Ensuring your cat stays hydrated is crucial for their overall health and well-being. A cat water fountain can be an excellent way to encourage your feline friend to drink more water. These fountains offer fresh, flowing water, which many cats find more appealing than still water in a bowl. In this guide, we’ll explore various cat water fountains, examining their features, benefits, and potential drawbacks to help you choose the best option for your beloved pet.
Top Cat Water Fountain Considerations
Selecting the right cat water fountain involves considering several factors. Noise level, material, ease of cleaning, and capacity are all important aspects to evaluate. We’ll delve into these features based on reviews and testing of various models, providing a comprehensive overview to aid your decision-making process.
Noise Level: Finding a Quiet Fountain
One common concern with cat water fountains is the noise they produce. Some fountains, particularly those with louder pump motors or splashing water designs, can be disruptive, especially in quiet environments.
The Catit Flower Fountain is a popular model known for its attractive design and ease of cleaning. However, some users and tests have noted that it can be one of the louder options. The pump motor may emit a noticeable hum that could be bothersome to sensitive ears, especially in quiet rooms. While the noise level might not be high on a decibel meter, the pitch of the sound can be irritating for some individuals and pets. Despite the potential noise issue, the Catit Flower Fountain performs well in other areas and could still be a viable option if noise sensitivity is not a primary concern.
For those prioritizing a quieter experience, the PetSafe Drinkwell Seascape Ceramic Pet Water Fountain stands out as a notably silent choice. Its motor operates as quietly as other top-rated wired fountains. If noise reduction is paramount, ceramic fountains like the Drinkwell Seascape are generally recommended for their quieter operation compared to plastic or stainless steel models.
The Catit Stainless Steel Flower Fountain, while an improvement over its plastic counterpart in some aspects, still presents noise concerns. Although not as loud as the plastic version, it’s not the quietest option available. The stainless steel dish, in some cases, may not fit securely, potentially causing rattling or additional noise that could startle pets.
The Zeus Cascade Drinking Fountain (and its previous version, the Zeus H2EAU) also shares the noise characteristic of the Catit fountains, as they are from the same parent company. Users may experience a constant low rumble from the motor, similar to the Catit models.
Material Matters: Plastic, Ceramic, and Stainless Steel
Cat water fountains are commonly made from plastic, ceramic, or stainless steel. Each material has its own advantages and disadvantages in terms of durability, hygiene, cleaning ease, and noise levels.
Plastic fountains, like the Catit Flower Fountain and Veken Pet Fountain, are typically more affordable and lightweight. However, some plastics can be less durable, prone to scratches that harbor bacteria, and may retain odors over time. Concerns about BPA and other chemicals leaching from plastic have also led some pet owners to prefer alternative materials.
Ceramic fountains, such as the PetSafe Drinkwell Seascape Ceramic Pet Water Fountain and Pioneer Pet Raindrop Drinking Fountain (ceramic version), are often praised for their aesthetic appeal, durability, and ease of cleaning. Ceramic is generally considered a hygienic material that is less likely to harbor bacteria compared to plastic. They are also typically quieter than plastic or stainless steel fountains. However, ceramic fountains can be heavier and more prone to breakage if dropped. The PetSafe Drinkwell Seascape, while excellent, is noted for its weight, making it less convenient to move for cleaning and refilling.
Stainless steel fountains, exemplified by the Catit Stainless Steel Flower Fountain and Pioneer Pet Raindrop Fountain (stainless steel version), offer a balance of durability, hygiene, and ease of cleaning. Stainless steel is resistant to bacteria, scratches, and odors, making it a popular choice for pet products. While potentially louder than ceramic, stainless steel fountains are generally more durable than plastic and easier to maintain long-term hygiene. However, the Catit Stainless Steel Flower Fountain had a design flaw where the dish didn’t fit properly, which could be a concern.
Cleaning and Maintenance: Keeping it Hygienic
Regular cleaning is essential for any cat water fountain to prevent bacteria buildup and ensure your cat always has access to fresh, clean water. Fountains with simpler designs and fewer parts are generally easier to clean.
