An average-sized cat needs about 70mls of water a day, some of which they will get from their wet food which they are more than happy to consume. Getting them to drink plain water from their bowl though, can be more of a challenge.
Why do they drink from human glasses of water, taps and even puddles, but refuse water in their bowl? One of life’s great mysteries, isn’t it?
The good news is, there’s a really great solution to giving your cat fresh water in a form they find appealing that doesn’t involve them stealing your drink.
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You can encourage your cat to lap up plenty of water by investing in the best cat water fountain you can buy for your budget. These handy devices constantly move the water, reoxygenating it, keeping it tasting fresh for your furry friend.
To help you choose the very best cat water fountain for your favorite feline housemate, let’s take a closer look at everything you need to know about these handy hydrating products:
How To Choose The Best Cat Water Fountain
If you are unsure what to look for in the various cat water fountains on the market, consider the following whilst you browse:
Hygiene
Cat water fountains only provide fresh water if they are kept clean. Water can quickly taste bad and even cause a health risk if algae is allowed to grow in the pumping system. To make cleaning as easy as possible, look for a cat water fountain that can be run through the dishwater. At the very least, it should have easily removable parts so you can clean it by hand.
Consider Ceramic Or Stainless Steel
Plastic water fountains are good budget options. However, when they are scratched they can hold bacteria more easily than other materials. If you can afford a stainless steel or ceramic drinking fountain you can avoid this problem.
Noise
If the fountain has a noisy pump your cat may be frightened by it. A quiet pump will be easy for your cat to get used to, and not disturbing enough to discourage him from using the product.
Size
A cat water fountain will take up a little bit more room than a standard water bowl. Do check the dimensions of the product to ensure that it fits comfortably on your cats mat. It is especially important to do this if you live in a smaller property.
Appearance
The priority is the functionality of the device, but that doesn’t mean you have to put up with ugly. Hopefully, this fountain will be around a while, so do choose something that you like to look at. There are plenty of attractive designs to choose from, to fit into your home aesthetic whilst also providing your kitty with plenty of fresh drinking water.
Best Cat Water Fountains
PETKIT Cybertail Cat Water Fountain
The Best Cat Water Fountain For Owners Who Love Innovation
The PETKIT Cybertail cat water fountain has a multitude of features that make it a reliable, intuitive device to own. If you’re looking for an advanced accessory that makes it easy to boost your cats wellbeing, this could be the right product for you.
The product is 5V and powered with an anti-bite USB cable and holds 68 ounces of water which is circulated with a 12v low pressure pump. The pump automatically turns off if there isn’t enough water in the system. To stop that happening, and to monitor how much your pet is drinking, the fountain also has a water level window and LED light. These features indicate a need to add more water and change the filter.
The two standout features of the product are the filter quality and the pump volume. The filter is fur-proof and made from cotton, coconut shell, activated carbon and ion exchange resin to effectively purify the water your pet drinks. So that your pet drinks their fully filtered water, the quiet pump in the product creates noise less than 30 decibels. This is really handy when encouraging pets to use their new water fountain.
Why We Like It:
- Low noise pump
- Water level window
- High-quality filter
- USB powered
What We Don’t Like:
- Disassembly can be tricky
- Cleaning certain parts of the product can be a challenge
PetSafe Stainless Steel Cat and Dog Water Fountain
Dishwasher-Proof Cat Water Fountain For Easy-Cleaning
This attractive PetSafe is made from stainless steel. This helps it avoid scratches and associated problems with the bacteria those scratches can hold. The stainless steel is also rustproof, durable and hygienic.
Owners with ‘tap drinking cats’ will love the falling stream design of the fountain. You can adjust the 128 ounce water capacity to move water from 1 to 5 different forms of stream, for the versatility you may need to encourage your cat to drink. If your home loses power for any reason, there’s no need to worry about your pet missing out on water access. The 360 degree design means water can still be accessed easily, even if the pump is not working.
Owners will be pleased to know that hygiene is easy to maintain with this cat water fountain. You can wash the pump by hand and place the rest in the dishwater, for easy cleaning that keeps the product in great condition.
