The Best Cat Water Fountains (Review) in 2021

What to Consider When Choosing a Cat Water Fountain

Getting your cat to drink can feel like an endless struggle. You can buy all the wonderful bowls in the world, but you are still likely to see them waiting for you to leave a tap running before they hop up and take a drink. Given that cats prefer running water, a cat water fountain could be the answer to your worries. However, that only remains the case if you can find one that suits their needs. Some of the key things you need to consider when choosing between the plethora of water fountains that are available include:

• Reservoir size

The larger the reservoir size, the less time you need to spend refilling the fountain and the smaller the risk of it running dry. However, this needs to be weighed against the length of time the water is likely to be sat in the reservoir. While most cat water fountains continually circulate the water so that it does not become stagnant, the longer the water is there, the greater the risk of bacterial growth.

• Bowl tiers and depth

The fountain and the depth of the bowl are important if you have very young cats or aging cats with joint issues. Reaching up or bending can become difficult for cats as they age, and young cats may be too small to reach over deeper bowls. If you have multiple cats in your household, then a multi-tier bowl might be the answer.

• Number of spouts or fountains

If you only have one cat, then this is more about personal preference. However, for cats with multiple cats or other pets, multi-spout options may be beneficial. Multiple spouts allow more than one pet to drink at a time and should cut down on arguments and hopefully spills.

• Bowl and spout material

Most high-quality cat water fountains are now made from BPA-free materials; this makes them non-toxic and therefore safer but does not compromise on their durability. However, there are several different material options available, including BPA-free plastics, stainless steel, and ceramic. While these are all great materials, there are pros and cons to each. Plastics tend to be lighter, durable, and easier to maneuver; however, they scratch easily and can be difficult to keep clean once scratched or pitted. Ceramic cleans easily and is usually dishwasher safe; however, it is heavy and liable to break if dropped. Stainless steel is light, easy to clean and keep clean, and extremely durable; however, metal can affect the taste of the water, even with filters in place.

• Filter system

A filter system is a must in a cat water fountain. It helps to reduce impurities in the water, improving its taste and smell. Many of the best cat drinking fountains include a dual- or two-stage filter system that also removes hair, dirt, and other particles. Look for a water fountain that has easily removable filters to aid with cleaning and ideal have replaceable or reusable filters to increase longevity without putting your cat’s health at risk.

Tips to Get Your Cat Drinking More Water

Compared to their ancestors in the wild that have to look for very creative ways to get their drink, domesticated felines have somehow lost this particular trait in a long process of evolution. Furthermore, felines don’t have a very efficient thirst drive that canines enjoy. This means Felix or Garfield doesn’t necessarily have the correct brain wiring to make it feel thirsty. So, where do felines get their drink? Believe it or not, kitties get their hydration requirements from food. Imagine a can of wet cat food can contain up to 78 percent of moisture while their favorite prey, the rat, can store about 70 percent in its body. Now, if you’re feeding your feline exclusive dry kibbles, your Tom may only be getting 10 percent moisture. So, how do you get your cat to drink more water? Here’s how.

• Use cat water fountain 

More than a mere decorative piece, cat water fountains are exceptional pieces of gadgets that can really entice your kitty to drink more. The reason is quite simple. Felines are predators. Regardless of the breed of cat you may have, its predatory instincts will always kick in.

Movement is always a natural sign of prey and as such moving fluids is almost always interpreted as prey. It may not be automatically count as prey, however, but it sure can arouse the interest of felines. Give your cat a bowl of drink and a water fountain. There’s a strong chance your pet will be heading to the pet fountain instead of to the water bowl where there is no movement at all. Now try to create ripples on the bowl of liquid and your pet’s attention will also be diverted to the bowl. Try opening your tap, too, and your pet will soon be licking the stream.

• Keep the water fresh 

If you haven’t tried drinking stagnant fluids yet, it’s stale and doesn’t really taste good. If it doesn’t taste good, how will you entice your pet to drink? Replacing standing H2O in your pet’s drinking vessel is a must if you need your feline to drink a lot more fluids. While there are no specific guidelines as to how often you need to replace it, a good rule of thumb is to change the fluids with fresh ones at least every couple of hours. That’s why a pet fountain is a lot better as it keeps the fluid circulating, continuously injecting air into the drink, and ensuring longer lasting freshness.

• Keep the water bowl clean 

No matter how often you replace the drink of your pet if you don’t make any attempts to clean the vessel, then the drink easily gets contaminated, too. Cats don’t like dirty things. So, if you need to replace their drink, make sure to clean the water bowl as well. Again, this is where some pet drink dispensers can come in handy as some of them have built-in mechanisms to keep the holding vessel relatively clean a lot longer. This helps minimize the number of times you need to clean it.

