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Best Water Fountain for Most People
Petlibro Dockstream Fountain
A Cat Favorite
Petkit Eversweet Max
Best Cordless Water Fountain
Rola Smart Pet Water Fountain
Best Plastic Cordless Water Fountain
Homerunpet Wireless Pet Fountain
As seen with the rise of automatic litter boxes, automatic feeders, and now the cat water fountain, technology has made it so that we can closely monitor our pets and ensure they’re being taken care of without having to do a lot of the manual labor. A cat water fountain encourages cats to drink more water, which helps with their overall health. I’ve noticed an increase in my cats’ water consumption since switching to a fountain. As a pet helicopter mom, I’ve become a fountain believer.
Fear not WIRED-heads, these aren’t pet water bowls of yesteryear—these techy fountains I tested are often connected to an app, which reminds you when to clean, replace the filter, and refill water. Many also track how many times your pet drinks throughout the day, week, and month to monitor your pet’s habits and track any changes. A cat drinking way more or way less water than usual can be a good indicator that something is wrong with their health—an easy way to catch something before if becomes a potential (and expensive) health issue.
I (and my cats) tested various models (and some of the technologically advanced) automatic water fountains for pets available right now to see which are worth the money.
Check out our related guides like the Best Automatic Feeders, Best Automatic Litter Boxes, Our Favorite Fancy Cat Furniture, and Our Favorite Cat Toys. More of a dog person? We got you covered; see our Best Dog Accessories guide.
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Updated May 2025: We’ve added the Petlibro Stainless Steel Fountain, Brook Glass Pet Fountain, and Homerunpet Wireless Pet Fountain, removed the Petlibro Glacier Ultrafiltration Fountain which seems to be discontinued, and updated links and prices throughout.
Cats sometimes struggle to consume enough water, which can lead to potentially lethal UTIs and blockages in male cats especially. This is one of the reasons vets are moving more toward encouraging owners to give their cat at least a partially wet food diet, as this helps them consume more moisture, especially since cats don’t naturally consume as much water as dogs. Unlike dogs, cats are generally quite particular in their likes and dislikes, and cats can see stagnant water as potentially harmful. (If the cat was in the wild, stagnant water has more potential for harmful bacteria). Cats are more drawn to moving water in nature, and these fountains help encourage them to drink more by emulating what they’re naturally drawn to.
Let’s be honest, a lot of these fountains are pretty much the same. I looked especially for the overall design—I am a fiend for stainless steel because of the potential of porous plastic harboring harmful bacteria. I also favor a wide reservoir without high sides to help reduce the chance for whisker fatigue. I prefer fountains that have a small basin reservoir of water available at all times, in case of low water levels or power failure. I took into account ease of setting up, refilling, and cleaning, as well as overall design. And of course, there were some that my cats took to straight away, and some they didn’t seem to favor as much.
I used each of these for a week as my cats’ main source of water. As mentioned, I noted the ease of setting up, evaluated parts and filters, and generally compared the various types of water fountains—spigot, bubbling, or waterfall. Some flows were continuous and some were intermittent (my cats didn’t prefer intermittent). Cats may also be intrigued and want to play with the machine rather than drink, so be sure to give them time and keep another water source around until they are fully adjusted to the new gadget.
While automatic water fountains are better for your cats’ overall water consumption, they do require a bit more work and money. Rather than refilling a bowl, these take a little more elbow grease—but it’s worth it for your cat’s health. Along with routine refilling and cleaning, you’ll need to disassemble the fountain to clean all parts, including using a brush for the bowl and tubes. You may also have to disassemble the motor to deep-clean because of mineral buildup. These also have different types of filtration cartridges in specific shapes for the brand’s fountains, which require you to buy and change out filters, usually monthly but sometimes more often.
