As we see with the rise of automatic litter boxes, automatic feeders, pet trackingand now the cat water fountain, technology allows us to closely monitor our pets and make sure they are being taken care of without having to do a lot of manual labor.
A cat water fountain encourages cats to drink more water, which helps their overall health. I have noticed an increase in my cats’ water consumption since they started using a fountain. As a pet helicopter mom, I have become a fan of fountains.
Although automatic water fountains are better for your cats’ overall water consumption, they require a little more work and money. Rather than filling a bowl, these require a little more elbow grease, but it’s worth it for your cat’s health. In addition to routine filling and cleaning, you will need to disassemble the fountain to clean all parts, including using a brush for the bowl and tubes. You may also need to disassemble the engine to deep clean it due to mineral buildup. These also have different types of filtration cartridges with specific shapes for the brand’s fountains, which require the purchase and replacement of the filters, generally once a month or more often.
Many of these fountains also have a connected app, which reminds you when to clean, replace the filter and refill with water. Many also track the number of times your pet drinks over the course of the day, week, and month to monitor their habits and track any changes. A cat that drinks a lot more or a lot less water than usual can be a good indicator that something is wrong with its health.
I (and my cats) have tested different models (and some of the most technologically advanced) automatic pet water fountains available today to see which ones are worth it.
Check out our related guides like Best Automatic Feeders, Best Automatic Litter Boxes, Our Favorite Novelty Cat FurnitureAnd Our Favorite Feline Toys, Litter Boxes, and Other Supplies. Are you more of a dog person? We have what you need; see our Best Accessories and Tech Essentials for Your Dog guide.
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Cats sometimes have difficulty consuming enough water, which can potentially lead to fatal urinary infections and blockages in male cats in particular. This is one reason why veterinarians are encouraging more owners to feed their cats at least a partially moist diet, as this helps them consume more moisture, especially since cats do not naturally consume as much water as the dogs. Unlike dogs, cats are generally quite particular in their likes and dislikes, and they may view standing water as potentially harmful. (If the cat was in the wild, stagnant water has a greater potential for harmful bacteria). Cats are most attracted to moving water in nature, and these fountains encourage them to drink more by imitating what they are naturally attracted to.
Let’s be honest, a lot of these fountains are pretty much the same. I particularly looked at the overall design – I’m passionate about stainless steel because of the potential porous plastic holds. harmful bacteria. I also favor a wide tank without high edges to reduce the risk of whisker fatigue. I prefer fountains that have a small reservoir of water available at all times, in case of low water levels or a power outage. I considered ease of installation, filling and cleaning, as well as the overall design. And of course, there were some that my cats took to right away, and others that they didn’t seem to like as much.
I used each of these for a week as the primary water source for my cats. As mentioned, I noted the ease of installation, evaluated the parts and filters, and generally compared the different types of water fountains: faucet, bubbling, or waterfall. Some flows were continuous and others intermittent (my cats didn’t prefer intermittent). Cats may also be intrigued and want to play with the machine rather than drink, so be sure to give them time and keep another water source nearby until they are completely adapted to the new gadget .
