Why are Pet Water Fountains Good for Cats?: Hydration Can Help Prevent Certain Cat Health Issues
Pet water fountains are a great way to promote cat health and ensure your cat gets adequate hydration throughout the day. As with humans, it is important for pets — especially cats — to take in enough fresh water. For cats, in particular, hydration is key to kidney and urinary tract health. Dehydration can cause a whole slew of cat health problems, including elevated heart rate, sunken eyes, lethargy, and loss of appetite. This is one of the reason that wet food is important for cats.
Please note: This content is intended for informational purposes only and reflects personal experience as a cat owner. It should not be considered a substitute for professional veterinary advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult your veterinarian with any questions or concerns about your pet’s health.
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Pet Water Fountains Work Because Cats Prefer Moving Water
There are a number of ways you can promote water consumption in cats. One way to ensure pets get adequate hydration, besides through their wet food, is with water fountains.
Pet water fountains work really well because cats tend to stay away from still water. In the wild, still water can be tainted with bacteria or the like. This is an evolutionary tactic that helps keep kitties safe from water-based illnesses.
How Often Should You Change the Water in a Pet Water Fountain?
It is important to note that, even with a pet fountain, you’ll have to replace the water and thoroughly wash the fountain to prevent bacteria from growing. Even though the water is moving, this is still possible, and it can cause a slimy film on the fountain.
The question of how often to clean cat water fountains isn’t super straight forward, because it tends to depend on how much water the fountain holds and other factors.
We wash our cat fountain and replace the water in it every couple days. Sometimes more, sometimes less depending on whether the cats have put their paws and toys in it. The drinking fountain filters usually last longer, about a week and a half to two weeks.
Can You Leave a Cat Water Fountain on All the Time?
As long as there is enough water in the bowl for the motor pump to be submerged, then it should be fine to leave the fountain running continuously.
I leave ours going all the time, but keep an eye on the bowl to make sure that the water level doesn’t get too low. Sometimes, you’ll notice it gets low because the motor will make a weird sound. I’d just keep an eye on it and incorporate checking the level into your morning and/or evening routine.
Are Pet Water Fountains Worth It?
Yes, pet fountains are absolutely worth the money! They’re low maintenance, promote water consumption, and, in most cases, are actually quite affordable.
Searching for The Best Cat Water Fountain
We recently made the switch from a plastic pet fountain to a Petlibro fountain with a stainless steel drinking tray. I wanted a stainless steel option because the cats were having issues with persistent cat acne, that I thought might have been caused by the plastic fountain (more info on that here).
In all, I really love the Petlibro fountain. It is super quiet, easy to clean, and holds a large amount of water. The cats love it and it definitely has been helping them stay hydrated! This particular model can be used with battery power and is available from both Chewy and Amazon.
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*This post was originally published in 2019. It was most recently updated on June 23, 2025.
