Let’s face it, a lot of cats are quirky about their drinking habits, with most opting for a dripping faucet over a dedicated water bowl any day. It’s not that they’re weird, they just prefer it! There are lots of reasons for it too, not only is running water fresher and cleaner, but it’s also tastier and all-around more appealing to the senses!
With that said, if your cat’s struggling to get enough H2O, it may be worth ditching the water bowl altogether and replacing it with a water fountain instead.
For those that are worried about leaving a corded electric-powered fountain running all day and all night (or are concerned about power outages and limitations surrounding portability), there are battery-operated options available.
Check out our top picks for battery-operated water fountain options for cats below!
Photo by ©phant via Canva.com
Battery-Operated Water Fountain Options for Cats
The following water fountain options from PetMate and Dog H20 are 100% battery-operated and cord-free,
PETMATE Fresh Flow Rain Battery Fountain for Cats
Image via Petmate
Key features:
- 100% battery-operated
- No cords or outlets required
- 75 fl. ounce capacity
- Filter included
Drawbacks:
- Batteries not included (4 D-cell batteries required)
- Regular cleaning essential
- No constant flow (flows for 10 mins, sleeps for 20 minutes, then repeats)
DOG H2O Cordless Battery Operated Pet Water Fountain
Image via Dog H20
Key features:
- 100% battery-powered
- No cords or outlets required
- Large drinking area suits cats and dogs
- 200 fl. ounce capacity
- Bonus dental care tablets included
Drawbacks:
- Batteries not included (4 D-cell batteries required)
- No constant flow (programmed timer regularly filters and aerates water for 2 minutes every 90 or 45 mins)
Dual-Power Water Fountains (incl. Battery)
The following unit from PetKit is unique in that it includes emergency battery backup built-in. It’s also USB-powered, which means you can run it via a wall outlet using an adaptor (sold separately) or even plug it into an external battery pack like a power bank to make it portable.
PETKIT Stainless Steel Pet Water Fountain
Image via Petkit
Key features:
- USB powered with built-in backup battery functionality (allows a 7-day independent power supply in case of outage)
- Can also connect to a USB power bank (instead of a wall outlet) if desired
- Ultra-quiet, less than 30dB
- Automatic smart pump shut off when the storage level is too low
- Triple filtration system
- 46 fl. ounce capacity
Drawbacks:
- Corded
- Batteries not included
- Regular cleaning essential
- Wall adaptor sold separately
USB Powered Water Fountains (compatible with USB power bank/external battery pack)
Like the PetKit fountain featured above, the following 4 water fountains run via USB power. This means they can be plugged into an outlet via an adaptor OR they can run via a USB connection, like an external battery pack power bank for example. This makes them 100% portable and independent of your mains power supply.
iPETTIE Kamino LED Light Pet Water Fountain
Image via iPettie
Key features:
- The USB-powered pump can be safely connected to a portable power bank (eliminating the need for an electrical outlet)
- You can also use outlet power via an adapter if desired
- Dual filtration system
- LED light feature
- 101 fl. ounce capacity
- 3 colors to choose from
Drawbacks:
- Power banks sold separately
- If the power supply is interrupted, then so is the water supply
- Corded
ELSPET Cat Water Fountain
Image via Elspet
Key features:
- The USB-powered fountain can be safely connected to a portable power bank (eliminating the need for an electrical outlet)
- You can also use outlet power via an adapter (included) if desired
- Features ‘Waterfall’ and ‘gentle fountain’ stream modes
- 84 fl. ounce capacity
- Ultra-quiet, less than 40dB
- 2 color options, + 1 LED light option
Drawbacks:
- Power banks sold separately
- Regular cleaning essential
- Corded
iPETTIE Cat Water Fountain with LED Light
Image via iPettie
Key features:
- The USB-powered pump can be safely connected to a portable power bank (eliminating the need for an electrical outlet)
- You can also use outlet power via an adapter (included) if desired
- Ultra-quiet, less than 30 dB
- 85 fl. ounce capacity
- LED light feature
- 3 transparent colors available
Drawbacks:
- Power banks sold separately
- Regular cleaning essential
- Corded
PIONEER PET Swan Pet Drinking Fountain
Image via Pioneer Pet
Key features:
- USB interface pump can be plugged into a portable USB power bank to eliminate the need for an electrical outlet (or plugged into an outlet via the adaptor provided if desired)
- Adjustable flow switch
- Replaceable charcoal filter provided
- 80 fl. ounce capacity
Drawbacks:
- Power banks sold separately
- Regular cleaning/maintenance required
- Filters should be changed 1-2 times per month depending on the number of pets using the fountain
- Corded
USB Power Banks
Power banks like the ones pictured below are a great idea if you don’t want to run your USB-powered water fountain via a traditional outlet.
They essentially act as an ‘external battery pack’ for your USB-powered fountain and have a comparable battery life to traditional battery-operated units (approx. 1+ week). They’re also super easy to recharge.
Gravity Water Feeder/Fountain
Finally, whilst it’s not a “true” water fountain in that there is no constant steady flow of water, gravity water feeders are still worth a mention.
With gravity water feeders, as your cat drinks, fresh water flows into the bowl to replenish it – so the water is never stagnant when your cat uses it. Not as enticing as a free-flowing fountain but certainly fresher than a traditional water bowl!
PETSAFE Healthy Pet Gravity Water Station
Image via PetSafe
Key features:
- Gravity style waterer ensures a constant supply of freshwater is always available
- No power required
- 100% cord-free
- Compatible with Healthy Pet Water Filters
- 3 sizes available
Drawbacks:
- Not a ‘true’ water fountain
- Healthy Pet Water Filters sold separately
We hope you enjoyed today’s post about battery-operated water fountain options for cats! For more handy cat product guides and round-ups, be sure to check out our product archives.
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