Have you ever noticed when you’re running a tap your cat comes over and tries to drink the water or play with it? It does seem a bit bizarre when you think about it as you would think cats would stay clear of water, as they don’t like getting wet. So why do cats like running water? 

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You can lead a cat to water, but you can’t make them drink

For many conditions that cats suffer from, increasing their water intake is important. This includes cystitis, feline lower urinary tract disorder, and kidney issues such as chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, cats are desert animals. They are evolved to live on a relatively low water intake. As such, it can be hard to persuade them to drink as much as we know that they need. 

This can lead to chronic dehydration, and dehydration alone can worsen bladder problems, and kidney failure. Moreover, a number of other medical conditions can be worsened by inadequate water consumption. And yet while putting out water bowls may not be enough for many cats, turning on the tap often brings a cat running. 

A cat’s instinct

So why are cats drawn to running water? Some may drink the water whilst others may find it a game and play with it. Cats are drawn to movement, and the movement of water running does seem to draw them in. It is a cat’s instinct to chase things that are moving, so perhaps water running is fun. Running, fresh water is also easy for a cat to hear so they know where to find it. Part of a cat’s instinct is to seek fresh water, rather than still, for their own safety. Cats in the wild will seek fresh water as there is less chance of harbouring diseases. 

Likewise, it’s a cat’s instinct to remain hidden – from prey or from bigger predators. It might be that running water helps hide their own soft footfalls, helping them to feel safer. Although our cats are domesticated, they still have some of those wild instincts. 

Why use a water fountain?

Every cat is different and will have their own preference in what they want to drink from. Some cats will prefer to drink from glass bowls, ceramic bowls or even plastic ones. Whilst other cats may prefer to not drink water that has been left in a bowl and prefer the fresh flowing water. 

Have you noticed your cat drinking from the bowl? Do they seem to drink enough from it? Do they try to drink from the tap? If your cat seems to be not interested in water bowls, but loves trying to drink from a tap, then it might be time to invest in a water fountain. 

Not only would a water fountain provide stimulation for your cat, but it may encourage them to drink more which will benefit their health. Cats can be quite prone to urinary blockages, especially in males. Providing fresh running water can help prevent these as they can encourage more drinking. 

What to look for in a water fountain 

There are so many different water fountains out there. All with the same objective but different designs. 

So, what makes a good water fountain? 

The idea of a water fountain is to provide our feline friends with fresh flowing water so we need a fountain that will keep the water fresh. Some fountains have built in filters to remove any odour, dirt and bacteria. This is important to cats who are notoriously fastidious about food and drink.

What material do we want it to be made from? 

Some cats will drink from plastic, ceramic or stainless steel bowls whilst others don’t mind what the material is. So we need to bear that in mind when looking. Think what your cat drinks best from now, and start with that.

Is the material easy to clean too? 

Some fountains hold more water then others, so do we need something that supplies the same water for days or do we want something small that will last a day or two? As the fountains are running 24 hours a day it is important to find something that is quiet. Not only for us but also for our feline friends. We don’t want anything that will be making a constant strange noise and scare them off. 

Let’s have a look at some different examples of fountains

Cat Water Fountain from GIOTOHUN

This water fountain is one the best sellers. It has a 2Ltr capacity which allows for up to 6 days’ supply of fresh water. It has inbuilt carbon filters that regulates the water to remove any impurities, odour and keep the water soft. Also, it lights up so you can see how much water is in there. The water flows out of a tap, looks a bit like a kitchen tap so if your cat enjoys playing with the kitchen tap then this may be ideal. It’s worth noting that it is plastic. 

Catit Original Flower Fountain

The design of this fountain is a little different. The water comes out the top of the flower. Making it look a little more playful. This product has good reviews. Nice and quiet, easy to clean. Contains a filter and will hold 3 litres of water. It is also plastic, so perhaps less suitable for cats with a strong preference for ceramic or metal bowls. 

MIXC Cat Water Fountain

This water fountain is made from stainless steel. Ideal for cats who prefer this type of material. It can hold 3.2ltrs of water. Has a filtration system. Also has a double water spout so ideal for a multiple cat household – although you will need to be very careful that no one cat can monopolise the fountain. In an ideal world, you would buy one fountain per cat plus one, but that isn’t necessarily practical. If you are in a multi-cat situation, though, this might be the least bad option, especially if it can be placed in a “neutral” zone where all the cats’ territories overlap. 

PetSafe Streamside Ceramic Pet Fountain

This water fountain is a ceramic one. Ideal for cats that prefer to use this material. This one only holds 1.8 litres of water so is a little smaller. With the fountain being in the middle of the bowl and the water collecting at the bottom it allows your cat to drink from different angles. Contains a water filter and the reviews say it is quiet. Perhaps best for nervous or anxious cats, or those who are triggered by unusual noise.

Cat Mate Pet Water Fountain

This water fountain has three angles that cats can drink from. A top tray for cats that don’t want to crouch down, a running stream of water for playful cats and a lower wider tray for cats that want more room for their whiskers. This one also has a filter and holds 2 litres of water. 

Conclusion

Water fountains are definitely ideal for stimulation and health purposes. There are so many different products out there. I’ve tried to find different ones that would suit various different cats. When trying your cat with a fountain do give them time to get used to it.