Best cat feeding & watering supplies according to redditors

Get him a water fountain. Cats don't like drinking from still water. I own a raindrop one for my cats, they love it.

Edit: For those interested, I use this one myself.

YTA - Cat's are not dogs. They are finicky eaters. They prefer to be fed in situations that are familiar and comfortable to them. If they do not want to eat off the floor because it is uncomfortable to them and you're just waiting it out then you're pulling a trick that most people don't even do with kids anymore to cats that understand it even less.

Here are some suggestions:

1. Don't free feed. Cats can over eat if free fed. Feed the recommended amount by halves twice a day or all at once one time a day on a set schedule and try not to deviate. (Side Note: If you do this and you find one or both of you cat gobbles it too fast then there are a ton of active feeders that slow down feeding and also really entertains them. This is my favorite. I just use it to feed my cat treats some times.)
   
2. Use a mat like this one. It collects any dropped food and you can just fold it up and funnel it back in the bowls.
   
3. Order whisker stress free bowls. Your cats are more likely to eat all of their food though it will increase push out food but the mat will decrease your stress there.

Some ideas that have worked for my anxious kitty who also didn’t like exercise:

Feliway brand pheromone spray and collar (or any of their other products). It helps the cats feel calm and humans can’t smell them. https://www.feliway.com/us

A timed auto feeder. My cat has harassed auto feeders instead of me, which is a nice break for me.

Indoor hunting feeder (like this brand https://docandphoebe.com/). It mixes exercise and play with food because the cat has to seek out where their food is hidden.

“Puzzle” feeders like this one: https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Egg-Cersizer-Interactive-Dispenser-Treats/dp/B003H44R5K. Like the hunting feeder, the cat will have to work at least a bit to get his food.

Lots of toys for exercise! I sew mini pillows (about the size of your palm) and fill them with catnip and crinkly paper in addition to normal polyester pillow stuffing. I hide them around the house for the cats to find. They love them and they’re very cheap to make with scrap fabric.

I’ve also introduced more rewards that aren’t food related. Our one cat (Spud) needed to lose quite a bit of weight. It was hard because I love to give him treats when he’s sweet. I started giving him bits of catnip, cat grass, toys, extra cuddles, and brushing him instead. He now has more things he associates with positive behavior that aren’t treats!

I wish you the best!!

Confession: I bought my cats a fountain so they always have a supply of moving water. They really seem to love it!

I would do the same, and change out my cats' water bowl each morning. They were particular about fresh water as well. And as soon as I got them a fountain, they started drinking from it A LOT more often. They loved it! Mine has a little charcoal filter in the intake, so it's been lasting pretty well. Cats really prefer moving water, which is why they love it so much. Mine specifically drink out of the mini waterfall part. Cats also usually like it better when their food and water are separated, in different spots.

get one of these.

they sell them at walmart and petco.

our cats always wanted us to turn on the faucet to drink from too but we decided to get one of these and they all love it. it's almost all dishwasher safe and if you have decent tap water you don't need to buy the filters for it.

I made fun of my partner when she bought an automatic cat feeder, but that thing has been worth every cent. We always know they've had their food, and they don't wake us up in the morning wanting breakfast anymore!

I also had to duct tape the bowl when we had that feeder. lol. Most cats are little shits that will figure out how to destroy anything you don't want them to mess with. Our cat is pretty well behaved but eventually she started messing with that feeder to the point where it had to go. There are zero issues with the new feeder due to the great design and quality of it.

That feeder I linked may be slightly cheaper somewhere else and it certainly costs way more than the other one but man, it has made all the difference. You have so much more control with the schedule and portions. I can feed her less food more frequently so her metabolism kicks into high gear. It's amazing what losing a pound does for a cat.

Also, since cats prefer running water to still water, she has been drinking tons of water since we got this- https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Drinkwell-Platinum-Pet-Fountain/dp/B000L3XYZ4/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1480447163&sr=1-1&keywords=drinkwell+platinum

Works great but does need to be cleaned every week or two.

I got my cats a water fountain like this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00063446M/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_natgzbB98KH3X

They drink a lot more water now than when I put water in a bowl.

Your questions aren't silly! It's great that you're thinking about how you can make you both comfortable before you dive into a new situation. Always set yourself up for success! :)

> do I buy a litter box/food/scratch-post before I plan to bring a cat home?

That's generally a good idea, yes. Means less stress for both of you as you're scrambling to get everything ready for him. You might ask the shelter what food the cat has been eating, as cats can get an upset tummy when switching brands/types. Not a big deal, but he will have poops that are a bit stinkier/liquidier than normal poops. That should alleviate within the week. You can lessen the tummy troubles by doing a more gradual change, mixing the food he is currently on with the food he will be on more and more, until he is eating what you want him on. But you can honestly just do the change, too, and just deal with the sadpoops for a little while.

I suggest a couple of different scratching posts, if you have the space! Cats like having options, like a horizontal post and a vertical one. Cats also like being high up, so if you can swing a tall post with platforms, he will probably like that.

Get two litter boxes! A lot of people don't realize it, but the rule of thumb for number of litters you should have is NumberOfCats + 1. So, 1 cat + 1 = 2 boxes. Clean them often. Cats are very clean creatures (especially compared to dogs) and are MUCH more likely to have accidents when they feel they do not have a better option than peeing in your bed. That's not their fault. You wouldn't want to step on your own pee/poop either! If you have problems with litter getting kicked out of the box, a litter mat can be helpful.

> Do I need to buy a carrier for the cat?

Yep. You'll eventually need to take him to a vet in all likelihood, and a carrier will make that so much easier, as most cats despise the car. I recommend a hard carrier. The softer ones seem nicer in general, but the hard carriers are easier to clean out, and you never know how a cat will be in the car until... well. They're in it. One of our cats poops and pees every. single. time. So he always gets the hard carrier.

> Should I contact a vet before I get the cat?

The shelter might require you to have a vet already, so I'd probably at least pick one out from google search. They might require you to go get a checkup, but probably not. That's more of a rescue thing, I think. Most shelters have their own in-house vet, so it's not really necessary. Don't be afraid to contact the shelter if he seems to be coughing and wheezing. Upper respiratory infections are very common in shelter environments due to the crowded nature of them, but they are also very treatable, and the shelter will be able to give you medication for him.

> How do I train a cat?

Someone mentioned Jackson Galaxy, who I generally agree is pretty good for training if you have some problems. But most of the time, cats are pretty out-of-the-box ready pets. That is to say, if you have an environment that is good for cats (where you let them have some space, where you don't make a huge amount of loud noise, where they aren't prodded and poked at constantly), they generally don't need training. We've fostered tiny kittens that automatically knew how to use the litter box. We also have boy cats who were not fixed until well into adulthood and have never had problems spraying.
It's instinct to go in the box, especially once they're fixed and don't need to mark territory really.

> For those of you who own a cat/cats, any advice for this first-timer?

Give both of you time to get to know each other. Don't force it. He will come to you, given time and space, and you'll be able to cultivate a better relationship built on trust and mutual respect if he knows that you won't force him to do things that he doesn't want to do (especially at first--think about it like building a friendship with a person; you would trust your friends to do things that you would never trust a stranger to do, and it's the same for him).

Cooing and gentle words are generally pretty good for coaxing, as is letting him smell your hand/something that smells like you before you approach for pets. Think about it like introducing yourself. You wouldn't go up to someone you didn't know well and just touch them without at least saying hi.

Every cat I have ever known, male or female, fixed or not, will pee in a pile of anything if it is left long enough. They see it as 'trash,' and I think it just registers as litter. So, if you are the type to leave clothes on the floor... I would try to stop that.

Keep nails trimmed. Scratching posts are for sharpening nails, which is an instinct that they have to fulfill, and you're giving them an outlet for. Some people think it's for 'filing' the nails down, but it's not. It's for keeping them sharp enough to get prey. You'll have to trim them.

And this is just my own personal opinion, but... young--but not kitten--boy cats are best for first timers. I have one girl, and I absolutely adore her, but she is very high maintenance/prissy/touchy, whereas my three boys are all pretty chill. Each cat is different though, so obviously your mileage may vary! It's just something I've noticed in general in my time of owning and fostering cats, that boys are more laid back/forgiving than girls (and thus I think a little easier for a first timer). Young adults are also great for first timers because you have less accidents (though that's generally not a big concern anyway) and they're more able to be on their own for longer periods of time. Older adults/seniors are great too if you want a really, really chill, more stand-offish cat, or if you want a cat that you'll have for <10 years, but if you want a little more energy and time, a cat that's about 1-2 years old is a GREAT way to go.

Some toys that are great for cats include the classic laser pointer, the feather toy, catnip toys, and crinkle balls.

Cats prefer to drink away from where they eat, so place his food bowl and his water bowl apart from one another! Some cats also prefer running water to still water, so if you notice your cat likes drinking out of the faucet (or if you just want to spoil your cat like I spoil mine...) you can get a water fountain for him!

Finally, if it's not working out for some reason, like your personalities just don't mesh well... take him back. I know it sounds hard, but it's best for him if he is in an environment where he is understood and his needs are met. There's no sense in forcing both of you to be miserable. Some shelters let you do a foster-to-adopt sort of thing, where you sort of try each other out for a bit. I like this option, because you hope for the best, but it feels a little bit easier to tap out if you need to. Either way, there's no shame in tapping out. Sometimes things just don't work the way you thought they would.

Sorry for the novel, but I wanted to be as thorough as I could. My parents recently got their first cat, and it's been... an ordeal for them, getting used to it.
It's great that you have some experience with cats though, so I think you'll be fine! Seriously, cats are sort of the next level up from a goldfish as far as easiness. Should be fine.

I hope you and your new furbaby are super, super happy together! :)

But won't your cat get fat? If I gave my cat one of these she would eat 5 times a day, then finding any kind of cloth/carpet to throw up on.

Do they make machines that auto-drop food once a day? Maybe twice a day? I'd set it to drop food 10 minutes before I wake up, and 10 minutes before I get home from work.

Edit: Found one but it's $90...

I highly recommend one of these. We have been using them for 5 years and set them to go at around 2 am. It seems to be the optimal time, and it makes almost no noise! Plus the cats can’t figure out how to get into it.

I got my cats this model. They can't get enough of it.

I like it better than the "waterfall" style fountains because its higher up off the ground and doesn't get gunked up as easy with dust and stray cat hair and such.

They also have spikey plates that the cats have to bat the food out of. Like a maze kinda. It stopped our one cat from eating too fast, and gave the other a chance to eat before the first one hoovered it all up.

https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Drinkwell-Platinum-Fountain-Drinking/dp/B000L3XYZ4

I have one. Clean it every 2-4 weeks, refill it every few days and you're golden. My cats love it. Also healthier for them since they drink more water.

I store mine in a Vittles Vault. Airtight, keeps pests away, easy to open, easy to clean. Keeps food fresh. You should be able to find something similar on Amazon or at your local pet store.

I'm not sure how much support you're getting for raising a blind dog, but you might consider getting him some Doggles. Since he can't see where he's going, Doggles will protect his eyes from getting scratched by branches or sticks on walks. Another good idea is a fountain for him to drink from, since he'll be able to hear where the water is.

Kitty is asking you to buy a drinking fountain.
https://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-Pet-Stainless-Fountain-Raindrop/dp/B0037NKDSG

Mine learned to camp out at the dispenser and eventually learned how to put his paw inside the chute and push the food paddles and make more food come out. He ate weeks worth of food in a few days.

Stay the heck away from this dispenser or you'll have a disgustingly fat cat.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0016BVY2U/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Edit, look at the pics and comments and see what wacky solutions people have come up with to fix this broken dispenser. It's a collection of rube goldberg machines.

Former veterinary nurse here. Everything you said is on point. As far as regular kitty maintenance, I cannot recommend a Litter Genie enough. It's definitely sold me on the concept, and if I ever have any babies, I'll definitely get one for them.

I will say though that timed feedings are a great idea if your cat will tolerate it, mostly because you end up knowing exactly how much kitty is eating. One of the first things to go when a cat is feeling unwell is their appetite, and they're notorious for masking symptoms until it's gotten bad. My sister has a cat in end-stage FIV right now for that very reason.

Oh, OP, by the way? If kitty is going to go outside AT ALL, you MUST do two things: parasite prevention and a microchip/FIV vaccine combo. Revolution is my personal favorite parasite prevention, as it's a monthly does and handles heartworms (yes, cats can get them), fleas, ticks, and most intestinal parasites. You have a ton of options, though. As for the FIV vaccine... Feline immunodeficiency virus behaves similarly to HIV/AIDS in humans. It's passed on through saliva, usually from deep bite wounds, as opposed to sharing a water bowl, but there is still some risk there. (This is probably how my sister's cat acquired the infection, as she spends a lot of time outside and has an ultra-nemesis cat that lives nearby.) The vaccine is effective, but it can cause a false positive result on a blood test. The only real solution is to have your kitty microchipped, which IMHO is something all kitties should have done. Here's the imaginary scenario which plays out all too often: Kitty is vaccinated for FIV but doesn't have a chip, gets picked up by animal control, get tested for FIV, and shows a false positive. Any cat that comes in the door with a positive FIV result is likely to be euthanized. However, the first thing anyone does these days is check for a microchip. If it's established that this cat has an owner, the medical workup will continue, but they can't just euthanize your cat anymore. It sucks and it sounds harsh, but it's the same thing as a puppy coming in with parvovirus.

As far as the rest of basic kitty care, a water fountain is definitely an excellent idea. We have one for our two cats and they L O V E it. It's cute and didn't cost very much, either. Here's a link: Catit Flower Fountain https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0146QXOB0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_MWVmzbNH28CMW

This sounds ridiculous, but my cats learned to love their scratching posts because we would scratch them together. If one of them ever started to scratch the furniture, I'd go over to the Correct Scratcher™ and mimic scratching it, and they'd go bonkers running over to do it with me. It's pretty cute, tbh.

I have one of these. I have it set to feed them 4 times a day on a schedule, and I only have to refill it maybe once every couple weeks. But yeah, the nice ones are pricey.

There are cheaper alternatives, though. Just need to be refilled a bit more often and probably less granular schedules.

Cats like running oxygenated water, try buying a pet fountain for your cat.

My parent's cat used to drink from the tap and would only use her water bowl if it was fresh and had ice cubes in it. They bought a pet fountain and now the cat drinks a lot more and leaves the tap alone.

Edit: Here are some cheaper options.

Speak for your self, I see mine do clumsy stuff like this at least once a week. Fall off a fish tank into an empty laundry basket, jump from desk to dresser but fall short and land in the water fountain..

EDIT: fountain

You posted a picture of your pet, so here's your standard "your pet is in dire medical straits" post :]

My cat used to drink out of my water cups all the time, even though I had a bowl out for her. She eventually got a urinary stone, which was the result of both feeding her too much meat (changes the pH of her urine) and not drinking enough water. I changed her diet, but also got her a waterfall bowl. Cat's really prefer running water, which from an evolutionary standpoint would be safer to drink than stagnant, still water. Once I put out the waterfall bowl she took to it instantly, and stopped drinking out of my cups. Even putting medical conditions aside, it's just a nice treat for your pet! Thought you might find this info useful.

You could get one of those water fountains for pets. Like this: http://www.amazon.com/Drinkwell-FWB-RE-Original-Pet-Fountain/dp/B00063446M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1369935306&sr=8-1&keywords=pet+fountain

A lot of cats like to drink from running water.

My Mom's cat loves this thing.

https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Drinkwell-Platinum-Pet-Fountain/dp/B000L3XYZ4

We use this one:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000GEWHNS?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Pros: doesn't jam, hides 4 meals so it lasts us 2 days when filled, clock etc. are pretty good, they haven't figured out how to break in.

Cons: the cats haven't disconnected us from the act of the food rotating so they think they need to tell us when it's almost food time.

If you're willing to spend like $60 or so, this might solve that problem.

Also quite convenient if you have to leave the house for a couple days, e.g. over the weekend. Just refill and clean it once a week and that's it.

So cute! I have a special kitty too that does not like water from anywhere but the sink. I was able to convert him to the fountain lifestyle using this fountain.

I had a problem with one of my cats doing this (eating too much, too fast, and then throwing up). I found out about these Slow Feed Bowl and it seems to work for her. She doesn't eat as much or as fast so she doesn't throw up that much anymore (Now she only does it if she finds something on the ground that doesn't agree with her). It also helped her brother (we bought two for each cat) who was getting a bit tubby because he tried to eat everything and like her was also pretty fast too, though he didn't get sick that often. Added bonus is that he doesn't go after her food as much either and focuses on trying to get to his food. We tried a few things before this nothing seemed to help but this did (and when I looked at it I really didn't think it would).

Also try getting one of the water fountains for him to drink out of, it encourages cats to drink more and urinate more, lowers the dangers of crystals in neutered male cats (that don't drink extra to mark territory).

My cat did this all the time when we had the sink running. We finally broke down and bought him a fountain.

http://amzn.com/B00063446M

If your tap is dripping, fix it and get one of these:

http://www.amazon.com/Drinkwell-Platinum-Pet-Fountain-168oz/dp/B000L3XYZ4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1376074311&sr=8-2&keywords=cat+water+fountain


My cats absolutely love it and it keeps them from making a mess with in the water bowl.

My cat used to only drink from a running faucet, be it the sink or the bathtub. Researched it and found that a large percentage of cats will only drink running water. We got him a cat water fountain and now he doesn't beg at the sink anymore.

http://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Drinkwell-Original-Pet-Fountain/dp/B00063446M

Cats also love running water, they make drinking fountains for cats just for this reason.

https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Drinkwell-Original-Pet-Fountain/dp/B00063446M

Used to use this Catit fountain for my cat. Wasn't sure if she was using it much and was getting tired of maintaining it.
Picked up a steel bowl for her water and noticed that while it looked like she was using the bowl more, she would always bat it around then lap up the spilled water off the floor.
Found a shallower ceramic bowl(4oz capacity maybe?). She'll still bat it once in a while, but only once before she starts drinking, so my guess is she's checking the water level

Another alternative if your cats don't like the Aqua Cube style fountains is this vertical style fountain. My cats didn't like the ones that shoot out but with this one they drink a lot more.

I actually have one of my cats on urinary food because she refused to drink water to the point where she was developing UTIs. She refuses to eat any kind of wet food as well. But with this fountain she's been drinking a lot more.

This one is <$100, highly configurable, and has been very reliable over the two years I’ve owned it.

https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Healthy-Automatic-Dispenses-Digital/dp/B00VIXRB6O/ref=mp_s_a_1_4

Not nearly as cool as OPs though!

I wouldn’t worry too much about them during the day, as long as they get to do some sort of activity at night like free roaming in the living room or bathroom, or getting access to some fun toys.


To keep them amused, I would recommend taking a look at this page: http://karasratworld.tumblr.com/post/75017549861/rat-toy-masterpost which features a lot of great ideas for cheap, do-it-yourself toys for rats that you can make. I find that my rats are generally not interested in the ferret and cat toys I buy them from the pet store. Same with stuffed animals I give them. Cheap toys that my rats enjoy include: small cardboard boxes that fit in their cage - I will open one end of the box and put the open end on the floor, so that the box is upside down. They love bringing in paper towels and fabric scraps into the box and making a nest. My rats also love paper bags. Big brown paper bags from the grocery store, or small brown paper bags for packing lunch. They will also treat it as a little ‘cave’ or ‘den’ and bring paper towels into it to shred into a comfortable, warm rat nest that they then sleep on. It’s really cute, and it’s cheap! These generally need to be thrown out after 1-2 days because they will be urinated on, and a rat sleeping inside a paper bag isn’t receiving terribly great ventilation and will probably be inhaling the ammonia from the urine. Tissue boxes are also much enjoyed by my rats. I rip out the clear plastic lining surrounding the tissue hole before giving it to them, so that they can’t accidentally eat any of it when they chew up the box. I also like to give my rats paper towel or toilet paper roll cores for them to chew on or curiously poke their head into. My baby rat used to be able to walk through them too!


My rat also enjoyed this toy. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003H44R5K/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1 It was recommended by another rat owner. It’s basically a toy with 3 holes, and you can turn the top half of the toy to control how many of these holes are open (1, 2, or all 3) and how big the openings are (half open, fully open, etc). You can put little treats in there. Treat recommendations include: home popped popcorn (microwave popcorn is covered in tons of unhealthy additives and flavorings), NON-sugary cereals, organic baby food “cereals” or puffs, sunflower seeds (in moderation!), maybe some sort of non-messy fruit like small blueberries. When I used to feed dry rat food to my rat, I would put the kibble bits into this toy and give it to her at night, so she had something to entertain herself with.


Other easy enrichment ideas include: nuts in shell. Just try to make sure they aren’t salted, and that they aren’t raw (unless soaked/sprouted). Brazil nuts in shell, peanuts in shell, pistachios, etc. They will have fun chewing off the shell to get the nut inside, and the chewing will allow them to wear down their teeth, which are always continuously growing. I want to say, however, that if your rats are sick with mycoplasma, you my want to avoid giving them nuts or seeds. Nuts and seeds are high in an amino acid called arginine, which has been said to trigger mycoplasma outbreaks. For this reason, my pink eyed white rat no longer gets sunflower seeds/nuts (but she gets plenty of other healthy treats!)


Regarding the sneezing:
Are you keeping them in a plastic storage container? With a lid of some sort? If so, the lack of ventilation may be contributing to the sneezing. Many rat fanatics are against keeping rats in glass tanks (the same ones used as fish aquariums), even if the top is covered in a wire mesh or open to the air, because they feel that having 4 solid walls hinders ventilation too much for it to be healthy. If you are keeping them in a bin with 4 solid walls (as opposed to in a wire cage where air flows through their 4 walls and ceiling easily), then their sneezing may be due to the lack of ventilation. More specifically, ammonia from their urine can irritate their respiratory systems. Pet rats are commonly said to have very sensitive respiratory systems, and unfortunately, rats are very prone to having a certain respiratory infection called mycoplasma. Mycoplasma is said to be so common in rats, that they every rat you come across will have it - UNLESS you specifically obtained a rat from a laboratory that was bred to be mycoplasma-free (a process which involves submersing the mother in an antiseptic and birthing her babies via sterile C-section, thereby sacrificing the mother’s life to keep her babies mycoplasma-free). A symptom to watch out for (aside from sneezing) is the buildup of a red substance on their face (especially around their eyes and nostrils) called porphyrin. Porphyrin is present in their mucus and saliva, and when a rat is sick with mycoplasma or stressed out, porphyrin buildup is commonly seen on their face. If you find this, I would recommend trying to get them into a better ventilated cage, cleaning their cage or changing their bedding more often (try to keep the amount of urine in the cage low by switching out towels more often, etc), giving them more fresh fruits and veggies (generally, if it’s a fruit/veggie that humans can eat raw, then female rats should be fine to have it too. Male rats should not be given citrus or mangos.)


