The best pet water fountains we tested
The best pet water fountain for cats and dogs will see to your fur babies’ hydration needs even when life gets hectic. Hydration is just as important to pets as it is to humans, so while giving them access to fresh clean water may not be top of mind, especially to new or extremely busy pet parents, it’s vital to their health and overall well-being.
This is especially true if you have a cat in your household. According to Dr. Tiffany Tupler, veterinarian and animal behaviorist at Chewy, “Cats are not natural water drinkers. Part of their lifestyle is to receive water from their food source (the only domesticated species that is a true carnivore). Because free-feeding and dry diets are formulated and balanced for feline health, they make our lives easier as pet parents. It’s why we have to work extra hard as pet owners to ensure our kitties drink the appropriate amount of water intake.”
That’s where pet water fountains come in. Designed to keep water fresh and purified while encouraging your cats or dogs to drink, pet water fountains should be a part of every pet parent’s pet essentials list. So, enlisting the help of my little band of feline hellions, I tested 11 of the most highly reviewed models on the market for a few weeks and found three that exceeded expectations. You can either refill your pets’ water bowls every day or every time the water starts to look gnarly, or you can take some of the work off your plate by getting one of these top picks.
Along with an excellent filtration system and a beautiful wireless pump design, the PetLibro Dockstream RFID can track every one of your pets’ water intake with RFID collars. It’s also surprisingly affordable for what it offers.
Though the brand is not as big as PetLibro, Enabot has some smart pet appliances, like this water fountain that features an efficient sensor, a solid filtration system, a 60-day battery life and a surprisingly good amount of app customization.
This massive water fountain may seem basic compared to the other fountains in our testing pool, but it does the job well. Its faucet spout proved very appealing to cats, while its massive water tray and tank are perfect for bigger pets and multi-pet households.
Don’t be intimidated by the PetLibro Dockstream RFID Smart Fountain’s more advanced features. While a fountain with radio frequency identification (RFID) — a wireless technology that utilizes radio waves for identification and tracking — app support and a wireless pump may seem like overkill, it’s an excellent choice for multi-pet households.
The water fountain comes with two RFID collars — more can be purchased for $10 a piece — that allow the app to monitor and report the amount of water each pet is drinking and how often. And very accurately too, I might add. You can then use that data to help ensure your pets’ well-being. For pet parents with non-collar-wearing cats, the transition to wearing an RFID collar may not be as intrusive or difficult as you think. All my cats detest collars but didn’t mind wearing these.
Another water fountain in my testing pool, the CatLink Pure 2, provides the same multi-pet hydration monitoring feature, but the PetLibro Dockstream RFID Smart Fountain outshines the Catlink in other ways. For one, it has a 3-liter-capacity water tank, which is the sweet spot between not refilling too often and saving space. At 9.6 by 7.9 by 9.1 inches, it’s still relatively compact. For another, it has a stainless steel water tray, which is better than plastic, and delivers a quieter operation at 23 decibels.
Robust, well-made and fitted with a flowing spout, this pet water fountain also exudes elegance with its rounded corners, a beautiful base and a wireless pump design, which makes refilling and cleaning so much easier, even though PetLibro doesn’t specify if the tray and tank are dishwasher-safe. I’ve been through my share of water fountains with wired pumps, so trust me when I say that wireless pumps are an absolute game changer. It makes them easier to set up as well.
When it comes to filtration performance, this pet water fountain proved to be top-notch. Its four-layer filtration does an incredible job of filtering even the smallest food particles — after a week’s use during my testing, the water and water tank remained pristine, with all the cat hair and particles trapped in the filter tray. The only other drinking fountain that outmatched its performance is the cheaper PetLibro Capsule Fountain.
It also utilizes its app support well. Besides providing hydration monitoring, the PetLibro app also delivers app alerts like low water levels and irregularities like the base not detecting the tank.
I wouldn’t call the PetLibro Dockstream RFID Smart Fountain the perfect water fountain. Even though it is worth its $100 price tag, I would have expected other useful features like the option to set it to intermittent or sensing flow, the latter of which the more affordable PetLibro Dockstream Cordless Fountain offers. That would have sweetened the pot even more.
