In order to prevent diseases, the cat should drink water at the rate of 35-40 ml per 1 kg of weight per day. Low fluid intake can lead to the development of urolithiasis, constipation, cystitis, etc.
Natural instinct, formed over millennia, attracts cats to drink running river water, not lake water. Therefore, your pet may refuse to drink water from a bowl or consume it in small quantities.
A special fountain for cats will come to the rescue, since no one will always keep the water tap open.
Design and advantages of automatic drinkers
It makes sense to purchase a fountain for a cat if the animal remains alone for a long time or likes to drink water at night when the owners are sleeping. An automatic drinker is a device that runs on batteries or from an electrical network and supplies the animal with a stream of running water.
The animal should always have fresh water
Main advantages:
- the cat should not endure thirst for a long time;
- animals like to drink water not from a bowl, but from a stream, as in the wild;
- the sound of the murmuring liquid has a calming effect on the animal;
- Unlike a regular bowl, your pet will not spill water by accidentally hitting the dish with its muzzle.
Considering all these features, it is undoubtedly worth spending money on purchasing an interesting device.
Complex design
Among the disadvantages, it is worth immediately noting the high competition that a do-it-yourself nipple drinker will create among chickens due to the fact that several individuals can approach it at once. After feeding the birds, this can turn into a real test for poorly developing birds.
In order to protect animals from injury and yourself from unnecessary losses, you need to think about the number of nipples in advance so that there are enough of them for all the birds. Among the obvious advantages, they note the high protection of water from dirt and food debris getting into it.
The device is quite economical, this is due to the special dosing of the incoming liquid. The design is resistant to mechanical damage and easy to operate.
Types of automatic drinkers
Antigadin for cats: do it yourself, which one is better
Fountains for cats or cats are divided into several varieties.
Pet stores sell:
- automated bowls;
- two-cup devices;
- drinking fountains.
The last variety is considered the most popular.
Automatic drinkers come in different prices and configurations
Vacuum homemade drinking bowl for chickens
How to make a closed drinking bowl for chickens with your own hands?
Oddly enough, these designs are no more expensive or more complex than the varieties already described. Diagram of a self-made vacuum drinker for chickens: 1 – glass jar; 2 – water level in the vessel; 3 – drinking tray; 4 – stable, moisture-resistant stand for the jar.
A vacuum design of this type is a self-contained device. It is easy to install without the use of any tools, and even easier to maintain and change if necessary.
Vacuum drinkers are most convenient for very small chickens that live, drink and feed on the floor. You can install a do-it-yourself drinking bowl for chickens both in the poultry house and on the run, the main thing is that the structure of the tray and water container is stable.
A similar drinking bowl can be made from cheap available plastic bottles and other disposable utensils. A homemade drinking bowl option for chickens is made from: 1 - a bowl or a cut bottom from a large plastic container; 2 - plastic bottle; 3 - bottle caps; 4 - self-tapping screw holding the bowl and bottle together; 6 — fastenings for hanging the finished drinker. To maintain the water level in the bowl, a hole (5) is made in the neck of the bottle below the top edge of the pan.
You can add water by simply unscrewing the lid. The lower tray replenishes itself due to the pressure difference that occurs as the moisture in the bowl decreases.
Criterias of choice
Drinking fountains for cats have different options. When choosing, you need to consider the following:
- volume;
- presence or absence of a filter;
- "cat collar"
Clothes for cats: DIY pattern and sewing
The choice of volume depends on the size and age of the animal.
Water filtration
The most expensive models are usually equipped with filters that remove impurities from the liquid. Cartridges for filtration devices are not included, but they are sold in pet stores.
For reference! It makes sense to buy a model with a filter if the tap water is of poor quality.
Volume Features
Sippy cups for cats are available in different volumes - from 0.5 to 2 liters.
The optimal volume for a medium-sized adult cat is 1.5 liters. However, if the owner often leaves for a long time, it makes sense to buy a 2 liter model.
Cat collar
Products intended for long-haired animals have a special dome. It is needed so that the pet does not wet its luxurious fur during the “watering hole.”