I have two female rats - one is white with pink eyes. The other has black eyes and black and white fur. I notice that my pink-eyed-white wakes up and becomes active at 7:30pm, and is active all night until around 6am, when she becomes sleepy and goes to bed. When I stay home from work, she sleeps ALL day and the cage is super quiet until she wakes up at 7:30pm. My black eyed rat is a little younger, so she is more active, even during the daytime - but I am not sure if this difference is due to her youth or her eye color. (I specify their eye color because I have read that albino rats have a different REM sleep pattern. Source: http://www.ratbehavior.org/AlbinoPigmented.htm However, not all pink eyed whites are albino. Albino and pink eyed whites are not the same thing.) If your lady rats are anything like my pink eyed white, then they will likely be sleeping all day, so I would not worry about leaving them home. To further ease your concern, I want to say that I worked from home until I recently started having to go into the office for a 9-5 job, and I was also worried about my rats feeling neglected… until I learned their sleep patterns, and was able to confirm during my days off that my ratites are sleeping all day anyway. :)


To keep them entertained when they are awake, please consider trying some of the toy ideas in the website I linked above. It’s not my website, but I have definitely taken ideas from it that my rats enjoyed. The best toys are not necessarily the expensive ones or the ones that are time consuming to make. In my experience, my rats have enjoyed playing in things that would have gone into the garbage (boxes, paper bags, wrapping paper) more than the toys I bought them from the pet store.
If your rats are litter trained (which isn’t hard to do at all! but that’s a post for another day) and you have a spacious, rat proof bathroom where they cannot damage your items or escape, then a low effort way to exercise their bodies and minds may be to just leave their cage open in the bathroom, and throw some toys/boxes around the floor and let them explore. Maybe hide some food in there for them to find. Just be sure to rat proof the bathroom or remove things you don’t want them chewing on (toilet plunger, bottle of bleach toilet cleaner, bath rug, etc). Close the toilet seat so they don’t fall in.

Are people really acting like OP is a terrible owner for not wanting to feed the dog on the carpet? There are so many things that make someone a bad pet owner but this just isn't one of them. It's completely understandable to avoid making a mess where it's hard to clean. I don't let my dog eat on the carpet, but that doesn't mean I lose my mind if he tracks mud in or has an accident. Can we try to be a little more understanding, please?

The only thing I know of that could help if the dogs have access to food all the time is a bowl like this that only opens when a pet wearing the tag goes to it. I think someone mentioned it before, but I thought a link might help. I hope you're able to find a good solution!

I've enjoyed reading through everyone's responses and have added a ton of things to my cart/wishlist...

Amazon is my go-to for pretty much everything --- phone cases, screen protectors, batteries, cat food, random household things. Off the top of my head, my favorites:

• Lightning/micro-USB charging cable. I love that it can flip between the two charging ports; I can use one cable for my iPhone and Kindle, finally! We've replaced all of our electronic cables with these.
  
• My Kindle Voyage. Love, love, love it! It's always with me.
  
• Zinus SmartBase mattress frame. Sturdy, quiet, and super tall for underbed storage. Enough said!
  
• Packing cubes. These are soft-sided packing cubes, which is great for me since I can cram more things into them. I get so much more suitcase space back, and it helps keep things organized once I'm at a hotel.
  
• Stainless steel sink caddy. Sponges left in the sink drive me crazy! I like this one because it also has stands for scrubber brushes and the coordinating soap dispenser (which I also bought) fits nicely in the compartment.
  
• Programmable cat feeder. We've tried so, so many automatic feeders for our cats. The feeders either crap out or the cats figure out how to get it to dispense extra food. This one though --- it's been going strong for 2.5 years and the little jerkbags can't get their paws up the food chute; not that it matters, because portions are on a conveyor belt inside the feeder. You can set multiple feeding times, adjust portions for each meal, and it's super easy to refill thanks to the lid on top. We have a power adapter for it... the manufacturer didn't have the factory one listed at the time (it's separate) so we got a generic multi-purpose one that works.

Yes! I use these two:

https://www.chewy.com/drinkwell-multi-tier-pet-fountain/dp/48096



https://www.amazon.com/Catit-43742-Flower-Fountain/dp/B0146QXOB0/ref=sr_1_2?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1500244627&sr=1-2&keywords=catit+flower+fountain

Keeping your cat hydrated is important for their health.

If anyone else has a cat with a similar preference I would suggest getting a cat fountain which will make the water run.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0146QXOB0/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I've been using this one. Works great.

Here it is, I happen to have the same one. Resolved my cat's binge-/over-eating problems.

We aren't the ones profiting from the product or the solicitors, I'm pretty sure it's okay to recommend products as consumers.

She might like something like this

I have the same watering bowl, and this feeder and leave my cats alone for up to week sometimes.

They are cats. They don't care. When I get home they don't even to seem to have missed me. Assholes.

You need to listen to my advice here. Seriously, you really need to listen to a random stranger on the internet and do exactly what they tell you without question:

Buy this: http://amzn.com/B000L3XYZ4

You can thank me in two months via message after you realize how wonderful it is and how much your cat appreciates it. I have four cats and can go two weeks without having to change their food or water and they are happier with that arrangement than ever before. It's a win/win.

I have a cat that will only drink moving water (like from a faucet) so we got one of these and she's happy.

I desperately want two standalone slackline kits because I know Banjo, my Toller, would have a blast using them. That price tho.

I want a peanut but I just don't have the space.

A ladder too. Typical ladder. I'm borrowing one and realized its utility as a dog training tool.

A dog drinking fountain just because.

An A-frame and dogwalk. Maybe a teeter.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00063446M/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1526973104&sr=8-2-spons&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=cat+fountain&psc=1


It’s for cats and dogs but they love it!

Just get one of those time release cat feeder type deals. Portion control solved.

My lil guy (Cheeto) had UTIs and the vet said he had to go on a specific diet and be forced pills to help and he would have to go on that diet for life. Well 3 weeks later and after all the pills and diet change he wasn't any better, but we noticed that he wasn't really drinking and he wasn't eating as much wet food, especially with the new diet which was all hard food. Got the following water fountains and all our cats love them (3 different cats, but only the one had UTI problems).

https://www.amazon.com/Catit-Flower-Fountain-Drinking-Triple-Action/dp/B0146QXOB0

https://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-Pet-Stainless-Fountain-Raindrop/dp/B0037NKDSG/

https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Drinkwell-Platinum-Water-Fountain/dp/B000L3XYZ4/

Take your pick on water fountain, one cat each has a favorite!

I have that one and this one.
If you can spring for the latter, it holds more water (even with the optional reservoir you can get for the former) and it is much easier to clean. You can buy a reusable filter for it and cheap charcoal from the fish section of the pet store and save quite a bit of money over time! My cats love both fountains.

You could try hiding a few puzzle toys around the apartment to keep her occupied at night, like this one:

https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Egg-Cersizer-Meal-Dispensing-Cat/dp/B003H44R5K/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1522775421&sr=8-3&keywords=cat+puzzle+feeder&dpID=41uLQR4-1IL&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

It's not good for a cat to be fat. It can cause health problems down the line. He also needs to stop eating human food and hot dogs; get him down to scheduled feeding twice a day. Make sure you're measuring out exactly how much he's actually supposed to be eating.

One tip I have is to try a meal dispenser like the Egg-Cersizer, which makes cats work a bit to get their food.

>Pioneer Pet Tiger Diner Ceramic Food Dish/Bowl, Black 


>The number one problem with most food dishes is that they allow cats to eat too much. The Tiger Diner fixes all that with a design that challenges cats to fetch out their own food. They will eat only as much as they need, so there's less waste and less overeating. The Tiger Diner also helps aid in digestion and stop stomach upsets due to eating too fast.


> * Cats eat less – saves money on food bill

• Funnel-Shaped Bowl is easy to load and automatically distributes food as needed
  
• Cats enjoy mental & physical stimulation, while eating at a healthier speed
  
  >Shipping Weight: 1.4 Kg
  
  
  
  https://www.amazon.ca/Pioneer-Tiger-Diner-Ceramic-Black/dp/B007DOS9C2
  
  Tiger Diner Demo:
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=II-Y78p2rHY&t=1m25s

I watched a video of your fountain and it sounds really quiet. Does yours sound like this or is it much louder? If it's louder, it could be motor issues on the pump.

This is the fountain we bought, we bought the 40 oz version but it doesn't look like they make them anymore. The 70 oz version might be overkill if you have just one cat, but I can vouch that the motor on the pump is quiet and doesn't seem to bother our cats and is too heavy for them to move.

Catit Flower Fountain

i have one for my cat, only the slightly cheaper model

I had the same feeder as you, but my cats figured out how to reach their paw into the feeder and get a little bit of kibbles at a time. Eventually the electronics just died, so we bought this one and it's been much better. Plus it has a slow feed option which would probably help you as well.

I got one that has a conveyor belt dealy that has worked really well: https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Healthy-Simply-12-Meal-Automatic/dp/B00VIXRB6O/ref=zg_bs_2975260011_1

Its kinda pricy but it stores lots of food and my little bastards haven't figured out how to break into it yet (they did knock it over at first so I know have it sandwiched between two old computers for stability).

I have this for our cats and they absolutely love it! I recommend keeping a small bowl of water somewhere until you're sure your cat is drinking from the fountain, but it didn't take long for mine to learn. Plus I only have to fill it up maybe once a week, and that's with multiple cats. No mess, no gross water, and the cats love it.

A lot of cats will, because many prefer running water over still water. All cats are different, though! My oldest (15yrs) wants water from still bowls, but the other two won't drink from anything that's not bubbling. Here's a link to the most recent one I bought (it has the easiest setup and cleanup of the three I have in the house) https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0146QXOB0/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Every night as I use the bathroom I run the water in the bathtub for a bit so my cats can have a drink from the faucet. They love it. Would recommend this to anyone who doesn't have a dedicated cat fountain.

EDIT: This is the fountain I personally own though, would also recommend. Keep your kitties hydrated

That was a huge game changer for us. They were hella obnoxious in the mornings. Now they're still obnoxious but we know they're not starving! This is the one that we have and it's so wonderful and amazing. We can program different times for the feeder to go off and different amounts. Though we do have a giant sack of rice on it since the Fat One learned if she hits the feeder enough, it will give her extra food (not realizing she's stealing from her next meal), so it would be hours of bam bam bam tink bam bam tink bam bam bam tink

Wow my heart broke and also grew reading all this. Thank you so much for giving Pepe Le Pew (loved his name!) such a happy life. Roland sounds like he’s very happy with you and I’m so glad to hear he’s got such a loving parent! It takes a beautiful heart to want to do what you’re doing, and I think it’s just amazing. My condolences again friend.

If you don’t mind me asking, how do your cats drink water? I learned that cats don’t drink water often like dogs, and to help prevent kidney issues it’s recommended to get a cat fountain. They are pretty cheap, and I have noticed my cats drink SO MUCH more water now. You can find the one I use here

I prefer this one. Catit Flower Fountain https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0146QXOB0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_BbDJzbYYCVG53

A water fountain that circulates the water might help so that she can see the water moving. It seems like that would address why she is drawn to it after she sees it refilled.

I've had a good experience with this one.

If you're worried he's not getting enough water, this may help! my cat is in love with his water fountain.

I can fit a whole 50lb sack with room for a bit more in one of the vittles vaults. This is the one i have https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002DJOOI

This thing. I read that cats instinctually want to drink from flowing sources, (do yours ever want to drink from the tap when you have it on?) and don't like still water that might be more dangerous to drink in the wild. They've both started drinking a lot more water since we got it.

Cats generally don't like drinking water that's next to their food. If applicable, moving the water bowl might help.

You could also buy a water dish that has a little fountain in it (like this one). Supposedly cats really like them.

Perhaps something about the tap water is off-putting.

Have you considered a fountain type water bowl?

It has a charcoal filter to help eliminate funny smells and tastes from tap water, helps the water taste fresher by keeping it circulating, and sometimes they will be attracted by the sound of running water.

My last dog drank noticeably more water after I made the switch.

It's one of these.

$50 is a little pricey for something so simple, but I haven't had any problems with it. Only changed the batteries once in 2 years, it's easy to program, and there's a little latch on front that makes it hard to get into.

Best purchase I've ever made

Have you considered a timed feeder? We had to get one for our adopted cat, he lived with an elderly woman before and was spoiled rotten, he was 18 pounds and insistent that hunger was unbearable. He was a nightmare until we bought an auto feeder.

We found one on amazon and it feeds him five times a day. He’s much happier now. I can’t link pretty on mobile but it’s this one and it’s worth its weight in gold!!! Fairly quiet, you can hear when it goes off but it’s not in our bedroom so we don’t notice it when it goes off at night.

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/aw/d/B000GEWHNS/ref=mh_s9_acsd_top_b6roDDX_c_x_1_w?pf_rd_m=A3DWYIK6Y9EEQB&pf_rd_s=mobile-hybrid-3&pf_rd_r=KSJ18SSVQ7348FK53DWG&pf_rd_t=30901&pf_rd_p=868aa1b7-8387-5f06-9791-43f704a63542&pf_rd_i=6291910011

Same here, but I got mine (and her two other feline housemates) the Drinkwell Platinum because I thought it looked the most like a faucet, ha. She was scared of it for a few days because she's a weirdo but she loves it now :)

When I first adopted my cat, she got really sick, vomited foam, and started to act lethargic. I called the vet and he said that she was probably dehydrated - that she had probably learned to stay away from standing water during her days as a stray, and to turn the tap on and see if she'd drink.

I couldn't coax her out from under the table to bring her to the sink, so I crawled under there with her and slowly poured water from one bowl into another as she slowly lapped from the stream between them. After an hour of that, she stood up and crawled into my lap. Best buds ever since :)

I bought one of these the next day, and she loves it!

I have a puker. Things that really improved his pukeyness was a cat supplement that helps them with their gut. (Links below) Its advertised to help with poop issues, but will definitely help with puke issues as well.

You also need to make sure that there is NO grains in his/her food. Cats shouldn't have any grains in their food. Lots of cheap pet food use that as filler. Secondly, a lot of cheap food uses sub par ingredients. Check your cats food for chicken by product. It's bad for them. Its basically all the parts left over from taking the good stuff from the chicken. Wikipedia defines it as "It is made from grinding clean, rendered parts of poultry carcasses and can contain bones, offal and undeveloped eggs, but only contains feathers that are unavoidable in the processing of the poultry parts." Sounds pretty yucky, huh? You wouldn't eat it, so why should you feed it to your cat?
Crappy cat foods use a ton of fillers that are basically the equivalent to a bag of cheetos to humans.

Switch to a brand that is grain free and uses whole meats such as the wellness I linked below. Blue buffalo is also a good alternative. Do you feed your cat wet food? If not, try feeding a good wet food (Linked below). My cats love the core wellness wet food and really eating wet food is better than an all dry diet.

All this stuff is a little pricey, but its worth it in the long run. Taking him to the vet all the time is probably more expensive than switching to a better food. Do it slowly as well, like over a week or two.

Basically anything you can find in your grocery store's pet isle you shouldn't be feeding your pet. Its all junk. Even the "high end" purnia foods. Junk. I know purina makes a sensitive stomach formula for cats. I tried it and it didn't help my furry little puke machine at all. All these crappy foods don't really fill your cat up as much as a good food will so they will be hungrier more often because the quality of the food is just crap.

How I solved my cat puke problem was feeding them wet food in the morning and evening and leaving out a small bowl of dry food for them to snack on throughout the day. If your cat isn't really super hungry than they will eat a bit slower and that'll keep her from throwing up. Some cats don't handle the self regulating diet and instead just end up eating more food, so figure out if your cat(s) can handle grazing between wet food meals.

You can also try getting a cat water fountain and placing it somewhere separate from their water. Cats are weird and don't like their water near their food. Cats get most of their water from their food but having a flowing water source can really help them up their water intake. If cats don't get enough water they are prone to developing kidney and bladder problems. The Drinkwell Platinum Pet Fountain is really good. I have mine in my bathroom and my cats really enjoy playing with the water and getting their paws wet and licking them etc etc.

As for the stains, the stain remover I linked below is a god send. It's a good product that cleans up stains really well. It even does cat pee. I have light carpets and this stuff takes it right out and leaves no marks behind. It should even work on your old stains, you just have to leave it a little longer.

I know all this stuff adds up to a ton of money but its so worth it not to have to clean up cat puke all the time. I did a ton of research for my puke machine and he went from puking 3-4 times a week to puking maybe every 3 months and then its usually just a hairball. His coat also looked better and he was softer.

Let me know if you have any questions. I'd be happy to help you figure this out and field any more questions about how I solved my cats puke problems.

Wellness


Core Wellness Wet Food


Stain Remover


[puke helper](
http://www.amazon.com/Purina-Fortiflora-Feline-Nutritional-Supplement/dp/B001650OE0/ref=sr_1_2?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1368101518&sr=1-2&keywords=fortiflora)

Cat Nutritional Supplements

This is the one I have. Cats don't like to drink still water, so a fountain encourages them to drink more. That helps prevent kidney failure, one of the most common causes of death for cats.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000L3XYZ4

You shoudl maybe just try a fountain. This is the one my wife and I use, and they love it.

We looooove the Drinkwell Stainless 360. With the plastic, keep an eye out for any chin acne developing.

I haven't done links here before, so fingers crossed this works!

We bought this one from Amazon and it's been great. We've got 3 cats, 2 small dogs, and a parrot who all drink from this. (The parrot doesn't have to, but prefers this to water at his cage.) I fill it up about every other day, and thoroughly clean it once a month.

PetSafe Drinkwell 360 Multi-Pet Stainless Steel Dog and Cat Fountain - Filtered Water - 128 oz. Water Capacity https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002SB91QS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_MBsODbXFWP9KK

Agree with everyone here. Got this for my cat when he was about 6 months. He didn't have a problem before but he always liked the shower water, so I figured I'd try it. He loves it so much he plays and splashes in it (but also drinks!). Highly recommended.

I have one of these in plastic, which isn't a bad idea if you aren't sure about it yet. http://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-Pet-Stainless-Fountain-Raindrop/dp/B0037NKDSG/ref=sr_1_3?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1369948231&sr=1-3&keywords=pet+fountain

They are really really frigging dangerous. I still use them, but I shrivel up a little every time I pick one up in a bear hug, (brewhauler hurts the crap out of my back - not built for short guys!).

Here was my last fallen solder....didn't dent the concrete at all!

I'm strongly considering switching to 15 gal plastic fermenters. 1 fermenter instead of 2 for my batches, easy peasy. Except I'm unsure how I'll hoist it up onto my bench to gravity transfer to the keg....might have to switch to pressurized transfer...

Edit: This post convinced me. Just pulled the trigger on a 13 gal vittles vault for $38. I figure I can rig up something to push the beer into kegs with CO2 once I get it. Any tips out there?

My cat did the same thing. we got her this and it seems to help.

http://www.amazon.com/Drinkwell-FCB-RE-Original-Pet-Fountain/dp/B00063446M

Behold!

Okay a few cat suggestions.

1. http://www.catgenie.com/ buy one of these. It will save you a LOT of scooping, and the soap cartridges it takes last a long time (months) and are cheaper than cat litter. Because this device uses a plumbing connection (water supply and drain) it flushes the cat waste down the drain so there is nothing to scoop or empty. Buy the normal retail unit, then sign up for the VIC program- over the course of a year they'll send you a ton of supplies, but it doesn't auto renew. The VIC supplies are cheaper than retail and work in the normal retail cat genie.
   
   
2. To litterbox train your cat, look up a product called Cat Attract spray. If you get the Cat Genie, DO NOT put the cat attract litter in it- it will clog and destroy the machine. Use the spray, or litterbox train the cat with a normal litterbox and then switch to something automatic.
   
   
3. Keep your cat inside. Inside cats live longer, healthier lives. However she should still have a collar and a microchip- cats can sometimes escape.
   
   
4. Learn to communicate with your cat. Cats do most of their communication through body language, not meows. Most domesticated cats adapt and use meows to communicate with humans to some degree, but if you learn to read the cat's body language that can be a big help. There are lots of resources on cat body language so I won't go into it much here. But a few tips- tail straight up plus long meow is a greeting when you get home, tail up generally indicates happy or curious, ears back plus cat/tail low to the ground equals pissed off. Staring straight at a cat can be a sign of hostility. However if you look at the cat and blink very slowly, sometimes the cat will return the sign- that is a sign of non-threatening familiarity. Same thing if a cat does it to you, do it back. Cats rub against things partially to scent-mark them- so the cat rubbing past your leg is partially an affectionate sign, and also marking you as part of the cat's property. If a cat rubs its face on you (especially your own face) that's a strong sign of approval, it's considering you to be part of its family. When a cat rolls over and exposes its belly this is a sign of trust, not necessarily and invitation for a belly rub. Some cats like the belly rub, some don't. If you want to try it, start at the top under the chin.
   
   
5. speaking of things cats like- scratching between the ears, rubbing around the ear sockets (there are a lot of little muscles in there which orient the ears), scratching lightly on the underside of the jaw and off to the sides below the cheeks. Some cats like having an ear lightly rubbed between two fingers. Right above the base of the tail is another good scratching place. Most cats would prefer having their legs and paws left alone.
   
   
6. Don't declaw your cat. Declawing in human equivalent is the same as tearing off the end of each finger at the last knuckle. Get a good scissor-type nail trimmer- petsmart has them in the dog aisle. The cat designed quick detector one doesn't work at all. DO NOT cut the 'quick'- the pink area inside the nail. That will hurt a lot and bleed. Nail trimming time should be when the cat is very tired and relaxed so she will sit still. Plenty of treats should be involved. It's not always possible to do all the nails at once, sometimes more than one session is required. If you absolutely must declaw your cat, only declaw the front paws. However a better solution is to get a good scratching post and reward the cat for using it. Get something fairly tall- cats like to stretch out when they scratch.
   
   
7. The more water your cat drinks, the better. Cats in the wild get most of their water in the meat they eat, so this is especially important if your cat eats dry food. This gadget works really well- cats instinctively know that running water is cleaner than stagnant water, so a bowl like this can encourage the cat to drink more. Proper hydration can prevent kidney and bladder issues.
   
   
8. It IS possible to train a cat. The difference is that unlike dogs, cats are not pack animals. With a dog, once you establish yourself as ahead of the dog in the pack order, the dog will naturally obey as long as it understands the command. Cats have no such compunction, so you have to train them that it's in their best interest to obey. Negative reinforcement doesn't work well with cats, positive rewards work much better. IE, if you want your cat to come to you when called, having a treat ready as a reward is more effective than punishing the cat who doesn't come. You can train your cat for 'OFF!' or some similar command- for a while, when you say OFF, if the cat doesn't move chase her off whatever she's on, then ignore her. You don't want to create the association that 'off' is the start of a fun hide and seek game.
   
   
9. If you need a punishment, a spray bottle full of water works nicely. It's totally harmless but cats don't like it. There are a handful of automated defense systems like static zapper mats and motion-detector compressed air spray things that work pretty well for training cats to stay off tables and stuff.
   
   
10. If the kitten gets low to the ground, looks at you, and starts wiggling her butt, prepare for a incoming kitty-missile.
    
    
11. Back on training- you can train the cat to not bite or use claws when playing. If you are playing with the cat and she gets a bit too rough, make a loud 'OUCH!' type sound, and end the play session (just walk away and ignore her). Then wash off your hands- any cat bite or scratch should be washed with soap and water.
    
    
12. All cats go through a phase where they bite all the time. The bites are generally soft play-bites that don't hurt.
    
    
13. Cats are smart. If you feed your cats by hand, they will usually figure out that rub against the leg + meow anxiously + be adorable = get food. Keep an eye out for when your cat is training you. Alternatively, get the cat an automatic feeder (only works well with dry food).
    
