Does Your Cat Prefer Flowing Water? Here's What the Experts Say
If your cat comes running whenever a faucet starts flowing, that’s not a fluke. Many cats prefer to drink moving water versus standing water, which can make hydration a challenge in homes with traditional water bowls.
Continuous-run water fountains help encourage proper hydration amongst cats, but that’s just one reason more pet owners are making the switch.
There are several key innovations built into the BISSELL® HydrateWell™ cat fountain that improve the experience for cats and cat owners, from filtration and easy-to-clean parts to low noise levels and built-in slime control.
Why do cats drink more from a fountain?
"Cats are naturally drawn to moving water, and hydration plays a critical role in preventing kidney and urinary issues," says Dr. Danielle Bernal, DVM, BISSELL Pet Care Advisory Board Member. "A water fountain that continuously circulates and filters water encourages more consistent drinking while giving pet parents confidence in water quality."
Cats that experience even low levels of chronic dehydration may eventually experience urinary tract issues or even kidney disease, making this a problem worthy of attention.
What makes the BISSELL® HydrateWell™ cat fountain different?
When BISSELL® decided to create products that support general pet care, a smarter, more pet- and people-friendly water fountain was a clear area of opportunity, according to Adam Brown, BISSELL Engineering Director.
There are already many other fountains on the market, but the reviews quickly identify what each is missing, from hard-to-clean parts to a loud motor or regular buildup of grime and slime.
The BISSELL engineering team – assisted by the BISSELL Pet Care Advisory Board – designed the BISSELL® HydrateWell™ cat fountain by considering animal behavior, consumer pain points, and overall pet health.
Does your cat prefer flowing water? Here's what the experts say
"For today's pet parents, even something as simple as a water bowl is becoming smarter," says Dr. Bernal. "When it actively supports hydration through filtration and movement, it turns a daily routine into a powerful tool for long-term health."
Multi-layer filtration for cleaner water
Moving water is novel for pets, but the movement serves another purpose: running the water through the fountain’s filtration system.
The HydrateWell™ cat fountain features a five-layer filtration system that continuously circulates water through filtration media, removing dropped in kibble bits as well as microscopic contaminants to help keep water fresh between refills and cleanings.
“Water quality is definitely a top attention area for the HydrateWell™ cat fountain,” says Adam. “I've been a lifelong pet owner myself, and grew up with dogs and cats, and I have a very visceral memory of those years of filling up water dishes for both dogs and cats.”
In addition to filtering out unwanted matter, the BISSELL® water fountain goes one step further by adding SlimeShield™ Antimicrobial Technology to the bowl, spout, tray, and all of the other components that touch water to prevent gross, slimy buildup in the bowl. The fountain holds 2.7 liters of water, which it keeps fresh and refill-free for up to 14 days.
A cat fountain you can actually clean
The antimicrobial treated water reservoir helps solve one common owner complaint about pet water fountains: that they're difficult to clean. But regular maintenance and cleaning is necessary even for fountains with this safeguard.
The complicating factor? A lot of cleaning is needed inside the machine, but some models have narrow internal channels that are impossible to access. Leaving them uncleaned can compromise the water your cat is drinking.
"Over time, sealed pump designs can grow biofilm that affects the water quality," says Adam. "For the CleanWell fountain, we chose a pump and impeller design that lets you get in, disassemble it, and actually clean it." The pump is wireless and has fewer parts than many other models, so it’s easier to clean and maintain.
This "clean and done" design philosophy stems from BISSELL floor care product research and development. The phrase has long inspired the creation of products that are easy to use and easy to maintain, according to Adam, which is now a driver to the company’s new pet products.
“A lot of people want a fountain that provides water to their cats, and all they have to do is fill it up,” says Adam. “That minimum amount of work is all the consumer really wants to do, so we try to get as close as we can to that while still providing very good water quality.”
Ultra-quiet operation – with a customizable flow
Noise is a common turnoff for cats, including in water fountains. The HydrateWell™ automatic cat fountain's motor is engineered to run at an exceptionally low volume – quiet enough, at under 30 decibels, that you may not hear it, even if you’re standing nearby.
The actual “splash” of the water running through the fountain is another sound that some cats may not like. The gurgling spout of the HydrateWell™ fountain is removable, so you can customize the sensorial experience.
“Some cats like bubbling water more and others want the flow rate to be smooth,” says Adam. With this fountain you can test delivering water with and without the spout to see which your cat prefers.
A related safety note: the fountain is powered by a cord that plugs into a standard wall outlet. If the electricity ever goes out, some water remains in the reservoir at the top of the machine so your cat will continue to have access.
Built with expert guidance, from engineering to pet behavior
The two products launching the BISSELL line of pet supplies – the water fountain and the CleanWell™ Self-Cleaning Litter Box – are both BISSELL® Pet Proven® certified. This means the fountain and litter box, like the Pet Proven® cleaning machines that came before, meet rigorous performance standards based on real-world testing in engineering labs and pet homes.
"The spirit of Pet Proven is making sure we understand what's expected by pet parents," says Adam. "We do the research, we benchmark against competitors, and we want confidence that we've delivered on what pet parents actually want."
Getting to this level of performance took engineering expertise, as well as some finessing from the cat experts on the team, including engineers who own cats as well as members of the BISSELL Pet Care Advisory Board. Because it wasn’t enough for the pet parents to like the fountain – the cats needed to also.
"For BISSELL getting into pet products, the advisory board was a great way to learn quickly and to bounce ideas around," says Adam. "We absolutely leveraged them on a regular basis for decisions and advice and in the process learned a lot about the broad spectrum of cat behavior."
The bottom line: is the BISSELL® HydrateWell™ cat fountain worth it?
If you're looking for a cat water fountain that works with your cat's natural instincts and prioritizes clean water, easy maintenance, and quiet operation, the HydrateWell™ cat fountain was designed with exactly those concerns in mind. Its multi-layer filtration, cleanable pump design, and removable spout make it a step up from a traditional bowl and a standout in a sea of competing fountains. Shop the BISSELL® HydrateWell™ automatic cat fountain.