Still, this is the best water fountain for cats and dogs if you have a multi-pet household or want to keep track of your pet’s hydration.
The Enabot Rola Smart Pet Water Fountain is not the cheapest product in my testing pool. That honor belongs to the Wonder Creature Cat Water Fountain, which is $30 cheaper. The elegant-looking PetLibro Capsule Fountain is also a little cheaper at $41. However, out of all the under-$70 models I tested, this delivered the best performance in several categories, making it the better choice, even if you have to spend a little more.
Although the PetLibro Capsule Fountain performed slightly better in filtration during testing, this water fountain’s three-layer filtration system still did great at ensuring that the water stayed clean and fresh. After a week of use, I only found a small amount of the tiniest food particles at the bottom of the water tank.
It’s also superior in features. While the PetLibro uses a plastic water tray and a wired pump, this pet drinking fountain comes with a stainless steel tray and is completely wireless, meaning that it not only has a wireless pump but can fully function without being plugged in, thanks to its built-in battery that can last up to 60 days. That’s such a nice convenience I would gladly pay for. Putting that into perspective, the slightly pricier PetLibro Dockstream Cordless Fountain only promises up to 30 days of battery life.
The Enabot also has two dispensing modes: continuous and sensing. When it’s in sensing mode, it only dispenses water when it senses movement a couple of feet away, which helps conserve battery life. Using the app, you can also customize sensor sensitivity, sleep time and the amount of time it dispenses water when sensing movement. Naturally, the app also provides vital information like a daily hydration report and app alerts.
If you’re sensitive to noise, you’ll also appreciate how quiet this thing is — another area where it does better than the PetLibro Capsule Fountain. There’s also an automatic shutoff when the water level is below the minimum.
My only complaint about this water fountain is that at 6.4 by 8.8 by 6.3 inches, it does take up more space than it should for a fountain with a 2-liter water tank. It’s not ideal, especially since you may have to replenish the water more often. But since it’s easy to refill, clean and replace the filter, thanks to its wireless design, it won’t feel like a massive inconvenience. Plus, it’s got a fun look with its striped design and light honey color.
The Enabot Rola Smart Pet Water Fountain may not be the cheapest water fountain we’ve tested, but at $60, it’s the best value for your money if you’re looking for something affordable.
There aren’t many water fountains for big pets, as most are designed for cats and small dogs, so the Oneisall Dog Water Fountain may be a novelty. After using it for several weeks though, I now wonder why there aren’t more of its kind because it does have its place in the world — or at least, in a multi-pet household or a home with bigger pets.
True, this drinking fountain takes up more space at 12.5 by 12.4 by 4.9 inches, and that may seem like a disadvantage, especially if you have a small apartment. But the wide drinking area also makes it much more comfortable for small dogs and cats to use, and its massive size allows it to have a 7-liter water capacity, which means you don’t have to refill it as often, even if it’s servicing three cats (as my test unit was). During testing, I found plenty of water left in the tank whenever I did my weekly cleaning.
My cats also loved its faucet stream and seemed to prefer it over the bubble spout. And it’s surprisingly quiet, unlike the abnormally loud PetLibro Capsule Fountain and other faucet-style fountains in our product pool.
As the person who cleans and maintains the water fountains in the house, I also appreciate all the other thoughtful details. The whole thing is made of stainless steel, instead of plastic. While that gives it a more industrial look, it also makes it more sanitary for my pets and easier for me to clean. I also appreciated the light indicator beneath the spout that let me know whether there’s enough water in the tank or if it’s running low (the light turns red).
Admittedly, its filtration performance could be better. Tiny bits of dry food and cat hair sometimes ended up in the water and at the bottom of the tank, despite the five-layer filtration system. On the plus side, the water did remain grime- and gunk-free. I once forgot to wash it for two weeks, and to my surprise, the remaining water was still clean when I finally got around to it.
If you are seeking something more technologically advanced, sadly you won’t find it here. The Oneisall Dog Water Fountain is still very basic in terms of features. It doesn’t have app support, a wireless pump, customization options or flow modes. What’s more, there are a couple of small cleaning obstacles to face. You have to pull the wired pump off before cleaning and you will need a more spacious sink if you’re handwashing. The good news is that the big parts are dishwasher-friendly, which makes the task a little easier.