    
14. Keep your cat entertained. Get a bunch of balls and toys and stuff and leave them laying around. This is especially important if you only have one cat- two cats will entertain each other, one cat will be bored out of its mind when you are away. Many cats prefer toys that make noise of some kind. A cat tower is another good investment.
    
    Hope that helps!

If you get one of these, it might save you from having to leave your water faucet on all the time! Cute cat, by the way.

One of my cats does this, the other doesn't. We kept the regular water bowl but got them a Drinkwell Platinum and they both love it and drink more. The vet encouraged us getting this anyway because the one who smacks at the water was having problems with not getting enough water in his diet and therefore was getting UTIs. This seems to be better overall for their health. My boyfriend's Mom also got her cats this one and they won't go near it. I guess it depends on your kitty.

Here's the link for the one we got:
https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Drinkwell-Platinum-Pet-Fountain/dp/B000L3XYZ4

I got this one.

One of them loves the water stream and bops at it and will drink straight from the stream. It beats the boring metal bowl. You can also wash it in the dishwasher. I highly recommend it.

Here's the one I have and I've been very happy with it. There are plastic parts inside (the pump and its housing), but I wash everything about once a week or every other week and that takes care of any junk in there. The housing is dishwasher safe so that makes cleaning that part easy.

My cat was not all that happy with a water dish but would drink because it was available...he's not the type to drink from a water glass.

I got him a pet fountain and he loves it. It filters and circulates water so it stays fresh and it keeps quite cool.

Maybe that would be a solution for your kitty? As to what your aunt said, I don't keep his fountain in a separate room from his food (they're in the same corner of my kitchen), and he doesn't seem to mind.

If you're going to stick with a bowl, I'd recommend using ceramic, stainless steel, or glass; cats don't tend to like plastic bowls.

I have switched all my cats bowls to ceramic or stainless steel because one of my boys was having a bit of an acne issue. I 've had this fountain for 3 years now and it still works great. It's stainless but it also comes in ceramic.

http://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-Pet-Stainless-Fountain-Raindrop/dp/B0037NKDSG

On sale for $35! I might just buy another

Wet food naturally has moisture so cats will drink less anyways.

After my cat had a urinary obstruction, I also switched to wet food. In addition, I add a little filtered water to their wet food to increase its moisture even more (like an 1/4 cup per can) and I got a pet fountain. The cats now have plenty of moisture in their diet, and while they do drink less than with wet food, I still see them playing with the fountain and licking water from their paws / drinking from it occasionally. I know you already have one, but I got this one and it's awesome and super easy to clean. Maybe it might be worth switching it up?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0037NKDSG/ref=zg_bs_2975263011_7?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=W5GYSRYZ2RJ9ZNBFDFKT

Also, don't keep your water directly next to the food supply- cats have a natural instinct to find clean water, and avoid water sources near their killed prey to minimize contamination. Try moving the water further away and see if it helps!

I'm so glad your cat is alright!

If she's on dry food: toys that you can put food into. For an overweight cat, sometimes play to eat is the only play they want to do, initially (you might find this changes as she loses weight). I literally bought something like this for mine and it really helped to get her just doing a little bit more moving and interacting and little less sitting on her ass.

Secondly, weigh the food as much as you can. Doing it by the cup tends to mean you underestimate what you're feeding, even if you've got a cup with measuring marks on.

Thirdly, for motivation, a weigh in and measure her stomach size every month with a tape measure. Sometimes, it comes off their waist more noticeably than it comes off their weight. Stick it in your calendar. Get her a little (non food!) treat if you both do well. Sometimes it really helps to have goals, even if it's just "if she weighs less two months in a row, she gets a new ball".

I had a similar issue with my boy. I tried the ball in the bowl, I tried a slow feed bowl, I tried wet food, I tried an automatic feeder. Nothing seemed to work until I found this puzzle bowl: Pioneer Pet Tiger Diner Ceramic Food Dish/Bowl, Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007DOS9C2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_EahqDbACC3B8H

They have to stick their paws in the holes and can only get out a few pieces at a time. It's seriously been amazing. He rarely ever throws up now from eating too fast. It is a bit pricey, but it's worth not having to clean up puke constantly.

My vet calls that "scarf 'n barf"

I have 4 cats and one of them was my "gorger". Our vet recommended these to stop the scarfing. They work beautifully!!

That, and slo-bowls

And Puzzle Bowls

Keeps them all from scarfing it down so they eat slower, don't "scarf & barf", and it reduces desperation at the next meal time.

I also recommend a cat fountain. We got our kitties

https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Drinkwell-Pagoda-Ceramic-Fountain/dp/B00BD3UN8C/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_sspa?crid=17GPADNI1FRW7&keywords=pagoda%2Bcat%2Bfountain&qid=1550231265&s=gateway&sprefix=pagoda%2B&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&th=1

We like it because the whole thing comes apart and is dishwasher safe. You can buy off brand filters on Amazon too which are significantly cheaper than the drink well brand.

I bought this one. It can be completely disassembled and it's mostly ceramic except for the pump so it's easy to clean. You do have to clean it once a week but it's like doing a few dishes.

You can get pet bowls that will only open for one pet (they are activated by a chip in a tag on a collar or by the pets' own microchip.) They range in price from $40 up to around $150.

I just heard about this, which is really a shame because my cat became fat after I moved in with a girl who had two cats, who would steal her food all the time. So I started free-feeding her and boom, fat cat. I would have loved to have gotten this while I was in that situation, before I started free-feeding her (she's on a diet now).

Essentially it's a collar that unlocks their sealed food container. So your cats could have different ones (or just the slow eater), that way her food stays hers and the other cat can't get at it!

I suggest the Catit fountain, extremely easy to clean and doesn't cost an arm & a leg. I bought it for $19.99 a year ago and I'd buy it for the $24.99 it is now. There's a new model that is exactly the same but comes with a flower attachment which makes streams as if the water is coming out of a faucet.

I got an answer for this! I too noticed a while back my cat loved drinking from the sink more than his bowl, and it turns out almost everyone who has a cat has the same issue!

So after some researching it turns out that cats are not fully domesticated (this is why they have such a strong need to hunt) and because of this they don’t drink water the same way dogs do.

A cat won’t want to drink water from a bowl, however if a cat hears running water it’ll kick start their instincts (just like when a cat sees a bird, something inside them clicks) and they’ll want to drink as much water as they can.

Without the sound of running water, a cat will get most of its water from wet food, because they will only drink when they are very thirsty. This is why it’s so common for cats to get kidney and bladder problems.

The best thing you can do is get a fountain for your cat.

There are some on amazon that very affordable, I use the catit water filter. I like it’s design and the way it uses it’s filters. You can also use it without filters, but if you make sure to clean out the water more often. Like once every day or so.

You’ll also have to keep an eye on the fountain, they’ll need to be cleaned often because if it it can get mold.

It’s a little bit more work, but it’s a HUGE difference. My cats drink so much water, it even reduced the stench of their urine.

Please consider doing this for your cat, and spreading the awareness. This alone can make your cat live so much longer and healthier.

cat fountain that I use

I got a fountain and it really seems to pump up the amount of water my cats drink. My water isn't too hard, so I don't have to deal with build up, but the only problem with mine is cleaning the middle part of it, but that isn't a big problem, all you need is a bottle brush. It's also great for seniors since they don't have to go down as far.

Yea, most bolws with flowing water will do it. I like this one though, personal favorite, because its customizable for your cats preference. Its the one I have for my little dude. It's just a bit pricey.

Catit Flower Fountain https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0146QXOB0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_QgEJzbH45NY16

It's going to get better, trust me. He is still adapting to a new environment and it has still only been a short while. He is probably a bit stressed. You could try some cat calming spray or even the calming collar (one of my cats wears this one). In terms of the feeding, I'd recommend an automatic feeder that dispenses a certain amount during certain times of the day (this is the one I have). Please don't cry. :)

I mean...

cat feeder

...also got a fountain; owning factorio and VR is dangerous

We have this multi-tier fountain from PetSafe that we got from amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Drinkwell-Multi-Tier-Water-Fountain/dp/B0056ASTES/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1524891957&sr=8-3&keywords=petsafe+water+fountain

My cat never drank water from a bowl, no matter how many different materials/shapes/places/temperatures that we tried to encourage her. But she loves her water fountain and drinks from it daily. It does get annoying to have to wash, and you'll probably have to do it more frequently with 3 cats, but it's worth it.

Cats like fresh, moving water. We got ours this water fountain and while she still splashes at it a bit she has yet to knock it over since it's pretty heavy. Before we bought the fountain I had her dish in a big shallow storage box so if she did spill the water it didn't spread out all over the floor. Or like the other suggestion: place a few bowls around the house.

After checking that you're feeding the correct portions, you might want to find a way to slow down their eating. My coworker mentioned that he and his wife have drastically reduced cat puke incidents with something like this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EB4IV2A/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_f7VSybS39ZZSQ.

This is the one I have. Mine loves hers too, I just have to be careful to make sure I refill it often enough. Luckily it mades a horrendous noise when it gets empty but I'm sure it isn't good for the motor

I have the Drinkwell Original I ordered from Amazon. Its only $30 and I'm happy with it. It took a couple days for our cat to get used to it but now he is fine with it.

Thanks :) Amazon! ww.amazon.com/gp/product/B00063446M/ should help fix someone's little bird-soup problem, haha.

I have the Drinkwell Big Dog Fountain and the Drinkwell Platinum Pet Fountain. My cats love them! My father let the cats drink from the tap. They got spoiled and started turning their noses up at their water dish and begging for water at the sink. After nearly tripping over cats every time I had to pee, I bought the smaller of the two fountains. It was an immediate hit, not just with the cats, but with the dog, too. Between them all, they emptied the fountain very quickly. I had to upgrade to the big one just to keep up!

http://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-5-Meal-Automatic-Pet-Feeder/dp/B000GEWHNS

just buy two of these, they are a lot cheaper.

I've had great luck with this fountain. Well made, quiet, adjustable flow and the filters are inexpensive. http://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Drinkwell-Platinum-Pet-Fountain/dp/B000L3XYZ4

It seems it might be this.

PetSafe Drinkwell Platinum Pet Fountain https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000L3XYZ4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_vo.Azb8ZB8HFJ

Just bought this one! https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000L3XYZ4/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1505072174&sr=1-5&keywords=cat+fountain

Something like this thats stainless steel so the dog can't chew it? A small bowl that clips to the kennel that you only leave a small amount of water in?


If the pups already struggling to hold it (btw i consider 4 hours pushing it at that age, although some don't) then i don't know why you're looking to offer more water. Id just make sure pup is drinking regularly while you are there. You may consider looking at better AC/fan if heat is a potential issue for your dog chugging water?

Not sure the exact one we have as my brother was the one who purchased it, can look when I get home. Ours allows you to schedule 1-3 times per day (custom times for each) and customizable amounts in increments of a quarter of a cup per feeding. Its got a fairly big tank of food that probably holds 2-3 weeks worth. EDIT: looks like it might be this one: www.amazon.com/LeBistro-Portion-Control-Automatic-pounds/dp/B0016BVY2U.

We did have to super glue a small plastic cover to it to make the hole where the food comes thin enough that he couldn't stick his paw up it and force food out.

It's this one

you know they sell cat fountains for this reason right?
Changing their water everyday multiple times seems excessive and im lazy. anyways this: http://www.amazon.com/Drinkwell-360-Pet-Fountain-128oz/dp/B001NIZAH6/ref=zg_bs_2975263011_13

Buy it and save yourself some time. We dont bother with water bowls anymore and as long as you bleach and clean it once a month it stays fresh.

I switched my cat to a metal water fountain with a little charcoal filter and she loves it! My cat drinks at least 10x more than she ever did before. I clean it once a week and have had no issues with water build up and it's really easy to clean. My weird cat likes to drink with her paws so the fountain gets gross
fast, but if you have a normal cat you could probably clean it even less. This is the filter I have -- Pioneer Pet Stainless Steel Fountain Raindrop Design , 60oz https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0037NKDSG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_eE5TBb4RFSS8S

I love this Pioneer Pet fountain because everything except the pump can go in the dishwasher! I usually soak the pump in vinegar and then scrub it with a brush.

Yes, get the basic 7 gallon brew bucket. Drill a hole in the lid with their drill bit. Add the bulkhead. Add a TC to ball lock gas post. Now you can do closed transfers.

I also love my Tilt and TiltPi running on a Pi Zero.

With all that cash you won't mind a large grain storage bin perfect for 50 pound grain sacks.

You can break down your pound bags of hops into smaller bags with a vacuum sealer.

Try an RO system and upgrade it with a 14 gallon pressure tank (can't find the link).

Like others have mentioned, I use the Vittles Vault-- the one I have holds 50lbs of food with no issues. It is airtight/watertight/insect proof. A bit pricey, but worth it.

You guys look super nice today ;)

I would like this cat water fountain as gift one because my new kitten should be just about ready to move in about a week or maybe less!

For gift two, this strange plunger-looking washing device should come in handy in my new apartment as it doesn't have a washer/dryer. C'mon...gimme.

Thanks for the contest guys!

The cat might appreciate a water fountain; it's a lot more appealing to many cats than drinking out of a bowl. Considering how many cats get kidney failure, anything that will help them drink more water is a good thing!

http://www.amazon.com/Drinkwell-FWB-RE-Original-Pet-Fountain/dp/B00063446M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417618289&sr=8-1&keywords=cat+fountain

I don't know a single cat who doesn't prefer to drink moving water.

FYI, you can get something that keeps it naturally moving and thus not so contaminated

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00063446M

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=automatic+cat+feeder

some are better than others for portion size control & ease of timer programming

I have this one: http://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-5-Meal-Automatic-Pet-Feeder/dp/B000GEWHNS/ref=sr_1_2?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1462122045&sr=1-2&keywords=automatic+cat+feeder

I use this automatic feeder. It’s the best price (used to be cheaper, unfortunately it’s about $10 more now than when I bought it). It’s really easy to use. The rotator can be a little loud, but I don’t notice it at all anymore.

This is the one we have:

https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-5-Meal-Automatic-Dispenses-Digital/dp/B000GEWHNS/ref=mp_s_a_1_7?keywords=timed+cat+feeder&qid=1559070719&s=gateway&sr=8-7

Gets the job done

this one, specifically the 5 meal feeder NOT the 2 meal which is garbage. extremely durable and well made, no way a cat would be able to break into it.

Some cats are more vocal than others. Both of mine will yowl loudly when they find a particular toy (a fuzzy crinkle ball sets them both off, as does a catnip mouse). Usually these toys end up under a sofa for a week or two but if they find it they run around with it in their mouth yowling. If this wakes me up, I have to take the toy away and hide it so they quiet down.

If your cat is wailing for food / to be fed, then I HIGHLY recommend getting [a PetSafe cat feeder] (https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-5-Meal-Automatic-Pet-Feeder/dp/B000GEWHNS/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1496432458&sr=8-6&keywords=cat+feeder). I have had one of these things for YEARS and I've rarely had to replace the D batteries. It has five 1-cup dry-food compartments that I have set to rotate at 6:15am. The cats hear it rotate and run for breakfast, leaving me alone. They know not to bother me for food.

They are grazers so I have it rotate just once per day, but you can set it up to rotate 2 or 3 times per day if you want to dole out food in smaller portions. Then you are associated with play and cuddles and the cat(s) learn not to cry to you for food. It really works!

EDIT: I should add that I sometimes give them snacks or wet food to supplement the dry, but never when they are around / crying or begging for food. They get excited when they hear the sound of the wet food dishes coming out of the cupboard, but they never pester me for it, because it isn't something that happens every day.

PetSafe Eatwell 5-Meal Automatic Pet Feeder https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000GEWHNS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_USxMAbT37ZRWS

There are fancier ones but I like this one. The cat can’t force it to rotate and neither can the dogs. The dogs tried but all they did was leave nail marks. The dogs are 55 lbs each so it was a real attempt.

For the litter tracking problem I'd recommend a top-loading litter box or just buy a large plastic bin and carve a hole out of the top if you're handy with tools. This almost completely eliminated the litter tracking problem in my house with two cats.

As for spilling water, I would suggest getting a heavier ceramic water bowl with non-slip feet and placing it on a feeding mat. You could even invest a pet water fountain like this one (which are large and virtually impossible to knock down) if you find that your cats enjoy running water more than standing water.

We have something kind of like this for the water. Then no screaming for food or water. You don't have to reward his screaming with pets, either, if you just ignore it and then only pet him when he's not screaming.

I understand how annoying it is. We ran out of dry food recently and had to feed him wet food a few times. It's taken weeks to get the screaming to stop. I hate our cat so much. This thread gives me hope because our first is due in August and I want nothing more than for my husband to start feeling the same way so we can put him down. (He's old. And hardly potty trained, so we can't just give him away.)

You guys are fabulous. I see both of you around here a lot and it amazes me how generous you both are.

Gift One: I would really love this. I want my cat to be as healthy as she can be and if this can help her to stay more hydrated, that would be fantastic!

Gift Two: I want dis! C'mon...gimme.

Thank you so much for the opportunity!

Seconding the water fountain. Running water is infinitely more attractive to cats. One with a charcoal filter is even better. This is what we have. If you live in a place with horrible water, use filtered stuff from a Brita pitcher or bottled.

Mine loves the taste of ice, as well (yes, it has a taste). I plunk ice cubes in his bowl on hot days. He runs right over and slurps away.

Don't keep the water next to the food bowl. For some reason, cats don't like that! As /u/libcrypto says, several bowls out at strategic locations will help with this.

have you tried one of these My cat is a total jerk and will tip over her water bowls, but these fountains are suppose to entice them to drink more with the fresh running water.

Exactly. Our cat was always licking the faucet to signal us to turn it on. We bought one of these and he loves it, and has also stopped licking the faucet.

Congrats on the MC!

I have two MCs....

1. Invest in a water fountain! Cats naturally don't drink enough water (which is why they tell u wet food is better to feed ur cat than dry food)
   
   https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Drinkwell-Platinum-Fountain-Drinking/dp/B000L3XYZ4/ref=sr_1_5?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1542680300&sr=1-5&keywords=platinum+water+fountain
   
   ​
   
   Also, cats don't like their food and water in the same spot . I found my cats tend to drink way more water and it stays cleaner when they are in different areas. Previously i was cleaning their water daily because my silly cats were dropping their kibbles into the water, or their food was getting sugar ants.
   
   ​
   
   
2. Your new baby will need a scratching post he/she can grow into. My boys use this one religiously (we have 3 posts scattered around the house) but this is their favorite because they can stretch all the way to the top. WARNING: its massive. its very sturdy and pretty wide so if u have a smaller place this may NOT be the post for you.
   
   https://www.amazon.com/MidWest-Homes-Pets-Scratching-Extra-Durable/dp/B00JEADDCO/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1542679782&sr=8-9&keywords=cat+scratching+post+for+large+cats
   
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3. Food: my kitties were fed taste of the wild at the breeders, but I transitioned them to Orijen cat and Kitten Food. Extremely pricy but as far as dry food goes some of the best.
   
   https://www.amazon.com/Orijen-Dry-Cat-Kitten-Food/dp/B01I3IBQG2/ref=sr_1_4?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1542680125&sr=1-4&keywords=orijen+cat+and+kitten+12
   
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4. Cat litter: My previous cats developed issues from the dust from clay based litters. We switched over to something more natural when i got these MCs...like walnut shells!
   
   https://www.amazon.com/Naturally-Fresh-Multi-Cat-Quick-Clumping-Litter/dp/B00BPA12MO/ref=sr_1_7?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1542680260&sr=1-7&keywords=blue+litter
   
   ​
   
   
5. Cat Shelves - If you have a blank wall i definitely recommend this! We had to tweak ours a little because the shelves we purchased were entirely too small for Maine Coons. And also had to add supporting brackets. Everyday its a fight on who gets the cat shelves! and if its in a common area, its definitely a way for them to be present and still in their own space up high.
   
   ​
   
   
6. Pet insurance. If you can afford to get ur kitten Pet insurance I recommend this. Maine coons since they are a larger breed are prone to things like hip displaysia, HCM, and other genetic diseases. It makes caring for them a little easier as they get older. We use Healthy Paws Pet insurance for our two Maine Coons and i highly recommend them! I want to say as a kitten they started out between 10 and 20 dollars a month?
   
   ​
   
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   Everyone has given u a lot of wonderful advice here! Some of which i actually wish I knew when i was getting my babies! Good luck and enjoy your new kitten :)
   
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   ​

I got my cats one of these a couple years ago. It's awesome. There's a little filter in in (since city water is kinda gross, at least in my building), and it holds a lot of water, which means during times like the hot summer we just had, I can go to work or away for a day or two without being worried about my cats water supply.

I have the PetSafe Drinkwell Platinum Pet Fountain. its quiet, my guys love it and it goes a couple of days without a refill.

They deserve to be spoiled :)

This is the fountain I'm using, been working great so far.

amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000L3XYZ4/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1535908889&sr=8-5&keywords=petsafe+water+fountain&dpPl=1&dpID=41Nw134kqpL&ref=plSrch

Someone recommended this snappy fit bowl to me some time ago. Been using it since and it's awesome. I just snap it to my pup's crate and she can have water all day without me worrying about spills.

My tabby is insanely pushy and vocal about getting food, and was really cutting into my slumber/sanity. I know it's possible to train cats to not do that, but good luck with that. The only real solution I know of is auto-feeders. Most of them suck and can easily be broken into by a smart/hungry cat, but there are a few good ones.

If you use dry food, get the Bistro. My girl is diabetic and can only do wet food, so I use the Qpets. Nearly every other feeder is defective in one way or another, but these two are great. Either way, just make sure the feeder itself is secured (I velcro to a wall).

After a while they'll learn that they get fed at precisely X o'clock by the robot, no matter how much they meow at the human, and mostly stop meowing.

I'd be slightly cautious giving strangers from the internet full access to your home. I could tell you I or many other strangers would be happy to help someone out in need but it's hard to filter out the potential a-holes. If you have someone do it for you make sure you have their ID information and maybe some references.

This place is fairly close to where you live and runs about $13.75+ per day. There are probably also some competing services if you shop around.

Also, depending on exactly how long you'll be gone you can look into an automatic cat feeder, I have one myself that feeds my cat exact amounts twice a day as well as a long lasting water supply. The only thing to be cautions of is depending on how long you'll be gone your cat may have some anxiety about the lack of interaction. When I was out of the country for about 3 weeks I had a friend of mine swing in as often as he could to maintain a presence which made a big difference.

I bought the Aspen Pet LeBistro Portion Control Automatic Pet Feeder. Would definitely recommend it. You'll see in the Amazon reviews it does have a few possible flaws, but I haven't experienced any of them personally.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001NIZAH6?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share I think you could find it at PetSmart too

This is a great fountain because you can easily change how many spouts of water there are, a cat can either drink from the basin or lap up the streaming water (which my boys love to do) It is VERY easy to clean and take apart, you could even put most of it in the dishwasher if you wanted to. I've never had an issue w it causing more acne w my youngest cat, who is prone to get clusters on his chin since he doesn't really clean himself v well. He had more of it when I was just using ceramic bowls as water dishes actually.

As far as the acne on the chin, if your cat can't groom there and it seem to be bothering him, there are wipes and things you can get to help keep clean.

Have you tried a pet fountain? I have this one but there are different brands/models available. A fountain at least keeps them drinking in the area you want them to drink, and is available all the time vs. only when someone showers or turns on a faucet. Plus, it's easy for cats to get dehydrated since they have a low thirst drive, and that can cause health issues. The fountain worked for my cat.

