This Water Fountain Keeps My Picky Cats Hydrated
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Cats are known to be curious, but mine are also picky — specifically about their water. My 14-year-old all-white cat Alfredo is particular about how it’s presented to him. Meanwhile, my younger tuxedo cat, Tiny, can’t get enough of the wet stuff. When he’s not drinking water, he’s splashing in it, batting it, or trying to flip the bowl over. He hates still water and takes it upon himself to make it move. Because of this, the journey to figuring out what water bowl will allow them both to drink the most water without tempting them to make a mess or flat-out avoid it has felt like a Herculean feat.
Thankfully, there is no shortage of pet water bowls on the market. The options are endless, from durable plastic picks to stainless steel designs, and I’ve tried plenty of them. The verdict? Tiny is too smart for the ones with suction-cupped bottoms and managed to flip those too, while my elderly cat isn’t a fan of the raised porcelain option I had personalized with his name. He let me know where he stood on this by drinking water out of half-full glasses I’d accidentally left on the coffee table. I’ve tried water fountains too, only for the cats to lose interest sooner than I would’ve liked.
Frustrated and confused, I thought this would be the norm going forward. My anxiety deepened after learning from the vet that my older cat has chronic kidney disease, and hydration is vital in making sure he stays healthy. Worried and fed up, I thought there was nothing left to try until I came across the Veken Pet Water Fountain. Other fountains fell flat, but in a moment of desperation, I had to try it — there are only so many flipped water bowl puddles you can step in before you know you need to really make a change. Unable to wait another second, I scrolled Amazon at midnight, knowing I couldn’t rest until something was done about my cats’ water debacle. In less than 24 hours, the fountain arrived.
Prices are accurate as of November 18, 2024. Subject to change.
Veken Pet Water Fountain
I immediately had a good feeling about it. For one, it was straightforward to put together and didn’t come with any confusing instructions or pieces. I like that it’s BPA-free, and the top part is made from stainless steel, which keeps the water cooler — the brand has a completely stainless fountain that I didn’t try. I also appreciate that it’s not one-size-fits-all. You can configure it one of two ways: attach a plastic daisy piece to the top to create a faucet-like effect or leave it off for a more gentle babbling brook feel. I left the flower attachment on as it makes it easier for my cats to drink simultaneously from its multiple streams. Its sleek, shallow design also cuts back on whisker discomfort, which can often be the deciding factor on whether a cat will use a particular bowl or not.
Beyond looking cool, this fountain also keeps convenience at the forefront. It holds a lot (and I mean a lot) of water — 95 ounces, to be exact — and is equipped with a water-level window so you know when it’s time to add more. There’s also a bright blue LED light illuminating the water level, though you can shut it off via a switch on the plug if you’d like.
It boasts a powerful five-layer filtration system, which includes a layer of coconut shell-activated carbon that, according to the product’s description, prevents biofilm. It’s not difficult to clean and doesn’t require much maintenance, other than replacing that filter every two to three weeks. It’s also incredibly quiet. At first, the daisy attachment sounded like a running faucet, but after adjusting it a bit, the noise thankfully dissipated. Now, the fountain is pretty much undetectable.
Although the fountain met all of my standards, the real test was if it was up to my very selective cats’ standards. I waited with bated breath as they analyzed the foreign object I’d set up in their food and water area. After a few sniffs, they started lapping up the water, and I knew we may just be in the clear. I immediately noticed my older cat started drinking more while my younger one abandoned his need to try and splash in or flip water bowls. Sometimes, they’ll stand on either side of the fountain and drink water together from different streams, which I find really cute. When I unplug the fountain to clean it, they both patiently wait for me to turn it back on and, once I do, run to it to drink some more.
It’s been months since I bought the fountain, and I still leave two bowls — a ceramic one and a stainless steel one — filled with water in a different part of my apartment, waiting for the day my cats decide they don’t want anything to do with the fountain anymore. However, each morning, I wake up to find these bowls untouched, while the water-level gauge on the fountain tells me they’ve been drinking from there instead. I don’t know if my cats will ever change how they feel about their water fountain, but they’re absolutely loving it right now.
More Fountains From Veken
Feature Image Credit: Vershinin89/ Shutterstock
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Brittany is a New York City-based writer who crafts fashion, beauty, and lifestyle commerce stories. A Fashion Institute of Technology graduate, she has over eight years of experience testing and writing about products. Her work has appeared in Elle, Glamour, Self, Bustle, and Harper's Bazaar, among others. You can find her wandering around the Metropolitan Museum of Art or at home playing with her two cats when she's not writing.
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