Kitteh owners...So I go out and buy this 30.00 water fountain style watering dish for my cats.......

[carlyhippy]

One gets bladder stones, and after his surgery needs to drink filtered clean water. He is not a water drinker, so I thought this may encourage it (and it says so on the box dish's box). Welllll.....he wont drink out of it, doesn't like the noise it makes x(

The 10-week old kitten we adopted seems to think it's a water park, she walks out of the kitchen, needing to be toweled off haha.

Oh well, such as life, how am I gonna get my poor little guy to drink more water, any suggsetions???

[gvstn]

1. My cat is not a big drinker either

I have always wanted to try a fountain but between the $60.00 I usually see them sold for and the lack of an outlet at floor level I've put it off. The noise was one consideration I thought about as well but I thought I had seen "silent" ones somewhere. Sorry, the experiment hasn't worked for you. :(

I know my cat purposefully drops a piece or two of dry cat food in his water. Maybe you could try that and see if it entices him at all.

***
I don't know if bladder stones are like kidney stones or not. But when my cat who went crazy for Cat Chow when I picked up a box because the supermarket was out of the Iams I had been feeding him for a year I told the vet about switching foods. The vet was no fan of Cat Chow because of the fat content but my cat was not having anymore of the Iams. So the vet said if you are going to feed him Cat Chow get the Purina One urinary tract variety. He said any male neutered cat should be eating urinary tract formulas because the adjusted Ph would help limit problems. Not sure if this relates to your cat's problems but thought I'd mention it.

[carlyhippy]

7. My little guy has been eating C/D prescription food for the past year

The vet is going to send off the stones to University of Minnesota for analysis to see what the stones are made up of, we probably need to switch to another prescription formula for him.

He eats wet food 2 times a day, it's strange because I give the other 2 cats regular canned food, and the baby seems to love the c/d food over her food.

He's a 5 year old neutered male. I sure hope that we are able to keep these stones from coming back, he is so used to antibiotics he doesn't even flinch when we give it to him. I am willing to do whatever it takes to keep them from coming back.

[REP]

23. Have you tried Royal Canin SO diet?

My cats get struvite stones - or rather got them, until they started eating Royal Canin SO. One cat had $10K worth of survgery and nearly bled to death from stone complications, so I'm very happy that they like it and that it works. It's prescription, and Petsmart carries it (you need a Rx from your vet).

[carlyhippy]

27. I will ask the vet about that tomorrow

She had mentioned something about Royal prescription food. I hope this will be his only surgery, had I had the money I would have taken him to University of Minnesota Vet Sciences and had the stones sonic blasted or whatever the procedure is called, I am nervous about him being cut open. This c/d is just not doing it for my little one. Thanks

[REP]

45. It's a much better food than Science Diet and cats LOVE it

The dry food is far less chemical-laden than the Science Diet, and even though the Royal Canin has corn in it, it hasn't caused problems for my cats who are usually corn-sensitive (not allergic or anything, but a lot of corn makes them barf).

Knock wood, but since starting the SO, neither boy has had another near-blockage or cystitis, and I haven't had to give them any prednisolone or other bladder drugs. I free-feed 4 Maine Coons the 16 Lb bag for a month, so it does last despite how much they love the food.

[Gormy Cuss]

2. Feed him mostly wet food.

There's a high liquid content in canned food.

eta: my cat eats the Hills C/D too (he has a history of struvite crystal formation.)
I add water to it and he laps it up. He won't touch water in a separate bowl.

[carlyhippy]

8. He eats prescription diet canned food 2 times a day

He used to drink the milk from my cereal, but I was told that milk encourages stone formation, so that was over. He has some c/d prescription diet dry food, but he would rather eat the purina hairball formula that I feed the other cat, or the kitten chow that I feed the baby.

[Gormy Cuss]

11. Aargh... just edited.

Mix in about a teaspoon of water to his canned food at each meal. It works for my cat (see edit.)

[carlyhippy]

13. I will try that tonite at his dinnertime!

Thanks.

[Flaxbee]

22. that's what I was going to suggest, too -- add some water

to his regular moist food. Not so much it's all runny and gross, but enough to not change the flavor and only minimally change the texture.

Be careful of the gravy treats because of preservatives and salt ...

[skygazer]

49. Oooh, that's a good idea!

I clicked on this thread because my cat has just been diagnosed as being in the early stages of kidney disease. I tried the fountain waterer but he doesn't drink out of it and the noise drove me bonkers!

He's always preferred dry food so it's been an uphill battle to get him to eat canned. He does lick the juice off it so maybe some water would encourage him to drink more.

Cats! I sometimes feel like I spend a good percentage of my life following him around and catering to his every whim!