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Best Water Fountain for Most People
Photograph: Molly Higgins
Petlibro
Dockstream Fountain
We tested several automatic water fountains from our top Automatic Feeder pick’s brand, Petlibro. This fountain is fairly straightforward—it has a cordless, nearly silent pump, and the basin sits on a dock with a stainless steel bowl that snaps onto the basin, both of which help to make cleaning and refilling the water easier. The basin itself holds 130 milliliters in the bowl at all times in case of power outage, and the fountain has a low-water detection system, meaning that the fountain will automatically stop if water levels get too low. It’s connected to an app that records when your cat drank from it, how much they drank, and for how long. It also sends alerts of low water levels, when to change the filter, and when to clean. I have no complaints about this fountain, except that I wish the basin were made of stainless steel or glass to fight against bacteria.
★ Alternative: The Dockstream Cordless Fountain for $70 is essentially the exact same as above, except it isn’t connected to an app, and it’s cordless, so you can conveniently move it around in your house. The bottom of the dock lights up to indicate when charging, when the battery’s low, or when water levels are low. To conserve battery power, the fountain doesn’t run continuously and only begins to run when it senses a cat drinking and turns back off 40 seconds or so after it leaves.
Materials Plastic, stainless steel Filtration type Four layers: nonwoven fabric, activated carbon, ion-exchange resin, high-density sponge Capacity 84 fl oz Connected to an app? Yes Power source USB plug-in -
A Cat Favorite
Photograph: Molly Higgins
This fountain became one of my top choices because my cats were obsessed with it. This automatic fountain can be either cordless or battery-powered, and can last up to 83 days using only battery power. It has a long rectangular design, and the drinking bowl is made of stainless steel, but the reservoir is plastic. Because of the shape of the basin with the chunky battery and reservoir bowl, it’s a little awkward to clean. The app logs every time a pet drinks and compares it over time to determine whether your cat’s drinking habits have changed. The app also keeps track of when the filter needs replacing, and when you last added water. The water flow can be standard flow, intermittent, or battery (where the water flow time and sleeping mode time are fully customizable), or you can pause the water flow altogether and just use the basin reserve. One of the only gripes I have is that the fountain doesn’t monitor or show you how much water is left in the basin; you have to manually check. My pets loved this fountain, so I loved it too, but I wish the app showed water levels and the design made it a bit easier to clean.
Materials Plastic, stainless steel Filtration type high-density filter cotton, sintered activated carbon Capacity 3 L Connected to an app? Yes Power source USB plug-in
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Best Cordless Water Fountain
Photograph: Molly Higgins
Rola
Smart Pet Water Fountain
This automatic fountain is cordless and runs on a rechargeable battery that lasts up to 60 days (although it can stay plugged in too). It has a wireless pump that uses magnetic induction—this pump was one of the easiest and most hassle-free to clean of all I tested. The fountain has a stainless steel top that holds a decent amount of water even when not running, so the water stays accessible. Although I’m wary of plastic because of its propensity to harbor bacteria, the stainless steel reservoir helps keep germs at bay and the clear plastic easily shows how full the tank is without having to check the app. The app gives reminders of when the water’s low, the fountain needs cleaning, or the filter needs replacing, plus it automatically stops dispensing water and sends you a reminder to refill via app. It also logs the number of times your pet drank and for how long, monitoring hydration patterns over time and comparing the stats to average time used. Pretty much the only gripe I have with it is that it wouldn’t stay on Continuous stream mode, even when plugged in, instead automatically switching to the Sensing stream.
Materials Plastic, stainless steel Filtration type Three layers; sponge near motor Capacity 2 L Connected to an app? Yes Power source USB plug-in and built-in rechargeable battery -
Best Plastic Cordless Water Fountain
Photograph: Molly Higgins
Homerunpet
Wireless Pet Fountain
Very similar to our other cordless pick above, Rola Smart Pet Water Fountain, this fountain can be used as a traditional fountain plugged in on its base, or can be detached and moved around the house with 30 days of battery life. I don’t love that this fountain is all plastic, but it’s easy to see water levels from the outside, the top and filter layers are super easy to remove, clean, and replace, and the wireless (basically silent) pump makes it a whole lot easier to clean. Plastic doesn’t keep the water as cold or clean as stainless steel, so you’ll have to clean it a lot more often. The fountain only begins bubbling when a cat (or human) approaches to save battery power, and there’s no option to control the flow (and no connected app). I like the wireless pump, option to have it unplugged, and how portable and easy to clean this fountain is—but after testing nearly 20 fountains, I’m really over plastic at this point.
