Will keep checking back for some helpful hints...in the meantime I will just pick her up and put back on the floor when she joins me at the kitchen or my bathroom sink. If I were alone with no visitors coming by, I could care less, but not all people are as understanding and might be revolted by a cat on counter drinking water from faucet. Plus my theory - if it's good enough for other cat and dogs to drink from floor bowl it's certainly good enough for "new kid on the block". Btw-- none of my furry friends eat out of crystal,China with silver...I save that for two legged friends..