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As seen with the rise of automatic litter boxes, automatic feeders, pet trackers, and now cat water fountains, technology has made it so that we can take care of our pets without having to do as much of the manual labor.
These fancy fountains don't just make our lives easier. They can also help cats stay hydrated and live healthier. Ever wonder why your cat can't resist a dripping faucet but ignores its water bowl? In the wild, cats are drawn to moving water, since stagnant puddles can harbor bacteria. A water fountain plays into this natural instinct, encouraging cats to drink more. These techy fountains are also often connected to an app, which sends reminders and tracks drinking habits.
After prolonged testing, I now look for these three things when shopping for an automatic cat water fountain: a wireless pump for easier cleaning, stainless steel (or glass) construction so it's more hygienic, and a window to monitor water levels (especially if it's not connected to an app). I think the Petkit EverSweet Ultra with AI Camera Pet Water Fountain is the overall best cat water fountain, and the cheaper Oneisall 3.5L Cord-Free Pet Water Fountain is the best choice for most people who are on a budget.
Check out our related pet guides, like the Best Automatic Feeders, Best Automatic Litter Boxes, Best Pet Cameras, Best Pet Trackers, and Best Pet DNA Test Kits.
Updated November 2026: I've added the PetSnowy OilClear AI Series Wireless Weight-Sensing Water Fountain and WOpet Ceramic Pet Water Fountain, and updated prices and links throughout.
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Best Premium Cat Fountain
EverSweet Ultra with AI Camera Pet Water Fountain
This is the ultimate pet water fountain for techy pet parents. It has an AI-enabled camera, a connected app to monitor drinking habits, and deep cleaning modes. Rather than an internal filter that needs frequent replacing, this fountain has a large, 5-liter freshwater tank and a 1.8-liter tank below, where, through an internal mechanism, fresh water flows to the 330-milliliter stainless steel basin and used water drains to the tank below. Using the outside buttons or the app, you can drain the water or run a deep-clean cycle that uses boiling water to sanitize the tray and internal system before refilling the reservoir with fresh water. You can also change flows between continuous, intermittent, and sensor-activated.
You can use the app to view cleaning reminders, monitor water and wastewater levels, communicate via two-way audio, view historical and live camera footage, and monitor pets’ usage. There's an additional Care+ premium subscription, which categorizes videos by cat and gives more detailed insights, but without it, I found it worked just as well, and I could still view the live feed, look back historically at the video feed, communicate, and get some insights into water intake. Maintenance with regular cleaning of this big machine requires more time and effort than some others on the list because of the internal spouts and motor, but I found it well worth it considering all of the other extra features you get with this model.
Best Cat Water Fountain for Most People
Wireless Cat Water Fountain
Oneisall's fountain doesn't have a connected app to track your cat's water intake, but it's an otherwise strong—and relatively inexpensive—contender. It’s made of stainless steel, features a wireless pump for safer and easier cleaning, and includes a cordless, rechargeable battery pack (that lasts up to 60 days), allowing the fountain to be placed anywhere in the house without being tethered to an outlet. The fountain has three water modes—sensor, intermittent, and constant (when plugged in). Plus, it has a convenient window to easily monitor water levels. The only problems are the poorly translated instructions and product information, which made the initial setup a little difficult and unclear.
Best Connected App
Dockstream 2 Smart Cordless Fountain
If you're familiar with the previous model—our former favorite—this one is pretty similar, but holds more water and supports both 2.4-GHz and 5-GHz Wi-Fi (the Dockstream 1 was only compatible with the former). The Dockstream 2 has just about everything I look for in a pet fountain: a connected app, wireless pump, and an easily removable (and easier to clean) detachable basin. From the app, you can monitor your pet's water intake, water levels, and battery life, and set cleaning and filter-replacement reminders. You'll be able to compare water intake daily and over time, making it easier to track if anything is amiss with your cat's health. The only feature I don't love is the plastic basin construction, because it's less hygienic than stainless steel and requires more cleaning.
