Here’s a selection of the best cat drinking fountains, a selection made thinking about your budget and also considering the materials such as plastic, ceramic and stainless steel. Some cats are prone to develop feline acne and in this case, it’s better to opt for ceramic or stainless steel. You can see some of the pros & cons at a glance but if you want more information click on the full review or the video of each unit.
Best 9 Cat Water Fountains| Plastic, Resin, Ceramic & Steel
I divided the best 9 options into groups of 3 according to your budget. The cheapest ones are functional and simple, but the durability is less. The other pet fountains cost a little more but they are more stable and well-made. Finally, ceramic and stainless steel are on the high price side, but they are more hygienic, nicely designed, and prevent feline acne.
Best Cat Drinking Fountains Under $35
* Multi-cat means that two or three cats can drink at the same time
Cat Drinking Fountains Under $50
Ceramic or Stainless Steel Pet Fountains (prevent feline chin acne)
What To Pay Attention to When Buying A Cat Water Fountain
The following are all important questions that you will need to ask yourself before getting the best cat water fountain for your feline. I must mention that there is not an automatic water fountain that matches all the following requirements but then you need to choose what are the most important aspects for you and your cat.
Is it easy to disassemble to clean?
Make sure the pet fountain is not too complicated to disassemble when the time to clean. The easier the unit is to take apart the more often you will feel like deep cleaning the fountain. This is a very important aspect because when a fountain is not cleaned often it starts developing slime.
Is it dishwasher-safe?
Some cat water fountains are not dishwasher-safe and may get a little warped if washed in the dishwasher. I must mention that most internal parts of pet fountains, filter housing, pump housing, etc. can’t be put in the dishwasher since they are usually made of thin plastic.
Is it easy to fill and refill?
Check if the water fountain is not too heavy to carry with water when you need to empty it to refill the fountain. Also, make sure the fountain is not too large so that you won’t be able to refill it in the sink.
Look for the design. If the fountain has a reservoir that detaches, it’ll be easier to refill the unit. If the unit doesn’t have a reservoir but it has a low-capacity circulating water, most likely you will be able to just pour water in the bowl a few times before deep cleaning the fountain.
Is the drinking area wide enough for my cat’s face?
If you have a cat with a flat face or a large feline you may need to pay special attention in the bowl’s width because some fountains have a narrow drinking area that may make it hard for your cat to drink from it.
Will my cat have access to water if a power outage?
Consider that the bucket-type water fountains don’t expose the water at all times and the water flow goes to the top due to the pump. If you want to leave your cat alone make sure to put an extra water bowl if you get one of these. Otherwise, get a fountain that has a drinking area exposed at all times.
Is the filter expensive? How many filters does the fountain use?
If you want to replace the filter often make sure you can afford them. Usually, you will need to replace the carbon filters every 3 weeks. Also, check if the fountain uses more than one filter.
Could my cat develop feline acne?
If this is a concern of you, get a ceramic or stainless steel water fountain for your cat.
Is the fountain noisy?
If you are going to place the fountain in a place where you will hang out often or close to a bedroom make sure to get a quiet fountain. I must mention that most electric water fountains make some noise when they get low on water. Make sure to keep the fountain full to avoid this.
Does the pump need to be replaced often?
The last but not the least point. Some automatic fountains are really great and the manufacturer put all the bucks in the materials, but the pump seems to be the saving part of it. If this is the case, you most likely will have to replace the pump before 6 months of use. If you want to avoid this, get a fountain with a pump guaranteed for a year.
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