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How do I get my cat to drink from a new water fountain? (lemm.ee)

submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Edit: I found an infinite water hack by holding a tube of Churu, a treat that's like crack for him above the water so he was forced to get water with each lick. I would stop squeezing the tube and he would continue to lick for a few seconds, not realizing he wasn't getting any Churu. After walking away I saw him taking a few licks out of the bowl. So fingers crossed he starts using it himself now.

He's had a plastic water fountain for more than a year that he instantly started drinking from. It's starting to get a bit grimy and the pump is failing so I bought him a new stainless steel one and swapped the old one with it.

He stopped drinking water for a day before I put the old one back. They're both running and now he only uses the old one. Is it safe to just take the old one away again so he'll be forced to use it when he gets thirsty enough? I'm guessing he won't just refuse to drink until he dies?? I'm worried about health problems if he doesn't drink for a day or two. He's 2 years old and otherwise healthy.

I know he's fine with the new water taste because he'll drink it out of a spoon (and he sees where it comes from), and I even put some on the flat side part of the stainless steel fountain and he licked that up. He just won't drink out of the flowing bowl. I also turned the water flow off and put catnip in the water, and he tried to knock it out with his paw but wouldn't directly drink from it.

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Firstly... thank you thank you thank you for being such a good cat parent!

Cats are super finicky; mine would only drink from a wide casserole dish, because his whiskers brush against the sides of all other bowls/fountains. Some cats don't like stainless steel bowls (possibly the way the water edge blends with the steel side?); figures since it's healthier for them. Is the shape of the bowl itself or the way water flows different? Does it have a different filter compared to the previous fountain?

If none of those are the case, you could try running the new fountain for 24hrs to see if the water flow helps wash away any lingering funky factory smells.

You could also try a more gradual transition; kitties get fussier as they get older, even if he is still technically young. Perhaps turn the old fountain off, but leave it beside the new fountain (both with water) and see what he goes to. Then eventually keep the water out of the old fountain, but leave it beside the new one so aid in comfort and guidance.

Also, keeping the water away from their food is recommended.

Over all, I wouldn't let your kitty go without water for more than 24hrs. If he still won't shift over to the new bowl, you can always try switching the old fountain component out for the new one, or buy a fountain component replacement online.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Thanks! It's actually a completely different fountain and spout type. The old one is a flower thing with no actual bowl, this one just comes out of a spout into a bowl. Last time I actually put the old one beside the new one and turned it off, and he would just lick the old water droplets off the spout 😓 but I'll give it one more try and hopefully he'll switch over.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I had a pump water fountain for my cat. It was a pain to clean, and I could tell that if it wasn't clean, she wouldn't drink from it.

I learned that cats like their water to be higher up from their food, and so I instead got a large glass tupperware and put it up on the counter. She had no issues drinking from it. As a bonus, it was easy to clean and fill!

At my new place, it's in the windowsill above my bed. Her food is in the hallway, about 20 feet away. She's had no issues and has been drinking her water.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Interesting, maybe I'll try putting it up higher somewhere

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Act like it's the worst thing in the world and that you hate it. Kidding...

Maybe try putting it in another place in the house and then swapping it when he gets used to it? My cats like having choices and it helps when I need to clean one.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

Maybe I'll start pretending to get mad at him for using it since cats want to be assholes like that 😅

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

You could withdraw the old fountain, but also leave out a bowl or two of water. it's unlikely the cat will refuse to drink entirely to the point of harm.

is it possible the new one makes a weird sound or something?