[carlyhippy]

53. LOL I spend alot of my day catering to my cats, I am their staff ha

but cats are such sweet babies, who wouldn't want to spoil them?

[WolverineDG]

61. Baby food works too

I lost a furkid 2 years ago to kidney disease, but she held on for a couple of months because the vet gave her subQ fluids. She wouldn't let me give them to her at home. Anyway, in addition to canned food, the vet suggested I feed her baby food as well, for the moisture content. It has a strong smell & cats won't eat anything they can't smell. (and erk, does it ever!) My vet did prescribed the kidney cat food (c/d?) but my kid wouldn't touch it. The other cats, however, thought it was great. :eyes:

dg

[carlyhippy]

63. I feed mine c/d, he's been on it for so long I guess he has gotten used to it

the old cat doesnt like it, but the kitten likes it, and she probably shouldn't be eating it. So at my house it's 3 cats with 3 different cat foods

[tammywammy]

3. I have a fountain

My Mia loves to make water splash she decided a few years ago. I had always just used a tupperware bowl for water, then she discovered splashing. I'd wake up in the morning with water all over my kitchen floors. I tried various bowls, including rubber bottomed, and ended up with a fountain. It's too heavy for her to move around.

My cats took to it immediately.

Maybe you can up the amount of wet food your cat eats to help with water intake. My mom's cat used to get bladder stones, but we just put her on some sort of special food the vet sells for bladder issues.

Edited to add: Mom's cat didn't need surgery as her's went away. I remember that we increased the amount of wet food that was also sold by the vet as well as supplemented with special dry food.

[carlyhippy]

10. That is great that your mom's cat didn't need surgery!

I wish my guy didn't need to have surgery. He has been on the prescription diet food for a year or so. I have the feeling they are going to have to change the formula, because he is still getting stones.

[tammywammy]

14. Poor kitty

I give my kitties wet food occasionally as a treat. I know they tend to prefer the sauce that's in it, so what I usually do is add more water to their servings.

Also I know they sell bottles of "gravy" maybe there's a flavored liquid you could give him.

[carlyhippy]

16. cool! I will have to look for a bottle of gravy, he would like that

C

[tammywammy]

18. I've seen them at Petsmart before

I've never used it as I have to be careful of treats, since Monty (my avatar) quickly assumes treats are the norm. Seriously if I give them wet food two days in a row he starts demanding it every day. Silly cats. :)

[carlyhippy]

19. Thanks, I will check at Petsmart.

LOL my cats become quite charming when they figure out I have any kind of treats in the cabinet. They must be able to smell them or something, I try to hide them and they know where I put them :O

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

4. I had (have?) the same problem.

One of my three cats, Milo, just recovered from a bout with bladder stones, and the vet advised me to be sure he drinks plenty of water. I already had a fountain for them, but it was wearing out so I got a new, nicer one. At least, I thought it was nicer. The cats, particularly Milo -- who really needs to drink water -- didn't seem to care for it at all. I saw Jeoffry sipping from it rather tentatively, but the others wouldn't have anything to do with it. Pixie keeps drinking from the bathroom sink, and Milo steals milk from my cereal bowl. I donated the fancy fountain to a cat shelter and bought a cheap one, which they seem to like a little better. And I feed Milo mostly canned (prescription) food because there's more water in it.

Cats. :eyes:

[GoCubsGo]

6. Another milk thief!

I have one of those, too. I don't get to my cereal right away, so I have to cover the bowl so she doesn't drink the milk. Just one of the many ways in which she is driving me crazy...

[carlyhippy]

12. our 10-week old adopted persian, all manners are off when it's time for cereal

my other cat just sits on the table and politely waits until I am through with my cereal, the baby just jumps on my chest and tries to push my spoon out of the way ha.

[GoCubsGo]

5. Can you adjust the flow rate?

Maybe slowing it down or speeding it up might help. Also, is it full? Mine makes noises when the water level gets too low. They go away after I refill.

Other options: Feed him canned food. Or, try the water from canned tuna. You could probably make your own by soaking some tuna in water.

[gvstn]

9. My cat loves tuna water.

Not the tuna itself just the water. Only once every couple of weeks because I figure it probably has too much sodium.

****
Oh, and I have always fed my cat mostly dry food but a small amount of wet (just a quarter can of fancy feast)right before our dinnertime. Gives him a little moisture and keeps him from getting too curious about our dinner. :)

[carlyhippy]

17. I am going to try that tonite.....guess we will be having something made with tuna for dinner ha

we get the tuna, he gets the juice, everyone is happy :)

[jobycom]

34. My vet long ago told me tuna was dangerous for cats with stones.

I had a Persian who had to have surgery four or five times. One of the times was because I had started feeding him tuna as a treat, and the vet said that was even worse than feeding him cheap canned food, and gave me an explanation I've since forgotten.

