cat fountains

[aimeekitty]

so we got a cat water fountain for Youta. But it's been a few days now and I've never actually SEEN him drinking out of it. we set out his old dish next to it, just in case (I dont want him to get dehydrated)

Also, I HAVE seen him drinking out of the toilet.

Should I worry? Is there any way I can encourage him to drink out of the fountain? it's one of those no-splash ones, so frankly, I'm surprised that he doesnt seem to drink out of it... *_*

Comments

[columbine.livejournal.com]

Whenever I want my cat to do something, I usually force the issue by locking him up in a room with it. I had to do this with potty training, I assume it'll work the same way with the water fountain... but then cats are stubborn at times and Youta just might not like that fountain...

[aimeekitty.livejournal.com]

I dont want to risk him getting a urinary tract infection (which can be at least partially caused by not drinking enough water)

[darkandlight.livejournal.com]

Loki loves when i turn the faucet on for him... I bet your kitty will take to it fine... maybe put another waterdish somewhere else until you see him drinking out of the fountain.

[bonegoddess.livejournal.com]

I got my cat one of those. I stopped his toilet habits by always putting the toilet seat down on every toilet.

if the fountain is his only water source, he'll eventually drink from it.


heh

[bonegoddess.livejournal.com]

also, if he refuses to drink, get him wet.

he'll lick the water off.

[aimeekitty.livejournal.com]

hrrrrrrrrrrrm

[karlyl.livejournal.com]

Sometimes it takes a little bit for the cat to start drinking from the fountain -- you can make it his only water source, and that will at least get him started -- he will drink when he gets thirsty enough. My cat Tiggs was freaked out by the fountain for two weeks before he stuck a paw in it and then he spent another few weeks trying to bite the water. I kept all the toilet seats down so he's have to drink from the fountain and eventually he did. Good luck!

[arletta.livejournal.com]

What brand is it? Is it loud?

[aimeekitty.livejournal.com]

it's silent... I dont notice a noise

[ajmeow.livejournal.com]

Definitely keep his old bowl out just in case. Maybe walk him over to it and show him its just water?

Some cats just don't like the newfangled stuff. Despite having an auto-cleaning box for years, the kids still prefer the traditional manual cleaning box much to my dismay. =P

Maybe just shut the toilet covers and let him drink out of whatever he wants? I can just see yoyo falling in if he tried that. Youta is way more coordinated. =D

[angryogre.livejournal.com]

My friend's cats had the exact same reaction. They were weirded out by it I guess. After they removed other sources of water for the cats they mustered enough bravery to drink from the fountain.

[columbine.livejournal.com]

I think Youta needs to get used to the fountain as a water source... confinement with the fountain as well as your supervision will at least discover if she's using it. Urinary Tract infection doesn’t come in one day. It’s worth a shot to see… especially if there is a day when you are going to be in a room all day anyway. But for the time being leave the extra water bowl out if you’re really worried.

[taeha.livejournal.com]

I'm sure he'll get used to it. Our cat has one. She likes it. We thought she'd be in love with it, since she loves when there's a dripping faucet so much.

Also, lookit this!
http://www.boingboing.net/2006/12/19/cosplay_restaurant_i.html

[aimeekitty.livejournal.com]

haha, they have those in Japan, MAID CAFE!

[mykgerard.livejournal.com]

Is it one of those ones with the filter on it? I have a friend that bought one of those, but stopped using the filters cause they were expensive. I think these things are a great idea. If the cat drinks out of the toilet perhaps it likes the water cold... I used to have a cat named beans that didn't like to drink from her water unless I put it in another place other than where her food was. It was like she wanted to feel like she found her water source to appease her natural instincts.

[ashbet]

Zuul especially loves our kitty-fountain . . . we have the office-water-cooler style, which bubbles when it refills . . . does yours have any kind of motor? Maybe Youta is afraid of some type of noise or bubbling that it makes?

They were terrified of the auto-litterbox, so we wound up abandoning that idea. Hopefully Youta can get used to the fountain, but it's possible that he may prefer his usual bowl (or the toilet, heh, that's cats for you!)

Good luck!

-- A <3