The Shy Eater and the Little Fountain

Biscotti was a skinny, picky, nervous cat who barely touched his water bowl. I worried about it for years. My vet reminded me at every checkup that hydration matters, especially as cats get older.

A friend at work told me her cat started drinking much more after she got a ceramic fountain. I was skeptical. It seemed like one more gadget.

I bought a small one and put it in a quiet corner, away from his food. He watched it for a day. On the second day he drank from it. On the third day I caught him sitting beside it, watching the water.

It is not magic. I also moved the bowl away from the litter box, started giving him wet food, and added water bowls on every floor. But the fountain is the one he uses, and his checkups have improved.

If your cat is a reluctant drinker, try a few things, one at a time. And ask your friends. The best advice I ever got was from a coworker at lunch.