Do cats need a water fountain?

Cat water fountains have become a common sight in UK kitchens. They look neat, the water moves and many owners say their cat loves theirs. But does a cat actually need one? The short answer is no: a clean bowl of fresh water does the job. The longer answer is that some cats are fussy about how and where they drink, and a fountain is one of several ways to make water more appealing. This guide looks at what UK cat welfare advice says and how to decide.

What a cat needs

Every cat needs fresh, clean water available all the time. Cats Protection, the UK cat welfare charity, puts it simply: cats appreciate a bowl of fresh, clean water each day. That means emptying and refilling the bowl daily, not just topping it up, and washing the bowl regularly.

How much a cat drinks depends a lot on its food. Cats Protection notes that wet food contains about 70 to 80% water, so a cat on wet food gets much of its water from meals and may not be seen drinking much at all. A cat on dry food has to drink more of its water from the bowl.

Why some cats like moving water

Cats Protection lists a water fountain among its tips for encouraging a cat to drink, noting that many cats like the movement and freshness of flowing water. Some cats will drink from a dripping tap or a glass rather than their bowl, and a fountain offers moving water in a fixed spot.

Not every cat cares. Some cats drink happily from a still bowl, and some are wary of a fountain at first because it moves and makes a little noise. A fountain is worth trying if your cat ignores its bowl, drinks from taps, or if you would like to keep water moving through a filter. It is not a cure for anything, and it does not replace a vet if you are worried about your cat's health.

Where to put water

Placement often matters more than the type of bowl. Cats Protection's advice includes:

• Keep water away from the litter tray. Cats often avoid drinking near their litter tray, so keep the two in separate rooms if possible.
• Keep water away from food. Cats also tend to dislike drinking right next to their food, so place the food and water bowls in separate spots.
• Offer several water stations. A bowl in more than one room means water is never far away.

If you buy a fountain, it does not have to replace the bowls you already have. Put it in a quiet spot away from food and litter and leave a bowl elsewhere, so your cat has a choice.

Bowls, shapes and materials

Cats Protection notes that cats usually prefer wide, shallow bowls, and suggests trying a ceramic or glass bowl because plastic and metal bowls can taint the water. If your cat seems put off by a new fountain, offering a wide ceramic or glass bowl alongside it is a sensible fallback.

Our two fountains use different materials: the Wi-Fi fountain has an ABS and PP plastic body, and the cordless fountain has a clear tank on a 304 stainless steel base. Keeping either clean, with fresh water and a fresh filter, matters more than the material.

The pros and cons of a fountain

What a fountain offers

• Water that keeps moving, which some cats prefer.
• A filter that catches hair and bits of food between cleans.
• A larger amount of water than most bowls, so it does not run dry during a long day.
• On some models, extras such as low water alerts in an app or a cordless design.

What it asks of you

• Regular cleaning: the bowl, the tank and the pump all need attention every week.
• Filters that need replacing at the interval the manual gives.
• Power: a cable to a socket or USB port, or a battery that needs charging.
• A little noise from the pump and the running water.

If you are not going to clean it weekly, a bowl that you wash and refill every day is the better choice. Our guide How to clean a cat water fountain shows what the routine involves.

Wired, cordless or app-controlled?

• Wired fountains run their pump from a cable all the time. They never go flat, but you need a socket or USB port nearby and a safe route for the cable.
• Cordless fountains run from a built-in battery. Our cordless fountain has a 5000 mAh battery and a pump with no cable in the water, so you can place it away from sockets. You recharge it from time to time.
• App-controlled fountains connect to Wi-Fi. Our Wi-Fi fountain holds 2.5 litres, sends reminders when the water is low and when the filter is due, shows a red light when it needs water and switches its pump off when the water runs low. It runs from a USB cable at 5 V.

Introducing a fountain

1. Set it up in a quiet spot your cat already visits, away from food and litter.
2. Keep the old water bowl nearby for the first week.
3. Let your cat explore it in its own time. Do not lift your cat to the fountain.
4. Refill with fresh water daily, even if the level has hardly dropped.

Most cats either take to a fountain or ignore it within a few days. If yours ignores it, it is not a failure: some cats simply prefer a bowl.

What about dogs?

Dog water fountains work the same way, and a small dog can share a cat fountain. Dogs usually drink more in one go, though, and a small fountain can empty quickly with a medium or large dog in the house. Choose a size that covers a day of drinking for all your pets, and keep a large bowl of water out as well.

When to talk to your vet

Watch for changes rather than amounts. If your cat starts drinking a lot more than usual, stops drinking, or its eating habits change, Cats Protection notes that this can be a sign of a medical problem and advises speaking to your vet. A fountain will not fix a health problem, and it should not delay a visit to the vet.

The bottom line

Your cat does not need a fountain. It needs clean, fresh water every day, in a sensible place away from food and litter. A fountain is a good thing to try if your cat is fussy about still water or you like the idea of filtered, moving water, as long as you are happy to clean it each week. You can compare our two models on the cat water fountains page.