Get your cat a fountain. There is a ton of benefits. I have this one. it's dishwasher safe. http://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-Pet-Stainless-Fountain-Raindrop/dp/B0037NKDSG/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1409707980&sr=8-3&keywords=cat+fountain

My cats have had UTIs before and we switched them to Hills c/d wet food. We also have a water fountain for them which encourages them to drink more water. Here’s the link for the one we have, it’s great: https://www.amazon.ca/Pioneer-Pet-Stainless-Fountain-Raindrop/dp/B0037NKDSG?th=1&psc=1

I've got this tiny fountain, and my cats generally don't spill a drop as long as I keep it clean.

God forbid a floof of fur gets in there, though, then they go mad trying to "fish" it out... but that's about the only problem I've run into. They both really love drinking from it, probably the single best investment I've made for my cats.

Chiming in with another cat water fountain rec:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0037NKDSG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_9u02BbDA8VNVJ

Its stainless steel and dishwasher safe. We wash it then replace the water once a week. Our cat started out drinking from the reservoir part but now she only drinks from the burbling part. Haven't had any problems with wet neck ruff

Read this. I bought the water fountain, feed her Instinct brand dry food (just got an Amazon subscription delivery today), got a 7 foot tall cat tower for her to lounge on and use Special Kitty Multiple Cat Scoopable Clumping Cat Litter, 40 lb (out of stock online, but should be available at your local store). I use about one bag of cat food every two months and one box of litter a month. The litter pan is the cheapest one available at Wal*Mart, around four bucks IIRC. My vet expenses have been nil on this kitteh. I did two rounds of ear mite treatments which cost around ten bucks when I first took her in, that's it.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0056ASTES. This is what I have for second one. It easily pulls apart into 2 parts and has relatively cheap filters. Top rack of dishwasher obviously (like all plastics).

It's very quiet compared to most because no splashing. I only notice/hear it when the water is low, and you need to fill it. I have to put a rag under my old one, but this one doesn't make as big of a mess either because they drink out of top portion which catches their spit/drips in to the bottom reservoir.

Edit: I ordered the brushes with it because pump is cleanable but because filter - I haven't seen it get dirty.

I cannot suggest this dish enough: https://smile.amazon.com/Pioneer-Pet-Tiger-Diner-Ceramic/dp/B007DOS9C2?sa-no-redirect=1

It really helped curb our frantic eater!

Oh, sure! It's one of these: http://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-Pet-Tiger-Diner-Ceramic/dp/B007DOS9C2/ref=pd_sbs_petsupplies_1

The one I bought is plastic, though, and my cat is strong enough and smart enough that sometimes he doesn't want to wait and sticks an arm in the hole, lifts, and dumps the whole thing over. I think the ceramic one is heavier and less prone to that sort of behavior. They also make one with a lip on the base so there is less mess, but I corral my cat's mess by keeping the bowl inside an old cookie sheet so the kibble doesn't get everywhere.

I second the pet fountain - you may want to get a ceramic or stainless steel one instead of plastic, however, as plastic can easily harbor bacteria and can lead to outbreaks of "cat acne". I have this fountain:

https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Drinkwell-Fountain-Ceramic-Capacity/dp/B00BD3UN8C/ref=sr_1_12?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1495836250&sr=1-12&keywords=cat+fountain

It's pricier, but worth the investment.


BTW - your kitty is a "Domestic Shorthair" - this is a catch-all term that basically covers all non-pedigreed cats of a certain fur length (the other terms are Domestic Longhair and Domestic Mediumhair, for long- and medium-furred cats, respectively). This basically means a moggy/"mutt" cat. Unless you know for certain a cat is a specific breed, with a pedigree from a breeder, they are referred to as "Domestic (fur length)hairs".


Tabby is a coat pattern, not a breed (it is the stripy pattern you see in a lot of cats). Your girl would be called "bicolor" or "tuxedo" in terms of coat color/pattern.

I actually ended up with this one after lots of agonizing: http://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Drinkwell-Ceramic-Pagoda-Fountain/dp/B00BD3UN8C/ Do you know there are no less than two websites devoted entirely to comparing cat fountains?

I do not! But you can get them on amazon: PetSafe Drinkwell Pagoda Ceramic Dog and Cat Water Fountain, White, 70 oz. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BD3UN8C/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_Wr77AbZE5ZM7Q

Is he lethargic? Is he eating his wet food? If neither, then I agree with the other commenters to not worry.

I also agree with the suggestion to get a fountain. Here's the one we purchased. Both my cats love it and drink so much more since purchasing it last year. One of the cats just stared at it for about a week before trying it, but now loves it.

Dammit I thought this would actually be a useful and simple to make idea, I could do that! So naturally it's already done:
https://www.amazon.com/OurPets-WonderBowl-Selective-Pet-Feeder/dp/B00C1BYETO#productDescription_secondary_view_div_1492718356076

Oh! Found a selective feeder for 86$ https://www.amazon.com/OurPets-WonderBowl-Selective-Pet-Feeder/dp/B00C1BYETO/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1525290819&sr=8-3&keywords=microchip+pet+feeder&dpID=41LXHbc81NL&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

Put down the lid. They have lids that close slowly and don't slam, makes it easier to do every time. I have a Catit fountain that all my cats have loved. Catit Design Senses Fountain with Water Softening Cartridge https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CO527IC/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_DRfSub13B6WJN

Very similiar! You can find it [here!] (https://www.amazon.com/Catit-Design-Fountain-Softening-Cartridge/dp/B00CO527IC/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=catit+fountain&qid=1572796419&sr=8-5)

And [these] (https://www.amazon.com/Catit-Fountain-Replacement-Filters-Dispenser/dp/B0748H3GKN/ref=sxts_sxwds-bia?keywords=catit+filter&pd_rd_i=B0748H3GKN&pd_rd_r=0aa67d04-ff09-4587-aff7-72bb77ce26f7&pd_rd_w=vhElM&pd_rd_wg=VgmWT&pf_rd_p=1cb3f32a-ccfd-479b-8a13-b22f56c942c6&pf_rd_r=K52HZ8PZ7PB3C8C6RJN0&psc=1&qid=1572796532) are the replacement filters I get, best quality I've found!

Edit: also, I've had it for 3 years and it still is great -- and when you clean it out, you should clean out the water pump thing too! Great fountain :)

You can get specialized bowls that make it harder for them to scarf it up and slow down their eating. Look into something like this: Interactive Feeder Bowl

It sounds like your kitty is very insecure about his food. Maybe he was the runt of the litter, and he's always been insecure. Either way, feeding him twice a day and letting him get really hungry in between might not be the best idea. It reinforces the whole "must eat quickly, food won't be available for long". Even if you have a full-time job, feed him once when you wake up, once when you get home and once when you go to bed at least.

Secondly, try using those kinds of bowls that make him eat more slowly. Something like this Tiger-Diner thingy or this thingy or just put his food in a muffin tray or scattered on a large tray. Or maybe some puzzle feeders of sorts, since he's such a clever kitty!

As for food dispensers... sorry, but I don't know. All of them tend to be designed for it to be easy to get into for humans, so your kitty would likely figure it out, or try and knock it over and make it stop working.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00EB4IV2A?psc=1&ref=yo_pop_mb_pd_title

Check this feeder out. It works well in my experience.

Is there a reason you want a weight based system vs a volume based one? Volume should be able to be tuned close enough for a cat and it already exists

Here's the one I have, the battery has lasted for quite a while now.

It has a timer so got can schedule regular feedings.

PetSafe Healthy Pet Simply Feed Automatic Pet Feeder, Dispenses Dog Food or Cat Food, Digital Clock https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VIXRB6O/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_7cw6AbEXZRHTA

I got this one, nearly indestructible.
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/aw/d/B00VIXRB6O/ref=mp_s_a_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1472881927&sr=8-6&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=cat+feeder&dpPl=1&dpID=41x5CRjxuDL&ref=plSrch

We use this one, pretty much impossible for them to get any more food and it can use an AC adapter if batteries are a concern... but the initial set of batteries lasted about 6 months if I remember correctly.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00VIXRB6O/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Jumping on your comment to say: My vets have advised me that the first ingredient in cat food should be some sort of whole meat - not a grain or meal (corn meal is popular) or vegetable. Cats are obligate carnivores and need to eat meat.

Also, if your cat won’t eat wet food (mine won’t, the tiny asshole) make doubly sure to provide water. Cats generally like their food and water sources to be separate, for some reason. I keep the litter box, food and water in three separate rooms. My cat is particular about his water fountain but really likes this one: Catit Flower Fountain: 3L Cat Water Fountain with Triple-Action Filter https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0146QXOB0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_B8YyDbEX56WVY

All this said but cats are super individual. They aren’t very good at adapting to new situations, so you have to meet them (more than) half way.

Not at all. Catit Water Fountain

I've had it for a couple years, still going strong. Bonus feature that is possibly unintended, it gets noisier when it is getting empty. It doesn't make much noise when full, but the pump becomes audible when it's almost out of water.

> https://www.amazon.com/Catit-43742-Flower-Fountain/dp/B0146QXOB0/ref=sr_1_2?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1500244627&sr=1-2&keywords=catit+flower+fountain

Do your kitties prefer one over the other?

Try getting a fountain water bowl: Catit Flower Fountain: 3L Cat Water Fountain with Triple-Action Filter https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0146QXOB0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_Dd3LDb5Z5XCCM

We have that one and our cat drinks more water than with a regular bowl.

I love water fountains for my cats. Cats have difficulty judging where the water's surface is if it isn't moving. This is why he splashes.

I have this one, and I love it. I wish it was ceramic, though.

I have 3 cats. There was a stray cat running around my neighborhood and we decided to bring her in and take care of her. Apparently she was pregnant. She had 5 babies and we kept 2 from the litter. Anyway, here are a couple random pics of them. They're my little babies 😍 My cats would love this!

Fountains do help. We've had a few. We found one easy to clean and the cats love it.

Its how we stopped out cats from knocking over the bowl. And we still have a couple that like to put their paws in the water, but its fine.

And no, they will still drink from a regular bowl. All of ours do if needed. Minus the one that refuses to drink unless it's running or in an actual glass.

The one we have https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0146QXOB0

We got 4 of these feeders about 6 months ago and none of our greedy clever cats have managed to get into them! They’ve been great, no more begging for food!

Pet lover pro-tip!

Have any of you tried the pet water fountains? I have tried a few and really hate the plastic ones. For one, they are plastic. Two, the design is always such that they really need to be washed daily because they clog with pet fur really badly. Three, not easy to get in the dishwasher (some you can't get in the dishwasher at all).

A couple of months ago I can across this fountain on Amazon and decided to try it. And it's amazing! It's a really simple design so it goes together and comes apart in minutes. The design is such that it does not clog with pet fur the way the original ones did. And it goes in the dishwasher easily.

Highly recommend to my fellow pet lovers!

> ShutUpYou'reNotDyingThereIsFoodInYourBowl

My vet suggested I start feeding my dude with this egg toy that only dispenses the food when played with. Sebastian totally doesn't get it, and is just mega pissed and meowy at me all the time now, until I give him a pity scoop of food in a bowl.

Try a free-feeding puzzle feeder. My cat got to a chonking 16 pounds (which is large for her size). We purchased a Catit puzzle feeder and she lost the weight in a few months. And she’s maintained herself at a perfect (for her) weight of 8.5 lbs for over 2 years now. Because my girl is a natural borne ✨Diva✨ my husband was against it at first, but it’s cheap, so...what’s to lose? I spent a couple minutes poking my fingers in and knocking bits down to show her the idea and she took to it like a fish to water. We now have a second one, of a different style and different maker, that we put elsewhere in the house and fill with a different flavor/type of food. Both my cats love them. The idea is to prevent them from easily eating too much when bored and to make eating more stimulating, like a hunt.

They can eat as much as they want for as long as they want, but they have to earn every last kibble of it. My (former) fat cat seemed to live in front of the feeder at first - knocking food down most of her waking hours. But now it’s just a few times a day, and maybe a single tablespoon’s worth of food at a time.

This is another Catit puzzle feeder. They also have a variety of puzzle feeder toys - if you’re OK with bits of kibble all over the house. This is just one example.

(We actually just had to put our former chonker on a special renal diet. (She’s 18). We picked her favorite puzzle feeder and changed just it to the new, specialty food and left the normal food in the other. My two girls haven’t had a stitch of trouble telling which is which. I think the only downside - as they see it - is that they’ve lost the diversity of two feeders. (According to the stuff I’ve read, they recommend multiple feeders spaced around the house to engage their instinct to search out food.) But I’ll be damned if I’m going to have multiples for each type of food spaced around the house. After all, there’s only so much room in my house.)

I like putting some dry food along with a few treats in a puzzle ball before bed. You can adjust the number of open gaps (and how far open they are) to make it so she might have to spend an hour getting everything out. I often hear my cat nudging it about early in the morning.

It sounds like she may still have a kittenish temperament. Is it also possible that she's just bored? Does she have various toys to play with when you're asleep? Do you play long enough to exhaust her in the evening?

Found these

https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-SlimCat-Meal-Dispensing-Blue/dp/B0006TQU36/ref=pd_sim_199_1?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B0018CG40O&pd_rd_r=51NW1E76HWVBKXZRDG0P&pd_rd_w=L3BZt&pd_rd_wg=G3hTW&refRID=51NW1E76HWVBKXZRDG0P&th=1

https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Egg-Cersizer-Meal-Dispensing-Cat/dp/B003H44R5K/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1500758950&sr=8-4&keywords=cat+food+dispenser+toy

Is getting him a companion an option? Our rabbits have become very content getting affection from each other, instead of obsessively demanding it from us when we're not available.

Wild rabbits maintain a range of 3-10 acres and live in social groups. This is what they're hardwired to want, so making them live solitary lives in small cages, with limited opportunities to forage and explore mean that we have smart little creatures who are lonely, bored, and full of energy. Factor in their crepuscular natures, and it's really a marvel that anybody with a pet rabbit gets to sleep at all.

Try to increase his exercise during the day and provide more stimulation to mimic what he'd get in a more natural habitat.

More run time and more exploration of new areas and spaces (even just rooms he's unfamiliar with) can give him much needed stimulation.

Increase his forage opportunities: If he gets pellets, try feeding them in a puzzle toy ([like this]{http://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Egg-Cersizer-Meal-Dispensing-Cat/dp/B003H44R5K/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1417559491&sr=8-10&keywords=kibble+dispensing+toy}) so that he has to exert himself to get them. Similarly, we'll sometimes crumple the end of a cardboard tube, put pellets in, and then stuff the other side with crumpled paper or hay.

Getting up and feeding him to make him quiet down will only teach him that if he makes enough noise, he'll get what he wants.

I tried treat balls similar to these:
meal ball
treat egg

He thought those were ok but he really loves when I put the treats somewhere he can put his whole arm in (I don't know why) like this:
mouse maze

He gets really into it and will dive bomb the maze and shove his arms as deep inside as he can. It slides around on the floor with him. The larger holes means some pieces come out very easily but enough get stuck/move around that he spends 20min+ trying to get every last piece out. He even uses his paws to cup pieces and lift them out.

It was similar to this

I can not recommend this fountain enough. My cats did the same thing.

PetSafe Drinking Fountain

It sounds like it isn't a need, but a drinking fountain for my cat. He won't drink water out of a regular bowl, instead he dumps over cups or drops in the bathtub or out of the toilet. Apparently, when none of these things are available, he will sometimes not drink. He got a bad urinary tract infection a few years back, and since we got him this, he will drink more water, which seems to help. We had one, but it broke. :(

One like this is preferred as he likes drinking running water from taps. But this one would also work.

Automatic drinking fountain! Keep his water nice and circulated <3 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0056ASTES/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_LvnACbP81NEZD

Have you thought about a water fountain? I got one because my dogs loves playing with her bowl but the fountain is almost impossible to tip. It's also helped some of her sloppy drinking habits, just because there is so much surface area for her the slop over (it is still on top of a yoga mat just in case). Also, the reason we got one is my friends cats have one and will only drink out of that. After being there a couple of hours, Soph doubled her water intake, so I got one straight away. I actually have the Big Dog one because I can't accurately judge sizes online and thought it couldn't be that big but it is massive! It solves to slop and tipping problem but unless Echo and Guinness are always drinking out of it, it might be a bit much (it is definitely too much for my 1 30 lb dog, haha)

No problem and here is the fountain I use and my boys love it. In fact the older will sometimes dunk his head in it :P. Here is the link for it. https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Drinkwell-Multi-Tier-Pet-Fountain/dp/B0056ASTES/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1500308727&sr=1-1&keywords=drinkwell+multi-tier+pet+fountain

As for for the device to feed the link I am sending you I have not personally used but it does to have solid reviews. https://www.chewy.com/petnet-smartfeeder-automatic-pet/dp/139390?utm_source=google-product&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=hg&utm_content=Petnet&utm_term=&gclid=CMzu_6vdkNUCFQKewAodH3wL1g&gclsrc=aw.ds

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0056ASTES/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1521271397&sr=8-3&keywords=cat+water+fountain

This $25 cat water fountain is amazing. Holds about 1.5L of water and has a raised portion if so they dont have to bend over. My cats like to drink right where its running out.

My parents first got one for their cat because she somehow started crying for them to turn on the bathtub faucet so she could drink out of the stream. After my cats spent a few weeks at at their house they were refusing to drink out of a bowl at my apt anymore. They love the fuck out of this thing though. They freak out if its turned off lol.

We free-feed our cats and one was eating too much and making herself sick. We got her one of these which just slows her down - she's not eating as much, has lost weight and stopped being sick so often.

http://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-Pet-Tiger-Diner-Ceramic/dp/B007DOS9C2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1410743148&sr=8-1&keywords=ceramic+cat+dish+tiger

We got this PetSafe Ceramic Fountain because one of our cats got a UTI and bladder stones.

It’s pricey AF, but worth it in our eyes. Our cats love drinking from it. They drink way more water now than they did when they just had bowls, which is keeping them both healthy (but especially the one who got the UTI). It’s also pretty easy to clean and has replaceable filters.

Whatever you get, go for a ceramic or metal one. Theyre easier to clean than plastic, and last longer. I put my ceramic one in the dishwasher.

You do have to clean it regularly every 1 to 2 weeks, so get one with less awkward shaped pieces to clean.

I'm pretty sure all of them have this, but make sure it uses a good filter.

Honestly cat fountains are awesome and every owner should get one. Cats that eat dry food usually do not get enough water with a normal bowl since they instinctually avoid drinking from standing water (also, avoid putting the water next to their food). Also, you have to fill it up less! It's only a minute at most every day, but it's nice not having to worry about it.

Edit: I originally had this one (or one like it) and you can see from my recommendations above the issues I had with it https://www.chewy.com/drinkwell-platinum-pet-fountain-13/dp/48102?utm_source=google-product&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=hg&utm_content=Drinkwell&utm_term=&gclid=Cj0KCQjwoKzsBRC5ARIsAITcwXGTnem57Axg6L0moqegE58nIB1v2jwT6YttNSD-ryPTYB7L0l9PSxQaAm8TEALw_wcB

I now have this one and love it: PetSafe Drinkwell Pagoda Ceramic Dog and Cat Water Fountain, White, 70 oz. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BD3UN8C/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_zG3IDbR8SK0P6

We have the Pagota and our cats love it.

Get one that isn't as tall and has a wide base and us made of heavier materials. Something like these

Pioneer Pet Stainless Steel Fountain https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0037NKDSG

PetSafe Drinkwell Pagoda Fountain
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BD3UN8C

Yes! I’ve got this one. It’s easy to clean and my cats can’t knock it over (which they used to do with plastic dishes.)

This fountain might be a good option if you want something smaller. I use the 168 Oz. one for my two cat's but I admit I do have to dump a lot when it get's cleaned. It's only 70oz and according to the PDF I found for disassembly the carbon filter comes AFTER the pump. It also uses the same pump as the 168 oz model. I haven't used it but it has a lot of reviews and Drinkwell's have been a solid product in my experience.

[Might want to consider a water fountain.] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00BD3UN8C/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1492138553&sr=8-1&keywords=pagoda+cat+fountain)

https://www.amazon.com/OurPets-WonderBowl-Selective-Pet-Feeder/dp/B00C1BYETO



Bowl wil only open if the right dog with the right collar is near it.

Give her time. Don't force affection on her. She may or may not be an affectionate kitty, who knows. With regards to water, she might use a cat fountain

We have this fountain for our cats: http://www.amazon.com/Catit-Design-Fountain-Softening-Cartridge/dp/B00CO527IC/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1413468457&sr=1-1&keywords=catit+fountain

It only has a low gurgle/bubble, so it's not like falling water. The sides stay relatively still and the bubble of water doesn't spurt very high from the top so it may be something that is attractive enough, but not too animate.

Not my video, but this is what it looks like in action.

Watch out for shit like this though.

Hi, I'm interested in getting a cat fountain (never knew any of this before!). I found two that might be what you're describing, what do you recommend? Thanks for the information!

https://www.amazon.ca/Catit-Design-Senses-Fountain-Softening/dp/B00CO527IC

https://www.amazon.com/Catit-43742-Flower-Fountain/dp/B0146QXOB0

another option could be a puzzle feeder like this

or this

you can also make your own puzzle feeders from cardboard tubes or plastic water bottles

ETA: I use an automatic feeder for my cat's breakfast. The neat thing about it is that they come to associate food with the machine and not you directly, so they beg less (and don't wake me up at 4am to eat)

Edit with link: https://www.amazon.com/Northmate-Catch-Interactive-Feeder-Cats/dp/B00EB4IV2A/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1511985089&sr=8-9

Kind of off topic, but they make a bowl that fixes that in cats/dogs: http://www.amazon.com/Northmate-Catch-Interactive-Feeder-Cats/dp/B00EB4IV2A

It forces them to take more time to get the food out between the little obstacles.

We have this weird dish that we use when we're home, and it has basically completely eliminated the barfing issue. (We did wake up to some cat puke this morning for the first time in the 3 or 4 weeks since we got it, it was happening every other day or so.)

I do agree about the environment change and car ride being too much for our cats. I think DH is just feeling guilty about leaving them.

Check out this different kind of cat food bowl... it slows down the fast waters. Changed our household for the better!

Northmate Catch Interactive Feeder for Cats https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EB4IV2A/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_EVjszbEKX83WA

My boy would do this too, so fast sometimes he would even puke it up right after. He was a stray for the first couple months of his life (estimated 7-10 months old when found). Our vet recommended an interactive feeder. I’m not sure what exact brand ours is, because we got it so long ago, but you can find them on amazon. It helps slow him down. We also separate all our cats though, the youngest gets distracted and the others will eat her food. The oldest is a very slow eater so sometimes the dog or my boy would take it from her. So separate rooms for all the animals lol


Edit: this is what we have for my speedy boi

Seconding this! We have a Northmate Interactive cat feeder (the pink/purple is afaik for cats) for one of our cats that inhales his food otherwise, like this one:

https://www.amazon.com/Company-Animals-Northmate-Interactive-Feeder/dp/B00EB4IV2A

Eventually I've noticed that my lazy bum of a cat figured out three places where he can reach down with his tongue to get more than one out, but then we just change it to a Trixie feeding tower (2.0) 😂 🙈

or when you can feed him small meals get a slow feeder. here’s one for 20

this petsafe is the ONLY automatic feeder worth a damn that a cat can't screw with. You get what you pay for

If you have the resources, there are automated feeders that only need to be loaded every month or so HERE . Also automated litter boxes or lighter wood based litter that is easier to manage than the extremely heavy clay litter. And water dishes that self dispense HERE

I think a single adult cat would be easy and very therapeutic!

