Pets
Related: About this forumWater Fountains for pets
I currently have 2 cats. I am thinking about a water fountain so that fresher water is available for them; neither seems particularly happy with the on floor water bowl. Dixie will sit on the sink while I'm rinsing dishes and try to lick the faucet, Shaw RUNS to the bathroom when I flush to get a drink and splash a bit. None of my previous cats did those things.
If you have one, please tell me the brand name, the pluses & minuses, and since they need to be plugged in, how long is the cord. Thanks.
Fresh_Start
(11,330 posts)I've tried two other brands that didn't survive as long and were more difficult to clean.
The only issue I have is that the cords are only about 3 feet long
All 3 of my cats frequently use them.
packman
(16,296 posts)https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000L3XYZ4/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
The Amazon page has details about it.
I've used it over the years for 3 cats at one time and am using it for my remaining orange tabby. The first one lasted for 2 years and the present one it still running after 3 years (pump gave out on the first - but, probably my fault for poor maintenance) .
It has a respectable water reservoir - a tank on the back that is easily removable and easy to fill. My cats loved it and enjoyed sticking their paws into the flowing spout.
HOWEVER, it needs to be cleaned from cat hair that gets into the filter area and it does need to be disassembled and cleaned with bleach on a regular basis or the plastic will begin to get slimy (I suppose from the cat's saliva).
There also is an added expense of getting those charcoal filters , as shown on the Amazon page. They are necessary to help keep the water fresh.
I keep it a few feet away from my cat's feeding bowl and he doesn't seem to mind - spoiled as he is.
All in all - a good product that still needs some attention.
ginnyinWI
(17,276 posts)They get scummy and then you have to partially disassemble and clean!
I did, in fact, try one once. Both cats ignored it. And one of them was the type to love drinking from the kitchen faucet. So in the end that's what we did--regularly turned on a trickle of water and let her drink.
I often mix a little water into the wet food of my two current cats so that they get more liquid.
Freddie
(9,265 posts)With a filter - until Charlie learned to tip it over and I would come home to a flood on the kitchen floor. So I got the kind of bowls that can't be tipped over and they get fresh water with every feeding (3x/day). And I suspect they are drinking from the source of fresh water located next to the Charmin dispenser.
irisblue
(32,974 posts)I am positive if Pretty Paws were still alive, she would tip over a fountain. She let me know her metal food bowl was empty by picking it up and the clang worked. I miss that dog.😁
We have 2 cats Charlie (the troublemaker) and his brother Andy. They were doing fine with the reservoir water dispenser until the vet recommended ending free-feeding and limiting the amount of dry food per day due to Charlie's weight (17 lb). The tipping occurred days after the diet started and was obviously revenge.
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,693 posts)I've had several different fountains, but the cats seem to prefer this one. I like it because it's easy to clean and very hard to knock over or slop water out of. The cord is about 4' long and it plugs into an adapter with a usb connection (dc power to the pump). I put the fountain on a towel in case any water slops out (though that doesn't seem to happen), which makes it easier for the cats to move, so a couple of times I've found the usb plug out of the adapter because the cats have pushed or turned the fountain. That's the only issue I've had with it. We like it.
yellerpup
(12,253 posts)They love it.
peacebuzzard
(5,172 posts)I have had this fountain for a year and a half for one sixteen year old Madame Cat.
Easy to set up, the only maintenance is to clean out dust and fur with a paper towel and filters also need to be ordered online and changed every 3 wks or so. Whenever I change the filter I rinse all the parts. Keep the manual in case the pump gets clogged. This only happened once. Very easy instructions, ez set up.
Of course you have to make sure it has plenty of water so the fountain will gush.
Its great. I add minerals to the water so she gets extra supplements.
She enjoys a fresh drink of water.
Her water intake is now increasing because of kidney disease, and I am going to set up a second water fountain.
Madame Cat is drinking much more lately because of the kidney failure.
adrianastepheny
(12 posts)I love water fountains in general but to have one for my cat? basically, I use it Drinkwell Original Pet Fountain. Unfortunately, It's not working well.
silverweb
(16,402 posts)I've had a few different cat fountains over the years and now have a Catit. Each new fountain got a lot of attention for a while, but then my brats would go right back to begging at the bathroom sink whenever I enter that room.
The only fountain I ever had that all my cats consistently loved was a tabletop ornamental fountain -- probably because they weren't supposed to be on that table.