Getting my cat to use a cage-style water feeder

Nibble

I decided to stop using a bowl of water for my cat, mainly because of suicidal ants that like to drown themselves in it. I got this, but he hasn't used it at all. I tried pushing on the dispenser to show him that water comes out, but he just sniffed at it and ignored it. After a day of him not drinking anything, I finally gave in and poured water into the bottom bowl, and he drank it immediately.

Is there a proper way to introduce this kind of water feeder to a cat? How do I get him to use it?

Esh

I've never heard of cats using those kinds of water dispensers. Why not move his water bowl somewhere where the ants aren't?

lindarey

I also bought this water feeder and with a little work I finally got my cat to drink from it. Honestly, he just had to get thirsty enough before he was willing to try. But even more then the water feeder I am impressed with the bowl. I got the dual feeder and use the bowl for his food. Because it is lifted off the ground a little I have not had a problem with ants since I bought it. The old bowl I had for his food would get infested everyday. Now its been a month and I haven't seen 1 ant in his food. Here is the link to the dual pet water feeder I bought.

lindarey

Oh and moving a bowl to somewhere the ants aren't usually works for like 3 days and then the ants will be there.

mts

what can work is putting a tiny little moat around the bowl filled with water. it keeps ants from crossing into the water bowl.
the trick is finding the right thing to put his water bowl in since it can't be so big that he has to step in the water

i had to do all sorts of crazy shit to keep ants at bay while living in CA

what i would do is spray his food and drink area throughouly with windex (make sure it is the old style with ammonia in it) wipe it down. that helps keep ant trails down and should delay the ant invasion.

Madpanda

Wondering how that dual feeder prevents ants. They can still get into my cats dishes and I have an elevated dish holder. Like this http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=12547567&lmdn=Bowls+&+Feeders&f=PAD/psNotAvailInUS/No but it cost me $5

This happens every few months no matter how clean I keep the kitchen, moving the dishes and putting in new traps after cleaning the floors a ton is the only thing that works. Going to go nuts with a hot glue gun tonight as I think I finally found out how they are getting in.

lindarey

The bowl you bought looks to me like it will be easy for ants to crawl right up the side. The water feeder I bought from Pets Spark, is lifted underneath. The ant would have to crawl upside down for a while before they were able to crawl up the side. At least this is the only thing I can think of. All i know is I haven' had one ant problem since I bought this product and that was 6 month ago. I live in Florida and ants are horrible here.