Best Glass Cat Water Fountain
Glass Pet Fountain
WIRED testers are big fans of stainless steel pet fountains because steel is less likely to foster bacteria, mold, and other yucky stuff than plastic, 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 2.7-liter bowl would act as a reservoir for old bits of food, fur, and other items to 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. Plus, 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 multiple times a week. This fountain has been in use for over a year and a half now in my household, with zero issues. —Kat Merck
Best Ceramic Cat Water Fountain
Ceramic Pet Water Fountain
If you've glanced at this guide, you know about my ongoing war with plastic-construction fountains. So when I was pitched this hygienic ceramic fountain with a wireless pump that can also run cord-free from the rechargeable battery dock, I clicked my heels in joy. And after prolonged testing, I'm still very happy with it. The ceramic keeps the water cold and clean; it can last nearly 30 days on a battery charge for cordless use (it only intermittently flows when not plugged in); it has a wireless pump that makes cleaning easier; and it includes an auto-shutoff feature that stops the pump automatically if the water drops below the minimum level.
I love the option to go cordless or keep it plugged in, and setup and cleaning are easy, since everything sits on top of one another in layers, and the spout screws in to keep it all in place. My only gripe is that there isn't a connected app to monitor drinking habits, water levels, or provide cleaning reminders. I also wish there were a window to easily glance at the water level without having to unscrew the top layers to see it.
Best Cat Water Fountain for Monitoring Pets’ Health
Dockstream RFID Smart Fountain
Like the Petlibro One RFID Smart Feeder that I reviewed in the best automatic cat feeders guide, the RFID Smart Fountain uses collar tags 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. 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. Although many on this list have a connected app, they aren't able to differentiate between pets. With this fountain, you'll get unique insights into each cat's hydration habits.
Although I don't love plastic fountains (the top is stainless steel), this is the only fountain of its kind to track and monitor water consumption this closely for multiple pets, which can help prevent more serious health issues down the line.
A Fountain for Cats Who Like Drinking From the Faucet
Stainless Steel Cat Water Fountain
This small, all-stainless steel fountain from Oneisall has a tall spigot that's great for cats who love drinking out of faucets. It has a simple design with a compartment for the activated carbon filters that snaps shut below the steel top. The top has a reservoir, so water is always available. The fountain has a corded pump, so cleaning isn't as easy, and it's not connected to an app. I like the small window to easily monitor water levels, and cats who love to drink from the sink will love this more hygienic spout design.
Compare Our Top Fountains
More Fountains We Tested
Photograph: Molly HigginsCheerble Pet Fountain Elfin E1+ for $70: I don't love the plastic components of this fountain, but otherwise I have no complaints. Like other models I liked, it has a wireless pump for safer and easier cleaning and a hygienic stainless steel top, and it sits on a charging dock where it can be moved around the house cord-free for up to 30 days. It has intermittent flow that goes off when it senses a cat is near, and the top lights indicate things like filter replacement and battery level. Overall, it was super easy to clean this model because everything sits on one another, and it has few parts and a wireless pump. It didn't stand out enough to make the top picks, but I do recommend it if you're OK with cleaning more frequently because of the plastic design.
Photograph: Molly HigginsBissell HydrateWell Automatic Water Fountain for $26: I tested this fountain and a brand-new automatic litter box (review forthcoming) from cleaning titan Bissell, whose handheld and cordless vacuums have long been favorites of the Reviews team. This fountain had Bissell's signature sleek aesthetic, but there were several design features that reminded me that Bissell is still used to designing cleaning tools. The biggest problem is that it was designed like a vacuum, with the cord wrapped underneath the fountain, making it difficult to unspool, clean, or move without the water spilling or the cord getting wet. The basin was also odd; I felt like it should've twisted into the base to connect, but it sort of haphazardly sat on top. There was also a taller spout addition (not pictured), but I took it off because water kept spraying outside the bowl. I also didn't love the all-plastic design and the fact it needed to be plugged in at all times. It worked well throughout testing, but there are some design flaws (namely the bottom cord spool) that made moving and refilling needlessly difficult.