Thread: Suggestion on how to deal with water...

I hate to sound smug, but Freyja's got two fountains - one Drinkwell Platinum in the kitchen, and one small CatIT Pink in the study. As a result of having the fountains, she drinks heaps more water now than she did when we had bowls. But aside from occasionally flicking water on the kitchen floor from the Drinkwell's "fawcett", we have no water mess. At all. I know you all now hate me now...

Originally Posted by FreyjaRoMaine

I hate to sound smug, but Freyja's got two fountains - one Drinkwell Platinum in the kitchen, and one small CatIT Pink in the study. As a result of having the fountains, she drinks heaps more water now than she did when we had bowls. But aside from occasionally flicking water on the kitchen floor from the Drinkwell's "fawcett", we have no water mess. At all. I know you all now hate me now...

They sound a great idea.
I will try and find 1 to start with!!

Originally Posted by FreyjaRoMaine

I hate to sound smug, but Freyja's got two fountains - one Drinkwell Platinum in the kitchen, and one small CatIT Pink in the study. As a result of having the fountains, she drinks heaps more water now than she did when we had bowls. But aside from occasionally flicking water on the kitchen floor from the Drinkwell's "fawcett", we have no water mess. At all. I know you all now hate me now...

Thats two of us then! I was starting to think I was the only one with tidy drinkers.

I have purchased a large ceramic doggy dish. He is not able to move it That seem to have fixed the issue but cut off his fun... So I now keep a large lasagna glass dish outside for him to play in. I only have to fill it with fresh water and he jumps in it with all 4 paws.

Really something to see.

Originally Posted by Bubbies

I have purchased a large ceramic doggy dish. He is not able to move it That seem to have fixed the issue but cut off his fun... So I now keep a large lasagna glass dish outside for him to play in. I only have to fill it with fresh water and he jumps in it with all 4 paws.

Really something to see.

Our first Maine Coon, Whodini, would tip his water dish over all of the time. I purchased a very flat and wide dog dish, similar to the one Bubbies mentioned above, and that did the trick.

For our new kittens, we bought a CatIT fountain and both James and Penny are not too sure about it yet. I put a bowl down just to make sure that they would get some water while they are getting used to it and I noticed that James already has similar tendencies to Whodini. He spilled the bowl within minutes of discovering it

Our Dexter was exactly the same, maybe it's a Dexter thing! we bought a water fountain which he paws the side of but does not put his paws in it, so no more mess from that. He still likes to jump in the bathroom sink however, with the tap on and splash the water around scoopong it up with his paws to drink, but I think we're gonna have to live with that one. Apparantly they stir the water around to get air/oxygen into it as stagnant water is likey to harbour bacteria ( a throw back from their wild ancestry, which is why they like running water, because it is safer). Lisa xxx

I'm on my second Maine Coon. The first died just after 5 months from a birth defect. :( Fortunately our second, Martian, is quite healthy, despite a pollen allergy. ANYWAY, both of these Coons were and are total nuts with water! When little Moxie was alive we had to use a giant glass mixing bowl. Even though it was quite heavy he'd still knock it around. It almost seemed like the goal was to see the water move (???). Now with Martian we have a Drinkwell fountain. Every single time, without fail, he paws at the little waterfall, then paws the floor around it, like he's shuffling. It almost looks like a little dance! Then after this initial insanity, he'll finally drink from the water spout. Adding to this hilarity, he drinks really loudly and sounds like a Great Dane or something.

It's fascinating to me that odd water habits could be so breed specific. I'd always had Siamese and only once had one that scooped water and drank from her paw. All the others drank normally. But these two Maine Coons, and these are my only experiences with this breed, were/are both very peculiar with water.

I read somewhere that they're reverting back to a fishing instinct from their ancestors. Apparently hitting the water and making it move gets rid of reflections so they can see fish better. I have no idea if this is true, but it's a fascinating theory!

I am no longer feeling so smug Roxy has discovered the delights of playing in the fountain. She came in and jumped onto my knee for a cuddle and the back of her head was wet, also her feet front legs and various splashes all over. Methinks a certain Welly has been sending vibes to her!