10 Best Cat Water Fountains in the UK in 2024 – Reviews & Top Picks

Water not only helps keep your cat hydrated but keeps them regular and helps ensure good digestion. Dehydration is as big a problem for cats as it is for any animal, and this is exacerbated by the fact that cats do not naturally lap from a water bowl.

Some cats suffer whisker fatigue when drinking from a bowl. Some won’t drink unless they can see the water moving. Others paddle and splash in their bowl before drinking. A cat water fountain can encourage your cat to drink adequate water while helping them stay healthy and hydrated.

Below are reviews of ten of the best cat water fountains in the UK, so that you can find the one that suits your feline’s requirements.

A Quick Comparison of Our Favourites

The 10 Best Cat Water Fountains in the UK – Reviews & Top Picks of 2024

1. PetSafe Drinkwell Platinum Pet Fountain – Best Overall

The PetSafe Drinkwell Platinum Pet Fountain is a large capacity pet water fountain. The removable reservoir is designed to be easy to refill, the stream can be adjusted to suit your cat’s preferences and to prevent excessive splash, and the parts of the fountain can safely be put in the top rack of your dishwasher to clean.

It is mid-priced, because of its large water capacity and the use of BPA-free plastic. Its continuous operation should attract your cat’s attention and encourage regular drinking and the combination of quality construction and convenient reservoir size makes it the best overall cat water fountain available in the UK.

But, you do have to strip it down to wash and clean it, and there are cheaper options on the list.

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The NPET Cat Water Fountain is a small cat fountain with a minimal footprint and lightweight form, but because of its small size, it only has limited water capacity. The fountain is a lot smaller than other alternative models, carrying 1.5 litres of water, but this also keeps the cost of the fountain down, making this the best cat water fountain in the UK for the money.

The fountain includes charcoal water filters, which purify tap water for your cat, and it has three flow settings to choose from. Getting the right flow is important. If the water is too vigorous, it will put cats off and is likely to splash out over the side of the fountain until the reservoir is empty, but the floor soaked. Too slow a stream will not attract kitty’s attention and may mean that your cat gives up drinking from the fountain.

The clear plastic design makes it easy to see when the water needs topping up.

Even at the highest setting, this inexpensive cat fountain is weak, despite being quite noisy, and considering water is recycled through the clear plastic unit, you will be seeing cloudy water soon after installation.

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The PetSafe Drinkwell Ceramic Avalon Pet Fountain is a premium pet water fountain that is suitable for dogs and cats. It has a central fountain surrounded by a trough to collect and direct the water.

Made from ceramic, the PetSafe Avalon is heavier than the plastic alternatives, but it has a more premium finish. The use of ceramic also means that this is the most expensive water fountain on our list. It is also one of the heaviest and despite taking up quite a lot of floor space, it has a fairly restricted 2-litre water capacity so it will need frequent filling.

The fountain has two filter systems: a foam and an activated charcoal stage. This helps prevent cat hairs, dust, and other debris from being recirculated back through the fountain system, so the water stays fresh, appealing, and healthier for your cats.

Although this is expensive and could have more water capacity, it is quieter than most and looks better than the cheaper plastic models on the market.

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The PetSafe Drinkwell Mini Pet Fountain is a plastic water fountain that is designed specifically for kittens. You need to take care when offering especially small kittens a water fountain. If they fall in a deep bowl design, they may struggle to safely and easily get back out, so a mini pet fountain should have a shallow bowl and potentially contain less water. The fountain itself also needs to be lower to the ground so that your little one can more easily get in and get a drink.

The PetSafe Drinkwell Mini Pet Fountain is wide and shallow, making it safe for kittens to use. The pump is kept almost entirely underwater, which means that it is quiet during operation, and the replaceable filters can help remove hair, dust, and other debris from the water. The capacity of the fountain means that it really is only suitable for kittens and small cats and while the pump is submerged, the motor is quite noisy and certainly noticeable if left in a living area of the house.

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The Cat Mate Drinking Water Fountain is a 2-litre capacity water fountain that promises whisper-quiet operation and multiple water heights to satisfy your cat’s preferences, whatever they may be.

The bowls themselves are dishwasher safe and the filter uses replaceable cartridges so that you can keep your cat’s water free from hair and other contaminants. This is an inexpensive water fountain option, and it has a modest water capacity of 2 litres.

The filter isn’t as effective on some alternative models, which means that the water will need cleaning more often, and there have been some reports of fountains breaking down after a few short months of use.

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The Catit Flower Drinking Fountain is a BPA-free plastic water fountain with a good 3-litre capacity and a selection of three water fountain pressure settings. It also has a triple action filter to keep the water clean and ensure that there is no dirt or debris in your cat’s water.

The water pressure is altered using the flower on the top of the fountain and enables you to choose a setting that best matches your cat’s preferences. Some cats are put off using water fountains if the water is too violent or too noisy. The fountain also features a water level window which conveniently shows how much water is left in the reservoir, so you know when it needs filling up.

The fountain is well priced, and it has some good features, as well as a decent 3-litre water capacity. However, the design will not match all preferences and the pump is weak despite being quite noisy.

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The Trixie Drinking Fountain Vital Flow is a premium ceramic water fountain with a 1.5-litre capacity. It is a large fountain, taking up a lot of floor space despite having a modest water reservoir capacity. It is also heavy, although this can be beneficial because it prevents the fountain from being easily knocked and the water spilt.

