Drinkwell Original Pet Fountain
Every cat owner knows their pet(s) must drink plenty of water for good health. Fresh water is as necessary to your cat's well being as good, nutritious cat food. My two certainly drink lots of water - especially in hot weather. However, stagnate water in bowls loses its freshness fast. It also accumulates cat hairs, dust and debris - not very appetizing. Drinkwell Pet Fountain for Cats encourages pets to drink all the water they need because there's always a supply of clean flowing water. Re-circulating water, with greater exposure to oxygen, provides fresh-tasting, cool, filtered water with lots of health benefits. Encouraging cats to drink more water helps ensure proper kidney function and may decrease the incidence of urinary disease.
The charcoal filter, which is a feature I really like, absorbs bad tastes and odors. The fountain has a six cup capacity, and you can purchase an additional six cup capacity with use of a refill accessory. The additional water supply is wonderful, especially if you go away for the weekend frequently.
The weather has been really warm, recently, in my neck of the woods. I bought my Drinkwell Fountain at the end of April and my cats, Dapple and Max, love it. I still change the water every two days or so, wash the water dish, and I check the water level daily - but that's me. Also, be sure to remove any pet hair that has accumulated near the intake propeller every few days. When the water level is kept above the intake valve, there is no noise except the soothing sound of flowing water.
The cats are also fascinated by the running water, and just hanging out by the water fountain encourages them to drink more. Who knows what they gossip about.
My cat Toby would only drink from a slow running faucet in the bath tub and it was a problem if we wanted to leave him for a couple of days. I got this fountain over 5 years ago and it is still in great running condition. You should do general cleaning about once a week and do a complete cleaning about twice a year. Remove any pet hair that has accumlated near the intake propeller every couple of days with just a swipe of your finger. As long as the water level is kept above the intake valve it is VERY QUIET and soothing. If you don't mind keeping a water dish clean and don't mind doing a little routine maintenance from time to time then this is the water bowl for you. I HIGHLY recommend the water reservoir as the water will last about a week. This is the best price around for this item.
One of my cats loves drinking from the faucet. However, she's older and has been ill, so she can't jump up anymore. Also, she has hyperthyroid and wants to drink a lot even though her blood work and thyroid levels are good. She LOVES this fountain and so does the family. She loves the waterfall flow of the water and it is always so clean. I add a few small pieces of ice, which she loves. Anytime I fill it, she comes right over and drinks.
My other cat didn't use it at first because the older cat "rules" everyone, including the 2 dogs! But eventually, he used it and loves it too.
Some reviewers mentioned the motor noise. The fountain does make an annoying noise when it is not filled with enough water. I have to add water several times a day, so I just bought the reservoir.
The price is fantastic!!! I'd also recommend getting the reservoir and the cleaning brushes. We only need to clean it about every 2 weeks and it's easy. A GREAT PRODUCT!
