Question for Users of Water Fountains

[Edwina's Secretary]

for your cats that is. How often do you change out all the water. I feel guilty somehow that I'm not changing the water. Edwina likes it now. She even drinks out of the water as it comes down the water fall.

I have a Petmate Fresh Flow. (And please don't tell me to read the owner's manual! I haven't a clue where it is now and anyway..that doesn't seem sporting!) I keep it filled up -- either the tank or directly into the bowl -- and it has a filter.

[kitten645]

Calvin and Hobbes just LOVE their fountain. They drink ALOT more than they used to. Makes keeping up the box and additional challenge but it's worth it to know their bitty bodies are being flushed out more regularly.
As to changing the water, I do it about once a week. The fountain is in the kitchen on a linoleum(sp) floor and though I sweep and sweep there is always kittyfur tumbleweed blowing across the floor. The water eventually gets fur in it even though I would have hoped the hair would get trapped in the filter and I could just rinse it off rather than changing the whole thing.
In addition, I think if you use filtered water when first filling it might help. The few times I've filled it from the tap, I noticed the next time I cleaned it there was a residue on the bottom..not gross just slippery.
Think I 'll try putting a rug under it to catch the fur before it become water-bourne!

[boscibo]

I have the Drinkwell with the 6 Cup reservoir, and three cats. I refill it every 2-3 days, and tear it apart for cleaning about every 2 weeks.

When I do the 2-3 day refilling, I just refill the reservoir part, the stuff that is already in the bowl stays, but I think they go through water fast enough that is it refreshed and not old. I use my filtered refrigerator water to refill. Once I let it get too low, and it started making funny noises - probably not good. It is hard to carry to the sink with the bowl to full though, so I try and let it get down there before cleaning.

[AmberLee]

My Drinkwell also has the reservoir (sp?) option. I only tear it down and scrub the components completely once a month or so. I do top off the bowl about every other day and refill the reservoir a little more often than once a week. It sounds odd, but Cassy and Livvy seem to avoid it when it's been freshly cleaned... which is why I've cut back to my current schedule. (No, I don't use soap, just brushes, water, and elbow grease.)

(At least once a summer someone tries to go swimming/playing whatever in there and that requires a major cleaning up job.)

Some cats adore having ice cubes floating in there. Mine seem to find them nuisances. :rolleyes: Oh well!

[All Creatures Great And Small]

You know, I have had my fountain for about 6 months now, and I have yet to catch my kitty drinking from it - he must be though, because there are HUGE pee clumps in his litter box, so he's getting fluid. I'm guilty of not checking on it as often as I should, since it's in a corner of the kitchen where no one will trip over it. It's made that "low on water" growling noise a few times. :o I've noticed when it gets real low, that there is hard water scale on the bowl part, because I don't want to give the kitty the softened water with all the salt/potassium in it. I really should get one of those water filtering pitchers and filter his water before I put it in the fountain. I guess I'll add that to my shopping list for today ;) .
I take it apart and clean it/replace the water probably every 2 weeks or so, and even though the filter package says every 60-90 days to change it, I change it monthly. If I start using pre-filtered water though, I won't have to change the fountain filter so often.

You know, I am so bad about a) not doing chores and b) being on the computer so much, that I have a Microsoft Works Suite calendar program that pops up reminders for me on the computer - I have things in there like "wind the clocks" and "change the furnace filter", to help my aging memory ;) :p . Now I can add "clean the kitty fountain"!

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

I have an older version of the water fountains so it really doesn't hold a lot of water at all. T & P go through the water that's in there in less than 2 days. I've already come down on the second day to find the thing sucking air. :rolleyes: I guess that's a good thing because it means they're drinking, but I'm amazed the thing is still working because I think it said to not let it run dry because it's bad for the motor.

Anyway, because they go through it so fast, I really only disassemble the entire thing for a good cleaning every 2 months or so. It has a charcoal filter on it, so when they do get food crumbs or other "floatables" in it, the filter usually does a good job cleaning it. I add fresh water just about everyday, so the water that's in there isn't getting "stale" at all.

I should probably do it more often, but like Amberlee says, when I do clean it, they don't seem to use it again for awhile. Just like as soon as I clean up the food they drop on the floor around their dishes they immediately drop more there so I think they prefer it that way. ;) :rolleyes: :D

Here's a picture of Tubby drinking out of it. As you can see, no resevoir at all. :(
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid50/pd89d1951257c32acdfc0971aa5c06eab/fcabe3e0.jpg
And while I'm at it, here they are eating. Notice the one or two pieces of food on the floor. Guess this was right after I got done cleaning. :rolleyes:
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid50/p38dd3aab22ad8de5a7502c8059b9aae6/fcabe3e1.jpg

[All Creatures Great And Small]

Hee hee - I love that picture of the "bookend" kitties by their bowls!

