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11 DIY Cat Water Fountain Plans You Can Make Today (With Pictures)

Visnja Radosavljevic

By Visnja Radosavljevic

cat drinks fresh water from an electric drinking fountain

If you’ve noticed your cat has stopped drinking from their bowl even though you just put fresh water out a few hours ago, it could be because water loses its freshness after some time out in the open and your cat no longer wants it, and, some cats simply prefer to drink moving water rather than from still bowls. The best way to keep cats like this hydrated is to have a cat water fountain that keeps the water circulating constantly.

Not only does this help you encourage your cat to drink, but the bubbles and moving water will also keep them entertained and active as well. In this list, we’ll give you our top seven picks of the best DIY cat water fountain plans you can build for your furry feline today.

hepper cat paw divider

The Top 11 DIY Cat Water Fountain Plans

1. Bamboo Cat Water Fountain

Turn your catio into a cat paradise with this easy fountain hack
Image Credit: chirpycats
Materials: Bamboo accents kit, tumbled gemstones, river stones, T-shaped fountain filter, large ceramic bowl
Tools: Handsaw
Difficulty Level: Intermediate

This Bamboo Cat Water Fountain is the perfect addition to any garden or home. The fountain is lightweight and portable, and will look great combined with your patio décor. Not only does it match almost any décor, but it’s also sure to keep your furry friend happy as well and hydrated after those long hours of hunting for bugs in the backyard!

A Purr-fect Match

Keep your cat healthy and hydrated with a sleek stainless steel water fountain from Hepper, and stock up on replacement filters so you never run out of fresh water!

Stainless Steel Cat Water Fountain

hepper fountain

Replacement Filters – (4 Pack)

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2. DIY Cat Water Fountain

DIY Cat Water Fountain
Image Credit: instructables
Materials: Cheap fountain, popsicle sticks, water bottle
Tools: Glue gun, hammer, piece of tubing
Difficulty Level: Easy

This DIY Cat Water Fountain is simple to make and inexpensive at the same time. Not only will your cats love the fountain, but it’s also a fun, easy project to make in your spare time. If you have kids, get them involved in making this fountain for some family bonding too.


3. Pet Bubble Fountain

Pet Bubble Fountain
Image Credit: instructables
Materials: Aquarium air pump, standard air line, bubble stone, plastic colander, mixing bowl
Tools: Utility knife
Difficulty Level: Easy

Most cats need to be entertained, and what cat doesn’t love chasing bubbles around? This DIY Pet Bubble Fountain is the perfect combination of a drinking fountain and a fun play toy for your feline friend. Easy and inexpensive to make, this fountain will keep your cat happy and hydrated for many years to come.


4. Cat Fountain DIY

Materials: Large bowl, aquarium pump filter
Tools:  N/A
Difficulty Level: Easy

This Cat Fountain DIY is perfect if you’re trying to keep your cats out of your aquarium. With just a large bowl, an aquarium pump filter, and a bit of luck, your fish will be able to rest easy while your cat plays in the cat fountain. Not only does this keep your cats busy, but it also encourages them to drink water while they’re at it.


5. Easy DIY Cat Water Fountain

Materials: Large bowl, popsicle sticks
Tools: Hot glue gun
Difficulty Level: Easy

This super-easy DIY Cat Water Fountain can be made with a large bowl, a hot glue gun, and a few popsicle sticks. The project is easy to make and will work great to keep your cat cool on a hot summer’s day as they feel the cool water running down their neck as they hydrate.


6. DIY Cat Water Fountain With a Bowl, Pump, & Injector

Materials: Water bowl, pump, injector
Tools: No tools required
Difficulty Level: Easy

People looking to make a quick and easy water fountain that their cat will love should check out this simple DIY cat water fountain with a bowl, pump, and injector. It’s extremely easy to make because it only requires three different materials and no tools. All you need are a water bowl, a pump, and an injector.

After you connect them, you’ll have a stunning water fountain that will keep your cat engaged for days to come.


7. DIY Filtered Water Cat Fountain

DIY Filtered Water Cat Fountain- instructables
Image By: instructables
Materials: Large water bowl, small water filter, plastic/wood pieces
Tools: No tools required
Difficulty Level: Easy

If you’re looking for creative yet affordable ways to create a water fountain for your cat, consider building this DIY filtered water cat fountain. This simple project doesn’t require any tools; all you need are several materials that you’ll simply connect to assemble the fountain.

You should be able to build this cat water fountain in less than an hour, and in return, you’ll get a happy cat that will have a fun way to stay hydrated.


8. Simple DIY Cat Water Fountain

Materials: Stainless-steel cooking pot, stainless-steel dog-feeding bowl, outlet adapter, water pump, tube
Tools: Drill, small grinder
Difficulty Level:  Intermediate

If you want to make a fountain for your feline but don’t want to spend a fortune on it, be sure to check out this simple DIY cat water fountain plan. It’s slightly harder than some other plans on this list but still fairly easy, which is why it’s considered an intermediate project.

This plan requires you to have a drill and a small grinder, along with multiple materials to assemble the fountain. The finished product is highly functional and interesting, so any cat should enjoy using it.


9. Cool Tube DIY Cat Water Fountain

Materials: Pipes, a water bottle cut in half
Tools: No tools required
Difficulty Level: Intermediate

If you’re looking for a simple way to build a cat water fountain that is affordable but still looks fun, check out this cool tube DIY cat water fountain plan. This intermediate project doesn’t require any tools; you only need pipes and a water bottle cut in half.

Although this project doesn’t require any tools, it’s somewhat complex because you need to properly arrange all the pipes. The creator has provided a detailed explanation of the structure of the water fountain, so you shouldn’t have any issues making it as long as you stick to their instructions.


10. DIY Cat Water Fountain

Materials: Stainless-steel bowl, water pump, PVC pipe, rocks, cords filtration media, filtration media bags and fluff, activated carbon
Tools: Drill, marker, knife
Difficulty Level: Intermediate

Many cats love moving water, which is why most felines prefer drinking from water fountains. If your furry friend loves water, you can create this DIY cat water fountain to keep them engaged and well-hydrated.

This water fountain is somewhat harder to make than most other cat water fountains on this list, but it’s still not too difficult. You’ll need various materials, including a stainless-steel bowl, a water pump, and a PVC pipe. The project also requires you to have a drill, a marker, and a knife to cut the pipe.

The creator of this DIY cat water fountain put detailed explanations in the tutorial video, so all you need to do is watch it and build along!


11. Mini Oasis DIY Cat Water Fountain

Materials: Terrarium filter, bowl, clay grow media, pet dish, non-toxic plants that are safe for pets, plant potting mix
Tools: No tools required
Difficulty Level: Intermediate

This mini oasis DIY cat water fountain looks stunning and will provide plenty of fun for your feline. This intermediate project doesn’t require any tools, though you’ll need several different materials and multiple plants to make this cat DIY fountain stand out. The finished cat water fountain looks exotic and luxurious, and it’s functional, which is why both you and your cat will love it.
hepper cat paw divider

Final Thoughts

It’s vital that your cat stays hydrated, and if a water fountain is their preference, you can DIY one at home with a few simple steps. These simple DIY cat water fountain plans can help you keep your cat not only entertained but also hydrated all summer long.

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Featured Image Credit: Reshetnikov_art, Shutterstock

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