Normally, I would find its $70 price tag too steep considering its basic design and minimal features. But its large-capacity water tank, spacious tray and quiet operation make up for those in a big way. If you only have space for one water fountain to hydrate your two or three cats or need a good option for your big dog, this one is a shoo-in.
How we tested
With the help of my three troublemakers, Isla, Bow and Arrow, I put 11 highly-rated pet water fountains through their paces for at least a week, paying close attention to not just their filtration performance but also specific things like noise levels, app support and features.
For stress testing, I took each fountain and dropped ground dry food and cat hair — of which I have a surplus — into the tank and left it to do its thing for an hour. I then checked the filter and the water tank to see how much of the stuff was filtered out and how much got through.
Since many pet parents use tap water for their pets — remember the rule: if it’s safe for you to drink, it’s safe for your pets as well — I also only used tap water during testing. However, it should be noted that water hardness can impact a water fountain’s performance and longevity. Tap water in my apartment isn’t hard, but if yours is, I recommend filtering it through a Brita filter first.
I evaluated each pet water fountain using the following criteria.
Performance
- Filter performance: The most important thing to check before buying a water fountain is its filtration performance, so I observed how well each model filters dust, hair and other particles. After a week’s use and during my stress tests, I inspected the filters and the bottom of the water tank and noted how clean or dirty the remaining water was.
- Noise: Using my hearing and a decibel meter app on my phone, I determined how quiet or loud the operation was, noting if I could hear the motor and the stream and if it was loud enough to annoy human users.
Capacity and footprint
- Capacity: Bearing in mind their respective water capacities, I filled each water fountain up to the maximum water line and noted how long the water lasted before refilling was required.
- Size: A water fountain’s footprint is important, especially if you require more than one or if you have a tighter space. So I evaluated each model’s size to see if the amount of space it takes up is worth what it offers in functionality and features. I also observed how wide the water tray was and if it provided my kitties enough space to drink comfortably.
Design and build
- Design: I noted the materials each water fountain is made of, whether it’s plastic, stainless steel or ceramic, as well as assessed the aesthetic and overall style.
- Durability: I assessed each fountain’s build quality. Of course, due to time constraints, I didn’t get accurate data on longevity. So I also read online reviews from verified customers to see if there were complaints related to durability. I also made sure to check if the parts were easily replaceable.
Ease of use
- Setup and use: Was the pet fountain easy to set up? Was it easy to refill with water? These were some of the things I took note of during assembly and use.
- Cleaning: Following the manufacturer’s instructions, I went through the steps of cleaning each water fountain, noting how easy and uncomplicated or tricky the process was.
Price
- Value: After completing my tests, I weighed each fountain’s performance on all the metrics against its price tag to determine if it was a good value for pet owners. I also compared each water fountain’s price against the competition.
What to look for in a water fountain for your pet
Don’t just go for the cheap one and be done with it. I know someone who just got the cheapest they could find, and they’re now stuck with a water fountain their cats hate because it tends to collect calcium deposits.
What’s more, water fountains vastly differ in price, design and features. Some are more feature-rich than others, while some are pricier but better in value.
Ease of use and maintenance
According to Tupler, one of the biggest considerations when choosing a water fountain is easy cleaning and maintenance. That’s especially true if you have cats. “Cats are very sensitive to smells. It’s important that you choose a fountain that can be cleaned easily,” she says. They “need to be easy to clean as they should be cleaned once a week. Filter maintenance also needs to be simple.”
Of course, this benefits you as well. You may not have to clean a water fountain as often as regular water bowls, but that time and effort still add up. I prefer wireless pumps over wired ones since you don’t have to deal with cables or take extra care to keep them dry.
For effortless cleaning, you may want to stick with stainless steel or porcelain pet water fountains as well. “(The) type of material used is not as important,” says Tupler, “but you will want something easy to disinfect like porcelain or stainless steel. It doesn’t mean you can’t use plastic, but you will need to do more work to keep it clean.”
Noise level
“Some people enjoy the sound of water, but (others) do not,” says Tupler. “If you have a sound issue, try a soundless water fountain. Yes, they make these. Yes, I own one. And yes, I love it.”
