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Best Pet Water Fountains for Dogs and Cats

With the help of two adorable dogs and a cat, we evaluated four models made of stainless steel, plastic, and ceramic

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Dog drinking from PetSafe water fountain
Our pet evaluators for the fountains included Rocky, a 10-year-old beagle/dachshund mix (shown); Hermione, a 7-year-old tabby cat; and Crash, a 10-year-old Australian cattle dog. 
Photo: Debbie Wolfe

If you’re considering upgrading your pet’s drinking setup, a pet water fountain offers several health benefits over a standard water bowl. According to Dwight Alleyne, DVM, a veterinarian based in Marietta, Ga., “using a water fountain can encourage hydration since water flowing can be more appealing to many pets than standing water. Flowing water often is cleaner with a low risk of growth of bacteria or other bugs that can risk a pet’s health.”

Like people, dogs and cats need to stay hydrated, so a pet water fountain could be a good solution, especially when you are going to be away from home for a longer period of time.

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I evaluated four popular pet water fountains at home with my two dogs and cat to find which ones got them to drink more water, were easiest to clean (some are dishwasher-safe), and required less overall work for me.

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Debbie Wolfe

Debbie Wolfe is a freelance writer, editor, and photographer in Powder Springs, Ga., who specializes in home, garden, and food content. Her work has been published by Forbes, HGTV, Bob Vila, Real Simple, The Spruce, Realtor.com, and more. Get to know her at dbwolfe.com.