Cats and water fountain problem (kidney, dog, cheap, bladder) - - City-Data Forum

midwestmom · 03-22-2013, 08:57 AM

We have one of those pet fountains that has a 2"x4" filter which is under a lid and near a small opening that the water flows through. There is a little indent sleeve that filter fits into loosely. On two different days I came home to find a puddle and the filter lying on the floor. I figured one of us hadn't put the top lid on right and our cat pulled it out the top before one of us noticed it was crooked and we fixed it. Was considering taping lid on since I doubt munching on a filter is recommended for cats. Today, I went to add water and noticed a curious thing, tears around that little opening. So the mystery is solved, when the filter gets wet it's floppy and they've been pulling it through this 2 inch opening. Filter is right inside opening so water is a steady stream down.

Heck, why knock off the lid when you can have fun clawing it out.

It's been really helpful to get them increase their water intake but I need ideas on how to stop the filter hunting without blocking the water. Not to mention I can't afford a new filter every few days. Fortunately, they seem to like tearing the papery cover off more than messing with the carbon innards. Still, this is not good.

Hopes · 03-22-2013, 09:17 AM

This might sound like a silly question, but does the fountain really need a filter? I'd just toss it if it will operate without it. You fill the fountain with water you would drink or cook with in your kitchen. The cats don't need a special filter on their water bowl. If you feel strongly about filtering your tap water for them, buy one of those brita pitchers and filter it through there before pouring into the water bowl.

edited to add: I just did a google search. The filters are only for filtering and have nothing to do with operating.

Just toss the filter and be done with the problem.

Sonic_Spork · 03-22-2013, 09:22 AM

I've got a filter-fountain (sounds similar but I think mine might be a smaller one, the water outflow opening isn't big enough for a cat to get his paw into.)

So...thoughts...

1. Get a smaller model or one with a smaller opening. Mine was a cheapo "Whisker City" brand (found it at Petsmart.) Don't remember how much I paid but I'm positive it was under $30-40. Probably closer to $25-ish.

2. Get a mesh and screw it over the opening...however this option concerns me because some mesh screens might trap bacteria or rust or cause some kind of an issue. I'd feel the need to replace it from time to time and I'd be concerned with the material it's made of. Like some cats have allergic reactions to plastic, but yet a metal screen material would rust probably. I dunno.

I'm assuming the model you have is constructed out of plastic (mine is.) I know that ceramic is better than plastic for anything a cat is going to eat/drink from but I haven't been ready to shell out the bucks for a ceramic fountian. So I'd take this situation as an opportunity to buy either a new ceramic one if I could afford it, or maybe a smaller plastic model that cats can't reach into to snag the filter out.

Sounds like you have a very clever cat on your hands!

EDIT: Disregard my mention of a mesh, getting rid of the filter is actually a much better idea, as the above poster said.

midwestmom · 03-22-2013, 09:59 AM

Well I sure missed the obvious, thanks Hopes for the google search. I didn't think of trying that. I thought it needed the filter to flow right, which turns out to be wrong. Sonic, screen idea sounds good but I have the same reservations. And they are uh..resourceful so might wiggle that out. Thanks for the info on ceramic, something to consider for later and I'm thinking a great idea to keeping water cooler longer. Out of our budget. One reason I was using filter is because we have very hard water, the plastic has a lot of white mineral deposits though so it probably isn't helping much. Our senior dog had bladder stones so I was thinking it would help prevent them for all our pets. Now that I did google and found out there isn't a relationship between hard water and kidney stones.

I'm guessing part of the fun is that a soaked filter feels a bit like a mouse, only the inside sure is different. Lol

Will take the filter out as a solution. Thanks again

greg42 · 03-22-2013, 11:36 AM

I think you can remove the filter, especially if you change the water often and use filtered water to begin with. I have a Drinkwell Platinum that I've been using without a filter for a few years now. I fill it with water that has come through a faucet mount filter. This works fine, Drinkwell even says the charcoal filter is optional. I'm guessing that most others would be similar. Make sure to clean it all out regularly. And by regularly you are measuring in days or maybe a couple weeks at most, not months.

subject2change · 03-22-2013, 12:48 PM

The Drinkwell states that the carbon filter is for taste ony and isn't necessary. I imagine it's the same for all. We have a pur filter on the kitchen faucet, so I don't use the carbon filters for the fountain.

lplkemc · 03-22-2013, 05:45 PM

We have a big stainless drinkwell 360 fountain. The cats love it much more than the other one that looks like a water slide.

midwestmom · 03-23-2013, 11:01 PM

I was looking at some of the ones mentioned for the future. Ours is plastic I completely empty the water and rinse it every few days and then weekly try to get off the mineral deposits I haven't been able to get rid of the white deposits, especially inside the clear water tank part. I like the idea of stainless to help with that.

CeltickSara · 07-26-2015, 05:27 AM

I use a solution of vinegar and water to run through the water fountains I have for my cats. It works every time. Our area has very hard water and vinegar works on everything. I think I bought the double strength at Walmart but any white vinegar (I buy in gallons) works. For getting off hard water deposits of taps etc I soak in paper towel and wrap it around the taps. My cats seem to prefer the round fountain where the water comes up the center. The next one I get will be the ceramic one. Don't forget to check the pump for build up also. Hope this helps.

Quote:

Originally Posted by midwestmom

I was looking at some of the ones mentioned for the future. Ours is plastic I completely empty the water and rinse it every few days and then weekly try to get off the mineral deposits I haven't been able to get rid of the white deposits, especially inside the clear water tank part. I like the idea of stainless to help with that.