4 Reasons Your Cat Needs a Water Fountain - Enter to win a Petmate Fresh Flow Rain Fountain

To buy a fountain, or not to buy a fountain? I’ve heard this question from cat owners pop up many times over the years. Some reasons I’ve heard for not purchasing a fountain include not wanting spend extra money (some can have a higher price point, but there are many affordable options), dreading cleaning it weekly (it’s really not all that bad – I promise!), or not understanding the benefits of having a fountain. Here are four reasons your cat should have a water fountain.

Four Reasons Your Cat Needs a Water Fountain

1.  Cats Prefer Moving Water 

A cats’ natural instincts tell them that standing water may not be safe. In the outdoors, standing water can be a breeding ground for bacteria and can potentially make wild cats very ill. Cats are naturally drawn to running water because they know it’s safer. Does your cat enjoy drinking from the faucet? This is probably the reason.

Does your cat paw at her bowl before she drinks? Lexy does. She likes to make sure the water is moving before she drinks. 

2.  Cats Hear Running Water Better Than They can see Still Water

Many people are unaware that cats have fairly poor depth perception, and that they have a blind spot right in front of their nose (that’s why they can’t see the treat I put down right in front of them!) This makes it difficult for them to detect the water level in the bowl without getting a nose full of water.

This is another reason your cat may move her water bowl before drinking – so she can see where the water actually is! On more than one occasion I’ve witnessed Lexy stick her face in a bowl of water and come out sneezing.

Cats may have poor depth perception, but they have a keen sense of hearing, thus it is easier for them to detect a running water source versus a still bowl. They will be lured to the sound of running water quicker than they will be to a sitting bowl of water. 

3.  Water From a Fountain is Cooler and Tastes Better

Water in a fountain is constantly being pumped through a filter which causes it to be more oxygenated. This means your cat’s water is cleaner and tastes much fresher. It also smells better, which is appealing to your cat’s strong sense of smell.

4.  Fountains Entice Cats to Drink More

We all know our cats are obligate carnivores, and in the wild they get most of their water from their diet. However, our domesticated cats may not have as much water content in their menus. Making sure your cat is properly hydrated can help prevent urinary tract infections and urinary disease and aids with temperature regulation and energy levels. Several months ago, Lola has abnormal urinalysis results, which made me very nervous. I took steps to make sure she was drinking enough and even set up a second fountain in the house. I was very happy when her follow-up urinalysis came back normal. If you feel your cat isn't drinking enough, try setting up a fountain

Fresh Flow Rain Fountain by Petmate

If you're wondering what kind of fountain to buy, or you're looking for a new fountain, give the Fresh Flow Rain Fountain by Petmate a try! My favorite thing about this fountain is that it's battery operated. I know, you're probably wondering how often you're going to have to change batteries and you're already convinced not to buy it. Don't let the fact that it's battery operated deter you! Due to the innovative patent pending water flow design, the batteries will last for months. I've had the fountain set up for two months and the batteries are still going strong. 

The set up was easy. First, you insert four D batteries into the base. Then assemble the rest of the unit...

...attach the base to the bowl. and slide the water chamber onto the base. 

All that's left to do is fill it with water. Make sure you fill it when the water chamber is empty, or it will be overfilled and you will have a mini flood. 

Here's a short instructional video on setting it up. 

When the pump begins to run, water is drawn from the bowl up through the tube and filter to the top of the lid, creating a second drinking area. Once water reaches the top, it "rains" down the inside of the water chamber. As the water fills the water chamber, the water streams from the front nozzle and refills the bowl creating a rain like flow. The cycle re-starts every 20 minutes. 

I was initially a little worried that the rain sound would be too loud for Lola, who tends to by my skittish kitty. I was happy to discover it was not very loud at all, and actually quite calming. The sound of the rain and the flowing water attract your cat, thus enticing them to drink. 

As I said earlier, I love that it's battery operated. I tend to be a worrier, so when I go away I always unplug the fountain and leave water bowls out, which my sitter cleans daily. I'm afraid the girls will knock the fountain over, flooding the living room and shorting out electrical equipment. When I'm away I wonder if Lexy and Lola are drinking enough water because they miss their fountain. I recently went on a four night mini-vacation, and left the Fresh Flow Rain Fountain on. Since it doesn't have to be plugged in, I was able to move the unit to an area of the house that was not near any electrical equipment so I didn't have to worry if it somehow got knocked over. I was happy that my girls had fresh, flowing, filtered water whenever they needed a drink. And I didn't have to worry about them not being hydrated enough. 

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Fresh Flow Rain Fountain Features: 

• Fountain can be placed anywhere in your home. 
• Batteries will last for months because of the innovative patent pending water flow design. 
• Two different types of water flow create noise that attracts cats. 
• Lid allows water to pool at the top, creating a second drinking area. 
• 75-ounce capacity. 
• Dimensions: 12.9 X 10" X 9.2"
• Weight: 2 pounds

Lola likes to drink from the bowl of a fountain, and Lexy likes to drink from the top. They both love the Fresh Flow Rain Fountain because it suits both of their preferences. 

And with a large bowl, Lola has plenty of room for her whiskers. 

I hate when my whiskers touch the bowl! 

Thanks to the generosity of the folks at Petmate, one of our lucky readers will win a Fresh Flow Rain Fountain of their very own.  Just enter via the Rafflecopter below. The giveaway is open to US residents 18+ years of age except where prohibited by law. The winner will be selected randomly by Rafflecopter and contacted via email and will have 48 hours to claim their prize. Failure to do so will result in forfeiture of the prize, and a new winner will be randomly selected by Rafflecopter. The giveaway closes on Friday, August 24th at 12 Midnight Eastern.

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Does your cat enjoy drinking from a fountain? 

Dawn