Two cats, one dog, cats not drinking?

Two cats sharing a water bowl with a dog and barely drinking — that's a really common problem, and it's worth taking seriously. Cats are already prone to chronic kidney disease and urinary tract issues, and low water intake makes both significantly more likely. The dog almost certainly dominates the bowl, which makes the cats anxious about approaching it, so they're simply going without. Water fountains are one of the best things you can do for cat health — moving water is far more appealing to cats than still water, and having their own source away from the dog changes everything. Before I point you in the right direction: what breed or size is your dog, and do you have any preference on material — ceramic tends to be much easier to keep genuinely clean than plastic?

A labrador is exactly the kind of dog that will casually barge a cat off the water bowl without even meaning to — they're just enthusiastic. Given that, I'd strongly suggest keeping the cats' fountain completely separate from the dog's water, ideally in a room or spot the dog doesn't have constant access to. That alone will make a noticeable difference to how much your cats drink. For the cats themselves, the Catit Flower Fountain is what I'd recommend. It's ceramic, holds 3 litres, has a triple-action filter, and the flower head creates a gentle stream that cats find genuinely irresistible — even reluctant drinkers tend to come round to it within a day or two. Easy to disassemble and put in the dishwasher, which matters when you're already juggling three pets. Your labrador can keep a standard dog bowl; they're rarely fussy about still water the way cats are.

Most pairs of cats will share a fountain without any issue, especially the Catit Flower — the 3-litre capacity is enough for two cats with room to spare, and because it runs continuously you rarely get the territorial stand-off you'd see with a static bowl. That said, if one of your cats is particularly timid or the two have any history of tension around food or water, adding a second fountain in a different location is a cheap fix. For now I'd start with one in a dog-free spot and see how they respond. The change in drinking behaviour is usually pretty quick once they trust the space.

For two cats, roughly every four to six weeks. Catit sell replacement filters in multipacks which brings the cost down to around £2–3 per filter. Set a recurring reminder on your phone — it's easy to forget and a clogged filter is the main reason fountains stop working well. Rinse the whole unit weekly and do a full dishwasher clean every two to three weeks and it'll stay fresh with minimal effort.