How to choose a decent water bottle for a cat
Before you go to the pet store for such a convenient device for your beloved purr, you need to decide on the personal preferences of the animal itself. When the cat is active and playful, it would be better to look for heavy ceramic models with a fountain. And if your pet has a quiet disposition and poor receptivity to everything new, you should give preference to bowls with a dome.
Illuminated drinkers will entertain not only cats, but also pet owners
Other important details to pay attention to when purchasing an electric cat water bottle include:
- Manufacturer's reputation. Companies from Germany and the USA are considered more reliable than others, although domestic models are sometimes not inferior to the first ones in terms of build quality.
- Noise level during compressor operation.
- The degree of reliability of the device.
- Safety and environmental friendliness of the materials used by the manufacturer.
- The quality of the water purification system.
- Mark on product compliance with quality standards.
In addition, when choosing a specific model, you should inquire about the availability of additional elements - replaceable filters, voltage convectors. In order to get the device working quickly, it is better to purchase the missing elements in a timely manner. A water-repellent mat under the drinking bowl will also come in handy to protect the floor from flying splashes while drinking.
A convenient addition to the automatic drinking bowl will be a holder for food bowls. Then the animal can immediately eat and quench its thirst. However, as many cat owners note, not every pet likes this idea. Because the smell of food irritates fuzzy fussy eaters when they just want to drink some water.
The security of the electrical elements of the automatic drinker also plays a serious role in ensuring safety. Especially if there are small children in the house. Therefore, in order to avoid an active and inquisitive cat from chewing the wires, you need to equip the device with a special protective box for the cable.
Video: device of a dome-type automatic drinking fountain
Rating of the best automatic drinkers
DIY cat scratching post: options at home
The leading positions in the ranking are occupied by products from Western European manufacturers. When compiling the rating, the following are taken into account:
- the material from which the drinking bowl is made;
- volume of the liquid container;
- popularity among animal lovers;
- the ability to automatically supply not only water, but also food.
The best models are equipped with a built-in timer to control the time of feeding and drinking water.
Automated water supply devices can be purchased at pet stores and veterinary pharmacies.
Feed-Ex
A distinctive feature of this cat drinking bowl is its increased strength and long service life. The product with a volume of slightly less than 2 liters is made of metal with the addition of plastic. Also suitable for small dogs.
The average cost is 3,000 rubles.
Feeder-drinker for cats Trixie
Automated device for supplying water and food made in Germany. Volume 0.6 l.
A transparent container helps the owner notice in time when food or water is running low. The drinking bowl is small and well suited as a travel option.
You can buy the device for only 300 - 400 rubles.
Attention! Automatic feeders use only dry food. Any other food spoils quickly, especially if it’s hot at home.
Ferplast Vega
High-quality water bowl for cats at a reasonable price. The 2-liter sippy cup is made of high-quality food-grade plastic. The water circulates constantly and always remains fresh.
The device is easy to use.
Drinkwell Platinum
Large, but compact and convenient automatic drinking bowl for cats. Volume 2 l.
The product has an original design and a beautiful silver color. Motion sensors are working.
The model can be found in the online store and ordered by phone, telling the consultant the code and article number.
The average cost of such a drinking fountain is 5,000 rubles.
Pioneer Pet Rain Drop fountain bowl
One of the best options for an automatic waterer for cats. The water pressure can be adjusted by making a strong or weak stream.
The product is equipped with an additional plastic filter. Therefore, the pet drinks water without impurities.
Popular brands and manufacturers
The most common models in Russia are supplied by Fid-ex, Xiaomi, Pioneer, Ferplast, Petsafe, Sevik.
Among the many proposals are the following:
- Catit by Hagen Inc. - a white bucket with a volume of 2 or 3 liters with a green lid, in the recess of which there is a fountain in the form of a decorative flower - a daisy. The only version of the drinking bowl that reminds your pet of nature.
- Designer RainDrop bowl from Pioneer Pet. Water from the fountain flows down a wide curved groove in a spinning stream. The bowl is available in plastic (3 thousand rubles), ceramic and metal (6 thousand rubles) versions.
