It by no means appears to be an issue with canines; they’ll drink water from wherever, together with puddles on the sidewalk and the sink if they will attain it. However cats are completely different. It’s possible you’ll not see them drink from their bowls usually. Some pet homeowners have discovered {that a} water fountain encourages them to devour extra liquid, which might preserve them hydrated and wholesome.
Cat water fountains preserve the water transferring, which makes them extra attractive to felines. Many even have massive capacities which might be nicely over what your pet ought to drink weekly. Nonetheless, that doesn’t imply you shouldn’t change the water incessantly, even when they’ve a filter. So, how usually do you really want to vary the water to maintain it recent? At a minimal, as soon as each 5 days, however we advocate it extra incessantly you probably have a couple of cat.
Cat Water Fountains
Cat water fountains work by circulating water via a filter, normally containing activated charcoal. A pump gives the facility to maintain it transferring. The premise is that the sound of the operating water will encourage your pet to drink extra usually, as operating water is normally more energizing water (within the wild). A number of components will affect how a lot your cat ought to drink, together with their life stage, exercise degree, and food regimen.
The frequency of adjusting the water lies with its cleanliness. The filter will assist clear the water of particles which is able to scale back the bacterial development. It should additionally filter out chlorine, heavy metals and pesticides (relying on the filter kind you utilize) however the filter received’t eliminate micro organism that may inevitably develop. We should additionally take into consideration the truth that a playful grownup cat or kitten will undoubtedly play with the stream of water, additional contaminating the water. Some cats take pleasure in a drink straight after consuming, so meals contaminants will enter the water. It’s these components which may make you think about altering the water of their fountain every day.
Wild Instincts
It’s possible you’ll surprise why a water fountain could be crucial. In any case, cats can clearly sense once they’re thirsty. It’s extra difficult than feeling the necessity to drink. Our pets are descendants of the African Wild Cat (Felis silvestris lybica) which has a really extensive distribution. It’s discovered all through most of Africa, southwest and central Asia into India, China, and Mongolia. This feline migrated to different areas throughout the ages, occupying numerous however marginal habitats. Water is commonly scarce in these locations, so the African Wild Cat, and thus our domesticated cats, advanced to handle with minimal water provide.
The opposite issue is the species’ feeding habits. Felines are obligate carnivores, that means they can’t meet their dietary necessities via plant proteins alone; they want animal proteins to outlive. Their pure food regimen (primarily consisted) of freshly caught small rodents which used to meet most of their water wants, so this impacted the cat’s drive to hunt water. It’s value noting that our domesticated cats have hardly advanced from their wild predecessors with modifications in solely 13 genes reflecting the influences of domestication, so their drive to drink water remains to be low though their diets have modified massively in domestication.
Evolution and adaptation to a desert-dwelling way of life has allowed felines to adapt bodily to get many of the water they require from their carnivorous food regimen. Nonetheless, domesticated pet cats aren’t normally fed entire, recent carcasses, and subsequently are required to drink extra, particularly if they’re fed a kibble food regimen. A water fountain can tempt a home cat to drink extra usually, serving to to maintain them hydrated and wholesome.
Correct Hydration
The opposite consideration of how usually you modify the water in a fountain is a cat’s hydration wants and the way usually they use it. Your kitty ought to get about 4 ounces of water per 5 kilos of physique weight. Nonetheless, that determine varies relying in your pet’s food regimen. For instance, canned meals can include 70–80% water, which might go a good distance towards assembly your cat’s every day wants. Subsequently a cat consuming moist meals is more likely to solely go to the water fountain sometimes.
Conversely, feeding your pet strictly dry meals will enhance the quantity they need to drink since dry diets sometimes include solely 10% moisture. Subsequently, utilization will play a task within the upkeep of a water fountain, and the velocity at which the water will get soiled. It is also an element when deciding what dimension to get. Don’t let the quantity of fluid be the one situation for altering the water. The much less you refresh it, the extra seemingly it’s for micro organism to develop.
Utilizing a Cat Water Fountain
We advise getting your pet used to the fountain with out the circulation characteristic first. Some cats are cautious of something new of their atmosphere, not to mention one thing with transferring water. As soon as your kitty appears comfy with the alternative, activate the fountain. In case your pet is fearful of it, give it one other go later. In any case, it’s important that they drink sufficient clear water so we don’t wish to scare them off fully!
You may think about leaving the common water bowl out and operating the new fountain on the identical time. Curiosity could get the very best of your cat, and at the very least get them to discover it on their timeline.
Last Ideas
A cat water fountain can present enrichment to your pet’s psychological well-being and an enticement to drink extra usually. It’s useful for cats that eat a dry food regimen to ensure they get enough fluids. Correct hydration will assist preserve your kitty wholesome. It’s important to maintain the product clear. We advocate a full clear and water change each 5 days, and altering the filter consistent with the producer’s tips. If in case you have a couple of cat, you will want to vary the filter, the water and clean the fountain more often. If the water is ever trying soiled, don’t anticipate the 5 day mark, be sure to change it instantly.
Featured Picture Credit score: Bianca Grueneberg, Shutterstock