• Place different water bowls or water fountains all over the house 

Don’t skimp on the number of drinking stations for your pet. Because drinking is almost always equated with eating, make sure to place different drinking stations in area of your home away from their food bowls and their litter boxes.

Combining a water bowl with a feeding bowl is not really a good idea as cats will naturally be more inclined to go for the food and not the drink. Placing it close to a litter box will also deter the feline from drinking. Would you like to drink in the same area where you defecate and urinate?

• Add flavors to your cat’s drink 

Some pet owners actually put a small slice of tuna into their cat’s drink. The flavors of the tuna can easily be infused into the drink and this can help entice your pet to increase its drinking. You may also want to try adding chicken broth or even a spoonful of juice. Unfortunately, not all felines like the taste of H2O that has been artificially ‘enhanced’. Some actually recommend placing crushed catnip in the bowl. You just have to make sure your feline saw you crush the catnip in the bowl so it’s aware.

• Use bottled water 

You’ll be amazed at what an ordinary bottled drinking aqua can do. Most felines don’t like the taste of aqua coming from the tap perhaps because of the various minerals like chlorine that are present. You may also want to try experimenting giving your pet various temperatures of drink to determine which it would prefer.

• Provide more wet cat food 

Like we have already said, a can of wet cat food can contain up to 78 percent of moisture. Your only issue with this particular food is that it can be quite expensive and has a relatively short lifespan once opened. Unlike dry kibbles, wet food can spoil easily so you might want to start off with a smaller can first. Some actually add water to their pet’s dry kibbles in an effort to increase its hydration. Unfortunately, this makes the food soggy and less appealing so your feline might not feed at all, defeating the purpose. Additionally, this increases the rate of spoilage which can make your pet sick.

• Add ice cubes in your pet’s drinking bowl 

Remember what we said about kitties being natural predators? Add some ice cubes in its bowl and it will be enticed to ‘claw’ or ‘catch’ the mysterious objects in the bowl. Moreover, a cool drink is often preferred by most pets compared to warm drinks.

Benefits of Cat Water Fountains

It should already be apparent why a lot of owners buy their furry friends a water fountain. The benefits are simply remarkable to pass. In case you would like to know, here are the more popular benefits of a cat fountain.

• Cleaner and fresher drink 

A kitty drinking fountain comes fully integrated with one of several types of filtration system which effectively removes any debris, dirt, and even harmful microorganisms. This makes the fluid a lot cleaner, fresher, and definitely safer to drink. Not only will you be improving the hydration status of your Garfield, you will also be protecting your furry friend from the development of kidney problems or urinary tract disorders.

• Prevents the buildup of bacteria and other harmful microorganisms

Introducing air into the liquid creates tiny bubbles that can disrupt the normal life cycle of certain microorganisms like some species of bacteria and fungus. There are some germs that cannot survive in the presence of oxygen. Since the feline drink dispenser introduces air into the liquid, your kitty’s drink becomes a lot safer, helping minimize if not eliminate the incidence of diarrhea and other gastrointestinal disorders.

• Arouses the natural predatory instincts in kitties

Believe it or not, many felines love playing with H2O, contrary to what we are told. This is because, as already mentioned, moving aqua is often interpreted as the movement of a prey. For instance, ripples on a pond will usually indicate the presence of fish or other creatures beneath the surface. The sight of ripples on the device can awaken the predatory instincts of kitties. As you may have already guessed, encouraging kitties to act out their instincts is one sure way of making them happy.

• Tastes cooler and better 

Moving aqua prevents the rapid increase in water temperature producing a drink that is cooler and tastes better than fluid that has been stagnant in a vessel. The addition of oxygen also helps in improving the overall taste and maintaining the coolness of the aqua so kitties will be more than encouraged to really fill themselves with H2O.

• Entices felines to drink more, preventing disorders of the urinary tract and kidneys 

Obviously, because such devices provide safer, fresher, cooler, and cleaner aqua for your pet, coupled with the fact that these help stimulate the innate predatory instincts in these domesticated creatures, you can help prevent many disorders associated with too little body fluids such as dehydration, the formation of urinary stones, and the development of kidney problems. You can also help prevent the development of fluid and electrolyte problems that may affect other systems like the cardiovascular, pulmonary, digestive, and nervous.

• Easy to maintain 

Making sure your kitty drinking fountain is working optimally is easy, too. Maintaining it is as easy as cleaning bowl since many of these products are already specially designed for ease of maintenance.

How to Maintain Your Cat Water Fountain

We already understand that one of the best ways for our beloved furry friends to maintain optimum hydration and prevent a host of health problems is through the use of a water fountain for cats. It is thus, imperative as owners of these kitties that you maintain the operational integrity of your device. Here’s how.

