A cat water fountain might be top-of-the-line combatants for dehydration in cats. Cats are sometimes fairly choosy and refuse to drink from stagnant bowls of water that aren’t continuously crammed with contemporary, clear H2O.
A cat water fountain can clear up this by making the water rather more interesting to cats, encouraging them to drink extra, protecting them hydrated and wholesome, and avoiding critical well being problems that may come up after they don’t tackle sufficient fluids.
Cat water fountains are sometimes simply as interesting to cats with a wholesome water consumption, so that they shouldn’t solely be thought-about by homeowners fearful for his or her cats’ fast well being.
Dehydration Well being Points
Dehydration in cats is uncommon however not one thing you’ll be able to ignore. If a cat turns into dehydrated, it may endure critical well being issues much like these in people, together with a shutdown of vital organs and toxicity attributable to a build-up of waste and dangerous micro organism contained in the physique.
Even the signs of dehydration could cause cats to really feel additional unwell after which keep away from consuming, which might have a knock-on impression on their well-being, too. Well being issues change into compounded as cats don’t tackle the vitamins required.
Dehydration is commonly brought on by different sicknesses, that are worsened by the dearth of water. Vomiting and diarrhea are two of the commonest components in feline dehydration. Nonetheless, it may also be brought on by diabetes and renal illness. These situations will, in flip, intensify by way of an absence of fluid consumption.
Indicators of Dehydration
Cat homeowners should monitor their cats for indicators of dehydration, particularly if there are issues over an untouched water bowl.
Some typical indicators of feline dehydration embody a lack of vitality, common panting, and a lack of urge for food or outright refusal to eat. House owners can test their cat’s gums too – when wholesome, the gums will likely be moist, however in dehydrated cats, the gums will likely be dry or cheesy. Sunken eyes are an excessive indication {that a} cat is low on fluids.
There’s a check homeowners can attempt to determine dehydration. They need to gently elevate part of the pores and skin across the shoulders and let it go. When wholesome, the pores and skin will snap again into place pretty rapidly. If it’s gradual, the cat will likely be not less than partially dehydrated. If it stays raised, this means extreme dehydration and veterinary intervention could be the urged path of motion.
Dietary Influence
It’s important to notice cats don’t must drink excessive volumes of water to remain hydrated. Specialists say 3.5 to 4.5 ounces of water per 5lb of physique weight is sufficient. And even then, many cats don’t must actively drink this water to fulfill their wants.
That’s as a result of cats get most of their water content material from their food plan – offered they’re consuming both moist meals or, ideally, uncooked meals. These meals have a excessive water content material and might contribute considerably to a cat’s day by day wants. Nevertheless, they don’t fully negate the necessity for a water bowl or fountain.
As a result of many cats are fed a food plan of dry meals for comfort, they should drink extra from a water bowl. And when the cat is especially choosy, a cat water fountain can change into extraordinarily helpful – though they’re a very good choice for all cats, not simply these on a dry food plan.
Oxygenation of Water
A cat water fountain is precisely the way it sounds – it’s a miniature fountain that gives cats with contemporary, flowing water to drink. And since the water continuously flows, it’s oxygenized – contemporary oxygen is added to it because it bubbles.
This makes the water style rather more refreshing and helps cool it. As a result of the water isn’t fully stagnant, it’s rather more interesting to cats and encourages them to drink. Cats are fascinated with operating water and are drawn to a fountain greater than a easy water bowl.
Some cat water fountains are designed so the cat remains to be consuming from a pool slightly than from the fountain itself – nevertheless it’s nonetheless extra attention-grabbing to cats because the fountain and the motion of the water have freshened it up.
Water Fountain Materials
Cat water fountains are manufactured utilizing completely different supplies, with three major choices – ceramic, steel, and plastic.
Plastic fountains are the least really useful since they will typically harbor micro organism. Plastic cat water fountains and different bowls are often known as one of many main causes of cat zits. They’re the most affordable choices, although.