Congrats on your first cat! How old is he? How much would you say you're feeding him these days? I'm just wondering if he would be alright eating two small meals- perhaps you're still giving him more than he actually needs. Cats are pretty small, after all. The typical full grown cat only needs about a cup of food every day.

You could look into getting a second person involved so he's still getting small meals but that way one person doesn't have to constantly stop by to feed him. There's also toys you could buy that slowly dispense food while the cat plays with them, although if he's not particularly active he might not be interested in something like that. (Heres a link to one: https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-SlimCat-Meal-Dispensing-Blue/dp/B0018CG40O)
There are also food dispensers that run on a timer although they tend to be more expensive (https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Healthy-Simply-12-Meal-Automatic/dp/B00VIXRB6O/ref=zg_bs_2975260011_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=Q0W06AVHE8R6AMYAAV6H)

Hopefully one of these is able to help!

Yeah, I have the PetSafe with the two way splitter for two boys. Now I dont have to worry about day to day, or as much when we take off for a day or two (but we still have somebody come by) - PetSafe Healthy Pet Simply Feed Automatic Pet Feeder https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VIXRB6O/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apap_mgqvbpNB5gcLo
Plus, it has a battery backup for power outages.

https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Healthy-Automatic-Dispenses-Digital/dp/B00VIXRB6O/

It kind of just drops the food down. They treat it like a snake or something, elongated necks, bobbing up and down.

My vet said my cat wont starve itself either but she sure is putting on the act.

I'd come home to starving cats and piles of vomit everywhere as they tried to literally eat until they burst.

3D printed options aside, I (and some friends) use this one: https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Healthy-Simply-12-Meal-Automatic/dp/B00VIXRB6O

Its been completely flawless, no jams, no over or underfeeding, runs for more than a year on a set of batteries, and the design is such that the little pricks can't dig around in it and get more food out.

Could they not just get one of these?

https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Healthy-Simply-12-Meal-Automatic/dp/B00VIXRB6O/

I recommend this one: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00VIXRB6O/

It helped my chubby guy lose weight.

We have the catit fountain and my cats love it. My little girl was putting her paws in it within minutes and our boy was terrified. For a while, he would get close and then hiss at it. My roommate’s cat has had fountains before so he started drinking from it immediately. I spent some time dipping my finger in it and letting our boy lick the water off. Now, my cats love it. They prefer to drink from the fountain more than a dish of water. I use it without the yellow center of the flower after some trial - my cats like being able to drink where the water bubbles in the center and from the streams down the petals.

My local shelter has larger water fountains that look more like these. If your cats really like faucets they may like this better. The Catit isn’t very loud/splashy.

My cats were very unfamiliar with the fountain at first, and just gave it the side eye as they walked past. But it didn't take long for them to get used to it. We did end up swapping the original one out for This one once they got a little taller, as one of my idgits likes to dab her paw in and watch the water drip off her fur. Unfortunately that resulted in a frequently clogged filter, as they are long haired. The new filter is designed differently so she can't do that as much, and whenever I check the water in the tank it is wonderfully clean and fresh looking with nary a hair to be seen, which I like.


We did find that we had to move the fountain a few feet away from the food, as someone was apparently getting a drink with food still in their mouth, which would drop into the water, get all boated and contaminated, and be gross. But just make sure the water is always fresh and topped off, and she'll get the hang of it soon enough.

I have a finicky water drinker and eater too. Make sure you have wide, shallow bowls (non plastic) so the sides won’t touch his whiskers.

A fountain is also a great idea. My cats always come running when I turn on a faucet so I decided to get this one from Amazon. I also keep their food bowls in a different place than their water. Some cats won’t drink if their water is too close to their food source.

I got my water cat this one from amazon and he loves it!

> As far as the rest of basic kitty care, a water fountain is definitely an excellent idea. We have one for our two cats and they L O V E it. It's cute and didn't cost very much, either. Here's a link: Catit Flower Fountain https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0146QXOB0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_MWVmzbNH28CMW

Seconding this, it was absolutely worth the purchase. Running water is much, much better than stagnant, and the filter keeps it clean. The basic water bowls I bought before would always get incredibly gross, but this thing has been wonderful for my cat.

Catit Flower Fountain: 3L Cat Water Fountain with Triple-Action Filter https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0146QXOB0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_rtHBCb273PAWK

Thank you for your advice! She is normally on a mix of wet and dry Urinary S0 (and we always mix the wet food into more of a soup), but we can definitely give her more wet. I hadn’t thought of that.

I don’t have a pic of my sink at the moment, but the water fountains I have are the Pioneer swan fountain and the Catit flower fountain.

I bought [this one](Catit Flower Fountain https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0146QXOB0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_4EDUzbK1CJR56) on Amazon for my cats. It's only $30 and surprisingly sturdy. It's really easy to take apart, clean, and put together, and my cats love it.

We use this from amazon and it’s been great! She drinks from it all the time.

Catit Flower Fountain: 3L Drinking Fountain with Triple-Action Filter https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0146QXOB0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_hIn-AbNXX5PKK

You mentioned it is somewhat hard to clean?

I have this

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0146QXOB0/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Cats are not too keen on this.

Just like mine prefers to drink out of the sink or tub rather than his bowl. I’m considering getting https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0146QXOB0/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1522243446&sr=8-3&keywords=flower+cat+water+fountain&dpPl=1&dpID=41W4QSh7LnL&ref=plSrch

Something like this.

Sure thing! The one I got: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B06XBRP7J1/ref=yo_ii_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1 FYI to make a voice recording to be played at mealtimes, or to manually trigger a meal portion outside of mealtimes, make sure the display is lit and then hit the buttons as directed in the instructions. (I found the instructions unclear on this point.) I also purchased three D batteries for each feeder as a backup in case power ever goes out. While it doesn't have other bells and whistles like wifi connectivity for remote management, tbh that is what made it only more perfect for me, as wifi in my house is spotty. Does exactly what I needed, nothing more and nothing less. Hope this helps!

Vittle Vaults are another option and what I've started using.

Yeah, this seems pretty complicated as some others are saying as well. As a software dev myself, I often find DIY electronics have a much higher risk of failure because you forget about an odd scenario (ex. float switch failure) that eventually causes a huge headache (ex. flooded house).

Are you already using a controller for your tank? If not, I would just get one and upgrade it to eventually run auto-water changes. It of course will do much more as well all of which will help keep your tank stable and happy.

If you do have a controller, this can be done by using two equal strength pumps that put water in a tank water out at a set time every day/week.

Either way, having my 80 gallon in a small city apartment my GF is always on me about tank stuff being around the place. I bought this Dog food storage container as it holds about 12 gallons of water for my ATO. It also fits perfectly inside a cabinet from Ikea (couldn't find the link, sorry).

If you choose the DIY route, good luck!

I use a 50lb vittles vault.

http://www.amazon.com/Vittles-Vault-50-50-Pound-Stackable/dp/B0002DJOOI/

Whatever option you choose beware that lifting it is gonna be a bitch. I added a spigot to mine to help with racking to keg.

How often do you play with Finn? Does Finn have any type of routine with you in the evening?

Even though Finn has cat buddies, that doesn't mean he is entirely entertained by them 24/7. I would suggest dedicating a good 30 minutes to play time in the evenings, every day. Cats need to "hunt" every day. Finn sounds like he would really benefit from a cat toy like THIS.


Also, perhaps a different type of "watering hole". Cats like to think that they are drinking fresh water. Think about it like nature... cats in the wild tend to drink from bodies of water that are at least, slightly, moving. Still water breeds sickness. Maybe try THIS.

If those options don't work.. try the vet.

I feel you, cat-owner-bro.

But think like you were, also, a feral killer feline beast: Why would you drink water from a well when you could drink it from a river? Running water it's safer to drink from.


Making a long story short: http://www.amazon.com/pet-supplies/dp/B00063446M

I recognize your cat, Stephanie Connolly.

ta-da!

https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Drinkwell-Original-Pet-Fountain/dp/B00063446M/ref=pd_day0_199_2?ie=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00063446M&pd_rd_r=WZARN2Y6KR6C9BYE072D&pd_rd_w=uINke&pd_rd_wg=BUcU4&psc=1&refRID=WZARN2Y6KR6C9BYE072D

Have you looked into something like this?

PetSafe Drinkwell Original Cat and Dog Water Fountain, Filtered Water for Your Pet, 50 oz. Water Capacity https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00063446M/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_im0nDbPX808ME

My old cat used to do the same thing with the bathtub. Finally got her the water fountain so I wouldn’t have to leave the water in the tub running all the time.

Cats instinctively drink from running water. Something like a cat fountain might help you out.

This kind of machine fails gracefully...

https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Drinkwell-Original-Fountain-Filtered/dp/B00063446M/ref=zg_bs_2975263011_9?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=C752WH1MA5VXQHW018RY

Meaning - no power, cat still gets water

They sell them at pretty much any pet store. They're not that expensive, either unless it's the really nice models.

https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Drinkwell-Original-Pet-Fountain/dp/B00063446M/ref=zg_bs_2975263011_3?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=2T3DW7SFWKRYVQW4JDXP

I basically got this one and it works great. Just replace the filter every month or so. Filters are like 10$ for a 3 pack.

http://www.amazon.com/Drinkwell-FWB-RE-Original-Pet-Fountain/dp/B00063446M

My cat use to only drink from my cup. We got him this and he drink from it no problem.

First, I suggest listening to the vet :) Kittens grow quickly and are quite active so they need more calories per pound that an adult cat. If your vet thinks he'll grow into it, he probably will.

There are a few ways to tell if your cat's weight is appropriate for his size. You can apparently tell by feeling his ribs or the base of his tail to see how easy it is to feel bones. This seems like a pretty solid resource. I've had trouble with this method since I thought my cat was fine, but turns out she was just a bit overweight.

My cat is pretty much as grown as she'll be. So now I weigh her, which seems much more precise to me. It's tough to get your cat on a scale, but an easy way to do it is to pick him up and hold him while you're on the scale, and then weigh yourself alone and note the difference. It's not quite as exact as a scale made for cats, but it's got the benefits that 1) Your cat is more likely to sit still in your arms for a few seconds than in a scale you put him in every so often 2) it doesn't cost you any more money. It should be accurate enough for the purposes of monitoring weight changes as they can change by as much as 1lb without you noticing otherwise. It doesn't seem like a lot to a person, but for a cat 1lb can be a lot!

It's good that you're getting your cat on quality food. Again, as a kitten, personally I would not worry so much about the feeding pattern as long as it's consistent and he's getting what he needs. If you have a strong bond and he's vocal, there's a good chance he's going to whine for food a lot anyway (my cat makes the most pathetic sounds nearing feeding time, but she's perfectly healthy). I fed my cat 3 times a day as a kitten but now that she's grown she gets fed once in the morning and once in the evening. Unfortunately I can't leave any food for grazing since she'll just eat it all as soon as I fill the bowl.

Also, especially if you're feeding a lot of dry food, make sure you have water available for your cat and that he's drinking it. Cats naturally tend to get most of their water from their prey and have a low thirst drive. That doesn't exactly work when you're feeding them dry food so dehydration is a problem for some cats. They tend to like running water more than still water (you may notice he's interested by a running tap) so an inexpensive fountain like this one works for my cat.

Good luck, and I wish you and your new buddy a long healthy time together!

I used this model for a number of years without a filter. It worked well, but would sputter when low on liquid and has a number of hard-to-clean nooks in it.

I've recently purchased this model which runs much quieter (both without sputtering and without a water trickle noise which might be good or bad for you). I've only had it a week so I don't know how much better or worse it is to clean, but it seems to have fewer tiny nooks in it.

I have a water fountain for my kitties. About $50 at the pet store. Entertains both me and them, and keeps me from having to change the water twice a day.



Edit: EXAMPLE
http://www.amazon.com/Drinkwell-FWB-RE-Original-Pet-Fountain/dp/B00063446M/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1291333936&sr=8-3

I read somewhere (probably reddit, i don't have a source) that Cats prefer running water to still water because the latter can be bad, but running mostly isnt or seems fresh (that's why there are things like this).

http://www.amazon.com/pet-supplies/dp/B00063446M

I bought my Charlie a ceramic version of this and he drinks water now like all the time, even when its near his food bowl. He also likes to touch the stream with his paw, it fascinates him.

She might like a cat water fountain. My girls love theirs!

I've had this one by Whisker City for ~7 months now, and have yet to have any problems. Is yours also the smallest size one?

At home my parents have this one by Drinkwell. They've been using this for probably several years now, with no major problems, besides having to refill/clean it all the time because a LOT of cats share it, haha. Hope you find one that works out!

> www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00063446M/

Directly from the link


Drinkwell Original Pet Fountain
by Water & Feed

http://amzn.com/B00063446M

I have this. Just got it not even two weeks ago. It is very, very easy to clean and stays cleaner than my old automatic waterer and much cleaner than a bowl. You can use it with or without a filter, it came with one and I plan to always use a filter but the filter does get mucky pretty quick.

The first day I had the fountain, my dog stuck his entire face in the bowl and the water stream.

I like it though. It's infinitely easier to clean than the old one I had.

My cat always played with water and knocked over bowls, but he was never able to knock over this fountain

PetSafe Drinkwell Big Dog Pet Fountain https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000FGIUV0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_0qb6ybVHZX47H

This is going to be fun. Across my multiple wishlists...

1.) Something that is grey.
Grey bedsheets.

2.) Something reminiscent of rain.
Pet water fountain.

3.) Something food related that is unusual.
Astronaut Ice Cream

4.) Something on your list that is for someone other than yourself. Tell me who it's for and why. (Yes, pets count!)
This Bruins banner is for my BFF Becky. She loves the Bruins more than anything. Hockey is her obsession. I put it on my list to remind myself to get it for her at some point. It would make her happy.

5.) A book I should read! I am an avid reader, so take your best shot and tell me why I need to read it!
The Name of the Wind. Of everything I've read in the past 6 months, this one I devoured and have been desperate for the second book in (it's on my list to pick up this week, actually, if my paycheck EVER comes in).

Look, I hate... HATE... first person perspective. I see it as a sign of sloppy writing. However, this book had me SOLD on it. Kvothe is possibly one of my new favorite characters OF ALL TIME.

Avid reader doesn't even begin to describe me. I have my own library. I need books like air. And if I had to make a list of 100 books that were all I was allowed to have for the rest of my life, THIS WOULD BE ON IT.

6.) An item that is less than a dollar, including shipping... that is not jewelry, nail polish, and or hair related!
This kindle book

7.) Something related to cats. I love cats! (keep this SFW, you know who you are...)
The most interesting cat toy in the world

8.) Something that is not useful, but so beautiful you must have it.
This choker. Enough said.

9.) A movie everyone should watch at least once in their life. Why?
The Breakfast Club Why? Because. It's a good movie. Whether you were the jock, the brain, the spoiled brat, the loser, or the troublemaker-- there's a character you can identify with, and it shows that whatever and whoever you are, you can get along with someone who isn't in your clique.

10.) Something that would be useful when the zombies attack. Explain.
A Seed Vault

Everyone worries about fighting zombies.

Dumb. You see, when the zombies come, I'm holing up. A few weeks and if they are undead, they'll have rotted themselves to death. If they are fast moving, viral sumbitches, then they'll have likely ended up offing themselves through dehydration or whatever.

In any event, I'll wait them out. But then, I will need to rebuilt and eat.

(Besides, I have my trusty zombie-killing baseball bat, and a bow. Quiet. Efficient.)

11.) Something that would have a profound impact on your life and help you to achieve your current goals.
This book on Aztec and Inca expansionism. I'm back in school, and my focus is Mesoamerican Studies. Eventual degrees, here I come!

12.) One of those pesky Add-On items.
Zucchini seeds.

13.) The most expensive thing on your list. Your dream item. Why?
A KitchenAid Mixer Why? I like to cook and bake. My mother has one that I used for years when I was a kid and still living with her. I'm 30 now. I remember she got it when I was like, 5. IT STILL WORKS. Over a dozen moves, being abused for holidays making bread and cookies and cakes, being used by my Dad (I swear, he looks at appliances and they break) and it STILL FUNCTIONS PERFECTLY.

I cannot think of a kitchen appliance that would be more useful.

14.) Something bigger than a bread box. EDIT A bread box is typically similar in size to a microwave.

This loft bed

15.) Something smaller than a golf ball.
How about 7 somethings? A set of dice.

16.) Something that smells wonderful.
Italian Herb Bread Mix It smells good when you open the box. When it's mixed. While it's rising. While it bakes. After it bakes. As you've slathered butter on it and begin to nom.

17.) A (SFW) toy.
Hawkeye is so SFW I would bring him in to put on my desk.

18.) Something that would be helpful for going back to school.
This book, of course.

19.) Something related to your current obsession, whatever that may be.
Funko Tyrion Lannister because even a small man can cast a great shadow.

20.) Something that is just so amazing and awe-inspiring that I simply must see it. Explain why it is so grand.
This.

No one will understand the magnificence of this plushie.

It is a rotund, cuddly, snuggly Cthulhu.

But Cthulhu does not cuddle. He does not care. When the stars are right, he will rise from the deeps and from his seat Ry'leh, devour his cultists-- and everyone else-- by the millions, and bring forth an end to all things.

But how can you deny his Elder God wrath? HOW?! Look at him, all squishy and warm and soft. Look at his little T-Rex arms, reaching out for your love and devotion. His eyes, his wiggly little face tentacles. YOU MUST SNUGGLE HIM.

fear cuts deeper than swords

What do we say to death? NOT TODAY.

I have two cats and a husky and all of them drink a lot of water. I found myself constantly refilling their water dishes so I invested in the Drinkwell Big Dog fountain. It works great and all the animals seem to like it. A few problems I had it with it is the dog splashes a lot of water out while drinking, so I ended up buying the plastic floor mat for underneath it. The cats also like to stick their paws in the water and play with the streams, so it does collect some dirt from that and I have to wash it out about once a week.

Only other major problem I have is due to our hard water in my area. It causes an ugly calcium buildup on the sides and builds up in the motor. About twice a year I have to take the whole thing apart, soak in vinegar, and chisel out all the calcium build up. Even using filtered water doesn't seem to help.

I've had it for a year and it's still going strong, so I consider it a good investment.

I bought an automatic feeder for my cats years ago when they were eating all their food at once and then bugging me for more. I like this one because you can set it to feed them when you want to up to five times a day. So long as you measure the amount of food in each dish you shouldn't have to worry about over feeding them. Now my cats can tell time, and the only time they whine at me for food is when I forget to refill the dish. It wouldn't work for wet food very well, but it's great for dry food.

Sure!

I've got one of these, and it goes off twice a day, early in the morning, and in the afternoon. Then she gets some raw food in the evening, and the feeder gets refilled every 2 days.

We have this feeder at our house. Like yours, our cat will gorge until she barfs, so we use it all the time. Like eveekay said, get the feeder ASAP and start using it before you leave to be absolutely sure the feeder doesn't have any issues and that your guys are making proper use of it.

Biggest problem I've heard from other cat owners is that their cats find a way to open the feeder and feed themselves. Luckily my cat is dumb as dirt and hasn't figured this out yet.

There are timed automatic feeders for both dry and wet food. Here's a link to one on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-5-Meal-Automatic-Dispenses-Digital/dp/B000GEWHNS?ref_=bl_dp_s_web_3038413011

I'm not sure why you want to moisten his food. His teeth will be fine chewing kibble.

However, you would probably do better with something like this for wet food.

Not sure this is exactly the kind of thing you’ll want, and it’s right at that $50 cutoff, but I love this PetSafe feeder. It is battery operated and rotates through five vestibules. Works for either wet or dry food but I imagine wet would get rather crusty?? Anyway, we use it for weekends away because it’s perfect for covering two days with two feedings a day. You could easily refill it throughout the week though, to use it all the time. It’s especially helpful if you’re trying to only feed your pet a certain amount or monitor their food intake. The only downside is that it’s better for smaller animals probably—cats or smaller dogs. Or smaller food portions, anyway.

It's this one on amazon! We chose it over this style because we were worried she'd figure out how to reach her greedy little paws up in there!

Also yay for chubby black cats ♡♡

I only have the one cat, however, I've had this one for years. It runs on 4 C batteries (which I've only ever changed once) and you can program it for one or more feedings per day. It also says it's good for both wet and dry food, though I've only tried it with dry because I feed her a 1/2 can every night and the dry is for mid-day snacking. They're not too expensive assuming you'd need a few at least but I love this thing and I can vouch that it's worked well for years.

PetSafe 5-Meal Automatic Pet Feeder https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000GEWHNS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_TsQCzb19VFYXD

There are a couple of brands, we have this one but if you search 5 meal feeder you'll find a lot. Or N meals.

How many times a day do you feed your pet? Mine has 5 slots but I feed twice daily so it only lasts 2.5 days.

Edit: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000GEWHNS/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1526159494&sr=8-5&keywords=petsafe+feeder&dpPl=1&dpID=41iXWZ1eDYL&ref=plSrch

Link to the feeder I use. This company makes much fancier models as well, but this one is really basic and does what I need without being super expensive.

Have you gotten him a fountain? Cat's in the wile rarely drink from still water, they looooove having a fountain.

My cats are all about it.

​

https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Drinkwell-Platinum-Fountain-Drinking/dp/B000L3XYZ4/ref=sr_1_7?keywords=petsafe+drinkwell&qid=1562775276&s=pet-supplies&sr=1-7

This is the model that I own and my cats love it.

I've gotten both of these

The cheaper was was terrible and broke quickly. The $80 one has lasted me for 4 years. I think it's better to spend the extra money for a quality product

https://www.chewy.com/drinkwell-pagoda-pet-fountain/dp/174362?utm_source=google-product&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=hg&utm_content=Drinkwell&utm_term=&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI1c_Cpv6o5AIVDsRkCh1xxAaQEAQYFyABEgJ0D_D_BwE

PetSafe Drinkwell Platinum Dog and Cat Water Fountain, Automatic Drinking Fountain for Pets, 168 oz. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000L3XYZ4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_P7dADbA2J9NFN

I have this one. My mom bought it a few years ago for her senior chocolate lab and chihuahua. Both loved it. Once her lab passed she gave it to me for my GSP puppy. We've had it for over a year. Actually just had to buy a replacement reservoir (sister's lab ran into it while playing. It cracked and duct tape can only hold so well for so long). I usually rinse it out once a week and then do a deep clean every few weeks.

I'm a huge fan of it. If I had just a regular bowl, I'd have to refill it multiple times a day. With the fountain, I have to refill every couple of days.

https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B000L3XYZ4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_a.6oDbFM1NB93


This is the one I've had for two years now. It's worked out really well for my cats but my only gripe with it is that it's not the easiest to clean, and you do have to fully clean it from time to time. Otherwise, the motor gets really sludgy and dirty. With you having just one cat, you shouldn't have to do it too often though. I have 4 cats who all love drinking out of it.

Word. I heard this about bought one of these for my kitty.

He absolutely loves it. He doesn't drink out of the dish on the bottom, he drinks out of the stream pouring out the top. He even plays with the water with his paw sometimes and it's adorable.

