Drinking fountains good for cat health?

In searching for a Christmas gift for my cat Jewels, I came across the Drinkwell Fountain. I was unaware that running water was better for cats, as their website states!

Apparently the root of this "running water premise" is instinctual. Cats, big and small prefer to drink from running water, and, it's healthier.

I wanted to get the communities thoughts

http://www.vetventures.com/about-why.asp

According to this small study, Effect of water source on intake and urine concentration in healthy cats:

a fountain failed to substantially increase water intake and dilute urine in cats

Click to expand...

It probably depends on the individual cats' preferences, and a fountain is useful if you don't want to or can't change the water in the bowls every day.

Anything you can to to encourage your cat to drink is my belief. I have 2 fountains. If you notice, cats like to drink out of faucets. So, I believe the sound and motion encourage more intake.

I have heard nothing but praise for them. Most people claim their cats will drink more, and that their cats love to drink and paw at the running water. I believe many people on these forums use them. I plan on buying my cats one when petsmart has their black friday deals this week.

i think it varies but i have several cats who really like drinking out of the sink faucet, so the fountain has helped since they can drink whenever they want (and they stay out of my way!)

We have the CatIt fountain and all of my babies love it!

I agree it can vary by cat, but I had the Drinkwell Platinum and now the 360. I've noticed both my cats drink more from the fountain (the 360 was even more popular than the Platinum). I like the Drinkwell because it's easy to clean as well.

My boy had struvite crystals. My vet was very pleased that I already had a fountain, to encourage Dante to drink more. They're not the cheapest things in the world, so I think vets don't want to 'mandate' that cat owners buy them, but I found it well worth the money.

I own 2 Cat-it water fountains (The 2 liter one and the dome one) and they were well worth the money.

Sasha especially likes the dome one as the water flowing from the top means he doesn't have to bend as much to drink; and knowing that my two little buddies have clean, fresh water sources is one worry ;less for yours truely.

I have the Drinkwell original... the boys do like it... they also like using the giant 2-qt doggie dish upstairs.... I would say if you can get a good price on it is worth it... I think there are a couple of my kitties who drink more b/c of it...

I have the Drinkwell Platinum, and my boy adjusted to it well. I used to keep his regular water bowl near his food to see if he seemed to prefer it, but once he accepted the fountain, it was obvious that he preferred it.

He recently began having renal problems--and drinking more water as a result. My vet was very pleased that he has a fountain, so I guess they consider the fountains a good thing.

We have lots of fountains here, Cat-it dome and a couple of the smaller bubblers, Drinkwell, Petmate and a couple of non brand name ones.....obviously all my cats and kittens love fountains