Materials ABS plastic Filtration type Activated coconut carbon, cotton mesh Capacity 2 L Connected to an app? No Power source USB plug-in and battery use when unplugged
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Best Fountain for Monitoring Pets’ Health
Photograph: Molly Higgins
Petlibro
Dockstream RFID Smart Fountain
Like the Petlibro One RFID Smart Feeder that I reviewed in the Best Automatic Cat Feeders, the RFID Smart Fountain uses a collar tag to monitor which cat is using the device and for how long, so you can compare and track health data. The Petlibro app alerts you when your pet’s consumption is down or up, and you can set hydration goals, which the app will let you know have been met or not. This fountain is nearly identical in design to Petlibro’s Dockstream Fountain, but has a small hood to better track each pet. Each pet wears a collar tag so that the fountain knows which cat is using it and when to track data and goals. This fountain would be especially useful for pet parents of elderly male cats or those who have had health issues or UTIs to more easily monitor and track changes, and set drinking goals.
Materials Plastic, stainless steel Filtration type 4 layers: non-woven fabric, activated carbon, ion-exchange resin, high-density sponge. Capacity 3 L Connected to an app? Yes Power source USB plug-in -
Best Glass Fountain
We Reviews team testers are big fans of stainless steel pet fountains due to steel’s being less likely to foster bacteria, mold, and other yucky stuff, but I have a new favorite pet fountain material—glass. This fountain from Brook is simply constructed yet looks like a sculptural art piece, anchored by a heavy, 10.25-inch straight-sided, flat-bottomed glass bowl. A suction-cup-bottomed pump can go wherever in the bowl your cats like to drink (front, back, side), and pushes water up through a glass tube to cascade over a clear glass bell. There are two different sizes of flow reducers to keep the burbling at a lower level (highly recommended, as my two cats were terrified to drink out of it without the lowest-flow reducer), and a blue LED light adds visual interest.
I was worried the open design of the 90-ounce bowl would act as a reservoir for old bits of food, fur, and other items that fall in, but the sides are tall enough that the water stays clear. I also like that, in the event the power goes out, cats will still have access to the water. The pump is also totally silent. The only downside is that it does require a pretty large footprint, but this also makes it ideal for households with both dogs and cats. I only had to clean it about once a week, whereas the previous plastic fountain I was testing needed to be cleaned and have its filter replaced multiple times a week. —Kat Merck
Materials Glass Filtration type Particle filter and activated carbon Capacity 2.7 L Connected to an app? No Power source USB plug-in
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A Fountain With UV Filtration
Photograph: Molly Higgins
Like many other styles we tested, this circular automatic fountain connects to power via USB, holds 1.35 liters of water, and connects to an app to monitor water levels and remind you when it’s time to fill or change the filter. The top part also has a small reservoir that keeps 60 milliliters of water in the tray at all times, ensuring your kitty always has access to water. The circular filter is made of a high-density-fiber cotton, with coconut-shell activated carbon and ion-exchange resin (replacements are three for $20); the pump also has a foam filter and UV light to further sterilize water by killing potential harmful bacteria. When I went out of town, the fountain disconnected itself from the app, had trouble adjusting to the time change, and didn’t send me a notification that water levels were low. When I got back home, the machine had stopped the water flow. Luckily, the tray still had water, but I wish there was a way to monitor the water levels from the app, and stopping when I needed it most concerned me.
