There are several components to every cat fountain, the most obvious of which are the center pieces or ‘pump covers’ and the fountain bowls. How those are combined to make an attractive cat fountain – that is, which bowl gets what center piece, is the subject of this article.
There are several factors that must be taken into consideration when matching up a cat fountain bowl with the center piece, both practical as well as aesthetic. The first attribute we look at is size – are the center piece and bowl a good fit that leaves ample room for the cat to easily drink from the bowl?
With the ‘bubble-up’ or up-flow fountains this is not so critical as any cat can easily drink from the bowl as well as the spout of water. (But we don’t recommend bubble-ups for longhair or short faced cats.) Nevertheless we don’t want the combination to look or feel cramped. There should be nothing off-putting. On the contrary, the fountain should be an attractive cat fountain- appealing and inviting.
With all of the many stream designs the fit really matters and we need to be sure that there is enough room between the center piece and the bowl rim for easy access. Some cats will want to drink from the stream, some from the bowl so there needs to be plenty of room for the cat to fit his head in there.
Another consideration with the stream type of designs is the distance from the point from which the water falls to the water in the bowl. If the distance is too little what’s the point? If too long a stream there may be splash – something we check for and guard against assiduously.
On the aesthetic side, does the center piece harmonize with the bowl? This can be a little esoteric and not something easily taught though everyone in our shop who works with matching center pieces with bowls gets it. We’re always looking for ways to make attractive cat fountains and the areas at which we look are numerous.
There may be obvious factors such as a center piece with a circular motif and a bowl in which the throwing lines were left, making likely candidates for a match up. (In case you’re wondering we do sometimes make a center piece for a particular bowl and will sometimes throw a bowl for a particular center piece, however there is so much variability in our work that we prefer to make matches after all is ready and there is a lot to choose from.)
Then there are the intangibles requiring a more subtle sense of appreciation. In the Maltese Cross fountain, left, both components have throwing lines which creates a harmony. But more, there is a harmony between the rim of the bowl and the rim of the Iron Cross, as well as between the slopes of the cross and of the sides of the bowl. It is not something you would see exactly, unless you analyze it, but it is something you sense. There is a appropriatness about the combination.
To the left is a mollusk motif center piece in a scalloped bowl, giving both an intellectual as well as visual harmony – best appreciated upclose and in person.
To the right, a wavy, organic waterlily leaf is in an organic, free-form bowl, creating a palpable harmony.
Similarly with this dome center piece and the bowl it is in. There is a palpable harmony between the arabesque bowl form and the Panji motif center piece design. Apart from being well-matched in width and height, there is a quality to each of the components that invites the company of the other.
There is a distinct relationship here between center piece and bowl with one being the inverse ofthe other. This has the effect of creating both a harmony and a contrast.
Every fountain we make is subject to all these considerations, and more, before we offer it to you. For example we are very selective about which glazes and glaze combinations we use on which fountains (but we’ll save that subject for another post.)
In short, we are not just making cat fountains. We are trying to create beauty, and for every one of you who has expressed your appreciation, we are truly grateful.