I can't swear he was right, I'm just passing that along because it was so impressed on me at the time.

[carlyhippy]

36. oh oh, if tuna or anything causes stones, it is out of his diet

I sure don't want him to have to have surgery again, poor guy.

[jobycom]

39. Ask a vet.

My opinion is second hand.

Poor kitty. :( Nothing sadder than sick kitties.

[carlyhippy]

42. yeah, it's pretty sad

I will ask the vet when I pick him up on wednesday. It was a hard afternoon driving him to the vet and dropping him off.

[badgerpup]

62. My guys will perfom MIRALCES for tuna water...

They know the word "tunerfish"...
I can go to the door, ask them if they want some tunerfish and if any cats are within hearing distance- zip, zang, zoom I've got kitties in the kitchen slurping it up.

I hope you find something non-invasive that helps!

My guys jump on the bathtub rim and meow...which means "Turn on the water, Mom" so I do for a second or two...and they jump in and drink.
They also drink from the 'overflow' saucers under the potted plants on my front porch...but only right after I've watered.

Silly kitties- but cats "...will do as they do do and there's no doin' anything about it.":shrug:

[carlyhippy]

15. Thanks. I couldn't find any way to adjust the flow

I will fill it to the top. I think he's not liking the sound the pump is making. It's an electrical pump unit, it reminds me of an aquarium pump setup.

I have a can of tuna in water, I will try that, he LOVES tuna! Thanks

[hippywife]

26. Ours have always loved the tuna water, too,

but the same restrictions apply for them as for humans...no more than twice per week for any seafood, especially tuna, due to mercury content.

I think ours would love a fountain but I've been resisting the urge to buy one. My husband helps me resist it... a lot. :rofl:

[noamnety]

20. just basing this on my own cat's preferences

I would dump the fountain entirely and replace it with a toilet, put the filtered water in the toilet.

[carlyhippy]

21. LOL!!!!!! Ya know, my cats have never drank out of the toilet

we always keep the seat down. They like to drink out of the bathroom faucet, maybe I should have just turned on the faucet instead of buying this watering dish ha.

[conscious evolution]

35. Buy one of those motion sensor faucets

[carlyhippy]

37. that's an idea

the 10-week old baby is still too small to jump on the vanity and drink out of the faucet (yet), so there wouldnt be the temptation of her playing with the sensor and turning my bathroom into a pool ha

[gvstn]

24. Ha

I forgot that in the winter when I put a glass of water by my bedside it usually gets his attention by morning. He is perverse! I keep his bowl full of fresh water and he'll drink the stale stuff by my bed.

[applegrove]

25. One of my cats had the same reaction to the cat fountain. She was terrified of it.

[carlyhippy]

29. I am hoping in time he will get over it, he's a little skittish of new things

C

[KT2000]

28. Whiskers & Add water to cat food

my cat gets a small amount of canned food each day. I make a slurry out of it. She licks up the liquid and leaves the solid stuff?!?!?!

Make sure you have a wide bowl for your water dish and keep the water level high. Their whiskers are very sensitive so they do not like to drink out of bowls that will rub their whiskers.

Good luck to you!

[carlyhippy]

30. I never thought about whiskers and the bowl size, thanks

he has really long whiskers. He probably needs a large bowl, big whiskers because he is a large maine coon/norwegien forest cat mix, he is a big boy.

[nuxvomica]

31. What kind of fountain is it?

My cats use the Hagen Catit Fresh and Clear Small Drinking Fountain. It doesn't have a bowl they can jump into and it's very quiet.
http://www.amazon.com/Fresh-Clear-Small-Drinking-Fountain/dp/B0015Z3RYK

[Rhiannon12866]

32. And that's a good thing for a certain cat...

[carlyhippy]

38. it's a Petmate Delux fresh flow

http://www.amazon.com/Petmate-Deluxe-Fountain-Medium-Bleached/dp/B000084F2Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1279577459&sr=8-1

I now in hindsight wish I had bought him a better more expensive one. I will look into the quieter type. He likes to drink from the faucet, but he's gotta have filtered water, no more tap for him. I was told by a friend that she lost 2 cats to the water in our city, because of stones, and to give just filtered water to him. I am willing to try anything to keep him well, he is just the best cat, and only 5.

[nuxvomica]

41. Actually the Catit is also less expensive

I had the Petmate and it didn't last very long. You should've asked me before you bought one. ;-)

[carlyhippy]

43. I know! I should have asked before

I had no idea there were so many types and makes and brands out there haha. They were either 30.00 or the expensive one that was nearly 80.00. Maybe I will just take an ice tray, put some filtered water in it every day for ice, and buy filtered water for him, and use his old ceramic water dish....the water will be clean and cold, I guess he doesn't really care if it is flowing like a rolling mountain stream ha.