Steel bowls – usually chrome steel – are strong and higher from a micro organism perspective, however ceramic fountains are the extra premium choices. And since a ceramic pet fountain is heavier, they aren’t pushed round when cats drink from them.
After all, being heavier, they may also be more durable to wash.
Filtered Freshness
Whereas a cat water fountain is designed to encourage cats to drink extra and keep away from dehydration, it presents one other profit – many are filtered and might purify their water.
Fountains will usually have not less than a fundamental filter to seize fur and different particles that falls into the fountain bowl. Cats aren’t the cleanest drinkers, and there’ll at all times be free hairs, cat litter, or meals crumbs that get into the fountain – the filter removes them because the water is cycled again by way of the fountain, serving to to maintain it contemporary.
However extra superior fashions could purify the water extra, encouraging cats to drink and eradicating micro organism.
Noise Issues
One of many potential drawbacks of utilizing a cat water fountain is the noise stage they will generally generate.
Premium cat water fountains are higher – they use pumps with a low noise stage, so when switched on, there could solely be a mild hum within the background, together with the extra pleasing sounds of splashing water from the fountain.
However cheaper cat water fountains, or these made poorly, could have a louder pump. And since choosy cats already could not need to drink, the addition of rumbling noise from the fountain will solely deter them much more.
Cat homeowners ought to swap on a cat water fountain when the cat isn’t round. The sudden noise of a pump kicking into motion can spook the animal. As soon as the cat associates concern with the fountain, they might not need to drink from it.
Easy Upkeep
Some cat water fountains are designed purely with the cat in thoughts. Others additionally think about the human factor, together with upkeep. They’ll have detachable elements which may be dishwasher protected, so cleansing the fountain is way simpler.
That is vital when making an attempt to assist a cat that doesn’t drink sufficient water. If the cat proprietor can’t simply hold the fountain working accurately and freed from meals particles and fur, then the cat isn’t going to be tempted and can nonetheless not be getting hydrated sufficient.
An efficient filter that may be eliminated and emptied with ease, mixed with a bowl that’s easy to scrub and take away any grime or residue, will make the proprietor’s life considerably extra manageable and make sure the fountain is at all times offering contemporary, tasty water that’s extra interesting to a choosy cat.
A number of Cat Households
Many cat water fountains are giant sufficient to comfortably accommodate a number of cats concurrently. House owners with a couple of cat want to make sure the fountain is accessible to all cats since they is probably not keen to attend their flip – which might undermine the makes an attempt to persuade a fussy cat to drink.
Bigger fountains have the house and entry factors for a couple of cat to drink directly. Some will even have multi-directional fountains so cats who take pleasure in lapping on the shifting water aren’t combating for a similar spot.
The choice could be to buy a number of smaller cat water fountains to have obtainable. When cats threat dehydration, it’s typically a good suggestion to supply water in numerous areas across the residence anyway – it reminds the cat of the choice to drink. If it isn’t proud of the location of its most important consuming bowl, it presents different areas which may be quieter or much less hectic.
Cat Water Fountain Prices
The price of a cat water fountain varies relying on the model of fountain chosen. A plastic fountain will likely be cheaper and should price as little as $40-50, whereas one of the best cat fountains constructed from steel or ceramic can price rather more.
House owners additionally must consider the price of any alternative filters. Some filters have a restricted lifespan and have to be swapped out as soon as they’ve been used up. Shopping for a cat fountain could change into a longer-term expense. Nevertheless, it could be a worthwhile funding whether it is bought to assist deal with potential dehydration points.
Many cat homeowners purchase a plastic cat fountain first to attempt it out. Not all cats will take to a water fountain, so shopping for a less expensive mannequin first lets the cat get used to the concept. As soon as it proves well-liked, you’ll be able to improve the water fountain to a premium mannequin that received’t trigger bacterial points like zits.
Jenny is the founding father of Floppycats.com, a web site devoted to uniting (Ragdoll) cat lovers worldwide. Since 2008, Jenny’s no bull-crap and trustworthy method to cat care helps cat homeowners stay extra harmoniously with their kitties.