Cats are well known for being both fuzzy and fussy. Some actually refuse to eat unless you watch them do so. Others will ignore their water bowl completely, instead meowing for hours until you turn on the tap for them.

There’s probably good reason to think, from an animal’s perspective anyway, that running water is more likely to be fresh than still water. In any case, they’ve probably never seen you lap up water from a bowl; they think they’re people themselves (if not superior beings), and they have devious ways of getting us to cater to their whims.

As it happens, cats might even drink too little water if the arrangements are not to their liking, increasing their chances of kidney disease. As this is a concern especially with older cats, anything that encourages them to keep themselves well-hydrated can only be a good idea.

The first thing you’ll notice about this pet drinking fountain is that it has an upper as well as a lower bowl. At 11 inches high, the topmost one is at a comfortable height for dogs, even those who have trouble with their joints.

Pet owners with a modern lifestyle will also be happy to know that this particular model is perfect for use with an autofeeder in case you have to leave your creatures alone for a few days. Holding a little over three quarts, the fountain shouldn’t run dry very quickly, while the constant circulation and included carbon filter helps to keep the water fresh.

The submersible pump is pretty quiet, although the faux-granite plastic construction can amplify the noise if you place it on a tile floor. In terms of maintenance, you’ll have to disassemble the pump every few weeks or so and rinse out any hairs that have gotten trapped in there. This is pretty easy to do, and aside from replacing the water and filter periodically, that’s all the effort you need to put in to keep kitty content as far as its water supply is concerned.