FAQ: Bowls & Feeders for cats

Many ceramic and stainless steel fountains have a body and top that are dishwasher safe, but plastic ones not always. Never put the pump or filter in the dishwasher; the manufacturer’s instructions say exactly what can go in.

A regularly cleaned pump often lasts several years, while a neglected, limescaled one fails sooner. Many manufacturers sell replacement pumps, so when one breaks you do not have to replace the whole fountain.

Smart fountains can show the water level in an app, remind you to change the filter or even count how often the cat drinks. This is handy for tracking a cat’s drinking habits, especially a sick cat’s, but these features are not needed for everyday use.

Yes, several cats can share a fountain if it is large enough and accessible from more than one side. Still, in a multi-cat home it is worth having extra water bowls elsewhere so a shyer cat can drink in peace.

Put the fountain in a quiet spot near a socket, away from food and the litter box and out of direct sunlight so the water does not warm up or grow algae. Place a waterproof mat under it for splashes.

Many cats find moving water more appealing, so they drink more often. But not all cats choose a fountain, and some prefer a wide bowl, so it is worth watching which water source your cat prefers.

Wet food contains a lot of water, so such cats usually drink less, which is normal. A fountain can still be useful, especially for cats with urinary or kidney problems, but a clean bowl of water also works.

Yes, the filter catches hair and some dirt, but bacteria and saliva still build up in the water, and evaporation concentrates minerals. Change the water completely every few days rather than just topping it up.

Water can leak if the fountain stands unevenly, is assembled wrongly, the flow is too strong and splashes, or the cat plays with its paw. Check the seals and assembly, and choose a gentler flow setting.

Some cats like a lit fountain at night, while a bright light can put others off. If your cat avoids the fountain in the dark, try switching the light off; on many models a button does this.

Put the fountain where the cat already drinks, start with the gentlest flow and leave the old bowl nearby. You can dip your finger in the stream or drop in a few ice cubes to get the cat interested; most cats get used to it within a few days.

An automatic feeder dispenses a set amount of dry food from its hopper into a bowl at set times. It can be programmed with buttons, a timer or a phone app, so the cat is fed regularly even when its owners are away.

There are feeders with a hopper for dry food, rotating feeders with several closed compartments that also suit wet food, microchip feeders and smart feeders with an app or camera. They differ in capacity, portion accuracy and power source.

Hopper feeders are only for dry food. For wet food, rotating feeders with closed compartments are used, some with ice packs, but wet food should stay in them no longer than a few hours or as long as the manufacturer says.

A feeder helps, but leaving a cat alone without supervision for more than a day is not recommended: the feeder can jam, the power can go off and the cat can fall ill. For longer periods, arrange for a trusted person to visit the cat every day.

A feeder usually jams because the kibble is too large, irregularly shaped or oily, there is moisture in the hopper or it is overfilled. Check which kibble sizes the model takes, keep the feeder dry and clean the dispensing mechanism regularly.

Most feeders are made for medium-sized dry kibble, while very small, large, flat or filled kibble can jam or dispense inaccurately. The suitable kibble size is usually stated in the feeder’s description.

The most reliable feeders have both: they run on mains power and switch to batteries if the power goes off. With a battery-only feeder, check the charge regularly so the cat is not left without food.

A smart feeder can be controlled by phone from anywhere: you can change feeding times and portions and get alerts about dispensed food or jams. Some have a camera and microphone, but they depend on an internet connection, so a manual schedule is worth having too.

Many smart feeders store the feeding schedule on the device itself and keep dispensing food offline, but you will not get alerts or be able to control them remotely. Check how your model behaves before going away.