Automatic Pet Water Fountain — 2L Stainless Steel

Cats are famously bad at drinking. Still water in a bowl gets ignored; moving water gets investigated. This fountain keeps 2 litres circulating and filtered, so there is always fresh water on offer without you thinking about it.

The bowl is 304 stainless steel rather than plastic. Plastic fountains build up a slick film and hold onto smells, and a fussy cat notices that long before you do. The filter catches fur, grit and bits of food before the water goes round again, and the whole thing — pump, filter housing, bowl — comes apart by hand for cleaning. No tools.

The pump is quiet. That matters more than the spec sheet makes it sound, because this is going to live in a room you sit in.

Which version

• Standard — runs continuously. The simple choice.
• Motion-sensing — starts when your pet comes near and stops when they go. Quieter over a day, and uses less power.
• + spare filters — either version, bundled with a replacement filter set. Filters want changing every 2–4 weeks, so you will need them.

Which plug
Pick the plug that matches your country: UK three-pin Type G, EU two-pin Type C/F, or US two-pin Type A/B. It should already be set from where you are browsing, but check it before you order — the plug cannot be swapped once the order is placed.

Size
Roughly 17 × 18 × 13.5 cm, holding 2 litres. About the footprint of a mug and coaster, and a little taller than a wine bottle is wide.

In the box
Fountain unit, pump, filter element, filter housing, nozzle, a mains adapter in the plug type you selected, and two filter pads. The bundled versions add a further filter set.

Worth knowing
Some cats take a week to accept a fountain, and a few never do. Leave the old bowl out alongside it for the first few days rather than swapping cold. It also needs a socket, so plan where it goes before it arrives.