Cats like running water. Cat owners everywhere know this, mostly based on the fact that *most* cats have a definite preference for drinking out of the toilet bowl and a dripping sink or tub.
Running, filtered water is healthier for your cat. This is inferred by the fact that we know that stagnant water loses its oxygen.
Most water dishes for felines are inherently ugly and serve no real value, as your cat would much rather you left the toilet seat up.
Cat lovers, rejoice! Cats, GET OUT OF MY TOILET!
Enter: The Catit Fresh & Clear Drinking Fountain.
Note: This is NOT a low-maintenance “lazyfolks” cat dish. Unless, of course, you feel like buying a brand new pump every three months. You DO have to clean the pump occasionally (or risk breaking it), you DO have to change the filter (or risk burning out the pump) and you have to refill it about every 4 days. (My experience based on two average sized kitty-cats)
That said, I’ve been hanging out with it for a week now, and had the chance to use it, take it apart, clean it, play with its internal workings, spent some time thinking about my usual round of what-if’s, and having some real one on one time with the dish.
For one thing, I really like the way it looks. The three connected circle design and unique “bubbles” inside both the water dish and fountain dome look really cool in comparison to the usual plastic water dishes. Most people don’t realize when walking in exactly what it is at first glance, which leads to a lot of “Oh cool, what is that thing?” when people notice it. I’ve probably fielded the “Oh cool, where can I get one?” question at least 14 times this week. (I should be working on commission!)
So, although I did need the instruction manual to make sure it was all put together correctly, the directions were easy to follow and the assembly, or un-boxing really, was fairly simple. Unscrew this, remove this plastic, remove this cardboard, turn the spring nozzle to fill. Taking it apart for cleaning was straightforward as well, and although they give you instructions, I didn’t bother with them. Cleaning took 15 minutes at most, and that was doing the maintenance they suggest you do once every three months, rather then the weekly once-over.
So, since I usually break things within the first twenty minutes of opening them, I also had to wonder about that. Many of these are hard to put back together (this one isn’t) and almost impossible to find parts for. A quick search online and I found that the dome, pump, and filters are all readily available on Amazon.com and fairly priced. As well as a silicone mat for keeping it from spilling, sliding on hard floors, and doing other great things that my cats will undoubtedly do.
And the important part, for me at least: My cats actually USE IT, rather then trying to dunk their heads in my toilet. Check them out at
ThinkGeek
