Best Cat Water Fountains for 2022

Some cats hate to get their whiskers wet when they are having a drink. Others won’t ordain themselves to reach down to drink the water.

This multi-level water fountain means they can drink from whichever height they feel most comfortable, and each level is perfectly clean. It would also be great if you have a few cats all of various sizes, or maybe even a canine companion too.

It is incredibly quiet when in operation, with an isolated pump which still works well but won’t put your pet off drinking. The water flows down to the lowest level via a ramp, to minimise noise, splashing and water loss. The output of the pump is also adjustable, so you won’t be overworking it if not needed.

There’s no plumbing required, so as long as you keep the bottom bowl filled up to the ‘maximum’ level and not under the ‘minimum’, the flowing will continue. Filters will have to be replaced around once a month and are recyclable.

For a truly intelligent design, the Petkit Smart Pet Drinking Fountain is all-round winner.

The fountain is incredibly resourceful with a light sensor that switches the fountain from day mode to night mode, where it will work no a reduced cycle to conserve water and prolong the filter life.

It also features a triple purifying system to ensure your cat is getting the freshest water, and it has a noise minimizing pump to prevent your feline friend from becoming spooked.

The fountain is built for a busy lifestyle with a filter change reminder as well as a water shortage alert to let you know when it’s running low. Pretty handy, right?

The beauty of a battery-operated water fountain is that it can be placed anywhere within your home, without the restrictions of a cord. It will also still work if there has been a power cut, or in an outbuilding, if your cat tends to spend more time out than in.

With a self-balancing reservoir and pump, the flow rate will always be relative to how much water there is in the tank, so it will regulate itself if running low. It also means that if the pump stops working, the water will still slowly replenish via gravity.

The lid allows water to pool on top, creating a higher drinking level for any animals who can’t bend down quite to the bottom. It runs on 4 D cell batteries, and the filter turns off automatically periodically to conserve this energy, restarting after a set amount of time.

A filter removes any debris coming up the tube so the drinking water will always remain safe, and if you are using hard water, the holes can be unclogged easily by using a paper clip or pin.

One of the most famous and popular cat water fountains around, this Catit Flower provides a gentle bubbling flow of fresh water, creating a calm flow.

It costs less than 2p per day to run which also makes it one of the most economical. At any one time, it can also hold up to three litres of water, so can go for quite a while without needing to be topped up.

Three settings mean you can control the speed of the flow, and the triple action filter will not only keep the water soft by removing magnesium and calcium but will also remove any debris, odours and bacteria.

Drinking water can fall foul of hairs, pieces of dirt and even just dust, but this will all be trapped.

There is a handy viewing window which lets you see how much water is left in the container at a glance, and a very quiet pump won’t disturb either the cat nor yourself. Because the water doesn’t have too far to fall, this will also not be too loud.

It all comes in a relatively compact design and is supplied with a three-pin plug and USB connection.

The main selling point of this water fountain is the removable water reservoir, which can be filled up at the tap and then replaced for a bit of an easier life for you – no more jugs or awkward angles.

Low on noise, there is a small ramp which the water falls onto, which softens the splashing. This will appeal to any cats who otherwise hate getting wet and may be put off by severe flows.

It is one of the largest capacity fountains at five litres. This would make it a good option if you are away for a weekend and want to ensure a constant flow of water so you don’t have to rely on the pet sitter to check on it.

It uses carbon filters, which add oxygen into the water but also remove any chemicals which occur naturally in tap water as well as any dirt and grime which have built up. The noise is kept to a minimum, only really clicking when it is getting ready for another cycle or if it is running low on water.

There is no safety cut-out if it does run out of the water so you will have to keep an eye on it every day.

One of the most similar to an ordinary drinking dish if you feel that your cat maybe won’t appreciate large fancy machines.

Firstly, it is ceramic, so should stay quite free of grime and dirt build-up in between washes. The pump continuously refreshes the two litres of water so there is always a clean supply, and as the water is free-falling, it naturally aerates itself.

The whole system is easy to assemble and should be up and running in less than ten minutes. Carbon filters remove any sediment and odours from the water so it is always appealing and safe for your pet to drink.

When you want to stick to a bowl but hate the idea of the water just sitting in there all day, this bowl is ideal.

The submerged pump ensures a fresh clean supply of water at all times, which keeps bacteria at a minimum and also eliminated any hairs or dust which may have fallen into it. There are handgrips either side which allow for easier carrying and placement when you take it to and from the tap, and the lid snaps in place to prevent even the cleverest of kitties from accessing the filter.

Unfortunately, the pump isn’t protected from the unit running dry but this is an issue which faces a lot of these products so can’t be a criticism. The pump is also a little on the noisier side so not one for nervous animals.

Cats who love to sleep all day and get up and about in the dark may struggle either locating a normal dish or not making a mess.

This illuminating fountain is great for use when everyone else is asleep. The low voltage mains adaptor isn’t going to add a lot to your bills, but you still get fresh continuous water and nice light to help with visibility.

It is really easy to clean which is essential for keeping everything hygienic and the pump running properly. In terms of sound, there is a trickle of water and a very low pump noise, so it could even be kept in your bedroom if your cat likes to sleep on your bed but always wakes you up for an early morning drink.

Choose from blue, pink or green, in case you or your moggy have a preference. A dishwasher-safe top bowl means even less maintenance.

One of the better models for preventing splash and mess, this fountain has been designed to draw your cat in with moving water, which will be a lot more appealing to any which just sits still.

The slide takes the water down to the drinking bowl, and the water moves around this bowl to give a bit of a fresh stream feeling. Cats who love playing around with water will also be drawn to it, and the filters will remove any loose hairs or dirt which end up in there as a result.

Despite the continuous moving water, the pump is actually quite quiet and as mentioned, there is no splashing water. The power lead is a generous length of 1.82m so you aren’t too stuck for space, and a retro shape and design will also not look too shabby in your home.

A little slider on the back of the product further allows you to change how powerful the water trickle is, in case you want to take this right down for any nervous cats.

A continuous flow of water prevents your water from becoming stagnant and continually aerates the water. Then there is a filter to remove any bad tastes or odours.

There are several sizes available, all with different volumes of water, but the smaller Mini fountain should be fine for cats.