11 Best Cat Water Fountains in 2022 – Reviews & Guide

Cats are notorious for not drinking enough, which, over time, can be detrimental to their health by leading to dehydration and kidney damage. The good news is that there are a few tricks that can get your cat to drink more water, and one of the most successful tricks seems to be providing a source of running water. But unless you want your water bill to skyrocket, you can’t just leave water running all the time, which is where a fountain comes in. There are tons of pet fountains on the market, which can be overwhelming. Oftentimes, these fountains are an investment, so choosing a high-quality product that won’t break in two months is important. We’ve put together reviews of the best cat water fountains to help make it less overwhelming to choose the perfect fountain to encourage your cat to drink enough water.

A Quick Comparison of Our Top Picks (2022)

The 11 Best Cat Water Fountains

The Hepper Water Fountain is considered the best overall pet drinking fountain, encouraging cats to increase their water intake. This stainless-steel fountain is easy to clean since it comes apart for a thorough scrubbing. It’s scratch resistant and not as prone to bacteria growth as plastic fountains. It uses a coconut shell, activated carbon, and ion exchange filter for maximum water filtration. It filters out chlorine, heavy metals, hair, and other residue, improving the taste of the water to further encourage your cat to drink more. The fountain comes with the first filter you’ll need.

This fountain has a unique design that looks similar to a human water fountain, making it ideal for cats that like to drink from sinks and other running water systems. The unique appearance also fits right in with any home’s design scheme, from modern to vintage.
Since it does require unique filters, they may be difficult to find except through Hepper and Hepper’s Amazon store.

You might have guessed, this is our own product – but we love it so much we just have to share it, and hope you get to own one too!

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The best cat water fountain for the money is the Frisco Square Dog & Cat Fountain, which is affordable on almost any budget. It’s a neutral grey color and has a sleek design to help it blend in with your home décor. It filters the water and keeps it moving, ensuring it doesn’t stagnate or stink. It pulls water up from a lower basin, keeping the drinking portion of the fountain shallow enough for pets that don’t like to drink out of bowls. The pump will burn out if the basin runs dry, but Frisco does sell replacement pumps that fit this model. It’s recommended to replace the filter monthly and to clean the pump weekly.

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The Drinkwell Seascape Ceramic Dog & Cat Fountain is an attractive piece of home décor on top of being a functional fountain for your cat. This fountain has a modern design, and the submersible pump keeps the water constantly flowing. Constant water circulation helps prevent bacterial growth and the included carbon filter reduces smells and contaminants. It has a whisper quiet operation and is made of sturdy ceramic, making it heavy enough to avoid being tipped over by pets. This product comes at a premium price and due to the open nature of the design, the pump needs frequent cleaning.

All in all, when it comes to premium picks, we think this is the best cat water fountain out there.

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Choosing a water fountain for a kitten can be tough, which is why the Torus Filtered Dog & Cat Water Bowl is the best pick. This isn’t actually a fountain, but it is a water bowl that automatically refills itself when the water level gets low, and it filters the water as it passes from the reservoir into the bowl. This can allow your kitten to get used to drinking water that moves and shifts, without the potential fear of a running pump. This product doesn’t require a power source and is low enough to the ground to make it easy for your kitten to access it without risking falling into deep water. It’s available in four colors and features a unique, modern design.

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The Catit Flower Plastic Cat Fountain is another great cat water fountain you can get. This cute fountain is round and features a flower waterspout in the middle. The flow can be adjusted to three different settings based on your pet’s preference. It has a triple-action filter that removes contaminants and debris, as well as decreases unpleasant odors. It’s easy to assemble and disassemble for cleaning and is made from BPA-free materials. If allowed to run low on water, the motor may burn out, so it’s important to always keep water in the basin. The filter should be replaced every 3 – 4 weeks or more frequently.

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The Drinkwell 360 Stainless Steel Pet Fountain is a great option if you have multiple pets sharing a fountain since it holds up to 128 ounces of water. Made from sturdy stainless steel, this 360˚ fountain has an adjustable flow and two types of filtration, keeping water fresh. It has a free-falling design, making it a good pick for your cat that likes to drink from faucets. All parts are dishwasher safe except for the pump itself and the included rubber feet keep the fountain from sliding, even on wet floors. This is not the quietest option on the market, which can be a deterrent to some cats. Assembling and disassembling this product is a multi-step process and should be done frequently to keep the pump working.

