The 12 Best Cat Fountains Tested & Reviewed by WIRED (2025)
As seen with the rise of automatic litter boxes, automatic feeders, pet trackingand now the cat water fountain, technology has made it so that we can keep a close eye on our pets and ensure they are taken care of without having to do a lot of manual labor.
The cat fountain encourages cats to drink more water, which helps their overall health. I have noticed an increase in my cats water consumption after switching to a fountain. As a pet helicopter mom, I’ve become a fountain believer.
Although automatic water fountains are better for your cats’ overall water consumption, they require a little more work and money. Instead of refilling a bowl, they take a little more elbow grease, but it’s worth it for your cat’s health. Along with routine filling and cleaning, you’ll need to take the fountain apart to clean all parts, including using a brush for the bowl and pipes. You may also need to disassemble the engine for deep cleaning due to mineral buildup. They also have different types of filter cartridges in specific shapes for the brand’s fountains, which require you to buy and replace filters, usually monthly or more often.
Many of these fountains also have a connected app that reminds you when to clean, change the filter, and refill water. Many also track how many times your pet drinks during the day, week and month to monitor your pet’s habits and track any changes. A cat drinking a lot more or a lot less water than usual can be a good indicator that something is wrong with their health.
I (and my cats) have tested various models (and some of the more technologically advanced) automatic pet water fountains currently available to see which ones are worth the money.
Check out our related guides like The best automatic feeders, The best automatic litter boxes, Our favorite luxury cat furnitureand Our favorite cat toys, litter boxes and other cat supplies. More of a dog person? We’ve got you covered; check out ours The best accessories and tech essentials for your dog guide.
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Cats sometimes struggle to consume enough water, which can lead to potential deadly urinary tract infections and blockages in male cats especially. This is one of the reasons vets are more keen to encourage owners to give their cats at least a partially wet food diet, as this helps them to consume more moisture, especially since cats do not naturally consume as much water as dogs. Unlike dogs, cats tend to be quite specific in their likes and dislikes, and cats can see stagnant water as potentially harmful. (If the cat has been in the wild, stagnant water has more potential for harmful bacteria). Cats are more attracted to moving water in nature and these fountains encourage them to drink more by mimicking what they are naturally drawn to.
Let’s be honest, many of these fountains are pretty much the same. I looked specifically at the overall design – I’m partial to the stainless steel because of the potential of the porous plastic harmful bacteria. I also prefer a wide tank without high walls to reduce the chance of mustache fatigue. I prefer fountains that have a small reservoir of water available at all times in case of low water or power outages. I considered the ease of setup, reloading, and cleaning, as well as the overall design. And of course, there were some that my cats took to right away and some that they didn’t seem to like as much.
I used each of them for a week as the primary water source for my cats. As I mentioned, I noted the ease of setup, evaluated the parts and filters, and generally compared the different types of water fountains—faucet, bubbling, or waterfall. Some streams were continuous and others were intermittent (my cats didn’t prefer intermittent). Cats may also be intrigued and want to play with the machine instead of drinking, so be sure to give them time and maintain another water source while they fully adapt to the new gadget.
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