Although the sounds of the pump and the flowing water aren’t likely to bother your pets, they might annoy you, especially if you’re sensitive to sound or live in a small space where you have to hear those noises constantly. If that’s the case, make sure to choose a pet water fountain that’s ultra-quiet.
The good news is most modern water fountains keep the noise level down, with many staying under 30 decibels. However, there are still a few that can be quite loud, so be sure to check the noise level rating before you commit.
Size matters
Size does matter, but not in the way you might think. When choosing a water fountain for your pet, make sure you’re getting something with a spacious enough area in the water tray, especially if a cat is using it. Cat whiskers are sensitive, so you want to make sure their whiskers are not touching the edge of the lid or the splash guard.
You should also check that you have the space to accommodate the water fountain, again especially if there’s a cat in your household. “Make sure it fits in the space that your cat will more than likely use (like a high-up space),” says Tupler. And if you have multiple pets, ensure you have the space for more than one fountain.
Make sure you have the space for appropriate placement
How many water fountains should you have in a multi-pet household? “It is best to make sure that you have at least one fountain for every cat,” says Tupler. However, that’s not necessarily a strict rule to enforce, unlike cat feeders. What’s most important is placement.
According to Tupler, ensure there aren’t barriers that would put off your cats from using the fountain like noise or heavy foot traffic. Dogs may not care as much, but cats like to consume their food and water in a quiet, low-traffic area where they don’t feel vulnerable. It’s also a good idea to keep it away from litter boxes and food bowls.
Other pet water fountains we tested
Fitted with Catlink’s holistic health monitoring system, the Catlink Pure 2 will help you ensure your cat’s well-being. Its filtration system is also very impressive, keeping the water clean even after a week’s use.
The Catlink Pure 2 has all the makings of a great pet water fountain plus a few extras. Its ultrafiltration system, which Catlink claims to filter impurities down to 0.01 microns in size, is impressive. After a week of testing, the water stayed clean with barely any particles at the bottom of the water tank. And it did so while keeping the noise level down, thanks to its quiet operation and gentle stream.
Another notable thing about its filtration system is that the filter only needs to be replaced every three months, making cleaning and maintenance easier thanks to its wireless pump and easy-to-disassemble design. Its parts are all plastic though, including the water tray, so while everything feels robust, you will have to give it a more thorough cleaning. Luckily, its compact design of 7.48 by 7.48 by 9.53 inches means you have less surface area to clean.
Catlink has a holistic health monitoring system that can track all your Catlink appliances and your pets’ usage to track their input and output. It’s not a vet’s exam, but it does come in handy so you can track your pets’ health and get alerted to possible issues. I didn’t get to test this alongside other Catlink products, but the reports on my kitties’ water consumption were helpful.
Apart from continuous flow, this water fountain also offers sensing mode so that you can set it, via the app, to dispense water when it senses a cat nearby. Unfortunately, I did find that its sensor isn’t as impressive as the one on the Enabot Rola Smart Pet Water Fountain or the PetLibro Dockstream Cordless Fountain. I found that your pet has to be directly over the sensor for it to start flowing, which doesn’t help when it comes to enticing pets to drink more water.
This water fountain’s biggest selling point is that can monitor your pets’ water intake, but you’ll also appreciate its elegant yet modern design and customizations.
I truly had high hopes for the PetLibro Dockstream Smart Fountain. After all, while the slightly cheaper PetLibro Dockstream Cordless Fountain has its flaws, it also has some useful features that were elegantly implemented, making it worth the money. I also hoped this pricier model would take all those and repackage them alongside other features.
Sadly, that isn’t the case. Inexplicably, the Dockstream Smart Fountain completely skips the cordless, rechargeable feature and the sensing mode and goes for a wired design that only offers continuous and intermittent flow modes. What it does offer you in exchange for your $80 is app support and hydration tracking, which to me isn’t enough.
And that’s without factoring in that while its filtration performance is good, there’s room for improvement. During testing, smaller food particles still ended up at the bottom of the water tank, despite the four-layer vertical filtration system.
You’re still getting PetLibro’s signature design though, and it’s the best in the industry. And while the tank is made of plastic, the water tray is stainless steel. Throw in the wireless pump and the compact design, and at least you can rest assured that cleaning and daily maintenance are easy.
