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| Image courtesy of vetventures.com |
Phoebe had a drinking problem. For real. For years we struggled to find a water dish that she couldn't knock against the wall and cause major water spillage. She may be small, but she is strong and determined! We'd tested a wide selection of water bowls and dispensers and finally settled on one (sold as a dispenser for dogs) that, only if we kept completely full at all times, she couldn't budge. My husband was reluctant to spend the money on a fountain for fear it would become just an expensive challenge for Phoebe. When Drinkwell® asked me to test their 360 Fountain, my husband laughed. In fact, I considered declining the offer. I expressed my concern to my contact and he told me it was ideal that Phoebe likes to tip water dishes -- it would be the perfect test for the Drinkwell® fountain.
A few weeks later, we received the fountain. It was remarkably easy to assemble and included five interchangeable spout rings -- these allowed for 1-5 streams of water to flow from the top. We decided we'd start with one stream and, so far, it's worked well for our three cats. You can also adjust the flow of the water anywhere from a gentle trickle to a stronger stream. The sound is very peaceful -- it resembles a relaxation fountain!
After we assembled our new water dispenser, the cats were a little apprehensive. Saffy and Cosmo steered clear of it for the first day, but Phoebe stayed close-by, keeping an eye on the alien intruder. Within a few hours, she approached the magical waterfall, cocked her head in interest, and placed her paw underneath the water flow. After licking her paw for a few minutes, she decided it was safe and started enjoyed the fresh, delicious filtered water. The other two followed suit and now all the cats regularly drink from the fountain.
The fountain comes with one filter and Drinkwell® suggests, for optimal performance, the filter be changed every two weeks. I compared pricing online and found the price for a 3-pack of filters runs anywhere from $10-$12. I like that my cats are enjoying fresh, filtered water and think the price for the filters is more than fair.
The fountain is a little on the large size (13.5" D X 9" H), which is perfect for my three cats (especially the one with a heavy-paw); however, it doesn't fit as tightly against the wall as our previous water dispenser. To us, that doesn't make a huge difference. The size is also perfect for small dogs.
The BEST news is 1) thanks to the fountain's rubber footings and sturdiness, Phoebe isn't able to move it and she looks ridiculously cute drinking from it and 2) my husband loves it -- in fact, he told me that he is super-impressed with the solid, quality construction of the fountain. The fact that Drinkwell® won over my skeptical husband is stamp-of-approval enough!
Whether or not your cat has a "drinking problem," I think they -- and you -- will really enjoy the Drinkwell® 360. Get your cat in the flow with fresh H20!
And be sure to check out Drinkwell®'s Facebook page -- this is a great place to keep up with the latest news, updates and giveaways!