When we have to clean the device and it's in the dishwasher, he gets really vocal because he wants his water thing back. Spoiled kitty!

My cat had urine crystals too and ended up needing a PU surgery. We got him a water fountain and he loves it, previously he loved to drink from the faucet at the sink so this was perfect for him.

Here’s the one we got
“Drinkwell Platinum Pet Fountain 168oz” https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000L3XYZ4?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf

or a water fountain.https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Drinkwell-Platinum-Pet-Fountain/dp/B000L3XYZ4/ref=sr_1_fkmr2_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1486485202&sr=8-2-fkmr2&keywords=dog+water+foun

PetSafe Drinkwell Platinum Pet Fountain

Bought the same one a couple years ago from amazon on cyber Monday

You can use a food stand, a no spill mat, or a water fountain bowl

Oh! I also have a somewhat elderly cat. No kidney problems yet, thank goodness, but I noticed she wasn't drinking as much water and it got me paranoid. I got her one of these guys. They have smaller versions as well, and I bought a big value pack of the filters, and it's lasted me a good long while (I can't remember exactly when I got it, sorry). Both my cats love it, and it's saved me a lot of time not having to fool with their water every day. I wash it once a week, and refill it every couple days.

Edit: It's a cat drinking fountain. I need to be more descriptive about my links. >.<

PetSafe Drinkwell Platinum Dog and Cat Water Fountain, 168 oz. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000L3XYZ4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_U6hOAbH0VN3FS

That's what I've been using for my three fluffy cats for almost four years. Good with or without filters, high capacity, and the plastic has yet to degrade or crack or anything.

Like most things in my home, amazon

Also,
Chewy has it if you don't like Amazon.
I use them for a lot of pet supplies and they are great.

Nice looking cat.
Cats tend to like faucets because of the running water. Because of this a lot of cat fountains have been made. They tend to have a filter and emulate running water. Something like this (though I don't have personal experience with that model). You could consider upgrading her water bowl to one of these and seeing if she takes to it.

The ice cubes in the bowl might work too.

I'd also suggest buying some wet cat food with a high moisture rate, as cats generally dehydrate themselves on dry food. So with a wet food she might feel less thirsty.

http://www.amazon.com/Drinkwell-Platinum-Pet-Fountain-168oz/dp/B000L3XYZ4

Its awesome. Only fill it about once every few days, and I clean it every week or so (though Ill admit sometimes I get too busy and forget).

It dismantles into bottom, middle, cover and the motor. The motor has a few little parts to be taken apart, but its all easily done and cleaned in about 5-10mins.

Ive had it for YEARS. Since 2010 I think. I thought it stopped working the other day, turned out the motor had just gunked up and I had not cleared it out well enough.

He loves it too. Better than him drinking out of the damned tub.

Oh and you cant see it, but i also have this
http://www.amazon.com/Animal-Planet-Programmable-Electronic-Feeder/dp/B00ATJSH4S/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1422348072&sr=1-1&keywords=animal+planet+pet+feeder

2 times a day, half a cup. Keeps him from chowing down and me from overfeeding him. I wipe it out when I refill it, but its pretty cool.

He does get antsy though and will start yelling for food about 2 hours before the thing goes off.

Here is the one I bought.

It does well. I throw it in the dishwasher once a month to clean it up and then just fill it back up. I use nothing but distilled water in it.

Just any higher quality soft food, to be honest. They will probably try to sell you on the Science Diet food that is supposedly formulated for urinary tract issues. A good quality soft food that isn't, say, friskies, offbrand, or fancy feast, will be good. Iams is pretty decent with their soft food, but it has been a while since I used that brand. As for water fountains, ones with removable carbon filters tend to work best. They do require thorough cleanings every now and then because cats saliva will always get into the water dish and cycled through so it eventually makes it dirty and a bit slimey. I use an old toothbrush to clean the harder to reach spots. Takes me about fifteen minutes every two weeks. This is with multiple cats, though. I'm not too sure how long you can go between cleanings for less than three cats.

This fountain is generally well-recommended and works decently. It has replaceable carbon filters so once they get pretty nasty you can just replace with a new one.

As for the methionine, if it ever comes to that, you can order it online, I believe. They sell it in some sort of meat flavored chewable tablets for cats, I believe. We crush them up and mix in with their soft food and that's that. It's not super expensive to order, either. My mom has always had a very limited budget and we have managed perfectly fine.

Honestly it's alright to keep feeding your cat some hard food, too, just read the ingredients beforehand. Ash is what you want to look out for. The main thing is to just introduce more moisture into your kitty's diet. We usually will mix a small handful of hard food with a can of wet food and feed them that way.

Note, this is the 50oz model. I have the 168oz model:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000L3XYZ4?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00

I have 3 cats and can get about 6 (maybe 7) days from it between refills which comes in handy when traveling. The 50oz model would be way too small.

This might help; my puppy used to knock her water bowl over in her crate as well until I got this bowl. It's secures very tightly, so they can't tip it over with their noses. :)

Congratulations, you must be so excited!!!!

Well sounds like you are on the right path in terms of having done your research and be as prepared as you can be. Here are my tips as a fellow tiel owner:

First I want to say, bird owning is all about trial and error. Everything you read about is only dependent on how your bird reacts. The internet is a great place for recommendations and advice, but YOU have to be the expert now.

Checklist: Cage - small bar spacing, big enough for tiel to be comfortable
Food/Water Bowl - Get a few, you'll want to use different ones for different foods. I prefer metal over plastic because I find it easier to clean without any discoloring. I use these as food bowls (not a good option as water bowls): https://www.amazon.com/MidWest-Homes-Pets-Stainless-Animals/dp/B0012GS73S/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1494878762&sr=8-4&keywords=bird+food+bowls
Varied perches - Natural wood, conditioning and rope are the three top varieties you'll see recommended in different sizes and shapes. I personally cannot use the rope perches, because my little guy likes to eat the fuzz balls that form on it which is no good for him. But mine love the natural wood ones, especially ones that have bark they can chew as well as the natural wood rope ladder that I hang like a bridge.
Toys - varied colors and materials, you'll honestly just have to experiment as you get to know your new friend. Every bird is insanely different in what they like to play with. Two of mine like to shred paper and one is scared of it, so it just depends. A lot of my toys I get on amazon cause they are the cheapest I have found but I also try to make my own as well.
Mineral block/cuttle bone - again, there are different varieties and colors, just see what your friend likes. They are important though and you should have one.
Covering - I cover my tiels completely for bed because that's what they are used to and that's what they like, the back of their cage stays covered during the day too unless they are outside. I have read some that do not cover completely and leave a night light on.
Cleaning - cage should be cleaned every day. Different safe ways to clean it but I like to use DIY home stuff cause chemicals worry me (I have a sensitive breather in my flock). Poop off wipes are a great thing to have on hand. Food and water bowls should be emptied and cleaned daily.
First Aid Kit - Google and gather the different supplies now to create a bird first aid kit because you may think you don't need it but birds are so fragile and finding yourself without it could mean the difference between life and death. If you have an avian vet, ask if they have emergency hours or find one that does and keep their number on hand.
Training - It's important you bond with your bird and training is a great way to do that. There is the option of clicker training and you can find a book as well as plenty of online resources on that. Training also helps to keep your bird from having bad behaviors or habits which in turn protects them. Usually the first thing they learn is "step up".
Food - I use Harrisons mash and pellets following the dosage on the package, daily fresh veggies/fruits, nutriberries, avicakes and Safflower Gold seed (best mix I've found, read lots of people who use the same) as supplemental treats as well as table food like rice and eggs. My flock is also a big fan of Harrisons birdie bread.
Bathing - You can try getting a spray bottle and gently mist the bird in their cage. You can buy a suction cup perch for the shower and arrange them so the mist hits them (directly under the shower might not be good due to water pressure). They might bathe in the bathroom or kitchen sink. You could get a bigger bowl and use it in their cage that's separate from their water bowl. I have a bird that kind of hates baths but for some reason when I present wet veggies to her, she bathes in them. I've read birds should bathe every day (mine refuse) but it can be very helpful with the dander or when they are molting.

In regards to their dander, I definitely recommend either a vacuum or a sweet duster of sorts because it's just insane. They shake and you can see this poof of white dust/dander just come off of every part of them. Insane.

When I go to work, I leave light music on for them. I have built them playlists and have also found already made bird ones with calming music they seem to enjoy.


Lastly, try to have patience and approach everything with calm. It is very easy to get caught up in the little things which can make you miss out on a lot. When one mine was younger, he was standing in front of the mirror and sticking his tongue out. I had never seen behavior like this and immediately thought he was gagging or choking (its good to know all the possibilities) but I started freaking out and researching and going crazy thinking something was wrong when he was just being a silly bub. That's just to tell you to enjoy it as much as you can and try your hardest not to overreact. They are amazing pets and we don't deserve their love but they give it unconditionally anyways!

We have one too - it's from amazon. https://www.amazon.com/Snapy-Stainless-Steel-Small-Animals/dp/B0012GS73S

http://www.amazon.com/Petmate-LeBistro-Portion-Automatic-Bleached/dp/B0016BVY2U/ref=sr_1_2?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1321641636&sr=1-2

Best thing EVER!

1. It has timers for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. (You can select, one, two or all three meals.)
   
2. It has an option for a power supply (which i think you have to purchase separately)... and battery back up
   
3. I would suggest keeping the bowl and the plastic part above where the food comes out clean. (I usually clean the plastic part above where the food comes out with an alcohol wipe. The reason for this is because it gets surprisingly dirty and i noticed one of my cats was getting some kitty acne above his eye. It cleared RIGHT up when i started keeping it clean about once a week. Same thing with the bowl part. I clean it about once a week with soap and water)
   
   I love this thing!
   
   

I didn't even know the microchip feeders were a thing.


I used something similiar to this for years, but I was free-feeding three cats from it:
https://www.amazon.ca/Aspen-Bistro-Programmable-Food-Dispenser/dp/B0016BVY2U/ref=zg_bs_6291910011_28?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=H97GYPJGSWJJ7JJM1KP7


Amazon has a whole category of automatic pet feeders. ( https://www.amazon.ca/Best-Sellers-Pet-Supplies-Automatic-Cat-Feeders/zgbs/pet-supplies/6291910011 ) Reverse the trend, use them for research and then buy it at your local pet store ;)

My two never did well with being taken to boarding so I've always left them at home alone anything < 7 days with a "nanny cam" to make sure they are doing okay.

I bought this one years ago and it works great, however i think it only supports 3 meals a day and might not fit your needs: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0016BVY2U/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1. I actually use it to feed them daily and just give them treats from time to time. I got them when I was still very busy and didn't have the time for a dog and liked never having to worry about missing a feeding.

I think to do this you really would want an automatic litter box though, I always set out an extra normal litter box in case the automatic one malfunctions but never really had any issues. I use a litter robot as their normal day to day box which never seems to have any issues.

Just Make sure they have enough to last several extra days and that you have someone that can in an emergency come check on them.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0016BVY2U/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Drinkwell-Stainless-Multi-Pet-Fountain/dp/B002SB91QS/ref=zg_bs_2975263011_20?th=1

This is unfortunately pretty pricey($65~) but it is the best fountain that my girlfriend and I have found. We got tired of buying $20 and $30 fountains and having them break after only a few months. This one has been going strong for well over a year now and it is as good as new.

There is a plastic version of it but I liked the idea of stainless over plastic as it won't hold tastes and is much more durable.

https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Drinkwell-360-Pet-Fountain/dp/B001NIZAH6?th=1

We have this for our cat and he loves it:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001NIZAH6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_dp_T1_P1QtzbCTW12V4

It is easy to maintain and the filters are not expensive. I would recommend buying the brush set for cleaning as plastic will grow some bacteria on it and the pump and tubing will need to be properly cleaned.

I'm Waringpro and I approve this message. You can even get a bathroom cat hydration station.

Snow, snow, go away

An amazon gift card can be exactly $20!

I'm trying to save up for this drinking fountain for my kitties and $20 would be a nice start!

You are so pretty! Gorgeous in fact!

Weasley looks like he could be a cat model! He needs to be on tv selling me cat food! He's so handsome!

If your cat likes to drink out of the faucet I would recommend saving up for one of These it's how we stopped our cat from drinking from the faucet, and allowed us to actually turn it off lol. It's the stream of running water they are attracted to. Our Voltron loves it, he drinks way more water now also. It is by far the best thing we have bought our cat, Drinkwell has all sorts of different fountains that have running streams that range in price and material (ceramic/stainless steel/plastic), we decided stainless because it looks nice.

I've got this water fountain. It is definitely not big enough to sit in, but the middle part - where the pump is - is just held on to the bottom of the bowl by suction cups. If you bought that, plus a flat-bottomed bowl large enough for cats to sit in next to the tower, you could just suction-cup the tower assembly into the bowl.

I had that one. It got to be quite a nuisance to clean. This one is 100x better.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002SB91QS/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I avoid plastic. It can cause cat acne, and a plastic fountain will never really be clean. I used to have a white ceramic one but it was hard to keep clean. I switched over to this and love it.

I have this one and it's super easy to clean (just a top piece and a bottom piece and both are steel so you can scrub them really good).

After 2 years the pump burnt out, but they sell the replacement pump for 15 bucks.

That is a very nice fountain... Bonus that I think it's pretty ascetically pleasing for humans also. I plan on upgrading soon to a porcelain one... For now my two cats like this one as well...
http://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-Pet-Stainless-Fountain-Raindrop/dp/B0037NKDSG/ref=zg_bs_2975263011_2

I have the Pioneer Raindrop fountain (here) for $30 and I use these filters. I only need to replace the filter once every one to two months. Totally worth it because of how much the cats love it, and it gives me peace of mind knowing that it's helping them stay healthy.

Our first cat, Roger (whom I originally bought the fountain for), was terrified of it at first. A month went by before he finally had the courage to drink from it, and then he quickly adored it. Unfortunately he passed away, and we adopted two kittens. Simon and Chloe instantly loved it as soon as we brought them home. So there's a chance she may hate it at first, but running water is very natural and appealing to cats. I think she would grow to like a fountain very quickly. :)

The filters are meant to be changed periodically, just like filters in anything else. Some people just rinse the filter off and stick it back in the fountain, and then wonder why it has science experiments growing in it. You can back flush it a couple of times, but then it's time to change it.

http://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-Pet-Stainless-Fountain-Raindrop/dp/B0037NKDSG/ref=sr_1_4?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1348170912&sr=1-4&keywords=cat+fountain

That one works well for our cats, although only one of them likes the running water. The other drinks from the bowl. We wash it once a week or so and do filter maintenance once a month. Works fine.

My brewing partner and I use these, and IMO they are only OK.

Admittedly, we fill them to be too full. Grain spills out when we open them. They get heavy and slightly collapse the low container on the totem pole, just a meh option.

Meanwhile, the bigger vittles vaults are great. as is the roller, square dog food container we bought, because we are not tempted to stack them and you access through the roof.

We use this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002DJOOI/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_sgl5xbGD5G65M which works pretty great. I can't see your dog getting into that.

As funny as this is, I've heard stories of dogs getting stuck and suffocating like this. I'd recommend getting a food storage bin. Makes the food last longer too

We have the Vittles Vault 50 lb Storage Container and we are able to stuff a 28.6 lb Orijen Six Fish kibble bag into it.

To give you more info, Orijen makes really stiff bags that come vacuum sealed as a giant brick until you open it.

It definitely takes some effort and elbow grease to fit the bag into the container. But that's mostly because you're trying to fit a long rectangular shape into a smaller circular hole. It's difficult, but doable.

If you want to fit 30 lbs of kibble (bag and all) in, I really recommend you getting a Vittles container that's bigger than the 40 lb size.

Hey, thanks. I'd have never known to even look for that sub.

I'm lifting one of these with 10 gallons of wort in it. It's 14 x 14 x 20 inches and probably weighs over 80lbs when I'm moving it. It needs to stay upright.

The steps are four concrete steps leading straight into my apartment. It's nice and easy with two sets of hands, makes me think that a strap or device could help me manage the awkwardshape/crappy handles.

I'll repost this over to /r/moverporn later, that makes a ton of sense.

I use Vittles Vaults- https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002DJOOI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_L5hOybE53QFZX

One bigger one like that for lump and one smaller one for smoking wood.

http://smile.amazon.com/Vittles-Vault-50-50-Pound-Stackable/dp/B0002DJOOI/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1414465239&sr=8-3&keywords=Vittles+Vaults

I use ant-proof bins. The one I use for my dogs is this one on amazon. I think they sell them at petsmart.

neither actually its the 50
http://www.amazon.com/Vittles-Vault-50-50-Pound-Stackable/dp/B0002DJOOI/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1421166031&sr=8-3&keywords=vittle+vault

I going attempt to ferment in one of these.
14" by 14" foot print should fit.

vittles vault

If you can get them on sale they also aren't too pricey. I got this 50 lb one a few weeks ago for $25 shipped. It holds a 55lb sack no problem.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0002DJOOI?pc_redir=1413867825&robot_redir=1

For me I just wanted something a bit more sturdy in case it fell off a shelf or something.

That's the thing, we actually bought one of these things and they're already in there.

I've never heard about these things before, never would have occurred to me that moths could get into food like this.

Got this for my cats. It's been 6 months and they still cry at the sink for the faucet to be turned on.

http://www.amazon.com/Drinkwell-FWB-RE-Original-Pet-Fountain/dp/B00063446M

my cats did the same thing until i got them this,http://www.amazon.com/Drinkwell-FWB-RE-Original-Pet-Fountain/dp/B00063446M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1396110795&sr=8-1&keywords=cat+water+fountain

it has a container in the back and just cycles the water from the basin. it's pretty neat and needs minimal cleaning.

He might be one of those cats that likes aerated water. Have you thought of getting him one of these as it may help as everyone also has said.

Get her one of these.

My cat loved the sink, so I bought her a Drinkwell water fountain. It gives her a constant stream of running water. Some of the water fountains don't have a dripping stream (they have fresh water upwelling from the bottom). My cat LOVES this one. Best $30 I have ever spent. When I turn it off, she sits and stares at it until I turn it back on.

Your cat needs this...

Drinkwell Original Pet Fountain https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00063446M/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_2SMbub0EK62AB

My 8yr old cat will take any opportunity to drink from the faucet and just passed a complete physical with flying colors. You might try something like this just to keep it happy.

Still, if you are worried, you should take it in for a checkup.

If you're going to be out for long stretches of time every day, I would suggest not getting a kitten and instead looking for an older cat who is house trained and accustomed to being alone during the day.

As far as vacation is concerned your best bet is to find a friend/relative who will be willing to drop by your house once a day to put down food/clean litter/play with the kitty for a bit. If you are only heading off for a long weekend these things can easily be taken care of by using pet fountains, automated feeders, heck you can even get self cleaning litter trays. Any longer than that though and it's best to get someone to come round and take care of these things.

One more thing, whilst feeding you cat and providing litter may be reasonably cheap, vets bills can be INSANE. I would definitely recommend getting pet insurance.

You NEED these truffles
This pet fountain is pretty spectacular
A genius who loves you and wants you to be warm invented these ear muffs

Something like this: http://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Drinkwell-Original-Pet-Fountain/dp/B00063446M

I got a different one that is stainless steel, just to match my kitchen. But it is awesome! My kitty would hardly drink from a regular bowl, but with the fountain we have to refill it with at least a cup of water a day. And she's tiny, only 8 pounds.

I've not actually read any studies, but apparently the fountains have been shown to decrease the risk of kidney disease and urinary tract problems, simply because it gets them to drink more

I would otherwise say it's a waste of money, but if that was the alternative, $25-$50 seems like a bargain for a running water cat bowl.

http://www.amazon.com/Drinkwell-FWB-RE-Original-Pet-Fountain/dp/B00063446M

Try this: www.amazon.com/Drinkwell-FWB-RE-Original-Pet-Fountain/dp/B00063446M

I'd probably just buy her a pet fountain.

Like this: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00063446M

Hi there, what a great contest! :)

My Sofie kitty is 2, so not quite a kitten anymore, but she is such a sweetie pie and loves to play!

I found this, and thought it was really cool! Sofie likes to drink fresh water the best (directly from the faucet) and this seems like a neat alternative!

As I said, Sofie loves to play and I know she would love this mouse toy on my For the Kitty wishlist. :)

Thanks so much, I hope you and your kitty have a wonderful Christmas!

I don't recommend a large bowl of food, that will lead to over-eating and when my cats get a little too much dry they tend to vomit it back up when it expands a bit in their stomach. Also that's how people get obese cats and that is very unhealthy. A high quality food that costs more now should save you in the years down the road when you're not paying for vet bills as a result of poor diet.

Just feed him before you leave and when you get back. Leave some toys out, even some balled up pieces of paper are fantastic toys.

Also consider getting a cat water fountain like this one. I have it and it lures the cats in to drink more because of the moving water which is a natural attractant.

http://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Drinkwell-Original-Pet-Fountain/dp/B00063446M

They like to drink running water because it is more likely to be fresh. Also, they tend to not drink out of bowls near their food source because in the wild the water would have been contaminated. Get one of these and the cat will be in heaven.

http://www.amazon.com/pet-supplies/dp/B00063446M

There are actually a bunch of cat water fountains available.

http://www.amazon.com/Drinkwell-FWB-RE-Original-Pet-Fountain/dp/B00063446M

This is the one I have...

It has been working great for 3.5 years but has to be taken apart and cleaned with special brushes I had to get for it. (Otherwise there is gunk buildup in the nooks and crannies.) Every time I go to clean it I tell myself that I'm going to just throw it out and buy a model that's easier to clean. However, once I'm done with the nightmare, I just keep using it, "well, it still works fine."

Haha, I know! Cats much prefer fresh water, so I'm thinking of it as more a preventative measure. They drink more water, and stay healthier?

I'm on mobile, but if you give me a second, I'll link to the one I bought! :)

Edit: This is the one I bought, and it appears to have gone down in price! Yay!

Drinkwell makes something called the Big Dog Fountain! https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Drinkwell-Big-Dog-Fountain/dp/B000FGIUV0

It holds a little over 2 gallons :)

You can try this one - it is small and quiet: Pioneer Stainless Pet Fountain

This is the one we have, since we have 3 large dogs as well as the kitty: Drinkwell Large Dog Fountain

Once we got the fountain running, our cat was no longer trying to drink out of the sink, faucet, or the toilet. =)

I use a 6' one mainly b/c my cat will try to eat the food, but from what I have heard they aren't really necessary.
Also if you are shopping for that type of thing consider this water bowl I LOVE it. I only have to change the water every couple of days and my boy likes to dink right from the fountain.
https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Drinkwell-Fountain-Multiple-Households/dp/B000FGIUV0

I have used a Petsafe feeder to feed cats while away. You can feed them once or twice a day for a total of 4 feedings without refilling.

https://www.amazon.ca/PetSafe-5-Meal-Automatic-Pet-Feeder/dp/B000GEWHNS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1466522322&sr=8-1&keywords=pet+feeder

I use this feeder for my formerly tubby kitty. It's worked really well and cut down on her between-meals-harassment meowing by quite a bit! I fed her Purina Pro Plan weight management wet and dry food. She went from 13-14 pounds to 9-10 pounds from this routine.

