Cat Fountains

[lxskllr]

Anyone use one? Are they any good? Those little assholes of mine drag the water bowl around, and spill the water. I have the bowl tethered off with some paracord, but they still rock it, and spill it all by the end of the day. I was thinking a fountain might be more enjoyable for them to drink from, and they'll stop making a mess. Thoughts?

 

[ondma]

We use one for our two cats. One of them has diabetes, so it is critical that he drinks a lot of water. Before we got the fountain he wanted to drink out of the tub faucet, but he seems satisfied with the fountain, and the other one likes it too.

We got a relatively expensive stainless steel one (about 70.00 I think) with a filter. It is heavy enough that the cats cant really move it around. I do have to clean it regularly and replace the filter because surprisingly it seems to grow mold even faster than a regular water dish. It is kind of a pain to take apart and clean, but worth it for us.

The weak point of the fountains is the pump. We had a cheap fountain initially, and the pump quit working in only a couple of weeks. So be sure to either get a model that has a replaceable pump or a good guarantee. (Ours has a 2 year guarantee, but the I did not realize the pump is not replaceable.) Also be sure to keep the water near the full line so the pump does not get air in the chamber.

 

[nakedfrog]

I got this one almost exactly three years ago: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B001NIZAH6
I do have to take it apart to clean it pretty regularly (every 3-6 weeks), but part of that is because one of my cats is a messy jerk and gets food in the fountain. I replace the filters probably twice a year. They both seem to like it fine.

 

[Homerboy]

We got this one: https://smile.amazon.com/Veken-Foun...fountain&qid=1595279864&s=pet-supplies&sr=1-4

Our two cats seem to use it just fine. It's in a hallway outside our bathroom which seems odd to me, but whatever works I guess. They use to sit and stare at the faucets in there. Not so much anymore now.

 

[mopardude87]

I got one, water trinkles down like a waterfall kinda deal and the cat seem to like it. No issues with it, and the stainless steel rubber footed bottomed bowl as second option near by.

 

[ElFenix]

what's the capacity on these things (more: how long does it last with 1 cat drinking out of it?). might want to get one for my sister's cat who dumps her dish a lot. might save me a couple trips out to check in when my sister is on vacation.

 

[nakedfrog]

what's the capacity on these things (more: how long does it last with 1 cat drinking out of it?). might want to get one for my sister's cat who dumps her dish a lot. might save me a couple trips out to check in when my sister is on vacation.

With two cats, I guess I put a quart in mine per week, when it's down halfway between the max/min lines.

 

[Captante]

 

[JulesMaximus]

We just use a largish ceramic pet water dish. It is heavy enough that the cats can't move it and it holds enough water that we can leave it for a couple days before refilling it and we clean it about once or twice a week.

 

[lxskllr]

I'm using a stoneware bowl. It's not the biggest thing, but it's pretty stout. Weighs more 1# empty I think.

 

[skyking]

my chihuahua/devil mix drags a big ceramic like that when it gets low. Hell, sometimes she will drag it when it is half full, just to get some attention. That is the devil part.

 

[RLGL]

I have a fountain for my cat that is ignored, she prefers water either from a faucet or a bowl. When The fountain was new she used it for a month or so then tired of it.

 

[lxskllr]

Update in case anyone else has a similar problem. I remembered a cheap multi day waterer my mother gave me for my old cats for when I went away. It's cheap plastic with a simple float valve that adds water when the level drops. My two assholes seem to like it ok, and don't drag it all over the floor. I like it due to the simple design, and not needing electricity. Looks like my problem's solved, Thanks everyone for your feedback :^)

 

[LikeLinus]

We have one for our two cats. I can't find the exact one, but it's sort of similar to the one below. Ours has a clear 1/2 gallon tank on the back.

Amazon.com : isYoung Cat Fountain LED Pet Water Fountain Ultra Quiet Automatic Pet Water Dispenser with Adjustable Water Flow and Activated Carbon Filter for Dogs, Cats, Birds and Small Animals : Pet Supplies

Amazon.com : isYoung Cat Fountain LED Pet Water Fountain Ultra Quiet Automatic Pet Water Dispenser with Adjustable Water Flow and Activated Carbon Filter for Dogs, Cats, Birds and Small Animals : Pet Supplies

www.amazon.com

Funny enough, one of our cats LOVES the damn thing. He likes to play with the stream of water going down in to the bowl area. It's funny to watch him bat at the water. We had to put a mat under it because the he ends up splashing the water and it's on hardwood floors, lol. He doesn't move it though.

 

[Paladin3]

My cats are in the habit of drinking from two heavy whiskey glasses I keep on my desk with water in them. If I put a water bowl out for them by their food dishes they ignore it. They'd rather sit by the empty whiskey glasses meowing for more than drink from a bowl on the ground.

I know I could nix the glasses and only leave a water bowl on the ground and they would eventually drink from it, but I like the visits when I'm working at my desk and they jump up to drink.

 

[Charmonium]

I used to have 2 cats and got an automatic feeder and fountain for them. I had to search just now for the fountain since it seems it's not sold in a lot of places. https://rsc-store-media.s3.amazonaw...3525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/p/w/pww00-13703_a.jpg



Notice the humongous reservoir in the back. I think it held over a half gallon. To fill it, just lift it out of the base, walk to sink, unscrew valve, fill from tap.

