Choosing the right water bowl for your cat

Once you know that drinking more water is important to your cat’s health and that water fountains are a great way to encourage your cat to drink more water, the next step is to decide which fountain is right for your cat.

The two main considerations when choosing a brand and model are what the cat waterer is made of and how your cat prefers to drink. We’ll look at these two items in more detail so you can choose the right font for your cat.

Construction of water fountains for cats

cat water fountains they are made of plastic, stainless steel or ceramic. There are even differences within fountains made from plastic, as some are made from cheap plastics that scratch easily and others are made from better quality, higher quality plastics that are more durable.

In general, we strongly recommend that you buy a pan that is made of ceramic or stainless steel and avoid pans that are made of plastic. All cat water fountains have a plastic construction, usually around the pump or motor housing. The important thing is to avoid fountains that have plastic bowls or drinking surfaces; anywhere your cat’s fur can touch it. There are many reasons for this.

First of all, some cats can have a severe skin reaction to plastics. It’s unclear if this is due to a direct allergy to the plastic itself, or due to bacterial and fungal toxins that can harbor in scratches on the plastic. In either case, reactions can range from mild skin irritation, usually on the chin (known as chin acne), to deep-seated infections that require cleaning and antibiotics.

Second, it is almost impossible to prevent scratches from occurring on the plastic. Higher quality plastics (found in more expensive plastic sources) are more scratch resistant, but over time thorough cleaning will produce micro scratches, allowing a foothold for bacterial growth. Mold and bacterial growth can produce bad odors that can cause your cat to avoid the source.

There is no point in buying a fountain for your cat’s health if it causes health problems or if your cat avoids drinking from it.

Cat waterer design

The next, equally important consideration is font design. There are 2 main types of fountains, those with water flowing down the side of the fountain to meet a large pool (such as the Pioneer Pet models) and those with a falling jet design, similar to water flowing from your sink or bathtub faucet (Drinkwell 360 models).

Does your cat prefer to drink from puddles, large bowls or flat surfaces? If so, choose a model with a large pool, such as Pioneer’s pet models, available in both ceramic and stainless steel. However, if your cat is always on your countertop or bathtub begging you to turn on the faucet, the Drinkwell 360 stainless steel model is for you.

Considerations for multi-cat households

Many people have more than one cat, and those cats may have different drinking preferences. If you have one cat that loves the faucet and one that loves to drink from flat surfaces, unfortunately there isn’t a ceramic or stainless steel model that’s right for both cats. For the health of all your cats, we recommend that you purchase a ceramic or stainless steel model of each type. If you absolutely can’t do that, then the Drinkwell Platinum model may be a reasonable compromise. Although it is made of high-quality plastic, it is still plastic, so keep that in mind if you choose this font.

Summary

Consider the Drinkwell 360 in stainless steel if your cat loves to drink from the faucet or tub. Choose a Pioneer Pet Raindrop Design fountain if your cat prefers to drink from flat surfaces.

If possible, for your cat’s health and for the freshest, cleanest water, always choose a ceramic or stainless steel fountain.