My cat won't drink from his new fountain?

BonitaBaby

Emotional Support Cat "Owner"
Alpha Cat
Joined
Sep 15, 2014
Messages
654
Purraise
351
Location
California
I bought my cat a Catit water softening fountain because we have hard water, but she won't drink from it. Unfortunately, I didn't think of returning it until it was too late. She also didn't like the other water fountain I got her, but she did used to drink out of the cheaper water cooler bowl ones that don't have a filter. Come to think of it, I should look into seeing if they sell ones with filters. But if your cat doesn't like the new water fountain, it's likely just that type of design and you might have to try other ones or do things like the OP did with cleaning it and dropping treats in, which I'm going to try myself today! What I did do was pick my cat up so she could clearly see the top of the water fountain and then I stuck one of her paws in the water, but she still wasn't interested. =/

As for wet food, some cats just won't eat it. I've watched my cat choose to starve for 2-3 days with 4 types of cat kibble out and wet food because she only wanted that 5th cat kibble that ran out. She is petite but even when she was eating wet food, she would only eat about 1/8 of a small can. Maybe even less. The only time she ate 3/4 of a small can was the very first time she tried Iams kitten pate. After that, she ate about 1/3, then 1/4, then 1/8. These are the small cans. Even with new wet foods, she would start off eating only 1/8 if she was willing to eat a flavor. Mostly, she sniffs the wet food and then walks away, even if there's no dry kibble and I know she's hungry.

Recently, I've tried new brands, the old brands she used to eat, FreshPet refrigerated cat food, different flavors of freeze-dried raw food, putting Fortiflora on top of the wet food, crumbled treats or treats on top, freeze-dried on top, but none of these work. Fortiflora used to work, but only for a short while. Crumbled Vet's Best also used to work, but not anymore. When she will eat wet food, it is probably 1 tsp only. And I know for sure she will choose to starve, so that's great that many posters on here manage to transition their cats to wet food, but that's not going to work for some cat owners. Yes, I could cook for her and try that, but I hardly cook for myself. I do mean to try it, but knowing her, she would only eat the different things for a short while and then completely stop, even if I tried rotating flavors like I have. Sorry for a long post, but wet food is just not for some cats, especially all-wet.

It's like humans. Many humans, if hungry, will eat what's in front of them. Some, even if starving, will not eat anything from a buffet unless there is something they want to eat. I understand my kitty because she's like me. I used to go out to dim sum as a child and I would sit there hungry because everything looked and smelled repulsive to me. I'd have to wait to dinner to eat a little something. If forced to, I would have eventually taken a small bite just to get by. When I go to cheap buffets with my family, I hardly eat while they feast away. Some people and some cats are just extremely picky, finicky eaters.
 
Last edited:

kitlit

TCS Member
Young Cat
Joined
Jul 2, 2015
Messages
49
Purraise
1
Perhaps the carbon filter is the issue If you are dilligent about cleaning your unit at least every other day, you may be able to bypass the use of a filter. I clean my cats (static) metal water bowl twice daily, so they are used to fresh water. I am trying a second fountain and will keep it turned off for a few days to see if my 3 cats will accept it. They don't like getting their whiskers wet, so an active water stream is a problem for us. Providing clean, filtered water in a static dish several times a day may be more important than using a pet fountain. It may just be a marketing ploy.
 

wannahelp

TCS Member
Alpha Cat
Joined
Mar 12, 2013
Messages
474
Purraise
132
My cats never drink from the faucet. They eat wet food but I'm concerned that they may not be drinking enough water. I purchased a fountain recently and, while they've approached it, they will not drink from it.

I got down on my hands and knees to show them but it didn't help. I did rinse the filter prior to use, as the directions advised. I don't think the flow is too strong.  Are there any tips/techniques for getting them to use it?
 

kittens mom

Kittens life was lost to a negligent veterinarian.
Top Cat
Joined
Aug 27, 2015
Messages
6,198
Purraise
3,964
Location
Moriarty, New Mexico
 
3 days ago I got my kitty a Drinkwell Platinum fountain because recently he's became a faucet cat. He loves drinking from the tub faucet. The first day I set this fountain up, he immediately went to it and drank from it no problems. Now he turns his nose up at it and I haven't seen him drink from it since. I don't understand why because it's not loud, the water isn't dirty, and it comes out like a stream and I figured he loves streams.

This is so depressing! I thought he'd love drinking from this fountain.

Every time I turn on the faucet now, he comes running like he hasn't drank in weeks. I don't want to keep turning the faucet on for him (I only do it when I'm about to go to bed), but I also don't want him to dehydrate! He's on an all dry diet (won't eat wet food) so water is important.

