4 Reasons Why You Need A Pet Water Fountain
*AD – Gifted
I was kindly sent the PetSafe Drinkwell Pet Fountain. All opinions shared here are my own.
As a dog or cat owner, we always want to give our furry friends the best life possible. However, with so many products on the market, it’s hard to determine which items will actually help us keep our pets happy and healthy. Today, I’d like to focus specifically on the pet water fountain, and why I believe that every pet owner should consider adding one to their home.
There is no downplaying the significance of the pet industry here in Canada and around the globe.
It has been estimated that the pet industry revenue in 2020 will reach approximately $2.5 billion.
Pet ownership has been on the rise, combined with the fact that more pet owners are seeing their pets as a member of the family.
We spare no expense in making sure that they have high-quality food, fun toys and anything else they may need to live a happy, healthy life.
However, with an industry this large, there are inevitably going to be both good and not so good (okay, let’s say it, useless or even dangerous) products available.
Many pet owners are left wondering, which products will bring the benefits they seek for their pets, and which are just scamming them out of their money with no return?
One of the products that I have seen discussed a lot recently in the pet community is the pet water fountain.
Ranging in price from $20 to $200+, the pet owners that I have spoken with are questioning whether they are worth the investment.
So, let’s dig into it…. What is a pet water fountain, why should you consider investing in a fountain for your home and how do you choose the right fountain for your family?
What Is A Pet Water Fountain?
Let me start by saying that I am NOT referring to your dog or cat drinking from a human water fountain like the dog in the first picture (although it was too funny not to include).
A pet water fountain is a product made specifically for your pet, providing them with clean, fresh water throughout the day.
A pet water fountain is a bowl or basin with a continues flow of fresh, filtered water for your pet.
There is a large variety in the fountains available, meaning that that there are options designed for every household.
In addition to the functional differences (size and material) there are also many different styles, allowing you to find a fountain that will match with your home décor.
Factors you should consider when selecting a fountain include:
- Size: There are fountains on the market that range from smaller cat/small dog fountains (2L capacity or less) up to larger multi-pet fountains (5L or larger).
- Material: When considering the material of your ideal fountain, consider cleaning requirements, weight, and durability. The most common materials on the market are plastic, stainless steel and ceramic.
- Noise: Some pet fountains will run quieter than others. If you have a skittish dog or cat, you may want to spend a little more for a higher-quality, quieter pump to avoid discouraging your pet from drinking.
- Filtration: Pet fountains are not all created equally in terms of filtration. If you’re going to invest in a fountain, you want to ensure that you are getting all the benefits.
- Appearance: Finally, when you have narrowed down your options, take a look at which fountain will fit best with the décor of your home.
This is an investment, so you want it to last over time.
Consider purchasing from a trusted brand, like PetSafe, to ensure that you are buying a high-quality product that you can count on!
Related: ‘Easy Homemade Cat Treats with Pumpkin‘
Are Water Fountains Worth It? 4 Benefits for Your Pet
Now that you’ve found the fountain that you believe would best suit your pet(s), you may be wondering if it’s worth the investment.
Are pet fountains really going to improve your pet’s health, or are they just the latest fad?
To help you understand why, let’s discuss some of the benefits associated with the use of a high-quality pet water fountain…
#1 – Fresh, Clean Drinking Water Always Available
If you are purchasing a high-quality fountain, it will include some form of filtration.
This can range from simple filtration that removes larger objects in your pet’s water (fur, larger dirt particles, etc.) to more in-depth filtration systems with charcoal or anti-bacterial filters.
A study conducted at Hartpury University discovered that your pet’s water dish may actually be a breeding ground for dangerous bacteria including MRSA, E. coli and salmonella.
This is a health risk not only for your pet(s) but also for you and your family!
By using a system with a more advanced filtration system, you are effectively eliminating these bacteria, providing a safe source of fresh water for your pet.
The dog water bowl has previously been identified as the third most contaminated item within the household, which suggests that they are capable of disease transmission.
Aisling Carroll, Hartpury University
While the use of a filtered water fountain doesn’t eliminate the need to properly clean and disinfect your pet’s dish regularly, it does help to eliminate bacteria in the period between cleanings.
This, alone, was reason for me to consider adding a fountain to our home!
#2 – Encourage Proper Hydration
You often hear people talking about the need to increase our own water intake for health-related reasons, but what about your pets?
In the wild, cats and dogs get most of the water that they need to stay healthy when they eat their prey.
However, with the rising popularity of dry kibble diets, many pets today are chronically dehydrated, leading to health complications including (but not limited to) urinary tract problems and kidney disease.
The movement of water in a fountain taps into a pet’s natural instincts.
In the wild, stagnant pools or puddles are considered dangerous as they are more likely to make an animal sick. Instead they will seek out a source of running water.
In addition to the water movement, the water itself is more desirable in a pet fountain.
Our pets are more sensitive than the average human to the scents and tastes associated with the chemicals in tap water.
The water in a fountain is more likely to be free of undesirable odours or tastes that may discourage your pet from drinking.
