Cat Fountains

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Do our cats dash for the sink to drink from the faucet? Do they play in the water bowl instead of drinking from it? Are cats constantly after our tasty beverages?

Cats should drink more water than they are probably getting now. We can get both of us a fountain.

Here, Olwyn examines the fountain for the first time. We got one with a broad base that was simple to clean. The ball on top rolls around and turns different colors. What’s not to like?

While RJ won’t go near the fountain yet, he is off camera, watching Olwyn intently. Some cats will be cautious about new objects, even if we thought they would love their own fountain! We should be patient and let them discover it at their own pace. I’m sure that once Olwyn demonstrates that nothing bad will happen, RJ will be up on the shelf to investigate before morning.

Olwyn seems to understand that it’s water, yet she still sticks her paw into it. She wanted to know where the water level is, before she tries to drink.

We had always supplemented our regular water bowl with another source, in a different container, which appealed to the cats. But with Olwyn likely to knock something over (and she did, while the fountain was on its way) we wanted something larger and more stable.

In winter, keep adding water to offset the higher evaporation rate in dry, heated, air. If the fountain level drops too fast, it’s a sign we need to get a humidifier for our home.

Cats like running water because they like the way it smells. The turbulence is enough to “outgas” the water and it gives off scent clues to its freshness.

Cats also like it when we mist their kitty grass, and they can lick the “dew” from the leaves. We can also add some water to their canned food to make “gravy,” which most cats like. Every added portion is beneficial.

A diet of dry food, dry winter air, or a bout of not feeling well can leave a cat dehydrated, and more vulnerable to illness. As a cat grows older, they are less sensitive to their thirst signals, and need to be encouraged with special water attentions.

Within a few minutes, Olwyn found her favorite place to drink; from the lip where the water spills over.

It’s fun to watch her. Very Zen.

I was once asked how to keep a person’s cat from drinking at their desk fountain. I replied that it is not possible. Running water is too attractive to a cat. I told them it was great that they and their cat enjoyed it. That is how it worked out.

If a floor level unit in the kitchen appeals to us, we can get a Pet Fountain designed to keep water running in a type of bowl the cat might already trust. Some of these have filters built into them; it’s a nice feature to look for.

No matter what kind of fountain we have, do not put anything in the water to disinfect or otherwise contaminate it. Cleaning it at regular intervals, and rinsing well, is how we keep any fountain clean for the cats.

Many manufacturers recommend distilled water, but this can leach minerals when drunk in quantity. Filtered water is good for both pump life and cat health.

Offering our cats the kind of water they like is a good investment; in their happiness, in their health, in what it says about how much we care. This aspect of cat care is often overlooked.

Yet it can also be simple to do well.

For more Zen type fountains, see the wide selection at Simply Fountains, and here’s the one we picked.

One woman built her own for her Persians, to keep their bibs and faces dry. It’s lovely and customizable for any decor.

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