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!!

DCat won't drink out of anything (every possible receptacle and fountain have been tried). DCat has wet food, which seems to provide enough liquid for plenty of weeing and no health problems yet (though I have steered clear from dry food due DCat utter stubbornness about the drinking situation).

So I think this PP has a point.

PS the fountain that was roundly rejected was a stainless steel one that most of the parts could go in the dishwasher for convenience and hygiene, but that still leaves the filter to be a bit grim, bit like a wet sponge sitting around, but cats seem to survive just fine, can't be as bad a puddle after all.

My rescue was about 11 months when she came home. Still quite kittennissh and playful but very much past the madness and the night wakings.

She drinks sometimes from a bowl next to her food, buy mostly from a bowl on my bedroom window. And sometimes rain water from a bowl outside. She likes choices 😁

@Poppytime It is like having a tiny baby, she was found abandoned in a barn so is a bit clingy now she’s got used to me.

My flat has gone from being a quiet oasis of calm to a kitten nursery with stuff everywhere. Very cute though so she’s forgiven!

Well I had another look at them and got Henry and Pippa.
Full names Lord Henry McHenryness The First Lordship of Floof, and Lady Philippa Jayne Gorgeousity.
Short names Hen and Pip. 🥰

Oh my she is so sweet

Loving the First Lordship of Floof

Most of our cats have made a beeline for glasses of water on bedside tables, so we just gave up and gave them a choice of a mug or a cup on the kitchen floor (and now sleep with lidded waterbottles). Given the opportunity all favoured rainwater in whatever muddy flowerpot dish/container or puddle they could find.

We did TRY a water-fountain with current Madcats but they’ll only use it if the thing is off. This pair like to drink (fresh) water from the bottom of the bath too.

My kitty spout arrived last week and my four won’t go near it. I’m so upset as they loved the cheapo plastic one. I do not have the heart to take their water bowls away as one of them really does drink a lot of water.

A while ago, my cat decided he didn’t like wet food any more and would only eat dry food. During this dry food period, he did drink out of his water bowl. I managed to persuade him to go back to wet food, with the result that he now never goes near the water bowl.

Our boy has a big stainless steel dog bowl in the living room, which he does drink from. His food is in the kitchen and there is another water bowl in there (as we shut him in overnight) but I have never seen him drink from that one. He came to us from Cats Protection aged just over a year, and had a ceramic water bowl in foster care when I went to meet him, so we didn’t bother with a fountain.

Our previous cat was much keener on wet food, and I only ever saw her drink from puddles on top of the garden waste bin…

Re litter trays, we have one in the hall, one in the utility, and one in the kitchen (it’s a big space and his food is in an alcove, tray at the opposite side of the room). The kitchen one is the one he uses 99.9% of the time, and occasionally will toilet outside.

Give up the Pets At Home habit and download the Zoopla app. These things need rotation 😉

Ours will drink from the water fountain but only if its off and also when I clean it I get a what have you done looks after. Its basically a big stainless steel drinking bowl.

We've had several but given up on them now. Even with taking it apart every day, cleaning it thoroughly and all the filters cleaned or replaced etc it would start to stink of ponds. I have had plastic ones, steel ones (but the lid and some parts still plastic in the pump), it's been the same outcome.

We bought it originally because our cat loved playing with running water and would jump on the bench. Animals on benches is a no-go for me so bought her own running water supply and she was happy with that.

Enjoy the new kitties! Lovely.

I love how pet owners go above and beyond! Love the cups on the floor :-)

Ours love the fountains , she has the Catit ones . Lovely cats @Poppytime

Our cat drinks the water in the shower tray after we’ve finished having a shower 🤷🏼‍♀️

Our cat has a plastic one & drinks from it all the time, absolutely loves it. He has a bowl in the kitchen as well which he doesn’t seem to like very much. All his mates also drink from the fountain when they come to call for him which is so cute.

We recently moved house and bought a tap for the utility room sink with an ultrasonic switch which the cat can turn on herself so she has fresh water whenever she wants it.

this one

CREA Sensor Touchless Kitchen... https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CG3DZWX1?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

One of our cats had kidney problems, so I bought a highly superior porcelain cat fountain that neither she nor her sister would go near! One of them liked water in a mug or glass on the floor in a corner, and the other would stand expectantly in the bath until someone turned on the tap just enough for a small amount to pool at the plug hole end. That’s cats for you!