Compact and well-made, the Petkit EverSweet Solo 2 is another fantastic water feeder that’s easy to use and maintain. It also comes with some smart features that make it worth the price.
I didn’t find the Petkit EverSweet Solo 2 quite as impressive as other fountains. Sure, it’s affordable, and because of its wireless pump and easy-to-remove filter, it’s easy to clean. It also has a window on the water tank so you can quickly assess the water level without opening the app.
Other highlights here include three dispensing modes including Smart Mode, which lets you set the length of time it dispenses water and the length of time it shuts off, as well as a pause function, which comes in handy, and a great filter that lasts up to 60 days. It’s pretty quiet as well, thanks to its bubble spout.
However, there are also several things Petkit could have done better here. While the filtration is good, it’s not the best. Some cat hair managed to slip right through, ending up in the water tank. While the small footprint is nice, especially if you don’t have a lot of space, the 2-liter water capacity does mean you’ll have to fill it up more often. And for some reason, it does not come with a power adapter, just a USB cable.
Another battery-powered option, this wireless water fountain can also last up to 60 days on a full charge and delivers an effective filtration system that keeps the water in the tank pristine.
The Homerunpet Cordless Pet Fountain would have made it higher up the list had it not been for the lack of app support and the lower 2-liter capacity. Those wouldn’t have been such a big deal, but considering its $70 price tag, it’s hard to understand why Homerunpet couldn’t include app support as well, even to make it easier for users to control it. Its one-button control doesn’t help either, as it’s not very intuitive. It took me a while to figure out, for example, that to shut it off, I had to press once then press again and hold for a few seconds.
This pet drinking fountain isn’t without its merits though. It has one of the most impressive filtration systems in my testing pool, even featuring what Homerunpet calls the “hair-flushing” function designed to flush impurities to ensure the drinking area or the water tray is just as clean as the water tank below.
There are other extras as well. It has three flow modes, including an intermittent mode that senses a pet’s presence so it can begin dispensing, and a 7,800mAh battery that can last up to 60 days on a full charge.
So, just like the Catlink Pure 2, this has many of the makings of a great water fountain. Sadly, besides the missing vital features I mentioned above, it has one glaring issue. When set to intermittent mode, it stops dispensing at 15 seconds instead of waiting until my cat is done drinking. That’s a bizarre design choice in my opinion.
My second budget water fountain pick is the PetLibro Capsule Fountain, thanks to its beautiful design, excellent filtration system and BPA-free plastic.
At under $50, the PetLibro Capsule Fountain was a strong contender for the best budget water fountain. It’s got a fantastic four-stage filtration system that’s better than the Enabot Rola Smart Pet Water Fountain — throughout testing and even during my stress test, the water and tank remained pristine, so much so I’m surprised that PetLibro didn’t adopt its filtration design to the Dockstream line. And while the Enabot has a stainless steel water tray, which is preferable to plastic, this one is made of BPA-free plastic so it’s at least healthier for pets.
Given that it’s an inexpensive 2.1-liter water fountain, I was also surprised that, unlike the pricier PetLibro models, it comes with four packs of filters, each lasting two weeks. So it’s saving you even more money. And I do love its translucent water tank, which gives it a more elevated look.
Ultimately though, the Enabot won in features and noise levels. The PetLibro Capsule Fountain still uses a wired pump, though it does a better job of securing the cable so it’s not such a hassle during washing and refilling. It also only offers continuous flow and has no app support.
What’s more, its free-falling stream is pretty loud. So loud that it dominated all other appliances in my one-bedroom apartment during testing; so loud I could hear it over the violence while watching “Deadpool & Wolverine”. I love water sounds, and even I was bothered by the noise. Before tapping buy on this one, make sure you’re comfortable with the constant sound of a continuous stream.
A quiet, feature-rich water fountain, the PetLibro Dockstream Cordless Fountain is one of the best wireless pet fountains on the market. It’s also easy to clean and can last up to 30 days on full charge.
Easy to set up, easy to clean and easy to maintain, there are several reasons to choose the PetLibro Dockstream Cordless Fountain over everything else on the list. Even though it will set you back $70, you’re getting a lot of bang for your buck thanks to its long list of features.
