Water Fountains
Flowing, filtered water tempts pets to drink more — and fights the dehydration that fussy cats are prone to. These fountains stay clean, quiet, and full.
Many pets, cats especially, simply don't drink enough from a bowl, and a fountain's moving water is one of the best ways to fix that. We judged these on pump noise, filtration, capacity, how easy they are to take apart and clean, and the smart extras worth paying for. We tested cordless and stainless-steel designs alongside multi-pet giants and app-connected models. Here are our five picks.
Cordless placement lets you put it anywhere, app water-level alerts mean you'll never let it run dry, and the pump is genuinely quiet. It nails the three things owners care about most. The fountain we'd recommend to almost anyone with a cat or dog.
A big 128 oz reservoir and five free-falling streams give multiple pets 360° access without crowding. It keeps a busy household hydrated between refills and filters as it flows. The obvious pick when you've got several cats or dogs sharing one fountain.
A stainless-steel drinking surface resists the bacteria and chin-acne issues that plague plastic bowls, and it wipes clean in seconds. Going wireless makes placement easy, too. The hygienic choice for pets with sensitive skin or picky standards.
A clean, modern look paired with UV-C sterilization, app monitoring, and a notably quiet pump. It's the fountain you won't mind leaving on the counter. A polished, hygienic pick for design-conscious homes that still want smart features.
The next-gen Dockstream adds a stainless-steel drinking tray and refines the app, layering hygiene on top of the original's smart water-level alerts. It's the most feature-complete fountain we tested. The pick for owners who want every modern convenience in one unit.
Plastic fountains are cheapest but can harbor bacteria and contribute to feline chin acne if you don't scrub them often. Stainless steel and ceramic are easier to keep hygienic and tend to last longer. If you know you won't deep-clean weekly, spend up on a material that's forgiving.
A noisy fountain is a fountain you'll unplug — and then your pet stops drinking from it. Look for models specifically praised for quiet operation, especially if it'll sit in a bedroom or a small apartment. The best fountain is one quiet enough to leave running all day.
A bigger reservoir means fewer refills, which matters in a multi-pet home or if you travel. Smart features like app water-level alerts help here too, warning you before the pump runs dry. Match capacity and convenience to how many pets you have and how hands-on you want to be.
Hydration handled? Round out the routine with the best automatic pet feeders for mealtime, the best self-cleaning litter boxes for cats, and the best orthopedic dog beds for a restful spot to nap.
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