[NoahsMommy]

We add water to it everyday, in the part they actually drink from.

We tear it apart and add a new charcoal filter thing once a month.

Noah likes to drink from where the water comes out too, they are too cute! :)

[krazyaboutkatz]

I have the drinkwell kind with the six cup resevoir on it. Sunny loves it and is the main one that uses it. I take it apart and clean it every week. I use bottled water in it because I have very hard water and the directions said that this could be hard on the motor. I also fill up the resevoir only once a week so I don't waste any water. Since Sunny has had feline acne, I have to make sure that it's kept very clean. Here's a picture of him drinking from it. He likes to drink from the fountain part although he isn't in this picture.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid29/pe6a4b659425065ac6f26e42bb612451b/fd5c12f1.jpg

[moosmom]

I have a decorative "rock" fountain that my friend gave me last year for Christmas. The cats seem to think that it's their own personal drinking fountain. So, I keep it near their water dish and use filtered water. The only problem now is it's developed a leak somewhere so I have to keep adding filtered water to it. I might just break down and get a drinkwell fountain with the reservoir. I tried a cheaper brand from one of those "gadget" catalogs and got what I paid for. Live and learn.

[lynnestankard]

Yes - these three adore their fountain that I brought back last year. I take apart and wash it about once a week - or when the water is full of fur!!
Dan drinks the water as it flows out - the other two lap it from the bowl. Then along comes Tricky (Elizabeth's dog) one slurp and the da**** thing is empty!!! I can't train her NOT to do this!!! :o :eek:

Lynne

[moosmom]

Okay, after I read all the responses, I broke down and bought a kitty drinking fountain from Petco. It was in the Clearance Bin. It's a Petmate Deluxe Fresh Flow. It was marked down from $39.99 to $19.00 because it didn't have a filter! So I bought a filter. It's pretty cool. It has a small water well and is very quiet. I've picked up all the bowls of water around except for this fountain in the hopes that they'll get the idea. So far the only one I've SEEN drink out of it is Moo. I haven't seen anyone else go near it (they must drink out of it at night when I'm sleeping :rolleyes: ) I did put an ice cube in it which DEFINITELY got Eli's attention.

[Edwina's Secretary]

Donna....:D :D :D

Welcome to my club...seeing the fountains on here is what got me to buy one (and I didn't get the discount you did!!!)

Last week after reading about Catsip I bought some of that for Edwina. :rolleyes:

It took a few weeks before Edwina was completely happy with her fountain. But she does drink alot more. Now she even drinks the water as it comes out and it is her only source (NO MORE HUMIDIFIER!)

Where did you find the filters?

(Edwina drank from it in secret for a while too. Wouldn't want us to think she LIKED something!)

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

Originally posted by Edwina's Secretary
Last week after reading about Catsip I bought some of that for Edwina. :rolleyes:


Does this mean that she has turned her little nose up at Cat Sip?!!?? :eek: I'd have to say I wouldn't be surprised because she does have a somewhat.....refined...taste. ;) :D I guess T & P took to it right away because they had always been given regular milk on a steady basis before Tubby started throwing it up everytime we gave it to him. When I saw the Cat Sip I knew Tubby's Saturday morning milk sessions were back for good. :D

But now Lady Edwina, she probably prefers a good Merlot or something....;) :D

[Edwina's Secretary]

She actually LIKED the Cat Sip ---- which is more than can be said for the Temptations, Whiskas, or all that free cat food I brought home from the Pet Show!

I had some difficulty locating Cat Sip -- didn't have it at my regular grocery but.....nothing is too much for Edwina...so I found it at another fancier grocery!

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

Originally posted by Edwina's Secretary
I had some difficulty locating Cat Sip -- didn't have it at my regular grocery but.....nothing is too much for Edwina...so I found it at another fancier grocery!

I just bought some last night - actually stocked up. Jewel had it on sale for something like 3 boxes for $2.00 - which is really cheap. I'm so glad she liked it. :)

[moosmom]

Moo loves milk, ice cream, yogurt, you name it, he'll eat it. I haven't tried Catsip yet (never heard of it till now).

I found the filters at Petco with all the other brands of filters. They come 2 in a pack and need to be changed every 60 ro 90 days. When I first bought it I THOUGHT it was a Drinkwell. But then I realized that Drinkwell's including the reservoir is over $60. I can't afford that right now that's why I chose the other one. Works just as well, even though the water reservoir is smaller than the Drinkwell.

I forgot to mention that they also have ice cream for cats in the frozen food isle!!!

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

Originally posted by moosmom
I forgot to mention that they also have ice cream for cats in the frozen food isle!!!