Materials Plastic and stainless steel Filtration type High-density fiber, coconut-shell activated carbon, ion-exchange resin, foam filter, UV light Capacity 1.35 L Connected to an app? Yes Power source USB plug-in -
Best Stainless Steel Budget Option
Photograph: Molly Higgins
Pawtners
Stainless Steel Cat Water Fountain
This stainless steel, BPA-free fountain bubbles water through a center spigot, and the shallow, square stainless steel top has a small slit where the water recycles, passing through a four-cartridge panel filter before water is stored in the basin below. (The replacement filters and sponges are available in a pack of eight for $17.) The basin has marks on the inside and a circular window to monitor water levels, and the window glows red when the levels are low. I also noticed that the stainless steel tends to keep the water colder than the plastic options, and the pump is nearly silent at 30 decibels. However, it isn’t wireless like most on this list, so be careful not to get wiring wet. I love that the stainless steel helps in keeping the water clean and cool and it’s a steal at around $30—I’ve had no complaints about this fountain except that I wish it had a wireless pump.
Materials Stainless steel Filtration type Four cartridge panel with activated carbon, ion-exchange resin, medical stone, covered in nonwoven fabric Capacity 4 L Connected to an app? No Power source USB plug-in
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A Great All-Stainless Steel Option With Adjustable Spout
Photograph: Molly Higgins
Petlibro
Stainless Steel Fountain
This solid, all-stainless steel fountain is pretty pared down and basic—there’s no connected app, and the pump isn’t wireless. But it is all stainless steel, which keeps water cold and clean, and the spout is easily adjustable to allow control of the flow based on your pet’s preferences. It uses three-layer filtration made of non-woven fabric, activated carbon, and high-density sponge, and has a large 3-liter reservoir. I wish there were a little window to easily see water levels from the outside, and wireless pumps are a lot more convenient. But this is a solid, whisper-quiet stainless steel fountain that has worked reliably. I love the adjustable spout, and my pets seem to prefer it more than some other models I’ve tried.
Materials Stainless steel Filtration type Three-layer filter: non-woven fabric, activated carbon, high-density sponge Capacity 3 L Connected to an app? No Power source USB plug-in -
A Cute Budget Option
Wonder Creature
Cat Fountain
My two cats have cycled through several water fountains over the past few years, but this no-nonsense version has been a stalwart. The inside is lit by a blue LED (bright enough to glow in the dark), and a clear viewing window on the side makes it easy to monitor the water level from afar. I also like the dishwasher-safe metal bowl and the fact you can remove parts of the yellow and white “flower” to create a fountain configuration your cat likes (waterfall, low bubble-up, tall bubble-up). The only major downsides are the fact it requires very frequent cleaning and filter changes due to the plastic body, and that there is no reservoir to hold water in case of power outage or pump malfunction. When I go on vacation I have to swap it out for an old-school gravity dispenser. —Kat Merck
Materials Plastic, stainless steel Filtration type Prefilter sponge; filter with cotton layers, coconut-shell activated carbons, and ion-exchange resins Capacity 2.4 L Connected to an app? No Power source USB plug-in
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Best Whimsical Fountain
Happy & Polly
Gothic Cat Drinking Fountain
If you prefer gothic decor to neutral blandness, this ghostly ceramic cat fountain from Happy & Polly may tempt you to bite. The water bubbles up out of the top of the ghost and pools on the ceramic top. It’s fairly quiet at around 35 decibels, but it gets loud when the water is running low, and I worry about the motor burning out, as the 1.5-liter capacity can run dry fast. While the ceramic finish is easy to clean, it is fiddly to take apart. You will want to clean it once a week to prevent it from becoming slimy, and you must change the filter once a month. —Simon Hill
Materials Ceramic Filtration type Filter sponge, volcanic rock, medical stone, tao carbon ball Capacity 1.5 L Connected to an app? No Power source USB plug-in -
A Fountain With a Large Reservoir
Oneisall
Stainless Steel Pet Fountain