The Catit Flower Fountain is highlighted as easy to disassemble and clean, which is a significant advantage. However, some fountains with intricate designs or numerous small parts can be more challenging to maintain.
The PetSafe Drinkwell Seascape Ceramic Pet Water Fountain, despite its excellent qualities, has more small plastic parts than some other models, requiring hand-washing these components even though the ceramic parts are dishwasher-safe.
The PetSafe Drinkwell Pagoda Fountain is specifically mentioned as having many small parts, making assembly and cleaning a cumbersome process. Similarly, the PetSafe Drinkwell Platinum Pet Fountain, with its numerous small parts and nooks and crannies, is also described as difficult to keep clean from hard-water buildup and slime.
The PetNF Transparent Cat Water Drinking Fountain presents a unique cleaning challenge. It lacks a designated slot for the pump, making it difficult to realign the pump with the spout tube after cleaning and refilling, adding an unnecessary step to the maintenance process.
Capacity and Size: Choosing the Right Fit
The capacity of a cat water fountain determines how much water it holds, influencing how frequently you need to refill it. Consider the number of cats in your household and their drinking habits when choosing a fountain size.
The Zeus Cascade Drinking Fountain, while previously favored for its large size, is now considered potentially too large. Its 6-liter capacity, when full, makes it heavy and potentially difficult to manage, especially for individuals with limited strength. The large size might also lead to less frequent water changes, which is not ideal for hygiene. The review suggests that a slightly smaller capacity might encourage more frequent cleaning and water refills.
The Pioneer Pet Raindrop Fountain is presented as a lower-capacity alternative to its larger sibling, the Big Max. It’s a good option for those who prefer a stainless steel fountain but don’t require a very large water capacity.
Special Features: Battery Operation and Motion Sensors
Some cat water fountains offer additional features, such as battery operation for placement flexibility and motion sensors for water conservation.
The Petlibro Dockstream Battery Operated Cat Water Fountain offers battery operation, allowing placement away from power outlets. However, in battery mode, it only runs intermittently when triggered by a motion sensor, and the sensor’s delayed activation might deter some cats. Unless plugged in, its battery performance and sensor limitations make it less desirable compared to continuously running fountains or the wired version of the Petlibro with app monitoring.
Fountain Models to Approach with Caution
Several models reviewed presented significant drawbacks that might make them less suitable choices.
The Veken Pet Fountain exhibited inconsistent pump noise, fluctuating unpredictably between loud and quiet. It also developed visible stains that were difficult to remove, and its top was not securely fitted.
The PetSafe Drinkwell 360 Fountain was described as a “nightmare to assemble” with insecure plastic clasps and impractical flow adjustment rings.
The Cat Mate Pet Fountain, while budget-friendly, is noted for its cheap construction and rapid accumulation of dirt in its chambers.
The ceramic version of the Pioneer Pet Raindrop Drinking Fountain and the Catit LED Flower Water Fountain were both identified as being among the louder fountains tested, similar to the original Catit Flower Fountain. The Catit LED Flower Water Fountain also had issues with its flower petal design not consistently pooling water as intended and being difficult to disconnect. The ceramic Pioneer Pet Raindrop also had a design that could lead to water splashing.
The PetSafe Drinkwell Multi-Tier Dog and Cat Fountain was described as noisy due to its waterfall feature, especially when water levels are low, and unintuitive to set up.
Conclusion: Choosing the Best Fountain for Your Cat
Selecting the ideal cat water fountain depends on your priorities and your cat’s preferences. For those seeking a quiet and hygienic option, ceramic fountains like the PetSafe Drinkwell Seascape Ceramic Pet Water Fountain are excellent choices, despite their weight and potentially higher price point. Stainless steel fountains such as the Pioneer Pet Raindrop Fountain offer a durable and hygienic alternative with good cleaning ease. If budget is a primary concern and noise is not a major issue, the Catit Flower Fountain, despite its noise level, remains a popular and functional choice. Carefully consider the noise level, material, cleaning ease, capacity, and any special features to choose a cat water fountain that will keep your feline friend hydrated and healthy for years to come.