#3 – Your Pet’s Water Stays Cooler
Another factor that may encourage your dog or cat to drink more water is the temperature of the water itself.
With the water continuously circulating, the water is, on average, a couple of degrees cooler than the surrounding air in your home.
This may not seem like much. That being said, leave a bottle of water out on the counter allowing it to warm up and take a sip…
The difference is enough to make the water in your pet’s new fountain more refreshing, encouraging them to want to drink more.
#4 – Less Refilling for You
Most pet fountains hold a significantly higher volume of water than your pet’s standard water dish.
This means that you won’t have to worry about filling your pet’s dish as often.
It also means that your pet is less likely to run out of water if you are away from the home for any length of time. A concern that I know many working pet parents share!
There is also the elimination of the need to replace your pet’s water daily.
With the filtration at work, the water in your pet’s dish will stay fresher, longer, saving you from doing the extra work.
Related: ‘Help! My Dog is Eating Too Fast!‘
PetSafe Drinkwell 7.5 Litre Pet Fountain
After reading all of that information about selecting the right pet water fountain for your home, you may be wondering which fountain we’re using.
When we were first contacted about trying the PetSafe line of fountains, there was a discussion about our pets and our unique needs.
With all of this in mind, we came to an agreement that the PetSafe Drinkwell 7.5 Litre Pet Fountain was the right choice for us!
As it indicates in the name of the product, this is a rather large fountain with the ability to hold 7.5 litres of water.
This is important for us as a multiple pet household.
With 2 larger dogs and 2 cats all drinking from the same water dish, it wouldn’t take long to empty a smaller option.
(Yes, we have tried providing multiple dishes for the different pets, they aren’t interested. Our pets are a ‘pack’ and prefer drinking together)
This fountain uses 2 separate filters to provide our pets with safe, fresh water.
First, the water moves through a larger filter, removing hair and debris (which inevitably finds its way into the bowl with 4 pets running around).
Then, it is put through a charcoal filter to remove any impurities.
We also have full control over of the water coming through the fountain with the flow control.
This allows us to control the speed of the water (for any pets that may be a little more nervous around the fountain) as well as the sound that the moving water creates.
Finally, the large capacity dish at the bottom is ideal for multiple pets, as it is open on 3 sides, allowing our pets to access the water at the same time.
The larger basin also works to control splashing.
In the time that we have been using it, we haven’t seen any splashing outside of the dish.
I wish the same could be said for the mess that Indiana creates when he’s drinking…
If you are looking for a high-quality pet water fountain, I highly recommend checking out the PetSafe line of products!
Have you ever used a pet water fountain in your house? If so, what factors contributed to selecting the best fountain for your pet(s)?
That is really good information. Even thought I have seen pet water fountains, I never thought to get one for my dog. Now, I’m rethinking that decision.
In the past, I had always written them off as ‘just a phase’ but after learning about the benefits of using one, I’m sold!
A pet fountain is a great way to keep water clean! I love that it also keeps the water cool for those hot summer days. 🙂
Right? It’s a total win/win!
There are just so many benefits – and the water in fountains never actually seem to get too dirty as they are always moving / often filtered / topped up often.
Exactly – unlike stagnant water dishes where you often see hair and other ‘stuff’ floating in them.
I’ve caught our cat drinking out of the toilet a few times. A fountain would be preferable!
Yes, a fountain would definitely be a better (and cleaner/safer) option lol
Awh this is such a great idea! I’d definitely love to get one of these for my dog!
Mine are loving it! I have seen a noticeable increase in the amount of water that they’re drinking, which is a positive in terms of their health 🙂
I HAVE to get one of these for my fur baby! We’re always dumping and refilling his water bowl, since he always manages to get yucky floaties in it. Such a waste!
Thanks for sharing this! ?
I swear that one of my cats actively drops stuff in their water dish haha! I am SO happy for the filter on our fountain!
I’ve never seen one of these before but they look so good! I often wonder if Hugo drinks enough, he hardly ever needs his bowl topping up and he still uses a puppy bowl (he won’t drink out of anything bigger, little diva). I absolutely love this idea of them having fresh & clean water constantly though x
Sophie
Dehydration is more common among pets than a lot of people realize. I was pretty sure that one of our cats, in particular, wasn’t getting enough water. However, I have noticed that all 4 pets are drinking more since we brought this home. PetSafe has a wide variety of different sizes available, I’m sure that one of their options would be the right size for your little diva.
What a great idea! Weirdly enough, my cat loves water and I think she’d love a water fountain! x
Lucy | http://www.lucymary.co.uk
I’ve seen videos online of cats playing in them. It’s so adorable!
very interesting! I have been considering water fountains for ages but I am still not sure if I like it or not. well you might just helped made my mind about it. I like the accessibility from 3 sides because I have two dogs who will drink it and running water might prove very useful. Also I like the idea of not thinking much if your pets ran out of water while you are away
I was on the fence for quite a while but after considering all the benefits and finding a fountain that fits the needs of our house (larger in size than most, access on 3 sides, etc.), I am totally sold!
