heat.  A Litter of Kittens Can Have Different FathersAs mentioned above, a queen will mate more than once while she’s in heat. Well, another interesting fact about cats is that they can mate with more than one male while they’re in heat, so they could end up with kittens that have different fathers.In other words, a single litter of kittens could have two or more fathers. This is known as superfecundation.There Are Several Signs of Pregnancy in CatsHow can you tell if a cat is pregnant? Even though there are going to be several signs as the fetuses develop, you might not notice anything right away.You might first notice the queen’s nipples becoming more obvious. This is followed by weight gain that will eventually cause her belly to be big and round. Changes in behavior are also often seen in pregnant cats. Her appetite will increase, she may become more needy and affectionate, and she’ll look for a nest where she can give birth safely and comfortably.If you are caring for a pregnant cat, consider getting a product like the Sport Pet Pop Open Pet Kennel, which features two entryways, has a waterproof bottom, and comes with a removable, machine washable pad. She might view this as the perfect nesting box, and you’ll feel good knowing she’ll be secure in there with her kittens.

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