I have a fountain for my cat that is ignored, she prefers water either from a faucet or a bowl. When The fountain was new she used it for a month or so then tired of it.

Some fountains like the one above have filters for the water. You really need that since they're slobbering in bowl all of the time and that can't help the taste of the water.

Something else you can do to make the fountain attractive is to get a little seed cage that hangs off the side an into the bowl. Put some cat friendly seeds in there and in a few days you will have scrumptious cat grass. No additional work required.

 

[LikeLinus]

I used to have 2 cats and got an automatic feeder and fountain for them. I had to search just now for the fountain since it seems it's not sold in a lot of places. https://rsc-store-media.s3.amazonaw...3525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/p/w/pww00-13703_a.jpg

View attachment 27202

Notice the humongous reservoir in the back. I think it held over a half gallon. To fill it, just lift it out of the base, walk to sink, unscrew valve, fill from tap.


Some fountains like the one above have filters for the water. You really need that since they're slobbering in bowl all of the time and that can't help the taste of the water.

Something else you can do to make the fountain attractive is to get a little seed cage that hangs off the side an into the bowl. Put some cat friendly seeds in there and in a few days you will have scrumptious cat grass. No additional work required.

That's the one we own!!!! I could not find it on Amazon. Thanks for posting.

 

[Iron Woode]

every time I see the thread title, I keep imagining a large outdoor fountain with cats flowing out of it instead of water.

 

[Charmonium]

That's the one we own!!!! I could not find it on Amazon. Thanks for posting.

OK, this is completely off topic but I'm absolutely convinced this phenomenon is NOT just a coincidence.

A few years ago, I needed an extra alarm clock for tv room (long story). Next thing I knew I was on Amazon. Muscle memory is a powerful thing ( ).

It wasn't long before I noticed that while there were hundreds if not thousands of alarm clocks, a very large fraction of them were of one particular style. And by large fraction, I again mean at least hundreds. Beyond that curious fact, virtually all of the other models were either just shit, didn't have what I considered essential features, etc. Of course I eventually bought the one I didn't want and it did turn out to be a POS. But that overwhelming skewing of the clocks toward that one stuck with me.

Today, the same thing happened with the water fountain. I put in something like cat water fountain and after going through a few pages it was clear that at least half were of the same basic design - it had an either square or circular base with a post in the center which in turn had 4 mini fountains.

Seriously, don't take my word for it. Check it out.

After looking at every page Amazon displayed and realizing my fountain wasn't there, I was like, WTFF. The Drinkwell brand may not be world renown, but they're no 2 bit players either. So I can' think of any legitimate reason why Amazon wouldn't carry them.

every time I see the thread title, I keep imagining a large outdoor fountain with cats flowing out of it instead of water.

Don't worry, the DMT should be out of your system by now. Happy trails

 

[balloonshark]

Update in case anyone else has a similar problem. I remembered a cheap multi day waterer my mother gave me for my old cats for when I went away. It's cheap plastic with a simple float valve that adds water when the level drops. My two assholes seem to like it ok, and don't drag it all over the floor. I like it due to the simple design, and not needing electricity. Looks like my problem's solved, Thanks everyone for your feedback :^)

My sister also has the gravity fed set for her four cats. The one that holds the water is pretty heavy but they are able to move the one that holds the food.

 

[lxskllr]

The one that holds the water is pretty heavy but they are able to move the one that holds the food.

I have the food one also, but there's no way I could use it with the two cats I have now. They're both pigs, and will eat as much as possible. They've slacked off a little since it's gotten hot, but I still have to ration food. I feed them ~.75C twice a day. Never had that issue before. I always just made sure food was in the bowl, and my cats would self regulate. If I traveled now, I'd have to get something automatic that would drop a measured amount of food in the bowl.

 

[balloonshark]

I have the food one also, but there's no way I could use it with the two cats I have now. They're both pigs, and will eat as much as possible. They've slacked off a little since it's gotten hot, but I still have to ration food. I feed them ~.75C twice a day. Never had that issue before. I always just made sure food was in the bowl, and my cats would self regulate. If I traveled now, I'd have to get something automatic that would drop a measured amount of food in the bowl.

I tried to talk my sister into rationing their food since one of them is getting pretty big. The feeder works well though and holds enough for a week. The water bottle and dish does get nasty though and needs cleaned regularly.

 

[LikeLinus]

After looking at every page Amazon displayed and realizing my fountain wasn't there, I was like, WTFF. The Drinkwell brand may not be world renown, but they're no 2 bit players either. So I can' think of any legitimate reason why Amazon wouldn't carry them.

LOL, that's funny. I looked too and couldn't find ours. That's why I showed the example and said ours has a 1/2 gallon tank on the back. My wife purchased it though. Maybe she got it at PetSmart or another local store. No clue, but it's worked great and she cleans it and the filters maybe once a week or so. Just to keep it as clean as possible and one of our cats like to stick his paws in it and play He's a pretty funny guy.

I guess I could have gotten up from my desk and go check out the brand name, but no, that would be too logical and I was being lazy!