Advice solicited from cat people

[rolanni]

Asyouknowbob, we rejoice in the company of three cats: Scrabble, the calico cat of all work; Mozart, the elder cuddleme; and Hexapuma, comic relief.

Scrabble prefers running water to drink, so a couple years ago, we bought a cat fountain. The fountain we bought had a waterslide design -- a black plastic mountain rising out of a central bowl. A pump at the bottom of the mountain sent water to the top, where it ran through a filter before running down the waterslide. The filter, and the reservoir bottle, were covered with a black plastic cap.

In the last month or so, Hexapuma learned how to take the cap off the mountain, revealing the filter pack. Shortly thereafter, he decided that drinking from the water around the filter was his preferred method. I didn't think that ingesting nylon/polyester fibers with one's water was ultimately a Good Idea, and so a Battle of Wills ensued.

Which culminated in the acquisition of a new fountain. This one had two bowls: the water bubbles through a hole in the top bowl and flows over the sides to the bottom bowl; pump and filter are securely enclosed in the base of the top bowl.

Scrabble has given this fountain the Calico Cat Seal of Approval. Mozart has allowed himself a sip or two.

Hex won't go near the thing.

He cries. He gets up on the kitchen counter to drink out of the sink. He sits mournfully beside the dismantled, cleaned, and dry old fountain (also on the counter). He watches in Great Amaze and Puzzlement when the other cats avail themselves of the free-flowing elixir in the new bowl.

I put down a plain bowl of water, and he did drink from that. He will sit next to the new fountain, but drink from it, he will not.

We're -- well, Steve, since he's home -- moving the plain bowl of water closer to the new fountain, and hope that Hex will eventually Get the Picture.

What else can we be doing?

Comments

[lagilman]

That's pretty much it, methinks. You Took Away His Toy and now he, being Loyal, will not Drink from the New Toy.... until he decides he will.

[wolfsilveroak.livejournal.com]

What she said.

Cats are notoriously stubborn, so it may take awhile until he deigns to drink from it.

Kitty Tricks

[(Anonymous)]

My two black cats can turn the handle and open the screen door *and* get the louver windows to open to break in/out of the house. But their favoritest trick of all is to lurk in a handy tree and jump down on my backpack to scare the bejeezus out of me. You'd think the screaming and sudden unpredictable movements that result would discourage this behavior but no...

~Lizah C

[elektra.livejournal.com]

I told you he wasn't too bright . . .

[birdhousefrog.livejournal.com]

Give him the old one back without the filter part.

[katmoonshaker.livejournal.com]

This is another good idea.

[srmpublisher.livejournal.com]

The filter part, alas, is necessary if we don't wish to totally clean the fountain every day or every other day -- amazing how much stuff ends up in the bowl. The fountain is an important part of our being able to go away overnight without adding a keeper into the equations.

[birdhousefrog.livejournal.com]

Just as a toy, not for usage when you're away, no. Hexapuma is clearly attached to it and has figured out how to 'tech' it. So it's a daily toy in some way, shape, or form. Meanwhile the new one is the 'real' watering hole.

When cats say no...

[katmoonshaker.livejournal.com]

What color is the new fountain? If the top is not black, could you paint it black? That might help.

[redpimpernel.livejournal.com]

"Out of sight, out of mind" - Remove the old fountain from view. Drinking out of a regular bowl and out of the sink are both better then out of toilets or whatever glass you are drinking out of.

This time of year our cats' favorite beverage is the pine-fresh water in the Christmas tree stand. Yummy outdoor goodness there!

[growlycub.livejournal.com]

Definitely remove the old fountain from sight. He probably won't forget but at least he won't mourn as much.

I had one find a noncat toy in a drawer once. I immediately put it away in a different location, but for months he would go to the drawer and open it, looking for the toy; then he stopped, so I thought he finally forgot... until 6 months after that he was looking in the drawer again! So much for cats not having a good longterm memory!

Good luck! Gotta love them, never a boring moment!

[brownkitty.livejournal.com]

I'd agree with hiding the mountain, but have a question or two. Is there a significant amount of difference in the type or level of noise between the two fountains? And would putting something muffling such as a washcloth underneath the new one be worth a try?

[drumiller.livejournal.com]

How quickly does he usually adjust to things? Is he a "won't change my mind until at least several months" cat or a "that is so last week" cat.

Definitely remove the fountain bowl for a while (depending on his general adaptation timeline). If that doesn't work, use the catch basin part of the old fountain to hold water.

Also, is there a stream of liquid in the new fountain? Some cats like that beyond just the moving water thing. The faucet has the stream, which is why I ask.

[spiritdancer]

Another alterative - tape the lid of the old fountain down with packing tape (or duct tape). It will make it a bit more annoying to clean the fountain, but it should slow Hex down a bit on the lid removal :)

FWIW, my cats wouldn't deal with the ramp-type water fountain (but Mom's cats would - go figure). I ended up getting a Drinkwell Original with the additional water reservoir.

[wolfsilveroak.livejournal.com]

I ended up getting a Drinkwell Original with the additional water reservoir.

That's what I have, minus the extra reservoir. I do need to get one though, as the Akita pupper has decided that drinking from the moving water stream is fun! so must happen and must neglect her own water bowl.

The cats were not amused.

Feline Foibles

[(Anonymous)]

I have three cats currently. One drinks out of a bowl just fine (the older one - she's almost 20 years old now). The two kittens (4 1/2 years old now, but compared to the elder, kittens for sure)vary. Aida likes to drink out of the faucet best, but also likes the dog water bowl, vases of flowers, and will sometimes allow us to save water and just drink from the sink with the stopper shut. Lily prefers to drink from a handmade pottery pitcher, but will also drink from vases.

There is no retraining of the kittens. They have made their preferences known, and even if faced with a dozen fresh bowls of water, they will cry at the sink (or pitcher) pathetically, like they are dying of thirst.

It's part of their charm, I guess.

[amm-me.livejournal.com]

I have no new suggestions about the fountain.

Regarding the cat leaping from the tree -- this lolcat spoke personally to my experience ...
http://icanhascheezburger.com/2008/08/01/funny-pictures-y-dis-ladder-scream/
It's one thing in winter when your are wearing two sweaters and a flannel shirt. Another entirely in summer when you have very little on at all!

[(Anonymous)]

I'm afraid I'm useless on the subject. I fell prey to that piteous meow this morning and moved the water bowl, gasp!, six whole inches to put it back where it belonged.

Adrianne

Cat fountain

[spudsmom.livejournal.com]

I have 3 cats and a water fountain from which 2 of the cats drink happily, the other drinks from the bathtub, the fountain is only for emergencies as far as he is concerned. Sometimes he forgets himself and jumps in while I am showering, much upset ensues but that doesn't help you so I will tell you of the cat brush arch. This was an object I bought, at which at the time I considered great expense, so when they refused to use it, one cat refused to be in the same room with it, I became equally determined that they would. I put it by one of the climbers and proceeded to show them that my indifference was greater then their contempt, then I waited, everyone doubted me and advised that I get rid of the ugly thing but, eventually, about a year later hair started showing up on it, now they all use it openly. Patience and active nonchalance are the key, also know that there is a good chance he uses it behind your back, that is why your apparent indifference is a must, also you have to disappear the other one. Cats are very psychological but you and Steve can beat them at their little Liaden games. Guys you wrote the rules!