Near the regular ice cream I presume? I'll have to check that out since ice cream is another favorite of T & P's. Peanut gets so bold with ice cream she will stick her face right in the bowl and start licking. Tubby will do that with anything, but Peanut only does it with ice cream or Key Lime Pie.....yes, Key Lime Pie. I couldn't believe it either, but she is absolutely crazy about it. Ice cream I can understand, but Key Lime pie??!?!?! :eek:

Thanks for the tip Donna. I'll be checking out the ice cream aisle next time I'm at the grocery store. :)

We have a water-fountain like you , and another thingie with a huge reservoir
http://users.pandora.be/bernardgabriels/images/maya%20special%202.jpg

and this is the fountain
http://users.pandora.be/bernardgabriels/images/maya%20en%20fontein.jpg

My cats love it both! Maya drinks right from the fountain too !

[moosmom]

Lut,


That's the same identical fountain I just bought. I like it because it's nice a quiet. The only one I've seen drink out of it is Moo. I was afraid that they wouldn't drink at all if I picked up the water bowls, so I left one big stainless steel bowl down with water just in case.

[Edwina's Secretary]

That's the same fountain I have. I'm proud to say this is one "battle of the wills" I actually won with Edwina. I had both still water and fountain. Finally I just took her bowl away.

Oh sweet victory!

[moosmom]

Ya know Sara, that's a great idea. I think I'll pick the one bowl I left out and see what happens. Thanks!

[NoahsMommy]

We have the Pet Mate Fresh Flow water fountain and were at PetSmart last weekend and saw all the other products they make. We're going to get a litter holder...its kind of like a diaper genie for babies... :) Has anyone seen that? Here's a link: Petmate (http://www.petmate.com/Catalog.plx?ID=1600)

[marysmerrycats]

I saw that littermate at petsmart yesterday, it looks like a nice thing to have, have you bought it? do you like how it works?
I was interested in it but it was $39.00! mmaybe I can get it sometime but not now. for now I will just have to empty the stuff into bags and keep going to the dumpster LOL

I have a water fountain , I bought it a couple years ago, I have not had it in use for a long time, I have been meaning to get it out again for Muffin, since she will NOT drink from anywhere except the faucet, and I told my mother if she put a bowl of filtered water there ,Muffin will drink that, and she does. so there is a bowl of water in the bathroom sink LOL.

does anyone know where I might find a cordless fountain? do they make them? I'm almost sure I remember seeing one in a catalog several months ago and I wanted to get it but I lost the catalog in the move. I just hate to have the cord with the water...
especially with crazy Cassie, she plays with everything!

also- the vet told me that if is bad for cats hearts to drink water that has salt in it, like from a water softener.

[moosmom]

My Dad had a Littermaid when they first came out over 7 years ago. I was not impressed with it at all. The waste container was very small and filled up fast, you can only put a small amount of litter in it or the rake won't sift. For cats who like to dig to China, this is not good. They may have improved it over the years, I don't know.

I want to try the rolling litterbox. But I can't find the super huge one they sell. With the regular one there's not much room for the cat.

When I said put salt in the cats water, I meant a tiny pinch. I doubt that would harm them.

As far as cordless fountains, the only ones I've seen are plastic. I had one for a couple of year. You will the reservoir and then put the well on top. Flip it over and the water trickles down. It only fills up when the water level gets low. They're okay but I couldn't use it anymore because my cats were getting kitty acne from the plastic.

[2kitties]

My boys love the fountain. Plus, I can tell that I'm scooping more often, so that means they're drinking more. Very healthy. I use filtered water and clean it about every week and a half.
It's the drinkwell fountain. The directions say to clean it ever 2 weeks, but with two cats, there is just too much hair to wait that long.

About catsip- its a favorite at our house. I highly recommend it. The grocery here sells it for about 75 cents.

A friend of mine buys the baby kitten milk and freezes it in little tiny tiny ice cube trays. Then gives her cat one tiny cube a day. It's like kitty ice cream, I suppose.

[moosmom]

2kitties,

I also give my cats filtered water. I have a PUR filter on my kitchen faucet. It's definitely paid for itself. I also keep a 6 gallon jug with a spout in my fridge filled with the stuff.

[marysmerrycats]

Moosmom
I didn't mean the pinch of salt was going to harm your cats, I meant that continuous use of saltwater is bad for them, just to let you know. I didn't know and wanted to share the info.:)

[moosmom]

Mary,

Oh, okay now I get it. Thanks for setting me straight. ;)

[gini]

This thread has been interesting to me because I don't have a fountain.

Rascal gets filtered water from the fridge - and he just loves cold water and ice cubes. He gets a new, fresh bowl every day.

But having a fountain would be great - have to find a convenient outlet in my old house though.

I keep a small trash can and a plastic bag near his litter box. I have been using the Arm & Hammer Super Scoop - but he still makes a mess. I liked the "digging to China" comment. Yup, sounds too familiar. And is that stuff heavy!!

Thanks for the fountain comments everyone!