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The Pioneer Pet Swan Cat Drinking Fountain is a faucet-shaped drinking fountain that fits into modern home décor. It’s budget-friendly and uses an activated carbon filter to keep the water fresh and clean. It has a ceramic appearance but is actually made from sturdy, BPA-free plastic. All parts except the pump are dishwasher safe, making for easy cleaning. It includes a USB plug as well as a standard wall plug-in, so you can plug it in however you need to. It is noisier than other options and requires frequent cleaning to keep the pump functioning properly. The faucet part of this filter may clog without frequent cleaning as well.

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The Cat Mate Plastic Dog & Cat Filter is another budget-friendly option, and it allows for drinking at various heights depending on your cat’s size and preference. It’s dishwasher safe and has a polymer-carbon filter cartridge to keep the water fresh and clean. It has a quiet operation and a 10-foot power cord, making setup anywhere a breeze. The water flow is adjustable to your cat’s preference. The motor requires frequent cleaning to keep it operating properly, and it is lightweight enough for cats to drag or tip over.

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The Drinkwell Pagoda Ceramic Dog & Cat Fountain is a premium-priced fountain that has two levels of water access, making it a good option for kittens and older, arthritic kitties alike. It fits seamlessly into home décor and uses a carbon and coconut shell filter to keep the water fresh and clean. It’s available in four colors to match your home, and it’s made from sturdy ceramic, making it heavy enough to avoid tipping. This pump has a noisier operation than other Drinkwell fountains, like the Seascape. It can also be more difficult to clean due to the number of 90˚ corners in this product.

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The PetSafe Sedona Ceramic Dog & Cat Fountain is a pretty option that features a clear and white bowl-like design with a raised central piece. The water flow and pump motor operation are quiet, making this approachable for the most skittish pets. It has a large drinking area, making it a good option for kitties with large, flat faces. Some of the pieces are top-rack dishwasher safe and it has an activated carbon filter. Although part of this fountain is ceramic, it is also partially made from plastic, so it may be easier to tip over than other ceramic options. The pump requires at least weekly cleaning to keep it functioning properly.

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The Petlibro Automatic Dog & Cat Water Fountain keeps the water circulating, preventing bacterial growth in the water reservoir. The filter keeps the water clean and free of debris, and the fountain is easy to disassemble for cleaning. The pump has an auto shutoff feature if the water level gets too low, and there is a built-in light that automatically turns on when it gets dark. The included filtration system is only replaceable through the manufacturer at this time. This is also true of the pump, which may stop working without at least weekly cleaning. This fountain is lightweight and is prone to being tipped over by curious pets.

Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Best Cat Water Fountain

Choosing the Right Fountain for Your Cat

Cats can be very particular when it comes to what they’ll drink from, so it may take a few tries and some patience to find the perfect fountain for your cat. To start, choose a fountain that will meet the needs of the number of cats and other pets that will be sharing the fountain. Always make sure all of your pets have access to clean water and don’t rely on a single water source for multiple pets.

Consider the age and size of your cat when selecting a fountain as well. Kittens may have difficulty drinking from the height of most fountains, so a lower fountain or bowl is necessary. Kittens, especially very young kittens, are at a higher risk than adult cats of drowning in a water bowl, so they need a shallower bowl than what some fountains provide. The same considerations should be taken for cats with mobility difficulties.

Where are you planning to put your cat’s bowl? You’ll need to make sure it’s near enough to an outlet that the cord will reach. However, different pumps have different electrical cord lengths. Whether you need 10 feet of cord or 2 feet of cord, you’ll need to take this into consideration before purchasing a pump.

Conclusion

If you need a fountain for your kitten, it may be best to start with an auto-refilling bowl, like the Torus Filtered Dog & Cat Water Bowl, which is low to the ground and requires no power source. The best overall fountain for cats is the Hepper Stainless Steel Cat Water Fountain, which is modern and functional, and for tight budgets, check out the Frisco Square Dog & Cat Fountain, which is affordable on almost any budget. No matter what you need for your cat, these reviews can serve as guidance to select a product or find a starting point in finding the perfect water fountain for your cat.

SEE ALSO: Our Favorite Ceramic Cat Water Fountains