[jobycom]

33. Couple thoughts. First, don't run it, to see if it's just the sound and motor.

Second, make sure you've washed it enough times to get all the "new" smell off it. Some plastics have so much smell that it will drive cats away. Keep the fountain (off) and a bowl (steel or ceramic) down for them, and see if he gets used to it. Or even leave it on while it's there so he'll get used to the sound.

Are you using a Brita or Pur filter for the water already? I had a Persian with a lot of stone problems. He would get them just from drinking tap water, so we only gave him filtered water. It made a bigger difference than the food, even, since we evntually switched back to a regular off-the-shelf cat food (a good brand, though, not Purina or whatever).

He may be drinking more than you think--I had a cat who I could never see eating and drinking. One way to find out if you have a couple of days to and the toughness to do it is to lock him in a room with his own water and food and litter, and see how much water passes through him.

One more thought--I never proved this, but I always worried his litter was a problem. We used to get cheap clumping litter with a lot of dust. I started buying better litters with less dust and less chemical stuff, and it might have helped, but it was the same time we switched to filtered water, so hard to say. It was just a feeling I got. IIRC, he actually stopped using the box for a while until we got a dust-free litter. This darned cat would stand on the top of the box (it was a covered box) and pee into the filter at the top, so that it would run down the sides. It's a good think I really liked that cat. The better litter stopped that. Now that I'm thinking about it, maybe it helped by making him use his box more often instead of holding it longer.

On edit: If you lock him in a room like that, don't just leave him there. You have to spend time with him and give him room and stuff, or he'll just not do anything until you let him out. Cats hate to have their lives screwed around with like that. Plus, it's just mean to poor kitty. :)

[carlyhippy]

40. I buy the Tidy cat multi cat clumping litter

it doesnt seem to be too dusty, do you suggset a brand that may be better?

I clean their litter boxes almost to the point of neurosis ha. I do it about once an hour all day, then once before bed and first thing in the morning. I have been told that keeping a clean box also helps the cat with bladder issues. It's funny, the minute they hear my scooping, they are all down there, poised and ready to christen the clean boxes once again :)

We will have to lock him up in one room after he comes home from surgery wednesday for about a week. He will have stitches, and the 10 week old baby kitten is not understanding her big brother is not feeling well, and will endlessly pester him. He probably needs to be kept quiet.

I was giving him filtered water, and will do it again after he gets home. A friend said that she lost 2 cats to bladder stones and she blames our city water. I don't want to take a chance.

[REP]

46. World's Best Cat Litter (that's the brand name)

Very light, clumps hard, doesn't stink, cats like using it, long lasting and there's coupons on line to try it free!

[carlyhippy]

54. Thank you! I will look for it right now

I was watching the kitten play in the litter box while ago, she was kicking dust all in the air, I guess the tidy cat is dustier than I thought.

[REP]

55. Found the coupons!

http://tryworldsbest.com/

[carlyhippy]

56. Thank you so much!

Carly

[VenusRising]

44. My cat won't drink water if it's by his food.

I have to keep a separate water bowl in the living room, otherwise he won't drink hardly at all. Took me about 10 years to figure that out. Silly kitties.

[joeybee12]

47. My cat was the same...she ignored it...put a lot of water bowls around your

home...so when he starts roaming around, he always sees water, and most likely will take a drink...sort of a visual reminder.

[carlyhippy]

52. He will have filtered water stations everywhere he goes ha

I want him to drink more, according to the vet it would help immensely if he would do so.

[LynneSin]

48. My cats already have their water fountain to drink from and it came with my house!

No that's not my cat and yes, I leave the lid down at all times else they would drink from it all the time.

[Mr. McD]

50. Our cat won't drink water from a dish but loves the water from the pond

Must taste like fish.:shrug:

[carlyhippy]

51. LOL you should bottle that stuff and sell it....for cats who want flavored water

Carly

[snailly]

57. My cat won't drink unless cold water is trickling out of a faucet

We tried the fountain thing. He hated it. So now I have a plastic solo cup in my bathroom sink that we ritualistically fill twice a day. He loves to watch the water pour out and he drinks with gusto. It's very cute too.

[DainBramaged]

58. Attach a filter to your kitchen sink

http://www.waterfiltercomparisons.com/water_filter_comparison.php?d=gp

[carlyhippy]

59. Thanks for the idea and the link

I think we all need to be drinking filtered water at our home.

[DainBramaged]

60. I have a PUR. the filter weighs a few ounces when new

by the end of the month it usually weighs about a pound, no lie. And we had one of those for our cats too. Same scenario, one refused to drink, the baby kitteh thinks it's a water park.