Why We Like It:
- 1-5 different stream settings
- Falling water effect perfect for tap drinkers
- Easy to clean
- Stainless steel
What We Don’t Like:
- Large surface area may mean more regular refills
- Clips at the side difficult to get on and off
Catit Flower Water Fountain
Perfect For Cat Owners Who Love A Pet Accessory That Is Practical And Cute
Is this the cutest cat water fountain you have ever seen? If the design isn’t enough to have you ordering at speed, there are plenty of other handy features to make this a great buy to help you keep your kitty hydrated.
The product has three different water flow settings which helps you find the right setting to please your feline friend. The constantly moving 100 ounces of water it holds is then cleaned with a triple-action softening filter for only the best quality drinking water. If the water runs low, a water level indicator window lets you know to add more.
Customers will love that the product has an LED nightlight, saving any trips or falls as you walk past the cats mat in low light. The product is also easy to clean, with each part of the filter being accessible and easy to wash by hand.
Why We Like It:
- 3 different water flow settings
- Cute design
- Triple-action filter
- Easy to clean
What We Don’t Like:
- Filter replacements can be costly over time
- Product is light and can be knocked over easily by larger cats
Veken Pet Fountain
The Perfect Cat Fountain For Messy Pets
The cutely designed Veken pet fountain has a lot to offer pet owners looking to keep their kitties hydrated.
Made from BPA-free PP resin, the bowl is durable, easy to-use and easy to clean. It has a large 84 ounce capacity and an extremely quiet pump that operates lower than 40 decibels, perfect for edgy kitties. The 3 different fountain modes go even further to persuading your cat to drink from the product, particularly as the triple filtration system ensures fresh tasting water that’s appealing to drink.
Owners with messy drinkers for pets will love the silicone mat that comes with the product, which prevents a wet floor during enthusiastic use.
Why We Like It:
- 3 different water flow settings
- Triple filtration system
- Quiet pump lower than 40 decibels
- Comes with silicone pad
What We Don’t Like:
- Can be fiddly to clean all the parts
- Replacing filters regularly can be costly over time
iPettie Tritone Ceramic Pet Drinking Fountain
Attractive Eco-Friendly Cat Fountain With Lotus Design
Sophisticated looking iPettie Tritone ceramic pet drinking fountain is a lotus design and is made of high-quality ceramic. The use of this material to make it makes the product eco-friendly, non-toxic and more hygienic than other materials.
Cats will respond well to the quiet pump system, which runs at just 2W, and keeps the water crystal clean. The pump works in addition to a 3-stage purification system which prevents bad odours and pet hair and other gunk from entering the tank and pump system.
For times you need to clean the fountain you can easily disassemble the product and wash every part of it by hand apart from the plug.
Owners will love the large 71 ounce capacity which maintains water levels well between refills.
Why We Like It:
- Cute lotus design
- Made from ceramic
- Quiet pump
- 3-stage filtration system
What We Don’t Like:
- Expensive to keep replacing filters over time
- Room to drink between sides and middle pump may be too small for some cats to drink comfortably
PetSafe Drinkwell Pagoda Ceramic Fountain for Pets
Perfect For Older Cats Or Cats With Arthritis
The PetSafe Drinkwell Pagoda is available in four colours and is a great option for pet owners looking to provide their cat with fresh drinking water. It is made from ceramic which is hygienic, durable and scratch-proof.
The fountain holds 70 ounces of water, which is more than enough for an average sized cat, and doesn’t require regular topping up either. To keep the contents fresh, it features a replaceable carbon water filter and a low voltage pump.
Owners who want to offer their cats choice will love that the product has two different levels of drinking bowl. This helps with multiple cat households, and the higher level is particularly helpful for older cats with arthritis.
Why We Like It:
- Two levels of bowl
- Made from ceramic
- Easy to clean
- Low maintenance
What We Don’t Like:
- Some cats may not like the water-running noise
- Design requires a lot of reach for cats to drink from the flowing water
MOSPRO Pet Fountain
Perfect For Owners Looking To Avoid Disposable Filters
The MOSPRO pet fountain is a large fountain that has 3 different water flow settings and sits at a comfortable height for cats to use without bending down. The surface area offers lots of opportunity for your cat to drink, whilst avoiding too much sitting water at the top. The petal design at the top lets water flow down, which can be encouraging for ‘tap drinkers’.