I think my cats would love one of these!! xx
It’s a great way to encourage cats to drink more water (dehydration is a common problem in cats) and this company has some great models that are smaller in size specifically for cat households.
I always thought my cat would have liked a fountain, I may have to get one for my dogs.
Our dogs and cats all love this one. It really has helped to encourage them to drink more water, which is SO important for their health!
I’ve never heard of a pet water fountain. That looks so cool! I’ll have to tell my mom about it for our dog!
It has been really well received by all 4 of our pets. I’m impressed by how well everyone is doing with it, considering they all have such different personalities and needs.
I love those fountains and think they are such a brilliant healthy way for the water our pets drink and have said to myself one day when I have a larger apartment am going to get one as at the moment I have no space.
There are some great smaller options that would take up no more room than a standard dog water dish. You should check them out!
I would love to get a pet water fountain for my cat! This is such a cool invention!
The company has some great options that are smaller in size for a cat and fit any home. For example, the Pagoda Pet Fountain is a really pretty statement piece with its clean, white appearance.
This sounds like such a great idea, and so convenient too!
Right? It’s a win/win for everyone – your dog gets fresh, cool, filtered water and you don’t have to do as much work to keep it clean and fresh. What’s not to love?
The problem with my dogs is that no matter how wonderful and fancy water I offer, they always prefer puddles, water in a tarp, or even an old tire. LOL
I have to be careful to keep all that cleaned up around my yard because my girl loves those options as well lol
I am hearing about water fountain for the first time. I will surely keep this in mind once I plan to get pets.
Very nice information!
Happy new week!
Rampdiary
Beautyandfashionfreaks
They have SO many benefits for our pets, and we all want our pets to be healthy!
I know my cats could benefit from one of these massively! They sound so much more hygienic than a regular bowl, thankyou for sharing x
They really are! There are some great options too, especially if a smaller one works for you – something for any style or decor!
I can certainly see how something like this could be useful, especially if it helps keep the water fresh for your pets to drink from. I’ve often wondered how hygienic a dog’s drinking bowl and water would would be
It’s a little shocking to see just how unhygienic their dishes are, and I’m sure that many homes aren’t cleaning them nearly often enough. Not that they are purposely putting their pets at risk… They just don’t know better.
I was actually considering one of these a little while ago but TBH as all our cats are outdoor cats they tend to prefer drinking from our ponds (or puddles) so I think it probably wouldn’t work for us. But back when they were indoor cats something like this would have been amazing! 🙂
Our cats are indoors (except when they are out on-leash with us) but I think the fountain gives them that feeling of being outdoors. It’s like a mini waterfall right in the safety of their house lol
Britt, great information! My sister just got a dog, and I think this would be great for her new puppy. I like how the water is always being filtered, and not just sitting for long periods of time. I wish I would have thought of purchasing something like this when we had our pug. But I do love this idea of a pet water fountain. Thank you so much for sharing this information.
It’s amazing to see how companies are able to innovate and come up with new products all the time, isn’t it? I’m constantly coming across items that I wish I had for dogs in the past!
Interesting! Maybe this would be a good option for my pup. She is extremely active and we live in a very warm and muggy climate so she drinks tons of water. I fill her bowl so many times a day! She also gets dirt and grass in her bowl from playing outside, so I’m always dumping it out and cleaning it too. Sounds like this could be pretty handy!
It sounds like a GREAT fit for you guys. Even just not having to worry about the dirt and grass would be a big win!
This seems like a very convenient accessory for pets and pet owners. Thanks for sharing this. I wonder if the novelty and convenience translates to the pet for a while as well or if the pet just forgets about it after a while.
I’m not sure about the feeling of novelty, but I’m sure that they notice the cooler water and the change in taste with it being fresher. I had a small fountain in the past with my previous cat. When it broke and we had to offer her a bowl for a bit before replacing it, she had ZERO interest in it. I can already see at least one of my current cats having the same response now.
Such a thoughtfully made product. Love this innovation. A water fountain is just the ideal water source that a pup or dog needs.
It is a great innovation in terms of pet care. If we can offer our pets clean, fresh, cool water simply by changing the way we offer it to them, why not go for it?
My cat is a spoiled orange turd who has had a water fountain for his entire life, and nothing else will do. I thought my cat would kill me when his last one died and we had to give him a soup bowl of water until the new one arrived. He had a meltdown last night when my husband unplugged it so I could clean it and change the filter. We both spent some quality time laughing at him sitting on the cord, not allowing my husband to pick it up and staring at us. Like, he’s staring at us and waiting for us to do the right thing. But the standards of what the right thing is differ between us and the cat. My favorite aspect of the fountains is the temperature difference because the water is constantly moving. That was one of the initial reasons we bought it when my cat was a baby. In the summer he would have colder water and encourage him to drink more.
I have a feeling that my one cat is going to reach that point, she’s really starting to love on the fountain. Jinx will hop up on the coffee table to help herself to whatever liquids we are currently drinking, but not Pippen. She’s selective and she’s quickly getting used to having her cool, filtered water lol