- Feed-Ex Spring device costs RUB 1,200. It is a 3-liter gray bowl made of dark gray plastic, the engine and filters in which are located on the side and covered with a light gray casing at an angle of 45º. A stream of water flows from the casing.
- Drinkwell Platinum priced at 6 thousand rubles. with an internal 5-liter tank and carbon filter elements. The pressure is regulated by a silent pump. Water flows into the bowl from a spout that resembles a faucet.
- The white Xiaomi Kitten & Puppy Water Dispenser is made in the form of a cube with rounded corners and an inclined upper side, bordered around the perimeter by a transparent side. It has an optimal height of 17.5 cm and a volume of 2.5 liters. The device has built-in protection against network overloads. Indicators indicate low water level and the need to change the filter.
- The Vega ellipsoidal drinker from the Italian company Ferplast is made in the Gaudi style (without corners) and is reminiscent of the cycle of nature. Water swirls into the funnel, flowing from the top along a crescent-shaped groove.
- The Belgian Savic Cascade water fountain offers your cat a choice. A babbling “geyser” awaits her at the top, a stream in the middle, and below - water flowing into the bowl along a plane.
- The round drinker Drinkwell from PetSafe shows that everything ingenious is simple. In the center of the bowl, a cone-shaped cylinder rises to a height of 20 cm, from which 1 to 5 streams of water can flow into the bowl through a spout attachment. The product holds 3.8 liters and is designed for multiple animals.
Catit by Hagen Inc. and the Savic Cascade fountain are popular with cats.
DIY drinking bowl
Making an inexpensive fountain for cats will not take much time and effort; any home craftsman can handle the job. The pet will certainly like this product and will help out the owner when he has to go away.
Drinking fountain made from flower pots
You can make a fountain for cats yourself from scrap materials (for example, from plastic bottles or flower pots).
To work you will need two flower pots, plastic and ceramic. A small aquarium compressor is placed in a clay pot and covered with a plastic tank with a hole for water to flow in. When the ceramic pot is filled, the compressor is activated and a stream of water flows upward.
What kind of litter should a kitten have?
The requirements for the appearance and composition of litter for kittens and adult cats are largely the same:
- he should not scratch the pads on his paws,
- be light enough so that the kitten can easily dig up and bury all his “business”,
- safe for the digestive system - when little kittens first get acquainted with the contents of the tray, they will definitely try it on their teeth, while not all varieties are completely safe for the stomach,
- dust-free, so as not to cause irritation of the mucous membranes of the nasopharynx and eye diseases,
- the granules should not rustle too much, so as not to frighten the kitten, who is just getting used to the tray. This will not affect your health in any way, but it may cause unpleasant associations with the toilet, which will complicate addiction,
- the filler should not completely suppress the smell, since at first it will be the main reference point for the new resident of your apartment, however, you yourself may not even smell it, since the sense of smell in cats is several times more developed.
Why do animals refuse to drink from water bottles?
Having bought a drinking fountain for cats, you should gradually accustom your pet to the new dishes. Most often, pets are scared away by strong water pressure. In this case, you just need to adjust the jet. Usually kittens under the age of one year are afraid of high pressure.
Not all cats like water bottles
Attention! If the animal “inherited” new dishes from another cat or small dog, perhaps the pet is simply scared off by someone else’s smell. In this case, you need to thoroughly wash the bowl with soap or other detergent.
Operating instructions
In order for four-legged animals to constantly consume fresh water, it is necessary to properly operate the device. It should be poured depending on the volume of the tank. Constant monitoring of the technical condition of the device will significantly extend its service life. If the device operates continuously, then approximately once every 7 days it needs to be turned off, disassembled and washed.
Turned it on and forgot: is it true?
The operation of the automatic drinker must be monitored. The tank needs to be replenished - turning on the device with an empty container leads to breakdowns or to someone becoming thirsty.
Cleaning
The new product is thoroughly washed and dried. Subsequently, the drinking bowl must be cleaned once a week. For cleaning, use products that are used for washing dishes and a sponge. The pump should be cleaned of limescale with a vinegar solution. The filters included in the kit must be changed once a month. If an animal becomes infected, the device is discarded after the disease so that it does not recur.
Water should be poured into drinking bowls at room temperature!