This drinking fountain is about as simple as they come. As it’s designed for cats or small dogs, it has a large bowl, but some cats will prefer that. I love the mostly stainless steel construction, as it’s easy to keep clean and less prone to dirt and bacteria buildup. You can even stick parts into the dishwasher to clean. This fountain can also hold up to 7 liters of water, so you don’t have to refill as often. It’s fairly quiet at around 35 decibels, but it gets louder when the water is running low (a red light warns you when it needs a refill). You should clean once a week and rinse the filter. The filter packs are relatively affordable at $15 for a pack of eight, and you need to swap them once a month. —Simon Hill
Materials Stainless steel Filtration type Nonwoven fabric, ion-exchange resin, activated carbon, prefilter sponge Capacity 7 L Connected to an app? No Power source USB plug-in
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Best Fountain for Small Dogs
Photograph: Molly Higgins
Whisker City
Free Fall Cat Fountain
This Whisker City Free Fall Cat Fountain has a large 150-fluid-ounce bowl and a waterfall design. Like others on this list, the simple pump pushes the water back into the basin as it flows from a small curved spout. The water is filtered from the basin to the pump with a replaceable filter that’s made of activated carbon and cotton with a second mesh covering in front (filters are eight for $16). Although the basin has a small splash pad to help offset the waterfall noise, this was one of the loudest fountains I tested. The evaporation from the waterfall-like system also caused me to refill it every other day. Because of the structure of the fountain, my cats had to bend their head at an awkward angle. They tended to avoid drinking from the basin because of that, and their heads got slightly wet from the splatter of the waterfall. The basin is also not angled so crumbs and debris sit at the bottom of the bowl. Although this fountain is marketed for cats, I think it may be better for dogs.
Materials Plastic Filtration type Activated carbon and cotton Capacity 4.43 L Connected to an app? No Power source Electricity plug-in
Others We Tested
Photograph: Molly Higgins
Petkit Eversweet Solo 2 for $50: I love three key features of this fountain: The bowl sits on top of a wireless charging base, so you don’t have to fiddle with cables, it is super easy to clean, and it’s very quiet at around 25 decibels. A flashing light warns you when the water is running low, and you can check when the filter needs to be changed in the app. There’s an optional smart mode that pumps intermittently and a night mode to turn the light off. Pleasingly, all three of our cats drink from this fountain, though that does mean I have to refill it often, as it only holds 2 liters. Sadly, the filters are very expensive at $20 for five. —Simon Hill
Photograph: Molly Higgins
PetSnowy SNOW+ Automatic Pet Water Fountain for $60: The SNOW+ automatic fountain from PetSnowy is very simple—it’s a curved square design where water is pumped through a hole in the top and the residual water is cycled through a circular filter system. This fountain is connected to an app that doesn’t do much but act as a reminder to clean it, and it has a countdown to when the filter needs replacing. Unlike others on this list, this fountain doesn’t really have a top reservoir to store water in case of power failure—when turned off, very little water remains in the top area. Refilling it is a little tricky without taking off the top, and water often spilled.
Petkit EverSweet Solo SE for $30: This very simple, straightforward fountain has a square-shaped body, is translucent to easily see water levels from the outside, and has a nearly silent 25-decibel cordless pump to circulate water from the basin to the top level, where 60 milliliters of water is always available for drinking, even in case of power failure. The basin sits on a base and all parts easily detach, making it easier to clean. This fountain doesn’t have multiple modes or an associated app—you’ll have to manually check water levels. I noticed this fountain wasn’t as cold as some of the others, and because of the design of the top, debris often pooled in the dipped areas, which made me clean it often.
Not Recommended
Photograph: Molly Higgins
Cat Mate 3-Level Pet Fountain for $28: This tall automatic Cat Mate fountain sets itself apart with three tiers for cats who like to drink at every level. Cleaning the motor requires disassembly using tools and extended soaking. Because of the long distance the water has to travel, evaporation caused the water to need to be refilled about every other day. Plastic also harbors bacteria, and previous plastic models I’ve owned have had mold issues. The basin is quite large and sits flat. Because of this, some debris would sit in the bottom and front of the large basin rather than moving back to the filter system behind. The plastic material and lack of ergonomic gravity design caused this fountain to be dirtier than others.