Owners will love that the 70 ounce water capacity does not require regular topping up. It is also very easy to maintain and clean by taking it apart and wiping down each section.
Are you trying to avoid the cost of constant disposable filters? You’ll be pleased to know that the cotton filters that come with the MOSPRO can be washed and re-used. You simply rinse them thoroughly and dry them in the sun, for much cheaper running costs compared to products that use disposables.
Why We Like It:
- Reusable filters
- 3 different water flow settings
- Easy to clean
- Large drinking surface area
What We Don’t Like:
- May not be built for longevity
- Can require regular cleaning with multi-cat households and tap water use
Cat Mate Plastic Dog & Cat Fountain
The Best Cat Drinking Water Fountain For Customers On A Budget
If you’re looking for a solid, durable cat water fountain without frills, this could be the right product for you. It has various features that make it both easy for owner to maintain, and for pets to use.
The Cat Mate plastic fountain has multi-level bowls giving your cat plenty of choice when it comes to drinking water. The running section may also appeal to ‘tap drinking’ cats. Using a polymer-carbon filter, the water is also hygienic and clean-tasting, furthering the likelihood of the product encouraging your cat to drink.
Owners will like that the product has dishwasher proof bowls, making cleaning much easier than having to hand-wash them. The low voltage power supply is also a great feature as it comes via a 10 inch lead, giving you more choice of placement.
Why We Like It:
- Multi-level bowls
- Dishwasher proof bowls
- Low voltage 10 inch lead power supply
- Good budget buy
What We Don’t Like:
- Large water surface may mean product requires regular topping up
- Some areas of the product can be tricky to clean
FAQ
If you’re still feeling a little unsure about your cat water fountain purchase, these FAQ’s might help:
Do I Really Need A Cat Water Fountain?
If your cat refuses the water bowl it is a good idea to invest in a cat water fountain. Cats are naturally drawn to drinking running water because they instinctively know that indicates it is fresher and healthier than standing water.
Why Does My Cat Drink Out Of My Glass?
Some cats may find your water to be cooler than the water in their bowl, so they choose to drink that instead. If your cat is drinking a lot, and seems to be drinking your water, and any other water they can find, they may be dehydrated. If they seem thirstier than normal, it could be because it is hotter. However, if their thirst doesn’t seem to be quenched at all, you should consult your vet as they could be suffering from issues like kidney disease, diabetes or thyroid problems.
How Do You Clean A Cat Water Fountain?
Every fountain is different in how it can be cleaned, so do follow the manufacturer’s instructions. To give you an idea of what is involved, here are a few cleaning guides for some of the products above:
- Catit Flower Fountain – https://youtu.be/RgoJSnmMuiQ
- PetSafe Water Pagoda – https://youtu.be/7cSxb88pdtA
- PETKIT Cybertail – https://youtu.be/K6nSwbj52ys
How Can I Train My Cat To Use A Water Fountain?
As well as buying a quiet fountain that doesn’t scare your cat, it is a good idea to use traditional training techniques to reinforce positivity around the item. Cat expert Jackson Galaxy has some great tips on what to do and what not to do when you train your cat.
Do Cats Prefer Water Fountains?
The cat scratching post emulates where a cat would naturally scratch, like a tree. Cat water fountains follow the same idea by emulating how a cat would naturally drink in the wild. Their instinct is to drink from a source such as moving water which is likely to be fresher, than say, a stagnant puddle.
Does My Cat Need A Water Fountain If They Eat Wet Food?
Whilst your cat can get lots of fluid and nutrients from the cat food in pouches, he will still need water access too. If you feed him a dried diet, he specifically needs access to plenty of running water to get the fluid he needs.
Does My Outdoor Cat Need A Water Fountain?
It is a good idea that your outdoor cat has access to fresh water in case they don’t get access to it locally. In times when you keep him inside because of super-hot or cold weather, it is especially important to provide him with the best cat water fountain, the best cat litter box and the ability to stay warm/ cool whilst he temporarily loses his freedom.
You Can Find The Best Cat Water Fountain For Your Furry-Friend
With the tips above and plenty of consideration, you can choose the best cat water fountain for your pet. Soon enough they will happily lap up fresh water from their brand new accessory, hopefully leaving your taps and glasses of water alone for good.