I don't know what I should do now. I really don't want to pack it up and return it after only 3 days, but I just don't know what I should do.
If you read the destructions you'll see that most recommend turning the fountain off if the cat won't drink from it. It took Mook almost a month to accept the bubby thing and now it's her first choice. I sat mine on a thick kitchen floor mat that reduced the vibration to zero. I keep a second water source available at all times. If you want to return it there are several variations on fountains for cats and dogs on amazon you can check out. Several recirculate but don't really have a fountain.
 
Last edited:

kitlit

TCS Member
Young Cat
Joined
Jul 2, 2015
Messages
49
Purraise
1
I am trying to transition my cats to a fountain as well. I am starting with the pump shut off as recommended.If they don't use it in a week, it's getting returned. It may be more important to offer filtered water in pristine stainless bowls twice daily. Perhaps this fountain thing is an unnecessary marketing ploy.
 

kittens mom

Kittens life was lost to a negligent veterinarian.
Top Cat
Joined
Aug 27, 2015
Messages
6,198
Purraise
3,964
Location
Moriarty, New Mexico
I am trying to transition my cats to a fountain as well. I am starting with the pump shut off as recommended.If they don't use it in a week, it's getting returned. It may be more important to offer filtered water in pristine stainless bowls twice daily. Perhaps this fountain thing is an unnecessary marketing ploy.
My cats choose the water fountain over bowls of water now. Fresh filtered aerated water is a good thing. There are recirculating bowls that do not bubble. That said there is nothing wrong with changing your cats water several times a day. I did it for years.
 

kitlit

TCS Member
Young Cat
Joined
Jul 2, 2015
Messages
49
Purraise
1
Which products are you using? I prefer a stainless steel bowl. Am in a quandry! Thanks.
 

wannahelp

TCS Member
Alpha Cat
Joined
Mar 12, 2013
Messages
474
Purraise
132
 
My cats choose the water fountain over bowls of water now. Fresh filtered aerated water is a good thing. There are recirculating bowls that do not bubble. That said there is nothing wrong with changing your cats water several times a day. I did it for years.
Can you post a pic of one of those bowls?
 

kittens mom

Kittens life was lost to a negligent veterinarian.
Top Cat
Joined
Aug 27, 2015
Messages
6,198
Purraise
3,964
Location
Moriarty, New Mexico
Catit Design Senses Fountain with Water Softening Cartridge, 3L

Fix for tt- 0059914573 (Not a good practice. Added to accommodate for Pantry brandbyline viewdapter) by Catit

4.1 out of 5 stars 1,008 customer reviews

| 109 answered questions

Price:$24.99 TemplateId:Free_shipping_eligible_inline_display_template & FREE Shipping on orders over $49. Details

In Stock.

We only want padding, if the weblab is on

Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available.
 

kittens mom

Kittens life was lost to a negligent veterinarian.
Top Cat
Joined
Aug 27, 2015
Messages
6,198
Purraise
3,964
Location
Moriarty, New Mexico
For whatever reason I couldn't get the URL. I had both these on my list I ended up buying the fountain I have because a pet store I frequent that is very picky about what they stock keeps this one at all times.
 

kitlit

TCS Member
Young Cat
Joined
Jul 2, 2015
Messages
49
Purraise
1
I have been following the Catit toy line and have also viewed this fountain. It looks like it costructed of plastic.
 

kittens mom

Kittens life was lost to a negligent veterinarian.
Top Cat
Joined
Aug 27, 2015
Messages
6,198
Purraise
3,964
Location
Moriarty, New Mexico
Some of them are. I would make sure it was BPA free. With ceramic you may not know what type of glaze. I won't use ceramic cat food bowls because of that. Stainless is easy to clean and sterilize but I can't find any that just circulate water for a cat that does not like the fountain type.
 

wannahelp

TCS Member
Alpha Cat
Joined
Mar 12, 2013
Messages
474
Purraise
132
Some of them are. I would make sure it was BPA free. With ceramic you may not know what type of glaze. I won't use ceramic cat food bowls because of that. Stainless is easy to clean and sterilize but I can't find any that just circulate water for a cat that does not like the fountain type.
I bought a ceramic fountain because I didn't want plastic.  However, I'm concerned now.  What type of glaze is undesirable and why?
 

kittens mom

Kittens life was lost to a negligent veterinarian.
Top Cat
Joined
Aug 27, 2015
Messages
6,198
Purraise
3,964
Location
Moriarty, New Mexico
 
I bought a ceramic fountain because I didn't want plastic.  However, I'm concerned now.  What type of glaze is undesirable and why?
The concern is that manufacturers might not be using food safe glazes. If your fountain was manufactured in the US you're probably OK. The truth is there was a recall on stainless over radiation from bowls that came from China.
 

kitlit

TCS Member
Young Cat
Joined
Jul 2, 2015
Messages
49
Purraise
1
Thanks. I am considering the Catit Fresh Flow with the stainless steel top.
 
Top