First, it doesn’t just have a wireless pump; it can also run up to 30 days on battery life, meaning you don’t have to keep it plugged in, freeing up precious outlet spots and freeing you from limited placement. It doesn’t have app support — something that some cat parents might also appreciate — but its base has light indicators to clue you in on things like low battery and water levels.
What’s more, it has sensors that detect when your pets are nearby so that when it’s in sensing mode (continuous flow mode is also available), it knows when to start dispensing water from its 2.5-liter water tank. And, unlike the Catlink Pure 2, its sensors proved incredibly good at their job during testing.
Sadly, its sensing mode has a massive flaw — it doesn’t have an intermittent flow function to keep the water tray from drying up. As a result, if it doesn’t get activated regularly, limescale eventually collects in the tray, which was what happened to mine. You can switch to continuous flow, but that cuts battery life considerably. Only get this one if you know your pet will use it regularly.
A back-to-basics option, this affordable stainless steel drinking fountain from Pioneer Pet comes in handy when there’s a power outage as it still gives your pets access to water.
There’s something inherently problematic with the Pioneer Pet Big Max Stainless Steel Drinking Fountain’s design, though it is more of a double-edged sword than an actual flaw that’s been overlooked. This water fountain has an open design, meaning the tank isn’t covered. That’s great for power outages, as it still gives your pets access to water even though the fountain isn’t running.
Unfortunately, with all the battery-powered options on the market, this idea seems outdated. That’s especially true because this open design also exposes the water reserve more to dirt, hair, particles and other contaminants, beating the purpose of filtering it in the first place. Sadly, its design no longer works in this day and age. At $45, you can get better-designed models.
There are a couple of nice features here: You can adjust the rate of flow with a lever, as well as throw the tank and tray in the dishwasher. The fact that it’s made of stainless steel is also a plus. However, that’s where the positives stop.
The tank only has a 2-liter water capacity. The whole thing isn’t easy to set up because of the wired pump. And the pump itself is very loud.
If you want a cheap, wired option with a flower spout, this highly-rated water fountain may be a good option. It comes with a stainless steel tray and three different drinking modes.
For a truly cheap water fountain, consider the Wonder Creature Cat Water Fountain, whose stainless steel tray, great build, 2.4-liter tank and three drinking modes — bubble, flower and flower waterfall — make it a good value. This wired water fountain isn’t as feature-rich as my top budget pick, the slightly more expensive Enabot Rola Smart Pet Water Fountain. Personally, I would likely pick the Enabot for my cats. However, the Wonder Creature is a great option for pet parents with a lower budget.
Keep in mind that you sacrifice some things when you pick this, especially in convenience and performance. Setting up the wired pump is trickier than water fountains with a wireless pump, since you have to thread the cable through a panel in the back. You also have to ensure the cable doesn’t get wet during washing. It’s also not the quietest of the bunch.
In addition, because of the weird placement of its filter that caused gaps, its filtration performance isn’t that great. During testing, lots of particles and cat hair got past the filter and into the water below. This means that if you get this water fountain, you may have to clean it more than once a week.
FAQs
Meet our experts
For this article, we consulted the following experts to gain their professional insights.
- Dr. Tiffany Tupler, a veterinarian and animal behaviorist at Chewy. She works on forensic and cruelty cases as well as practices private consulting with people who have questions on training and behavior modification.
Why trust CNN Underscored
CNN Underscored editors thoroughly test all the products we cover and provide full transparency about how we test them. We have an experienced team of writers and editors who have many years of testing experience and ensure each article is carefully edited and products are properly vetted. We talk to top experts when it makes sense to ensure we are testing each product accurately and speaking about the pros and cons of each item.
The writer of this guide, Michelle Rae Uy, is part of CNN Underscored’s testing team. She has been testing and reviewing consumer products, including pet appliances, for over a decade. As a cat mom to Isla, Bow and Arrow, she has gone through more than her fair share of pet feeders, water fountains, litter boxes and cat trees over the last 11 years. She wrote our best cat feeders guide and is currently testing self-cleaning litter boxes for an upcoming guide.
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