My cat only drinks from a dripping tap, never from a bowl, and because we're now on a water meter, and also because the constant dripping (not permanent but for a fair part of the day) had started to mark the bath, I bought a water fountain.

It's really nice, lots of water circulating, quiet motor, etc. She couldn't be less impressed with it!

I hoped that after a few days she might investigate, but no, not that I've noticed anyway. I picked her up and put her in frotn of it but she just flicked her tail and walked away. This is a cat who is nosey about EVERYTHING but she's totally ignoring the fountain! She just calls me to turn on the bathroom tap, and I can't not because I don't want her to get dehydrated.

I'm seriously considering drinking from it myself in front of her so she gets the idea, but I don't really want to Any ideas?

Is she an indoor cat? It could be she drinks from puddles etc outside if she isn't. I'm not sure cats do get de-hydrated if they have water available, remember they evolved in savanna Africa so need less water than other animals.
I've seen my cat drink from the tap and the loo but she also drinks from her water bowl (non motorised).

We have three cats and we provide a bowl of water that gets refreshed at every meal (4 times) and still I go in to the garden and at least one of them will be licking from some puddle as if it was last drop of water they will ever see. You could try to associate the fountain with things your cat is fond of as perhaps she is not sure of what the noise is and thinks it might be a danger. Put her favourite toy or a cat nip pouch next to it so that the noise will be less important to her. Bottled water may smell better to her, not the fizzy one though, sorry couldn't help that one.

I had one but they wouldn't go near it. They hated the vibrations on the floor. They like the gravity feeder though.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Stainless-St.../dp/B005DJTQHQ

I didn't pay that for it though!

I did resort to getting on the floor and drinking from the fountain before my dog would go near it. He still wasn't keen though and prefers to drink from the rainwater collected outside in various pots.

PLEASE DON'T SAY HOW YOU DID TOILET TRAINING.

I am sure I read about someone reported by neigbourhood watch for cocking their leg up lamposts.


Mine love their fountain but were funny at first, I thought about the vibration and put a towel underneath so it absorbed any noise tc .

i'm still yet to see either of my two drink any water whatsoever - from their bowls (which i relentlessly renew) or outside. But as time's gone on i'm more relaxed about them meeting their needs and buy into the concept that they know whats best for themselves and the waters there if they need it.

I would love to try a water fountain but the prospect of shelling out £20+ with zero evidence that either of them even like water at all is a bit of an expensive leap of faith to go with at the moment !

I had one for my dogs, my late cat loved it but after my dogs passed I threw it out. My remaining cat will only drink out of the dripping tap or from any puddles in the bath.

As I posted above I do see mine drink, she has a daily 50/50 mix of dry and wet food. Our old family cat only had wet food and we never saw him drink water - only occasional evaporated milk that had congealed in his bowl for a couple of days

I bought one (a fountain), but it's now back in its box. My cat is fed dry food and happily drinks from a small glass bowl.

I was told by a vet who is into behavioural stuff, that a cat prefers a drinking bowl it can see through - something to do with seeing where the level is. I don't know how true that is, though!