diff --git a/param/parameterized.py b/param/parameterized.py
index 1f34f88e9..5c44b65f1 100644
--- a/param/parameterized.py
+++ b/param/parameterized.py
@@ -3804,13 +3804,13 @@ def param(self):
 
     #PARAM3_DEPRECATION
     @property
-    @_deprecated(extra_msg="Use `inst.param.watchers` instead.", warning_cat=UserWarning)
+    @_deprecated(extra_msg="Use `inst.param.watchers` instead.", warning_cat=FutureWarning)
     def _param_watchers(self):
         return self._param__private.watchers
 
     #PARAM3_DEPRECATION
     @_param_watchers.setter
-    @_deprecated(extra_msg="Use `inst.param.watchers = ...` instead.", warning_cat=UserWarning)
+    @_deprecated(extra_msg="Use `inst.param.watchers = ...` instead.", warning_cat=FutureWarning)
     def _param_watchers(self, value):
         self._param__private.watchers = value
 
diff --git a/tests/testdeprecations.py b/tests/testdeprecations.py
index ac1dc74ab..9d9ebdb6f 100644
--- a/tests/testdeprecations.py
+++ b/tests/testdeprecations.py
@@ -103,11 +103,11 @@ def test_deprecate_all_equal(self):
             param.parameterized.all_equal(1, 1)
 
     def test_deprecate_param_watchers(self):
-        with pytest.raises(UserWarning):
+        with pytest.raises(FutureWarning):
             param.parameterized.Parameterized()._param_watchers
 
     def test_deprecate_param_watchers_setter(self):
-        with pytest.raises(UserWarning):
+        with pytest.raises(FutureWarning):
             param.parameterized.Parameterized()._param_watchers = {}
 
 
diff --git a/tests/testwatch.py b/tests/testwatch.py
index a736131b7..7640d93a0 100644
--- a/tests/testwatch.py
+++ b/tests/testwatch.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 import unittest
 
 import param
+import pytest
 
 from param.parameterized import discard_events
 
@@ -550,7 +551,8 @@ def test_watch_watchers_exposed(self):
 
         obj.param.watch(lambda: '', ['a', 'b'])
 
-        pw = obj._param_watchers
+        with pytest.warns(FutureWarning):
+            pw = obj._param_watchers
         assert isinstance(pw, dict)
         for pname in ('a', 'b'):
             assert pname in pw
@@ -564,7 +566,8 @@ def test_watch_watchers_modified(self):
 
         obj.param.watch(accumulator, ['a', 'b'])
 
-        pw = obj._param_watchers
+        with pytest.warns(FutureWarning):
+            pw = obj._param_watchers
         del pw['a']
 
         obj.param.update(a=1, b=1)