One of the benefits of using a water fountain for your cat’s hydration needs is that the motion of the water gets the cat’s attention and encourages it to drink but not all cats enjoy the action of drinking from the flowing water. The Trixie Drinking Fountain’s design is such that water flows from the bud fountain and runs down into a trough around the bud. This means that your cat can choose to drink from the stream of flowing water or from the bowl at the bottom.

This is an expensive fountain but it looks good, and the ceramic is hardy so it has been built to last.

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The Honey Guardian Automatic Pet Water Fountain Dispenser is a 2.5-litre water fountain dispenser that is ideal for cats and dogs. It has three function settings: continuous operation, intermittent, and infrared detection mode. Most people buy a cat water fountain because the motion of the water encourages a cat to drink, so it is likely that you will use the fountain in continuous operation mode. Intermittent mode dispenses water for 60 minutes and then shuts down for 30 minutes.

The fountain shuts off if the water level gets too low, and an LED warning light comes on to let you know it’s time to fill up. The fountain is made from BPA-free plastic and is quite expensive, although it does have a generous tank capacity.

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The Paramount City Automatic Drinking Fountain is a plastic water fountain with a generous 1.8 litre capacity water reservoir. It is described as whisper-quiet, although the design means that you will be able to hear water trickling from the fountain and into the water bowl.

A triple filtration system helps prevent debris from getting into the water and making it murky, but the manufacturer recommends cleaning the filter every week or two, while some owners have reported that they need to replace the water every day or two to ensure it remains clean. The LED night light can be used to help get your cat’s attention, although it may be bright enough to be considered annoying if in your vicinity for too long.

There are some questions over quality control with some buyers getting faulty and quickly broken units.

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The Xiannvv is a very low-cost water fountain with a decent 2 litre water capacity. It boasts a quadruple filtration system to ensure the water continues to run clear, and it has a clear design that enables you to check water levels, as well as an LED that illuminates the fountain at night. The 2-litre capacity is good and this is the cheapest option on our list, but the pump is low powered, replacement filters are very difficult to get hold of and it is very light, which means that the water is easily spilt and the fountain easily damaged.

Buyer’s Guide: Picking the Best Cat Water Fountain in the UK

It can be very difficult to get a cat to drink water. They do not instinctively lap water from a bowl, like dogs do, and need some active encouragement. However, it is precisely because cats do not like drinking from water bowls which makes it even more important that we provide an adequate source of hydration.

Water fountains can encourage improved hydration, but you need to ensure that you get the right model for your cat’s and your home’s needs.

How Much Water Should a Cat Drink?

Cats should drink 100 to 120 ml of water per 2 kg of bodyweight. A typical cat should be drinking between 200ml and 250ml of water every single day. If you feed wet food alone, your cat may be getting enough hydration as part of its daily feeding regimen, otherwise, you will have to find a way to ensure that your cat drinks plenty of water.

Why Do Cats Need Water Fountains?

Many cats do not like to drink from a water bowl. They can suffer whisker fatigue if their whiskers press against the cold and hard material of the bowl and some simply do not even consider the need to drink water. For these cats, a fountain can be beneficial.

The moving water gets your cat’s attention and can encourage them to drink, while the constant motion of the water also means that the water is fresh, bubbling, and more appealing to your feline friend.

If your cat is happy drinking straight from a bowl and without the stimulation of bubbling and moving water, there is no need to invest in a water fountain: a simple water bowl will suffice.

Choosing A Cat Water Fountain

Choosing the wrong water fountain means that you will have to refill the water multiple times a day and clean the filter and pump every few days. Too strong a stream may put cats off and will cause a running water noise that might be too much for some cat parents. When comparing water fountains, look at the following factors:

Material

There are two primary materials used for the construction of pet water fountains:

Water Capacity

Water capacity is the amount of water that the reservoir or the main fountain holds. The greater the water capacity, the less often you should have to fill the fountain. Typical values range from 1.5 litres to 5 litres. Somewhere in the middle, around 2.5 litres, tends to offer the ideal compromise. It will need filling once or twice a week and will not be too unwieldy for the space you want to fill.

Size

As well as the reservoir capacity, you should look at the dimensions of the fountain. Those with a larger reservoir naturally tend to be larger, while ceramic fountains are wider than their plastic alternatives. Determine where the fountain will live, measure the space, and then check these figures against the measurements of the fountains. Generally, it is better to opt for a wide base because these have a lower centre of gravity and are less likely to be toppled when knocked.

Pump Settings

Cats can be picky about their water source. They can be put off drinking if the fountain is in too busy an area, but they can also be put off if the water current is too strong. Most fountains come with a variable pump setting, allowing you to turn the water pressure up or down, as required and it is important that the pump has some strength so that the water is more easily pumped around the fountain system and pipes.

Conclusion

Water fountains are a great way to promote good hydration for your cat. The movement of the water naturally catches the cat’s attention, reminding it to get a drink, and because they don’t have to bend and dip into the bowl, fountains can also prevent whisker fatigue: another reason that some cats will not drink directly from a bowl.

Hopefully, our reviews have helped you find an appropriate drinking fountain for your cat. We found the NPET Cat Water Fountain was the best fountain for the money but if you can afford the extra money and space, the PetSafe DrinkWell Platinum is good value for money, more durable, and has a mammoth 5 litre water capacity.

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  • 10 Best Cat Scratchers in the UK

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Featured Image Credit: PetSafe Drinkwell Mini Pet Fountain, Amazon