Obviously the solution is to just take your baby with you on your trip! :D

lol no I'm just kidding. I would recommend this one, or a style like it:
https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-5-Meal-Automatic-Pet-Feeder/dp/B000GEWHNS/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1498146424&sr=8-2&keywords=automatic+cat+feeders
Since you'll have someone coming over every other day, they'll be able to refill the bowls. I like it because it works with wet food! But if your cat is too curious they might be able to pry open the door...Best of luck! And enjoy your vacation!

We got This for my mom a few years ago. It works great, but programming it can be kind of tricky at first. A little more in the mid-range for price to but it's sturdy and can take being kicked around a few times

After a lot of debating, we got this one. It's a bit bigger than I wanted but it was the only one that would hold wet food that had decent reviews


PetSafe 5-Meal Automatic Pet Feeder https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000GEWHNS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_gMqczbEBSKG4N

Here you go

NAH except for the cat. (I say this as a proud owner of a terror of a cat when he's hungry)

Just a suggestion, because I used to have this same problem: You can get one like this that lets you measure out each portion in advance and just opens that compartment: PetSafe 5 Meal Pet Feeder for Dogs and Cats - Food Dispenser - Portion Control https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000GEWHNS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_SfNODb68GREPW

I have been using a similar one for probably five years now. My cat is super wily, so I had to weight it down with a two pound weight but it was totally worth it.

And my cat still super super loves me. He goes to eat in the morning while I sleep in then comes back into bed and cuddles with us. Good luck!

I put wet foot in my automatic feeder. I set it up to feed the cats three times a night (10pm, 4am, 6am). The canned food shouldn't go bad within the 7-8 hours it sits out.

Get one of these and you'll be able to sleep in peace again.

https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-5-Meal-Automatic-Pet-Feeder/dp/B000GEWHNS

My cat left me alone once he realized the food was automatic.

Have you considered placing him in another room for mealtimes? That way, your other cats can eat in peace.

You may want to consider portioning his meals using a timed feeder. I own a similar one, with an ice pack built in for wet food, available on Amazon as well. You can set it to dispense food up to 5 times per day. I’ve also heard that these are good for cats that eat too fast, as they have to “hunt” for their food little by little (alternatively, you can also hide his food in small portions around whatever room he eats in, inside puzzle feeders, etc). I think the food dispenser is probably easiest. The version I linked to above is $36, but I’m sure you can find it cheaper on OfferUp or eBay.

As for fighting, Jackson Galaxy and Pam Johnson-Bennett have some great suggestions. Pam has a great reintroduction guide here. They also stress the importance of playing with your cat to get any excess energy or aggression out.

My guess for why he attacks the other cat may be some insecurity on his part about his status in the home. Do you have any cat trees, or high perches where he can sit? That may help him feel secure. Does he get to spend adequate time with you? I know it sounds silly, but some studies now show that cats view their owners in the same way that children view their parents, in contrast to dogs, who view their owners as pack leaders. Maybe your cat feels like the child who is always getting disciplined (however well-deserved it may be). In either case, reintroduction would likely be the first thing to try. It can take weeks, but it may be worth it for some peace in the home.

Another option is Feliway Multicat . It is a diffuser system (and I believe they have a spray version) designed for homes with multiple cats. The diffuser contains artificial pheromones designed to mimic the ones produced by a mother cat to calm her kittens. A friend of mine volunteers at a local shelter that utilizes these extensively to help keep the peace among their cats, and I know they’re quite popular in households with cats that don’t get along. It’s a pricey product and you may need multiple diffusers throughout your home for adequate reach, but again, you may find them cheaper elsewhere. Additionally, you can try placing them specifically where the two cats fight.

Good luck with everything. If you do choose to re-home your cat, the best thing would be to find him a loving home yourself, or at the very least, be sure you are looking at no-kill shelters (they often have waiting lists, by the way, so you’ll likely have to wait a bit - but it would save his life!) Be transparent about his issues and his need to be an only cat (in probably an adults-only home) so he can be placed where he’d be a good fit.

I hope it all works out for you and you can all live peacefully together!

Here's a list of the protein/fat/carb content of most commercially available wet foods for reference: http://catinfo.org/docs/FoodChartPublic9-22-12.pdf

Shoot for a carb content under 10%. It doesn't have to be super expensive--Fancy Feast classics (and kitten feast) are low carb. The calorie column of the chart could also help you find something that has more calories for their growing bodies without too much volume in their stomachs.

I bought an autofeeder that works with wet food, and it has been a lifesaver for making sure my cat gets smaller, more frequent meals even when I'm at work or sleeping. She tends to get sick if she eats too much at once or goes too long without eating. Here's a link: https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-5-Meal-Automatic-Pet-Feeder/dp/B000GEWHNS/

Good luck; hope the little ones feel better soon!

I use this one for dry food, works great :) I've had it for 2-3 years now! It holds five meals.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000GEWHNS/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This is the feeder I have. I was terrified to buy any feeder because they all have mixed reviews, but this one has worked perfectly since the day that I bought it. The con is that the tray is plastic which I don't prefer to feed in. Also, I like to feed on plates so as not to irritate my cat's whiskers, and the tray is more of a deep triangle-y bowl. Worth it though. I also feed my cats in separate rooms. If that doesn't work, try feeding between a baby gate, or maybe feed one in a carrier but in the same room.

We got the similar one. It's been going strong on batteries for a couple years now: https://amzn.com/B000GEWHNS The cats used to beg constantly. Not anymore! Just in the morning still. :-/

My cat would do that as well and I did some research that some cats are super finicky about drinking "fresh" running water. Bought one of these and took care of the problem.

http://www.amazon.com/Drinkwell-Platinum-Pet-Fountain-168oz/dp/B000L3XYZ4/ref=sr_1_2?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1406385483&sr=1-2&keywords=pet+fountain

I got one of these off Amazon for $50 because my cat was knocking his bowl water all over the kitchen floor. He hasn't done it since and he drinks a LOT of water now which also means his piss isn't as smelly. Considering my previous rage at mopping up my kitchen every morning/night and his better urinary health, it's definitely one of the better purchases I've made for him.

Link

I had a similar problem. I bought this.

We have this one for our dog and love it. The entire thing diassembles and can be put in the dishwasher.

It appears to be this, for those wondering.

That's a good idea. I have this one. It works great, my puppies love it.

Have you considered a water fountain, like this?

Here are three kitty drinking-fountains I saw:

https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Drinkwell-Platinum-Pet-Fountain/dp/B000L3XYZ4

https://www.amazon.com/Cat-Mate-Pet-Fountain-Fluid/dp/B001TY5D6C

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004EFVQDC/

Hope that's useful; best wishes to your cat!

With 3 cats, I offer you should using some fountain capacity more than 70 oz.

Here is some best idea for your cats:

• PetSafe Drinkwell Multi-Tier Dog and Cat Water Fountain 100 oz - https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Drinkwell-Multi-Tier-Fountain-Drinking/dp/B0056ASTES/
  
• PetSafe Drinkwell Platinum Cat and Dog Water Fountain with Carbon Filter, 168 oz - https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Drinkwell-Platinum-Water-Fountain/dp/B000L3XYZ4/
  
  You can read full the article I just done here: https://pawsometalk.com/best-cat-water-fountains/
  
  ​

I got one of these for my kitties. It was a GoldBox deal a while back (years ago), but now it will run you about $35. Keeps the water circulating, which they like, and it won't mess with your job :)

You should get one of these. We use one and it works pretty well.
http://www.amazon.com/Drinkwell-D2VVI-RE-DWVVI-RE-Platinum-Fountain/dp/B000L3XYZ4

I have this one: http://www.amazon.com/Drinkwell-Platinum-Pet-Fountain-168oz/dp/B000L3XYZ4/ref=sr_1_17

and the buns drink from the bowl part, the cat likes to drink from the running water streaming down. Our two buns are just little (~1.5kg?) but they seem to like it.

It does have a cord that you may have to protect, of course. The best part is the big reservoir on it, surprising how fast three small mammals go through water.

I have this one for my cat. Holds a lot of water but it's a little difficult to clean thoroughly (lots of angles and crevices on the inside).

He drinks from it all the time. And I honestly have never seen him drink water from a bowl/dish.

Try one of these. You'd probably save enough from your water bill to pay it off really quickly.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000L3XYZ4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_zaZ6Ab6B4KXB8

Man get your kitty a kitty-fountain. My pussies love that shit. Fresh kitty water all day.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000L3XYZ4/ref=zg_bs_2975263011_1/146-5608513-3963325?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=M87KVRWCX624FXD214JB

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000L3XYZ4/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1482486201&sr=8-3&keywords=cat+fountain&pi=SY200_QL40

My little jerk face boy Tesla loves flipping water bowls over for fun. I got this for the cage. Then I will fill little plastic bowls full of water on the floor of my shower and let him go nuts for fun. Bathrooms are one of the easiest rooms to ferret-proof. I let mine run wild while I'm taking my morning shower.

MidWest Homes for Pets Snap'y Fit Stainless Steel Food Bowl / Pet Bowl, 10 oz. for Dogs, Cats, Small Animals https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0012GS73S/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_mcVeAbPCVFH8B

I️ think this is what they were talking about with the first link. We got this for our puppy because she would always flip her bowl if she had to be left in her crate. It’s hard to tell in the picture but there’s two black plates on the screws that you would put on either side of whatever you’re fixing it to. Then obviously the wing nuts tighten it down. It works perfectly on the crate but you could probably fix it to something you already have like a table leg. Good luck!

You could try something like this that clips on to the kennel - this one doesn't look particularly secure but something with good attachments shouldn't be too flippable or spillable.

Edit - here's one that's designed just for that spill-proof purpose! http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0012GS73S/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_1?pf_rd_p=1944687722&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B000GDZ0GK&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0A6HMY62YFZWPN6SQE5B

Roundtrip car ride from GA to NJ (about a 11 hr or so drive one way without breaks) with a 20 wk old pup was actually the smoothest drive we ever had. We kept him in his crate and he would drink the water we gave him (http://www.amazon.com/MidWest-Stainless-Steel-Snapy-Water/dp/B0012GS73S/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1448963637&sr=1-1&keywords=crate+bowl here's a cheap one that comes in different sizes!) and sleep. Make sure to take them out about every 2 hours or so to go pee and don't forget to feed them!

I actually use these! This one exactly. We have three ferrets. Two like to splash and one like to drag. I bought bowls like that to prevent our dragger from dropping the food down the ramps between levels, but it has not prevented our resident splasher from causing her own set of problems. I might switch to the plastic though, since the metal braces show some rust signs.

We use a pie dish for water on the floor when they're out of the cage, so he can't drag it around, but splashing is a problem there too. She's a little swamp ferret and ain't no one gonna stop her! Which is hilarious because she hates the wet floor....

I have been looking into something similar, I think I'm going to get this one though: https://www.amazon.com/MidWest-Stainless-Steel-Snapy-Water/dp/B0012GS73S/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1478624396&sr=8-2&keywords=kennel+water

https://www.amazon.com/LeBistro-Portion-Control-Automatic-pounds/dp/B0016BVY2U/ref=sr_1_7?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1466208996&sr=1-7&keywords=cat+feeder

I have an older model of this.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0016BVY2U/ref=cm_sw_r_other_awd_7pe3wb2ZT66FH

It's basically a box for the LeBistro Automatic Feeder (Aspen Pet Lebistro Programmable Food Dispenser- 18 Cup https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0016BVY2U/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_Cg97yb03YW1XT)

Instead of collecting in the tray at the bottom, this allows it to split into 2.

Problem Solved

The version we have is no longer available, but this is the updated version. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0016BVY2U/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

If your bun is as food crazy as ours are, a tip I would suggest is to put an opaque bag over the part of the feeder that is clear. Our bunnies used to knock the thing over to get more food single time we used it, until we started doing this. Out of sight, out of mind I guess?

When the pump on my old Drinkwell went out, I switched over to the 360. My kitties like it much better and it's easier to clean. It does have a larger footprint, but it's very good for multiple pet homes.

Our bulldog has always done the same. Recently I bought a fountain hardly expecting her to even try it out, but she loved it right away and the puddles on the floor have stopped. Unfortunately, this model doesn't filter enough of her slobber to keep us from having to rinse the bowl every couple of days. She drinks it almost dry every day and we refill it once per day. PetSafe Drinkwell 360 Pet Fountain https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001NIZAH6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apap_RL1icpISGN1Hy

I have the stainless steel version of this one. https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Drinkwell-360-Pet-Fountain/dp/B001NIZAH6

My cats love it but one always asks for the faucet at nighttime.

This is the one we have.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001NIZAH6/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This one was very affordable and we can often find the filter replacements (both filters) at a PetCo, PetSmart, and if neither has them you can find them on Amazon!

The dual filter makes it so the kitty fur doesn't clog the motor. Even our Maine Coon doesn't clog it. My husband was taking it apart and cleaning it out once every two weeks, but that was when we had five cats. We only have three babies now and so maintenance (taking it apart) is about once a month.

Some cats like a water fountain. My cat prefers the mini culligan bottles, but to each their own.
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001NIZAH6/ref=mp_s_a_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1479957906&sr=8-8&keywords=cat+water+fountain

Also, I haven't seen anyone mention a collar or harness. If you get a collar make sure it's a breakaway. I'm a fan of personalized IDs that attach to a collar with the cat's name and your cell.

We have this fountain for our two cats and have never had an issue with them dragging or spilling it, this may wprk for your cat? It's quite heavy and has different spouts which seem to interest our kitties too so they like drinking from it.

We tried many different kinds before finally finding this one, http://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Drinkwell-Stainless-Multi-Pet-Fountain/dp/B002SB91QS/ref=zg_bs_2975263011_14
It's the easiest to clean, and has lots of adjustability. Highly recommended.

My cat was super picky - fresh water every morning wasn't even good enough for him! I had a different fountain for a few years and recently got this one - stainless steel, and several options for water flow. https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Drinkwell-Multi-Pet-Stainless-Fountain/dp/B002SB91QS

It's super easy to take apart, just the cone and bowl, then the pump, spout, and tube connecting them. There's a filter around the pump to catch bigger things like fur and debris, and a charcoal filter just before the spout. It's pretty easy to clean, too.

As for hard water, my cat was spoiled - I would use filtered water from the fridge or gallon jugs at the grocery store.

I'm so sorry you're having to treat infections, it sounds like your cat has a more severe case! :( I am happy to tell you what has worked for us.

To cure this particular flare-up, we added water to her food for hydration and gave her some tuna (more pungent so she would eat it even with her nose clogged).

We also purchased this moving water fountain. She slurps out of that thing where she wouldn't even look at her water bowl before. We also ran a humidifier for a while. She might have been on the up and up anyway, but all of this seemed to do the trick.

I mainly try to reduce her stress by keeping everything consistent, especially the kind of litter I use. If you're not already, do consider using a dust-free corn based litter like World's Best. Their lungs are smaller and the dust can really aggravate them.

Anitra's Vitamineral Mix is something you might want to look into as a wet food supplement. I considered using Feliway like one poster here suggested, but the price kind of kept me from pulling the trigger and we've been fortunate to not have another outbreak.

You might have known all of this already, in which case just ignore me, but I really hope your kitty gets feeling better. The Natural Cat is a book that really helped me after I first adopted. I don't agree with everything she prescribes and she's big on holistic treatments (avoiding the vet and medication as much as possible) but the lady knows her cats and I think everyone has something to learn. When nothing else has worked, it might be worth a shot! Take care!

I totally hear you. Good luck! It's so stressful but worth it Our 3 yr old male kitty had crystals and was hopitalized for 4 days in December. He's great now and even happier than before, playing even more vigorously. I haven't read as many research papers as I'd like to about it but we kinda feel like stress and dehydration/dry food might have factored in though I know that there are cats with other urinary tract issues with different causes or prognosis. He loves drinking out of the tub and we had multiple foster cats/kittens getting in his life and added quite a bit of stress then most of them left but my husband got really ill, my parents visited, so there was even more home stress then he got blocked after a few weeks of me thinking he was marking due to the momma cat he hadn't liked but I think in reality was him having urinary issues.

Anyways, we buy the prescription Royal Canin food on Chewy.com but I am thinking of phasing him over to the over the counter Purina Pro Plan Urinary. He's happy now, plays even more, loves the tub water and his fountain. Got stainless steel to avoid kitty acne but keep it clean! I wish you the best and hope it's a smooth recovery and he makes it through! Ours was on anti spasm meds for awhile after and it took him some time to get back to normal due to the trauma of the catheter. He was dripping and acting quite weird but eventually got back to normal.

My cats have this fountain. It's great! It bubbles at the top.

Hi TurbinePoweredVagina, sorry to hear about your kitty. I hope some of this information will be able to help!

First off, good on you for introducing wet food back into his diet! I also suspect that the change to all dry is triggering these blockages. The number one issue concerning cats with urinary crystals water consumption. Cats naturally have a very low thirst drive (as they get virtually all water from their prey, which is ~70% water), and often will not drink until extremely dehydrated. So a transition from a primarily wet diet (70-80% moisture) to a primarily dry diet (~10%) moisture would undoubtedly cause your kitty to consume less water. In essence, a uretic dry food isn't going to do much more for your kitty than if he were eating a generic dry food, as he is likely chronically dehydrated.

When looking for a canned food for your cats (and this applies to all cats, including healthy ones!), look out for a two important things:

• actual named protein source first and second on list of ingredients ("chicken" or "turkey" as opposed to "meat by-product")
  
• free of grains (rice, corn, wheat, etc)
  
  Cats are by design, obligate carnivores (teeth shape, short digestive tract to minimize bacteria in prey). They haven't lived with humans long enough to evolutionarily adapt to the consumption of high-carbohydrate diets, and thus, their bodies still lack the necessary enzymes to properly digest carbohydrates. Note that most dry foods are very high in carbs (30%+), due to the necessity of a starch to bond the kibble together. As a result, high-carb dry diets (upwards of 30% - 50% carbs) contribute to maldigestion, hairballs, obesity, kidney diseases, high blood sugar leading to feline diabetes, and chronic dehydration leading to urinary blockages.
  
  In terms of good common canned food brands, may I recommend Wellness (the 12.5 oz cans, look for the Grain Free yellow triangle) or EVO (13 oz cans)? The Wellness website often has promotions and will provide coupons for their products, and EVO offers a frequent buyers club, in which the 10th purchase is free. I find that buying the large cans in bulk (two boxes at a time) is enough to last my cat almost two months. They're pretty economical as the large cans (the EVO ones are $2.69 where I live, no doubt cheaper in the US) end up being around the same price if not cheaper than supermarket brands like Friskies or Fancy Feast, per gram. You should be able to find Wellness in big box pet stores like Petsmart and Petco, however EVO isn't as common and it might only be available in smaller or privately-run stores. If you're in a rush and need to get food fast, Fancy Feast actually isn't terrible; as their classic variety lacks grains and has named protein sources at the top of the ingredient list.
  
  As the main concern with a cat with urinary tract issues is water consumption, here are a couple things you can do to alleviate his condition:
  
  
• if your kitty is fascinated with running water, try getting him a pet fountain. The sound of running water encourages many cats to drink more.
  
• give him chicken broth, water from a tuna can, or a cat milk such as CatSip as treats
  
• add one or two tablespoons of water to his wet food each meal
  
  I leave you with some resources that you may find helpful:
  
  
• Feline Urinary Tract Health: Excellent feline nutrition website written by a veterinarian, very in-depth
  
• Feline-Nutrition.org: Library of interesting articles
  
• Forum for Cat Health/Nutrition: Knowledgeable people, can go to them for more advice
  
  tl;dr Cats naturally don't drink enough water so eating an all dry diet will cause dehydration and urinary blockages. Best solution is to switch to a primarily wet diet (grain free for optimum health), get a pet fountain, give tasty broth and lactose-free milk as treats, and add additional water to food during mealtimes.
  
  Hope this helped. Best of luck to you and your little guy!

It's about half the price on amazon.

Declawing is the same as surgically removing the last bone from each of your fingertips. Learn to keep the cat's nails trimmed correctly. Too short and if a cat's not used to it, they can't walk, run, or jump without wobbling until they grow back.

Not all cats like scratching posts -- mine prefers cardboard, but not the 'on-edge' cardboard cat scratchers, so my dad helped me add a wooden 'tray' to the top of the post in which I place flat squares of cardboard cut from boxes. She scratches and sleeps there, and sometimes just perches there to watch out the window. Don't get a carpet-covered scratching post or pad unless you want to teach your cat that scratching carpet is a good idea. =P

I have a Booda Dome for a litter box -- she still tracks some litter. I don't think there's a system out there that will keep cats from tracking any. Some litters are better than others. Covered litter boxes are nice for the humans, but not all cats will adapt to the flaps. Some litters are lower 'dust' than others, and this is better for cats' lungs and humans' alike. =)

Not all cats will respond to catnip or all types of toys. My cat is indifferent to laser pointers, and only likes the actual fur-covered realistic mice. She doesn't care for bell toys, but those little plastic springs drive her nuts (when she's in the mood). Her favorite toy is a wooden wobble 'bead' in which you can place catnip. Also a Da Bird Feather Cat Toy which you can make flutter to sound like a real bird. I'd suggest the non-collapsible one, as I'd suspect my cat would pull that apart. =P

Talk to your vet about what food(s) are actually good for your cat. From my research, you want to avoid bone meal products or and 'meal' products as they include ground bone which is hard on your cat's kidneys. Also avoid grains. Turkey is better than chicken; not all fish are terrible, but you have to consider mercury levels. You should consider only feeding your cat wet food, but this is more expensive, and difficult to manage with hurried schedules. Mine loves kibble and hates having to give that up, so I leave that out all the time and supplement with a big scoop of wet food at night. (These are the best quality, least expensive per-serving foods I've found.) A 6-lb. bag of kibble seems to last my cat ~3 months. At four days (servings) per can, the 12-pack of 12.5 oz. cans last about 1.5 months. You'll need two snap-on plastic can lids. My cat adores salmon as you may see. =P

Not all cats will like all types of cat beds.

Mine LOVES water (she literally demands 'cat showers') and she likes to play with the dripping tub faucet, so next I'm going to get a cat drinking fountain. Cats in general prefer 'fresh' or moving water, so mine always wants clean water in her bowl every time.

Because no one cat will like every toy or bed or litter box, you may have to buy more than one. Talk to your vet about what types to try and how to encourage a cat to like what you buy. I put catnip on my cat's things -- that seems to have worked, but not all cats respond to catnip.

I got this one a few months ago. It looks dope. http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0037NKDSG?pc_redir=1412054906&robot_redir=1

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0037NKDSG/

Okay, I have a few bits of advice for you.

First things first, I know it's hard to do emotionally, but you've got to stop leaving dry food out for your cats all day. I had a professor once who was a cat behaviorist and he put it like this, "People feed horses like they should feed cats, and cats like they should feed horses." Meaning that horses are grazers and should have food all day, not just at certain times of the day. On the opposing side, cats are hunters and should be fed only at certain times of day, and not have food out constantly (which should also help with weight management for your kitty darlings in general, since it's so important to keep them at a healthy weight as they get older anyway!) AND this SHOULD make your roomie's cat less interested in getting into your room-if he realizes there is no reward on the other side of the door.

ALSO-as far as your room-mate's cat goes, you're right, she shouldn't be giving him tastes. Not just for your sake and your kitties' sake, but for her own cat's sake as well. Human food can be bad for kitties for a number of reasons and it's safest just to keep him away from it. Not to mention, like you said, it teaches him bad manners.

