I tried a "cat water bowl" with a detachable base! How stable is it, and what was my cat's reaction?

Because cats' ancestors lived in arid, desert-like environments, they have a low water intake and produce concentrated urine, which is said to put a strain on their kidneys.

That is exactly why increasing their water intake is so important. To achieve this, it is essential to provide a water bowl that cats will find appealing.

In this article, I will be conducting a thorough review of a water bowl provided to us by "303CATLAB" (@303Catlab). As always, I received permission to "report without bias," so I will honestly share the pros and the points I hope to see improved based on my actual use.

Wait, a “water bowl” where the dish and base are detachable…!?

The first thing that surprised me when I received the water bowl from "303CATLAB" was that the vessel and the base could be separated.

Like food bowls, raised water bowls make it easier for cats to drink from a certain angle, but some products are a bit too high for short-legged breeds like Munchkins.

However, if the vessel can be removed like this, it is easy to set it to just the right height using a cat table tailored to my pet. It is a product that helps prevent the common mistake of buying a raised water bowl only to find it difficult for your cat to use.

Hearing that the “base and vessel are detachable” might make some people worry about stability. I was actually one of those people, and I was concerned it might be wobbly.

However, when I actually fitted the vessel onto the base, it had a surprising amount of stability! In our home, there was no wobbling even while my cat was drinking.

Those of you who have read this far might be wondering, "Why is it designed so the vessel and base can be removed in the first place?" The hint to that mystery lies in the numbers drawn on the base.

Actually, these numbers are very useful for checking your cat's water intake. For example, if you give them water at 9:00 AM, you set the vessel with the "9" on the base facing forward. It is a unique system where, a few hours later, you can look at the markings inside the water bowl to see exactly how much water your cat has consumed and over how many hours.

The markings inside are placed in two spots, with the 15ml to 40ml section divided into 25ml increments, allowing for more precise tracking of water intake.

Additionally, a "Research Report" comes with the purchase, which allows you to record and manage your cat's water intake.

The research report allows you to log the time water was provided, the time you checked the intake, the amount consumed, the amount of food eaten, and the frequency of litter box use, making it easier to share information with your veterinarian if something comes up.

Eliminating the stress of "whiskers touching the bowl"!

Ceramic bowls, unlike plastic ones, have the advantage of being less likely to harbor bacteria in scratches caused during cleaning. However, on the other hand, they can feel "heavy" when held, making maintenance feel like a chore...

But this product is light despite its stability, and it doesn't get too heavy even with water in it, so it was very easy to clean. Since water needs to be changed every day, ease of maintenance is crucial.

Also, because the bowl is large, I felt it would be well-received by cats with larger faces or those with medium to long fur, as their whiskers are less likely to touch the edges. For comparison, here is the size difference with a Necoichi water bowl.

Some sensitive cats may drink less because they find it stressful when their whiskers hit the sides of the bowl, so prioritizing this feature is very important.

Regarding the price, at 6,050 yen per unit, it is somewhat on the high side. However, it is not just made in Japan; it is "Hasami ware" (porcelain made in Hasami Town, Nagasaki Prefecture), a craft with over 400 years of history.

Hasami ware is said to be more durable and easier to handle than other types of ceramics, so it can be considered good value for money in the long run.

What were the "pros" and "points for improvement" felt through actual use?

My cats, Kotaro and Leon, have polar opposite personalities. Leon loves new things, so he showed interest the moment I opened the package, and once I filled it with water, he licked it up just as he always does.

In contrast, Kotaro is the cautious type. Since he is a bit wary, he takes time to get used to new things.

To ensure Kotaro didn't drink less due to being wary of an unfamiliar water bowl, I decided to start by removing the base and placing only the vessel on his usual cat table so he could get used to it.

At first, Kotaro was cautious and wouldn't drink from it. He would approach, sniff it, stand stiffly as if thinking about something, and then go drink from his usual bowl set up next to it.

However, after about four days, he suddenly started using the water bowl. And once he tried it and liked the feel, he began drinking from it more often from that point on.

Because he is so wary and stops drinking if I get close, it was difficult to take a photo of him using it... but I was grateful that the detachable design allowed me to help him get used to the new bowl without causing him stress.

By the way, though this is not its intended use, water in the bowl naturally evaporates in winter due to dry air or air conditioning, so the numbers on the base also helped me track when it was time to top it off.

Since I could see that "if I pour water in at this time, it will decrease to this much by X o'clock," I was able to change the water while keeping in mind things like dryness, which I hadn't really been aware of before. It saved me from the "I realized it was empty!" scenario, which I appreciated.

If I had one request, I think I would feel more at ease if the base had a non-slip feature. Some cats have a mischievous streak and like to bat at their bowls.

For such cats, placing the bowl on a non-slip mat is an option, but I think it would be great if the company sold a dedicated non-slip accessory that attaches to the base.

Still, personally, I am very satisfied with the unique design of this product. I think it is a water bowl that is easy to introduce, regardless of a cat's personality or individual traits.

"303CATLAB" also sells a food bowl that utilizes this product's unique design. You can put food in based on the numbers on the vessel to track how much your cat eats over how many hours, which is also recommended for cats who need to diet.

For cat diets, it is considered effective to provide appropriate portions divided into multiple meals to satisfy the satiety center, while fasting is dangerous. Introducing such a vessel makes meal management easier and likely reduces the burden on the owner.

Being mindful of meal management leads to being able to notice changes in your cat's appetite, which translates to health management. If you are thinking, "I was just considering replacing my cat supplies!", please check out the detailed product overview on the "303CATLAB" homepage.

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