• Before you start cleaning the dispenser, it is important to unplug it first from the electric outlet.
• Carefully remove the reservoir of the device. You have to double-check with the owner’s manual where this is located in your particular device. Empty the contents. Clean the reservoir with an appropriate cleaning solution. Most homeowners use vinegar to both cleanse and sanitize the reservoir before rinsing it thoroughly.
• Remove the filter and clean it thoroughly using clean water. Whatever you do, never wash or clean the filter using soap. You might want to read the manual again for any recommendations. It is highly suggested that the filter should be replaced at least every 4 weeks, at most 6 weeks. However, if your furry friend happens to be hyper-salivating, the frequency of filter replacement may actually increase.
• Remove all other non-electronic and non-mechanical parts and put these in your dishwasher, preferably on the top rack. Alternatively, you can use warmed soap solution for cleaning. Make sure to scrub all of the exposed surfaces of the different components and to rinse these thoroughly with clean H2O.
• If the different components already have signs of microbial growth, particularly algae, it is recommended that you soak or immerse the affected parts in diluted bleach for at least 10 minutes. If you need to do this, make sure to rinse the different parts thoroughly and carefully, making sure that no residue of chlorine is left on the individual parts, otherwise you will be introducing these chemicals in your kitty’s drink.
• Clean the motor. If you can disassemble any attachments to the motor, do so with care as you clearly don’t want to end up with a broken device. As always, referring to the owner’s manual can help you with the disassembly, cleaning, and reassembly.
• Thoroughly dry the different components of the cat fountain. While it is true that this holds H2O, there are certain components that aren’t really at-terms with liquid.
• Once everything is completely dried, you can start assembling the device.

A water fountain for cats is one of the best ways to maintain optimum hydration in these furry creatures, especially if they are on an exclusive diet of dry kibbles. Such devices help keep their drinking fluids safer, cleaner, fresher, and cooler while also allowing them to act out their curious, predatory instincts. These gadgets help make sure your kitty will not succumb to kidney problems as well as issues of the urinary tract and many more. That is why it is critical to maintaining the device’s optimum functionality.

With the 10 best cat fountains we have shared with you, it is our hope that you’re now more empowered than ever before to do the right thing when it comes to ensuring the optimum health of your beloved kitty.

Best Cat Water Fountains FAQ:

Q: How do cat water fountains work?

A: A cat water fountain primarily consists of a water reservoir, a pump, and a filter system. Water in the reservoir is circulated through the filters, up into the fountain, and trickles out for your cat to enjoy. Any water not drunk is recirculated through the system. The pump requires a source of power to work; this is usually achieved through mains electricity. The filtration system can take the form of mechanical and/or chemical filtration. Mechanical filtration is usually a sponge that the water passes through; the sponge traps dirt, hair, and other particles. Chemical filtration usually takes the form of an activated charcoal filter. The carbon in the filter absorbs impurities and toxins, making the water taste and smell better and reducing the risk of harmful bacteria.

Q: Are water fountains safe for cats?

A: Yes, as long as you ensure that the filters are cleaned regularly, and water is kept circulating and oxygenated. Generally, filters should be cleaned or changed at least once a month. Some manufacturer’s recommend cleaning or changing the filters every two weeks. Follow the manufacturer’s guidance on setting up, cleaning, and general maintenance to ensure your water fountain stays bacteria free and safe for your cat to use.

Q: Is it okay for cats to drink tap water?

A: Whether your tap water is safe for your cat to drink depends greatly on where you live. If you wouldn’t drink the tap water, then this is a sign that it shouldn’t be given to your pets. However, water additives, such as fluoride, chlorine, and ammonia are not ideal for cats, and if they create strong smells, your cat is unlikely to go near the tap.

However, when tap water is used in a filtered water fountain, most of the potential hazards are removed or at least reduced to safe levels. So, while you may not want your cat drinking directly from the tap, using water that is safe for human consumption in their water fountain should cause no issues.

Q: Where should I place a cat fountain in my home?

A: The main answer to this is to place the cat fountain where your cat is most likely to use it. Avoid placing it too close to their food and keep it away from their litter tray. Try to avoid areas where strong odors can affect the water. Of course, you also need to place it near an electrical outlet so that it works correctly. Placing it where your cat will not be easily disturbed, and you are unlikely to fall over it are also good ideas. Finally, consider the flooring. If the water spills what effect will it have on your flooring? How slippery will the area become? How easy is it to clean up? Of course, one way to deal with this issue is to invest in a waterproof mat to place under the cat fountain.

Source:

1. Jennifer Coates, DVM, How to Get Cats to Drink More Water, PetMD