Now here's the tough part. It may sound ridiculous but obviously you need to talk to your roomie about this situation, which is conflict and awkward and horrible to deal with, I know. I really recommend looking up and doing some reading today on how to talk to people while avoiding conflict. There's stuff all over the internet about it, and it's a bit too hard for me to explain. Basically, not only is it a good life skill to have, but obviously you want to be able to talk to her about it without her getting upset or feeling personally attacked. Because cats are like your children, and people can easily get offended when they feel their "parenting" is being criticized. So I really, really, really recommend looking up just some general communication tips so you can talk this over with her without it being awkward or confrontational.

Also, here are some things that MAY help if you mention when you're talking to her (disclaimer: I don't know her, so you may have to cherry-pick things here that you think would help convince her):
-I don't know if her cat is overweight, but I think it's important to mention that even though fat cats are adorable and wonderful and everything, it's really not in their best interests to be overweight; just as with humans. Having a healthier relationship with food will help keep him at a healthy weight and can really help him live longer, as well as save her money (him maintaining a healthy weight can really keep down diseases and other things that cost lots of money.)
-I'd suggest this cat get fed separately from his brother, and given a toy such as this one:

http://www.redferret.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/e96a_stimulo_cat_bowl.jpg


http://www.amazon.com/Aikiou-Stimulo-Activity-Center-Green/dp/B00D91CQMW/ref=pd_sim_sbs_petsupplies_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=0QE1JPXJM0J0SEXG885N


http://www.amazon.com/Northmate-Catch-Interactive-Feeder-Cats/dp/B00EB4IV2A/ref=pd_sim_sbs_petsupplies_3?ie=UTF8&refRID=0QE1JPXJM0J0SEXG885N

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fg-ec2.images-amazon.com%2Fimages%2FG%2F01%2Fkolpakov%2Forangeslimcat._V398607070_.jpg&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FPetsafe-SlimCat-Meal-Dispensing-Blue%2Fdp%2FB0018CG40O&h=475&w=425&tbnid=eW1exz5JYvZ6FM%3A&zoom=1&docid=ZJge0SV6zuaQ1M&ei=-OAnVPjaF4f4yAS13oCgDg&tbm=isch&ved=0CCwQMygOMA4&iact=rc&uact=3&dur=1275&page=1&start=0&ndsp=20

http://smile.amazon.com/dp/B003H44R5K/ref=gl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=VQZ0PRAGLUYB&coliid=I12NBLS87B4NXX

All of those are designed to slow a cat down while eating, while at the same time giving them the same mental stimulation that comes with play. This would make him eat slower, which is better for weight management as well as helping him to feel full and satisfied (if he ever does) and would keep him occupied enough for everyone else to finish eating before he could even think of getting to them. Not to mention it's fun for them! I don't know if you're willing to do this, but you could buy one of those options and give it to her as a gift, under the presumption that it is so he will leave his brother alone (I'm sure since they're both her children she probably doesn't like it when he bosses the brother around). It really is probably best to feed him alone, to prevent him from getting into anyone else's business and also would make life easier for your roomie, too.

Sorry about the book I just wrote.

I got it at my local pet store, but this is the same one.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003H44R5K/?tag=googhydr-20&hvadid=43833717082&hvpos=1t1&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=6007931978531074882&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=b&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_7qvd7qy99g_b

How fast does your cat eat? My cat, who is just a month older than yours, will nearly inhale his food if we feed him from a bowl. He will swallow too much air doing this and rip the nastiest farts as all that air passes through him. We got him one of these to help him slow down. Now he spends 15-20 minutes eating instead of gobbling all his food in under a minute. His bad gas has disappeared.

As for the smelly poop, I mean.... It's poop. Poop stinks. Just like some people have really smelly poop, some cats just have really smelly poop. One of my in-law's cats poop stinks so bad it can clear a room. But their other two cat's poops stink just a normal amount. My cat's poop stinks pretty bad.

Don't cut out pellets they are fortified with important vitamins and minerals.

Try putting pellets in this to make them work for it

PetSafe Egg-Cersizer Meal Dispensing Cat Toy

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003H44R5K/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awd_O5dGwb8E0451N

I had a cat that became like this because my father got so annoyed by her meows that he would feed her every time she meowed just to shut her up. It did not work, because she just became conditioned that meows = food, and so, by the end of her life, she was just constantly meowing.

If he is going to meow anyway, I would say that it is worth limiting his food. A few weeks of dramatics should eventually fade off as he learns that it will not work. Cats are very smart animals - smarter than dogs, in some ways. They are highly trainable.

You can also try one of the many devices on the market that require the cat to "work" for its food, e.g. this ball that lets out just a little food at a time. Start slowly cutting down on his food as you add more and more kibble or treats to this ball.

We taught our cat to do tricks. The first thing that we did was to teach him to sit, and so now he always does this (sits politely in front of his food bowl or by your chair) when he wants food.

It is also worth mentioning that dry food is actually more fattening and less healthy than canned food, so a partial switch may be in order.

Lastly, you can try switching to an automatic feeder, so that humans are removed almost entirely from the equation entirely. This may help to rewire his conditioning.

Anyhow, best of luck!

Edit: I want to add that skin conditions are pretty common in obese cats. They may not be able to reach all of their fur to keep it clean. Having unkempt fur and skin that he can't reach would be very, very uncomfortable for your cat, and may be part of what is making him so miserable. There are wipes on the market that would allow you to clean the affected area for him, or you could consider giving him a bath every once and a while (I know, I know, but it is possible to ease him into the process). You can also try giving him a little plain olive oil every once and a while. This is safe for cats, can be good for their skin and coats just like it is for humans, and they sometimes really like the flavor. My cat has some very dry and damaged paw pads from his prior life as a stray, and so we put this stuff on his paws every once and a while. He will also eat it mixed into his food.

In the morning, I give the 11 year old prescription Y/D dry cat food in a bowl because she has thyroid issues. I give the 5 year old Orijen in an Eggcersizer ball (http://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Egg-Cersizer-Meal-Dispensing-Cat/dp/B003H44R5K) so it takes him longer to eat and gives the 11 year old time to finish her food or he steals it.

At night, I give them canned Y/D cat food and canned Weruva Paw Licken Chicken in spearate bowls.

The 11-year-old female was easy, she would eat anything I put in front of her. The 5-year-old kirkland addict, I had to transition to wet food slowly in this order over 2 months:

1. Kirkland Free fed
   
2. Kirkland 2 meals/day
   
3. Kirkland mixed with Orijen 25%-75% over ~3 weeks.
   
4. Orijen
   
5. Orijen mixed with Fancy Feast Pate 25% to 75% over 1 week. I found he'd only eat Fancy feast, everything else he wouldn't touch.
   
6. Fancy Feast and sometimes Friskies. Both Pate. He wouldn't eat the non-Pate types.
   
7. After 1 month of this, I put down Weruva (Luckily at this point, he would just eat the Weruva and did not need mixing).
   
   A couple days a month I will randomly give him Wellness or Nature's Variety to make sure he doesn't get picky.
   
   The 11-year-old gets free-fed Y/D dry now because she's severely underweight. I transitioned her into eating it with coconut oil mixed in. Just enough that it keeps the 5-year-old from eating it but she'll still eat it.

haha that's adorable. They were both like OMG it's over THERE.

I have this one for mine and they just go nuts with it.

I've owned a few different cat fountains now. My cat has refused to drink from standing water since she was a kitten. She prefers running tap water but that felt wasteful.

The biggest issue with cat fountains, without question, is cleaning them. Every single cat fountain for sale is probably going to be decent out of the box. Some are louder and some are quieter but they all do about the same shit.

You may already have thought about this, but you need to actually scrub the hell out of the fountain once a week. Slime/scum builds quickly on the pumps inlet and the charcoal filters can only do so much. Once you let it get dirty, it's way harder to clean.

I'd personally recommend this fountain. Cat Fountain
if only because it's the easiest one to clean that I've found so far.

If you're set on building one, just make sure you can take it apart. Fully. I have to take my pump apart once per month to clean it. Anything you seal had better be air and water tight, otherwise you'll be better off leaving the connection loose.

This is the one I use and my boy loves it.

https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Drinkwell-Multi-Tier-Fountain-Automatic/dp/B0056ASTES/ref=pd_lpo_vtph_199_bs_t_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=8P3MZ606AR4HBP07001P

I've used this for about a year, and it still works well: https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Drinkwell-Multi-Tier-Fountain-Automatic/dp/B0056ASTES/ref=sr_1_17

​

Generic replacement filters are pretty cheap on Amazon too

A better Waterer

What about a cat fountain?

Phew! Glad that's all it is.

If she has to go on a diet with dry food (kitty crackers as we call 'em around my house) we have been using this interactive feeder in our house for the past few months with great success. Crackers go in every morning, and they have to fish 'em out with their paws and drag them onto the floor to eat. It slows them down and makes sure they aren't eating out of boredom. Both of our pudgy cats have been losing weight with it - one is back to normal weight, and the other (who has a little more to lose) is still losing.

I used the Tigerdiner bowl for our cat - she decided to be a moron one day and ate so fast that she would throw up. Every. Single. Day.

It works fairly well for our situation, here is where we got it: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007DOS9C2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_R-30BbWB7XXYN

I switched to this food bowl after my cat kept scarfing & puking his food. He has to fish out each piece of kibble with his paw so he can't inhale the entire bowl at once.

https://www.amazon.com/Milkee-Infrared-Automatic-Removable-Stainless/dp/B01I92LTDC/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1495223269&sr=8-4&keywords=cat+and+dog+microchip+feeder

https://www.amazon.com/OurPets-WonderBowl-Selective-Pet-Feeder/dp/B00C1BYETO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1495223269&sr=8-2&keywords=cat+and+dog+microchip+feeder

I found some cheaper ones!

unless you supervise them, the only other options are pricey. such as

http://meowspace.biz/

https://www.amazon.com/Automatic-Pet-Feeder-Microchip-eOutletDeals/dp/B01JM4XK9W/

https://www.amazon.com/OurPets-WonderBowl-Selective-Pet-Feeder/dp/B00C1BYETO/

https://www.amazon.com/Automatic-Pet-Feeder-Wireless-Whiskers/dp/B00APRBNFY/

Like a lot of people are saying, timed meals worked wonders. However I had the same problem because my partner and I work odd hours (so we couldn't regularly put down the meals ourselves).

There are some really cool automatic feeders that use chips to keep the cats out of the food. The one I chose wireless whiskers. It's pricey but I liked some of the features that this one had (one bowl for multiple cats, auto-diet, and a large gravity feeder). I've had mine for over a year and it's been working great to keep my chubster from gaining weight.

There was another one that was pretty decent looking as well called the wonderfeeder. If you got two you could be sure to monitor each kitty's diet.

Hope that those help you!

Not a vet, but have you looked into something like this?

http://www.amazon.com/OurPets-WonderBowl-Selective-Pet-Feeder/dp/B00C1BYETO

Sorry if this doesn't help you. I think it is a good idea though

Here you go

I suggest taking the cat to the vet, as others have as well. However, I had an issue with one of my cats throwing up on a rather constant basis, and will share my experience with you in case it may be what is happening with your cat.

I used to have a gravity feeder for my cats, and noticed one of them was throwing up all the time. It was similar to the texture you described, undigested food. The issue for me was my cat was eating too quickly, and when the dry food would expand in her stomach it was too much and she would puke. I ended up getting what I call an alien toupee slow feeder ( https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EB4IV2A/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_9yYAub195J50X) that forced her to slow down when she ate. Since then, she rarely throws up now.


Do you have food available for kitty all the time? If so, that may be a component.

I got my cat an activity feeder to slow her down and make her food last. Northmate Catch Interactive Feeder for Cats https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EB4IV2A/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_apa_H-OozbQTVYY6Z. She eats with her paws anyways, so she got used to it quickly. Also playing with them at least 20 minutes a day helps. My fat cat can not resist "da bird" also on Amazon. It's also good to find out how much they really need to eat and slowly work down toward that. Doing it too quickly and mess with their kidneys

I also really like http://www.amazon.com/Northmate-Catch-Interactive-Feeder-Cats/dp/B00EB4IV2A this one

Nah no actual 'fighting'. he just swings his paw at them with the claws retracted. Hides behind doors and then pounces at them again.

My other cats are scared by it, even if it's just playing.

I'll give one of these a shot: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Company-of-Animals-101089-Interactive/dp/B00EB4IV2A/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1451289137&sr=8-2&keywords=cat+puzzle+feeder

Hope it will stimulate him a little bit

I'm going with this one. Battery life is a year, dispenses as little as 1/16th of a cup. It's bigger than I need, but whatever.

http://smile.amazon.com/PetSafe-Healthy-Simply-12-Meal-Automatic/dp/B00VIXRB6O/ref=sr_1_5?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1463344649&sr=1-5&keywords=pet+feeder

I've used the PetSafe Healthy Pet feeder for years for my cats, it's pretty solid and easy to program. My only complaint is that food seems to go stale or off in the plastic bin on it, I solved that by just leaving the food in the bag and putting that upside down. It was great for cats so I could dispense a little bit throughout the day to keep them from waking me up early or nagging. Only reason I'm switching is to go to a microchip feeder because my current two need separate bowls/diets.

If I had to replace the auto-feeder with another auto-feeder, though, I would probably upgrade to the PetSafe Smart Feed which has WiFi and a more solidly attached bowl. I've seen that one go on good sales for Black Friday and Prime Day in July.

I use this and it has worked great.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VIXRB6O/ref=emc_b_5_t

Petsafe autofeeder. I'm super pleased with it.

This thing has been awesome for me:

PetSafe Healthy Pet Simply Feed Automatic Pet Feeder, Dispenses Dog Food or Cat Food, Digital Clock https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VIXRB6O/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_OlPKBb320Q1TG

From the article:
http://quinndunki.com/blondihacks/?p=3023
"Furiosa’s Cat Feeder" Quinn Dunki | BLONDIHACKS (21st December 2016)
>The trick is to be smarter than the animal with a brain the size of a walnut

>[...]

>This made picking up the machine inconvenient enough that she switched tactics. Her next move was to lie on her back in the bowl, and stick her paw up the chute. She could paw the conveyor belt itself, getting it to move. This was very effective, netting an extra meal or more.

---
YouTube information:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKV1kmaY3qQ
"IMG 6581" Blondie B | YouTube.com (Dec 19, 2016)

---
Actor:
Sprocket H.G. Shopcat

• little eight pound body
  
• undeterred
  
• tiny feline choppers
  
  versus:
  [the PetSafe programmable automated feeder](https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Healthy-Simply-12-Meal-Automatic/dp/B00VIXRB6O/ "PetSafe Healthy Pet Simply Feed Automatic Feeder")^(amazon.com)
  
  
• programmed to feed
  

PetSafe Healthy Pet Simply Feed - Automatic Dog and Cat Feeder - Slow Feed Setting - Portion Control https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VIXRB6O/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_mxSUDbQHJ5B9Y

Not dog, but we have automatic feeders for our two cats and it’s been an absolute lifesaver! We originally got them to make things easier for pet sitters (one of our cats is on a special diet, gets over excited if not fed on time and vomits, AND is terrible at ad lib feeding. He literally eats until he can’t move; we tried it once and omg the diarrhea and labored breathing 🤦🏼‍♀️)
It can be programmed for as small as 1/8 cup and can do several times feedings throughout the day. They are battery powered (C or D, I can’t recall) and we haven’t had to change them in almost 2 years; though we will have to probably in the next month or so as it’s on it’s last bar.
I believe they are PetSafe brand and are about $135, but they have been worth every penny.
PetSafe Healthy Pet Simply Feed Automatic Pet Feeder, Dispenses Dog Food or Cat Food, Digital Clock https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VIXRB6O/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_dhlVCbFC2BFQK

I think we have your cat's twin. We went the auto-feeder route too.

We looked at that one but the reviews commented that cats were finding the feeder trip and getting food all the time. So we got one that prevents that. To say it prevents self-feeding is an understatement. Can't trip it manually and he even tried knocking it over and beating it (the lid locks).

If you have the cash I can't recommend this one enough.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00VIXRB6O/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I gave up on those feeders about 6 months ago. Had one that lasted for a while but had to build a contraption from stopping the cat getting into it. that one broke, got a new one that lasted a month max.

Ended up getting this feeder https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00VIXRB6O/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1 a bit more expensive but the cats personality with it is 100% different because he can't sneak food from it.

I like this one. It's expensive but is much easier to use than the cheaper ones which also broke after around 6 months. I think it's more economical in the long run.

I highly recommend trying an automatic feeder, possibly put somewhere higher than the dog can reach. Even though he is deaf, once your cat begins to realize he gets food at the same time from the feeder every day I can almost guarantee he will be right there waiting at meal times (at first you may need to show the cat the food coming out). I started using one with our cat who also would wake us up and beg incessantly for food. My cat's behavior changed dramatically within a few days of using the feeder. She no longer cries or begs for food and she doesn't wake me up at night anymore either. It's a small investment that could potentially change your life! This is the model I use.

My buddy has one! Happy cat. I found the model The Wirecutter recommends; he has a different one that isn't as aesthetically pleasing (though a little more serious which I appreciate).

affiliate link

non-affiliate link 😭😉

Yup, I’ve owned this fountain for a few years. It’s easy to clean and my cat uses it regularly.

My two cats are picky when it comes to water, so I got them this, they love it

Catit Flower Fountain: 3L Cat Water Fountain with Triple-Action Filter https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0146QXOB0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_tfAwDbWS8PHTX

Many cats are fascinated by running water and some will only drink from a running water source. There are many cat fountains like this available if they want to try it as a way to transition the cat to water.

This one I have is the best and really cheap! Had it for a yr and still going strong :

Catit Flower Fountain: 3L Cat Water Fountain with Triple-Action Filter https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0146QXOB0/ref=cm_sw_r_em_apa_i_qShzCbZS47G4Y

I got this one on Amazon and my cat loves it
https://www.amazon.com/Catit-Flower-Fountain-Drinking-Triple-Action/dp/B0146QXOB0/ref=zg_bs_2975263011_2/131-2409213-5637221?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=VEK6PSDM5VMY4WE9M907

You can take the flower out and the water will still flow.

But there's a range of them on there, including fancier ones.

She’d probably love this https://www.amazon.ca/Catit-43742W-Flower-Fountain-3L/dp/B0146QXOB0/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=Cat+fountain&qid=1557041094&s=gateway&sr=8-3 , my cat does

The Catit Flower Fountain. It looks nice, and my cats love it.

Which one is it? I've found 3 that look like yours.

Cat Water Fountain Stainless Steel, Intelligent Auto Power Off Pump

Catit Flower Fountain: 3L Cat Water Fountain with Triple-Action Filter

Vekonn Water Fountain

Daughter talked me into buying one of these things. Used bottled water, but it took a LOT to fill it, especially daily! The filter was not able to handle bio contaminants like giardia (1 micron). Chlorine doesn't kill the little bastards either, as it turns out. Resorted to just using regular water bowls, and refreshing as much as we can. Didn't matter. Silly cat just loves to always stick his feet in the dish before he drinks, no matter what. Help! Send duct tape. 😂

Try this

spaceship.

kawaii water fountain.

My cat always turned on our faucets to get a drink. We'd come home to running water all of the time. We finally bought a cat bowl that is a fountain and it helps quite a bit. Some cats really prefer running water.


https://www.amazon.com/Catit-Flower-Fountain-Drinking-Triple-Action/dp/B0146QXOB0/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=cat+bowl+fountain&qid=1554837600&s=gateway&sr=8-4

We used to have a Drinkwell Platinum, and our cats were OK with it. Then we switched to this Catit Fountain the the kittehs really loved it!

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0146QXOB0/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Forget the water bowls. Get him one of these fountains and never worry about it getting dumped again.

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Comment in cats, "Alright so listen. My cat is being a dick about his water...", 1pts (04 May 19):

> Forget the water bowls. Get him one of these fountains and never worry about it getting dumped again.





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> He's a total pet slut though. He's so hedonistic he's killed laptop fans with his floof. He gives new definition to the term, ["la...





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> "Aussie Army Official Mascot Cat, reporting for duty, sah!"





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Looks like this one - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XBRP7J1/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_NGmWCbG8XM1B1

No problem we have this one https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XBRP7J1/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_tBj1DbW9P2Q7A

Arf Pets Automatic Pet Feeder Food Dispenser Features Distribution Alarms, Portion Control & Voice Recording - Timer Programmable Up to 4 Meals a Day

Or another option, I have this one for my fat cat and it's great. I had another auto feeder before this and he figured out how to break into that one, plus he would also lay down and scrape the inside of the food chute for ages trying to get more to come out. He can't do either of those things now.

I don't have an issue with a $45 pet gate. The pet gate in particular, if you read the post, is only an issue because my family members who have grown up on a farm and taken care of dozens of animals think I would be babying the cat by placing these protective measures. Since I am living in their house at the moment, it would be a little difficult to override, but not impossible. The first thing I am going to do upon getting the cat is indeed to bring it to the vet.

To give an example of what an appropriate expense is (to me), I've already bought this water bowl for her. It's $42, but I would be willing to do this to prevent her from getting UTIs or anything else associated from dehydration. No one would comment on it, because it's unobtrusive. The gate on the other hand, cordoning off places that people actually walk through, is going to bring me a lot of trouble. As I've already stated, it's trouble I'm willing to deal with. They are not unreasonable people, but there is a cultural difference.

All I am asking is what the best option in this type of situation seems to be, since most of the advice I've researched on the internet seems to be directed at adult or baby kittens; not 6 month old cats. (Somewhat in between?)

If she got sick, there would be no expenses spared. I am well within my means to support a cat.

Which other part of the story sounds like an unideal environment? Why do you feel that I am rushing it? I am genuinely concerned; please do not take these questions as a defensive retort.

Do you feel that based on what you read, I should not be adopting a cat at all?

The purpose of the original topic was to ask whether or not I should seclude the cat: if anything an answer to this question in particular would be deeply appreciated.

ALSO it just occurred to me, would a pet gate even keep in a six month old cat?

Why not get it one of these? http://www.amazon.com/Drinkwell-FWB-RE-Original-Pet-Fountain/dp/B00063446M

My Siberians both seem to like their Drinkwell Platinum fountain. I really like it because it has a large tank and it's easy to clean!

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000L3XYZ4/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

ESH. You because even though your heart is in the right place, this is wasteful and a great way to get your cat used to only getting water from the shower and refusing it in any other form. Your husband because even though he's right that this is wasteful, it doesn't seem like he's open to other methods of dealing with this issue, since you said he refuses to get another cat and threw out the fountain you tried after a few days.

Try a different fountain. https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Drinkwell-Fountain-Filtered-BPA-Free/dp/B001NIZAH6 is the one I have; It comes with five spout options so maybe if you switched them up regularly, it'd hold her interest longer.

I don’t have any pictures, but here’s the link on amazon to the fountain. I have extra filters I was going to throw in as well. Drinkwell 360

http://www.amazon.com/Crestuff-Automatic-Portion-Control-Recorder/dp/B00GNK619K/ref=sr_1_15?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1414266993&sr=1-15&keywords=automatic+cat+feeder

http://www.amazon.com/Drinkwell-FWB-RE-Original-Pet-Fountain/dp/B00063446M/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1414266982&sr=1-1&keywords=automatic+cat+waterer

Problem solved for sixty-five bucks.