Do Vets Recommend Water Fountains for Cats?

Why Cats Need to Get Enough Water

Veterinarians recommend cat water fountains for very good reasons. Cats crave flowing water because in the wild (where cats still live in the wild), only flowing water is safe. Still water is often stagnant, full of bacteria, and can be deadly. Cats instinctively realize this. That’s why many cats look for dripping faucets or want to turn on the tap, or stir the water with their paws, or push the water bowl, or drink from the toilet, where there is often a slight flow of water. They need to see the water flowing to want to drink enough water. If cats don’t drink enough, they are at risk for a variety of serious diseases.

While cats can get plenty of water from a wet or raw food diet, nothing ensures adequate water intake better than a cat water fountain. Most cats are attracted to the sound and sight of flowing water, and almost all will drink from a water fountain if given the opportunity. And water intake is important for more than just hydration.

Most people don’t think of water as a nutrient, but without enough water, any nutrients a cat takes in won’t get to where they need to be, so in a very real sense, a cat’s water intake is the basis of all their nutrition. Water also transports oxygen through the blood, into cells, moisturizes the lungs, regulates body temperature, and helps excrete metabolic waste through the kidneys and gastrointestinal tract. When a cat drinks enough water, their skin becomes elastic and their fur becomes shiny. This is a sign of good health.

Cats love running water

Some cats seem to show a reduction in thirst, which may be due to the desert environment they come from from an evolutionary perspective, but more often it is because the water source is unattractive (i.e. stagnant water in a bowl). If fed wet food, a cat’s need for water will be greatly reduced, but not completely eliminated, and it is still recommended to have an attractive water source to ensure that the cat is drinking enough water. If dry food is the main diet of the cat, then a cat water fountain is even more essential.

To learn about the actual physical illnesses that can result from not drinking enough water, and why veterinarians recommend using a water fountain to prevent them, read this:
Cats are susceptible to several kidney and urinary tract diseases that are all related to not drinking enough water. One of the more serious diseases that cats and other pets suffer from is urethral obstruction. Many cats are susceptible to blockages in their urethra (the tube that carries urine away from the bladder), which can lead to very serious illness and often a painful death.

The obstruction is a thick, mushy substance called a urethral plug or matrix, but why and how some cats develop this substance is not known. Diet is thought to be a factor, and stress may also be a factor, but the known way to prevent the disease is to increase water intake. This is also part of the treatment.

If there is not enough water, or an attractive water source, cats may not drink enough water. This can lead to urine that is too concentrated, and matrix is often formed in this state. Adequate water intake (i.e. a water source that cats like and from which they will drink enough water) can prevent this from happening. This is the main purpose of a cat water fountain.