I have lived with quite a few cats, and I observed that many cats are not inclined to drink from a bowl of standing water. Sometimes they would even stir the water with their paw.
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Why Does My Cat Need a Drinking Fountain?
We understand that cats have a low thirst drive, and we attribute this to their ancestors who lived in regions with a desert or near-desert habitat. Those wild cats had to adapt to that environment, and it is believed they got moisture from the bodies of the wild prey they ate.
Our Domestic Cats require hydration just as humans do, but they don’t have prey as a source of moisture.
If cats are eating plenty of moisture-containing canned food and drinking water, that would be helpful, but many cats have a diet that includes dry cat food. My blog post Why Are Cats Picky Eaters will help you figure how much moisture is in your cat’s food.
As I wondered how I might get our cats to drink, I thought about how cats are sometimes drawn to flowing water. It made sense to me that they might be inclined to drink from a water fountain.
Features of a Great Cat Water Fountain
1. Faucet-like: Since many cats seem to be attracted to a household faucet, a fountain with a spout that duplicates the flow from a faucet could be interesting to them.
2. Upright bowl: A fountain will be less likely to tip over if the diameter at the base of the bowl is about the same as the diameter at the top of the bowl.
3. Headroom: A fountain with a bowl size and spout placement that makes it easy for your cat to get to the water will be more attractive to your cat.
4. Plain design: Cats may be put off and confused by a fountain with a complex appearance.
5. Simple construction: A fountain with a lot of nooks and crannies could be more difficult to clean.
6. AC adapter included: The power to the pump of many electric fountains is supplied by a 12 volt AC adapter that plugs into your 120 volt wall receptacle.
7. Filters: A pet fountain should have at least two filters;
- A carbon (charcoal) filter to remove certain chemicals such as chlorine
- A second filter to block cat hair and food debris from getting into the pump
Cat Water Fountains with Those Features
PetSafe Drinkwell Ceramic Pagoda Pet Fountain
- The bowl and center tower are Ceramic
- It has a carbon water filter
- It has a foam filter to protect the pump from debris
- For more info visit the PetSafe company website
PetSafe Drinkwell Stainless Multi-Pet Pet Fountain
- The bowl and center tower are Stainless Steel
- The spout dispenser and clamps are plastic
- It has a carbon water filter
- It has a foam filter to protect the pump from debris
- For more info visit the PetSafe company website
What is the Best Fountain Material?
Pet fountains are generally available in either plastic, stainless steel, or ceramic.
Visit my blog post How to Choose the Best Cat Bowls for some good information on these materials.
Will My Cat Drink From a Fountain?
Have you ever noticed your cat being fascinated by a running faucet or a flushing commode?
I have seen a cat get on the kitchen counter and stick its head in the sink to intently observe the water swirling down the drain.
Perhaps there is some wild instinct that reminds them that running water is cleaner than stagnant water. When cats get to act on their wild instincts, it does seem to make them happy.
So much of what cats do is driven by natural instincts. My blog post What Are Cat Natural Instincts will provide you with some interesting insights into this ancient heritage that your kitty is guided by.
If a water fountain satisfies their natural attraction to flowing water, it would seem they might be happy to drink from a fountain. There is only one way to find out. Give it a try and see what happens.
Another way to make your cat happy might be by getting your kitty a cat tree to play and lounge on. You are invited to visit my blog post How to Choose a Cat Tree
How Often Should I Change Cat Fountain Filters?
Use your best judgement about how often to change the filter and clean your fountain based on:
- How many cats are using the fountain
- How often your cat is using the fountain
- How much hair your cat sheds
- If your cat likes to eat and then have a drink, thereby leaving food particles in the fountain
- If your cat plays with the fountain by sticking its paw into the water
- Your visual monitoring of the fountain
- The manufacturer’s instruction manual
Clean the fountain and filters if you see any slime, dirt, or food particles.
Change the filters when you observe they are worn or will not come clean.
Check the water level frequently and add water as required.
Reducing the amount of cat hair in the house will help keep that hair out of the water fountain, so you may want to visit my blog post How to Deal With Cat Hair
What is the Cost to Maintain a Cat Fountain?
You will have labor and time costs, including:
- The fountain filters should be replaced regularly.
- The fountain should be cleaned regularly.
- You need to keep the fountain filled with water.
You will have financial costs, including:
- Replacement filters have a variable monthly cost depending on the frequency the fountain is used.
- The fountain uses electricity, which in the USA typically costs less than a dollar a month.
Do Cat Fountains Use Much Electricity?
Way back in 1965 I earned a degree in Electrical Engineering from a major university, so I feel comfortable with this subject.
Most pet fountains are rated at 3 Watts or less.
In the USA electric rates vary from state to state, but even in the state where the rates are the highest, running a 3 watt water fountain continuously will cost less than one dollar a month.
My source for electric rates is the U.S. Energy Information Administration
Can My Cat Get Shocked by a Water Fountain?
Neither you nor your cat can get shocked by an electric fountain if the power to the pump is supplied by an AC adapter that plugs into your 120 volt wall receptacle and supplies 12 volts to the power cord and pump.
The 120 volts supplied at your wall receptacle can cause serious injury no matter what appliance you are plugging in, but the 12 volts supplied by an AC adapter is referred to as low voltage and is not a dangerous voltage for people and pets.
Pet fountain pumps are typically powered by an AC adapter, and some are battery-powered. You can check to see how the pump is powered by reviewing the product description.
Can I Leave a Cat Fountain On All the Time?
Most pet fountains are designed to run continuously. Review your manufacturer’s instructions.
You will want to make sure there is always water in a running fountain because the pump could be damaged by trying to operate with no water in it.
Where Should I Put My Cat Water Fountain?
- near an electrical receptacle if the fountain has a power cord that must be plugged in
- away from any litter box
- away from their food to reduce the potential for food in the fountain
- in a low traffic area so your cat is not disturbed while drinking
- in a set location so your cat can make it a habit to go there
- on a water resistant mat to avoid wet flooring resulting from energetic cat behavior
Cat Hydration is a Good Thing
Perhaps a water fountain will encourage your pet to drink more water.
Water is essential for people and animals.
There are a lot of things you can do to make your cat happy, and you can learn about them by visiting my blog post How to Make Your Cat Happy