(PRESS RELEASE) MADISON, NJ — Sure Petcare, the leading pet technology specialist, has announced the launch of the latest product in its connected range, FELAQUA CONNECT — a unique water delivery and drinking monitoring system for cats. FELAQUA CONNECT, designed in collaboration with leading veterinary behaviorists, allows cat owners to keep track of their cats’ daily water intake via the SURE PETCARETM App, while the smart water delivery system provides the cat with a source of fresh water.
Each cat within a household is registered to FELAQUA CONNECT via their microchip. FELAQUA CONNECT integrates with the SURE PETCARE App via a Hub, which allows the App to “talk” to the device and record each registered cat’s drinking behavior such as which cat drank, what time it drank and how much it drank. It also provides reports on the cat’s overall drinking patterns on a daily, weekly and monthly basis. With this information, cat owners can easily detect any changes in their cat’s drinking patterns. The SURE PETCARE App also sends reminder notifications to refill the reservoir of FELAQUA CONNECT when the water is low and water freshness reminders to encourage cleaning of the device.
FELAQUA CONNECT has several cat-friendly features, including a wide, shallow bowl that mimics a natural puddle and presents water in a way that is more appealing and easier to drink than from a conventional bowl. The bowl is also water repellent causing the water to bead — in the same way that water stands up on a newly polished car — making it reflect and glisten and be more attractive to cats.
The water is kept fresh in an air-tight, gravity-fed reservoir that releases water into the bowl as it is needed. Because the device is battery powered, there are no cables or need for an electrical power source, so the device can be placed in any part of the home to best suit the cat’s drinking needs.
Dr. Jon Bowen and Dr. Jaume Fatjó, leading veterinary behaviorists, were involved in the design and development of FELAQUA CONNECT. Dr. Bowen said, “FELAQUA CONNECT provides a window into your cat’s health and highlights the importance of hydration as a health indicator. A change in water consumption is one of the most concerning health indicators in middle-aged and senior cats. Fluctuations in intake can be a sign of illnesses such as diabetes or kidney disease, and the sooner we intervene the better the outcome. Proper hydration is essential to maintain a cat’s health.”
In a recent survey conducted by Sure Petcare, over 15 hundred U.S. cat owners were surveyed. Of that number, only nine percent of respondents were able to recognize all the main signs of dehydration and over half of those pet owners were unaware that an increase in thirst was a possible sign of dehydration. Sixty-nine percent of cat owners said they couldn’t give the veterinarian an accurate answer about how much their cat drinks each day. Given that an increase in drinking is an indicator of kidney disease, and accurate information is essential for a speedy diagnosis, this lack of awareness could lead to undetected kidney disease.
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“A device like FELAQUA CONNECT tells you if your cat is drinking more or less than usual,” said Dr. Bowen. “It’s this insight that is invaluable and provides peace of mind that they are drinking regularly.”
FELAQUA CONNECT is available for purchase on Surepetcare.com beginning in July. The Hub can be purchased separately from Sure Petcare’s website.
