Cats need water to stay healthy. They prefer to drink running water, because in nature, standing water in puddles and pools is polluted and full of germs. Cats instinctively dislike water in their water bowls. Cats, through their stronger sense of smell, can smell when the water in the bowl is stale. As a result, cats drink too little or nothing. A cat water fountain with moving water meets the cat’s need to drink fresh water. Humans also benefit from a cat water fountain in the test. It humidifies the air in the room.
The cat water fountain
The favorable advantage of a water fountain for cats is the flowing water. Cats prefer to drink from it. You can test this by running a small stream of water into a sink as a test. As a rule, cats will come and drink from it. Indoor fountains for cats consist of a pump, a large vessel and a water dispenser. The water from the cat fountain flows down a surface or ceramic ball, flows as if from a faucet, or flows in terraced bowls from top to bottom into a hidden container from which the pump pumps the water back into the water fountain. Depending on the flow rate, the water may make noise. If you have a skittish cat, you should choose a quiet water flow. For a brave cat, the water jet may be a little stronger to test. Some drinking fountains have an adjustment option, through which the water flow can be adjusted calm or bubbling to the preference of the cat. As materials for the water fountain cat are used ceramics, stainless steel and plastic.
Cat fountain with or without filter
A filter is not absolutely necessary for the cat fountain, if the drinking water has an excellent quality and the movement in the cat fountain keeps the water fresh and full of oxygen. The advantage of a cat water fountain without a filter is that you do not have to constantly buy the filter material. Some water fountains are in the cat water fountain in the test but equipped with a hair filter, which is particularly recommended for longhaired cats. The hair of the cat could otherwise clog the water fountain. Some cat water fountains with filters use a filter with activated carbon to filter pollutants and lime from the water. The water is then particularly soft and has no inherent odor. However, the filter in the test must be replaced regularly and the replacement costs for filters can be up to $150 per year. If your cat is sensitive to taste, filtered water can increase the amount it drinks. Experts recommend 30 to 40 ml of liquid per kg of body weight for a cat. If the cat gets wet food, part of the liquid intake can be covered by it. If the cat gets only dry food, the drinking amount should increase even somewhat and also with warm heating air the liquid requirement increases.
Buy the best Cat Water Fountain
What material for the cat fountain?
A ceramic cat water fountain is not only sturdy, but very aesthetic in appearance and could almost be considered a normal indoor fountain. Ceramic is easy to clean in the test in the dishwasher, and the smooth material with closed pores actively curbs the colonization of the surface by bacteria. Compared to cheap plastic, a cat water fountain made of ceramic does not contain plasticizers. A water fountain for a cat made of plastic is the cheapest, but not as durable as ceramic. When buying a cat water fountain, make sure that the material is free of BPA. In the trade you will also find cat water fountains made of stainless steel and aluminum. These are particularly easy to clean in the test. Due to the audible dripping noises, however, these models can not really prevail with cat owners.
Cat water fountain: Disturbing noises?
As really disturbing in the cat water fountain test not the splashing of the water, but the noise of the pump is perceived. The freer the pump is, the louder the noise. The material also makes a difference. With a cheap cat water fountain made of plastic, the noise of the pump can be heard louder. A ceramic cat fountain dampens the noise of the pump in the test most effectively.
Cat water fountain with power supply
Generally, a drinking fountain for cats under test is powered by a power supply. The electric current moves the pump, which creates the flowing motion of the water. Cat fountains with battery do not provide the performance of a cat fountain with power supply. A cat fountain battery powered makes no sense because the water will not flow.
Cat Fountains: Questions and answers
Should I buy a cat fountain with motion detector?
With a cat fountain with motion sensor, the water will not flow until the cat enters the sensor’s catchment area. You save electricity costs when the pump runs less, but on the other hand, yes, the cat is only attracted to the fountain by the flowing water.
Cat fountain: Is the pump broken?
If the pump is just calcified, then run descaler through the cat fountain. When descaling, however, do not use chemical descalers, but rather natural cleaners and descalers such as a mixture of water and vinegar (20/80) or citric acid. Rinse with plenty of water, because cats do not like the smell of vinegar or lemon. If the pump still doesn’t move, many cat fountains allow you to replace the faulty pump with a new pump, aquarium pump or mini pump. If the pump is only clogged, then take it apart to clean it and then put it back in the drinking fountain to test. Can the cat get electrocuted at the water fountain? No, because the power supply from the cat water fountain reduces the voltage from 230 volts to 23 volts.
How often to change water in cat fountain?
To ensure that the cat has really fresh water available, the complete amount of water should be changed at least once a week, but rather more often. In this connection, the fountain can be cleaned at once. With some models from the test the lower bowl, in which the water stands, can be simply removed, cleaned and filled with fresh water. With other drinking fountains, this is more difficult. Distilled water must not be used to fill the fountain. It can lead to disturbances in the electrolyte balance of the cat.
Getting cat used to water fountain
Cats are curious by nature, but could be afraid of the sounds that the cat fountain makes. Then it helps to present the drinking fountain to the cat first with water but turned off. If the cat has become accustomed to it, a low flow rate can be set.
Build your own cat water fountain
Making an individual drinking fountain for the cat yourself is possible with a few individual parts. For the cat water fountain DIY you need a pump and an appropriately sized bowl. Connect a piece of hose to the pump and run the hose through a source stone, a slate plate or similar material. For more stability, fill the bowl with pebbles or decorative stones. Finally, fill water into the bowl and provide power. What is the cost of a cat water fountain DIY?
- a large ceramic bowl: $10-$20
- a small pump, suitable for aquariums or indoor fountains with adjustable flow, but not a diaphragm pump: $10-$15
- large and medium-sized pebbles: about $5
- a piece of hose