Cat fountains

[Poppytime]

Hello all - I’m due to adopt 2 rescue kittens in January (older kittens - they will be about 9-10 months) so I’m just starting to get a list together of everything I need. My 12yo DD keeps insisting she has read they need a water ‘fountain’ otherwise they won’t drink and will become dehydrated (something about cats liking running water etc). When I had a cat growing up she had a simple water bowl and it did the job - she lived to 18 . Do I really need to spend money on a fountain? Worried it would be hard to clean/get mouldy plus idea of having to plug it in with water sloshing around nearby doesn’t seem the safest! Thanks in advance. So excited to get our cats!!

I have to be honest, I was sceptical about them. My DCat is 5. In our previous home I never saw him drink, other than from the pond, and assumed that's how he liked it.

When we moved I got him one from a company called Kitty Spout. It's stainless steel so no algae. It was on offer.

Well, now he drinks all the time! He loves it! So for me it would be a yes, but get a stainless steel one, not a plastic one. I have a plug-in version not wireless, though you can get rechargeable ones, too.

PS Cat tax in January, please!

Oooh interesting thanks! Yes I keep getting spammed on instagram with cat stuff now and that includes something called Kittyspout…

will def pay cat tax in Jan, I have a couple of photos of them already

It's a no here.
Was recommended by the vet.
Cats have steadfastly refused to drink out of it and prefer the water outside, including puddles on the patio, or the old water bowl.

I have Pixie fountains and the cats prefer them to the water bowl. I think I'd go for a proper stainless steel one that I could put in the dishwasher if I bought them again though.

Cat sitter here, have looked after lots of cats in their own homes. Some of them take to a fountain and some definitely don't I'm afraid, so there's no right answer. Except I've never known a cat who doesn't like a fountain actually dehydrating themselves! But I have known a couple of cats who didn't like fountains but loooooved the kitchen tap and would pester for it!
No rules really, like babies, they're all different and some of them will find ways to annoy you and disregard your expensive fountain in favour of a mucky puddle...😂

We had a plastic one and while dcat loved it, it was a pain to clean and got all yucky. Would definitely have a stainless steel one though, I didn't know they made them!

we have a fountain and the cats like it and drink from it but they also drink from their bowls. If you want one get one but it is not essential. We didn’t have the fountain for our previous cats and they would drink from their bowls (one preferred the kitchen tap though).

We’ve got a Pixi fountain in the cupboard.

I used to take it apart & wash it once a week, but my girl decided she preferred drinking from a ceramic bowl / plastic jug / the watering can / drips from the shower mat, so after it had been ignored for a fortnight it got dismantled & put away.

Here they are :)

thanks all. I won’t rush to buy one, I will see how they get on with a regular water bowl. Also pretty sure they don’t have a fountain atm so…

They’re adorable!

We’ve got a rechargeable stainless steel fountain for our cat. I’m not convinced she drinks more than without it, and it hasn’t stopped her trying to drink from the taps. She does seem to enjoy looking at it though, and waving a paw to make the water run!

I tried one with two cats and they never wanted to drink from it. If you're local to me (Brighouse West Yorkshire) please DM as I'll give it to you if you want to try it. My current cat is happy to drink from a water bowl.

Oh cutesters! Never mind fountains, what are they called/are you going to call them? Are they boy and girl siblings? They are delicious. 😍

Ah Isobel201 that’s so kind but I’m not sadly :(

yes they are boy and girl siblings and we are open to name suggestions! Kids have all sorts most of which are being vetoed at the moment

Boy has the white mouth and bib :)

I’m a little sad I’m not seeing them as tiny kittens but I think them being a bit older will hopefully mean an easier transition for them, and us! As they are litter trained, socialised etc

Honestly, tiny kittens are hard work! Fun, but exhausting. Your two are gorgeous. What do they drink from at the rescue?

Lovely cats. I have a Petlibro fountain. One of my cats is fascinated by running water and loves it, the older cat prefers his bowl. It's easy to clean and maintain and it gives the youngster such joy that I'm glad I bought it!

Mine kitten has a stainless steel water fountain. She does drink out of it but seems to prefer using it to flick water everywhere.

I’ve had her for 10 weeks and don’t think I’ve had a full nights sleep in all that time. Hopefully as yours are older, you won’t get stalked at 2am and 4am!

Just a water bowl is fine but don’t put it next to their food (tip from SIL who volunteered at a cat rescue place). And when we moved our cats water bowl they certainly drank more!

Sounds like having a baby again!!

I think just a regular water bowl thankfully. I am having to sit on my hands a bit and stop ordered things from Pets at home

Good tip thank you! I also know the litter trays have to be away from the food / water. Trying to figure out best places for them - every suggestion I make DH is all ‘oh no not there…’ - well we need a bigger house then DH!!

The notion that cats need to drink a lot is unscientific nonsense invented by the makers of cat fountains. Cats are desert creatures and would in the wild get most of their moisture from the rodents they eat. Mice are about 73% water and my cat is fed on wet food from sachets which are about 80% water, so he gets all the moisture he needs from that. He never touches the water that’s left out for him.