Cats are said to prefer running water. But in one study, they drank almost the same amount from a regular bowl as from a fountain.

Have you ever bought a cat water fountain thinking, “Maybe this will finally get my cat to drink more”? A study put that idea to the test using three types of water bowls. On average, the cats drank about the same amount from all three.

People often say cats drink more when the water is moving. Cornell University’s Feline Health Center also notes that many cats prefer fountains.

Drinking habits can offer clues about kidney health, too. Cats with chronic kidney disease (CKD) can produce larger amounts of dilute urine, which makes them drink more. According to Cornell, up to 4 in 10 cats over age 10 have CKD.

A 2026 review of research on feline water intake reached the same conclusion about fountains. So what actually affects how much cats drink? Read on for three things you can try at home today.

Testing Three Types of Water Bowls

Researchers at the University of Tennessee tested three types of water bowls with 16 healthy cats. Their findings appeared in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery in 2019.

The options were a bowl of still water, a bowl with circulating water, and a fountain with a falling stream. The researchers drew lots to decide the order in which each cat used the bowls.

For each bowl, the cats had one week to get used to it, followed by two weeks of measurements. The team weighed the bowls daily and accounted for water lost to evaporation and spills. All the cats ate the same dry food.

The results were not what the researchers had expected. On average, the cats drank about 26–27 mL per kilogram of body weight each day, with little difference between bowl types. For a 4 kg cat (about 9 lb), that would be roughly 105–110 mL a day, just under half a US cup.

Urine volume showed no clear difference between bowl types, either. Two earlier small studies, conducted in homes and shelters, also found no clear difference in how much cats drank.

The study received funding from a company that makes pet water fountains. The paper states that the company had no influence on the study’s design or findings.

Three of the 14 Cats Had Clear Preferences

Of the 14 cats that completed the study, three showed a different pattern. One drank about 1.4 times as much from the falling stream as from the circulating bowl. Another preferred the circulating bowl, while the third preferred still water.

The overall averages did not capture those individual preferences. The researchers recommended offering a choice of bowl types, especially for cats who are unwell.

All the cats were healthy adults housed individually in a laboratory. The researchers noted that results could differ in a home setting.

Across 50 Years of Research, Diet Stood Out

Researchers at the University of Guelph in Canada reviewed 32 studies on feline water intake spanning 50 years. The review appeared in the Journal of Animal Science in 2026.

Only three of those studies compared water sources (the ones described above), and they found no clear difference in drinking amounts. The main differences were linked to diet.

Whether cats ate dry or wet food mattered, as did the food’s protein and salt content. Cats’ ancestors obtained water from prey such as mice, which are roughly 70% water. Dry food is typically around 10% water, so cats eating it need to get more water by drinking.

Some of the same researchers also took part in a 2026 feeding study published in the same journal. Both laboratory cats and pet cats at home spent two weeks on each of three diets: dry food only, a 50:50 mix of dry and wet food, and wet food only.

The cats drank the most water when they ate dry food. But they took in the most water overall (including water from food) when they ate wet food.

The same pattern appeared in pet cats at home, who drank more than the laboratory cats. Drinking was most frequent just after meals.

Cats eating wet food get water with their meals, so it is natural for them to drink less from a bowl. If your cat mainly eats dry food, wet food may help increase their total water intake. Whether drinking more improves kidney function in cats is still unclear.

At Greycoat Research, our view is clear: knowing how much your cat usually drinks matters more than the type of bowl you choose. That baseline helps you notice when your cat starts drinking more.

So, for the next week, try keeping a simple record of how much your cat drinks.

Three Things to Try at Home

1. Measure How Much Your Cat Drinks

Use a measuring cup to fill your cat’s bowl, then measure what is left 24 hours later. Some of the missing water will have evaporated, especially when indoor heating dries out the air.

Fill an identical bowl with water and place it in the same room, out of your cat’s reach. If your cat’s bowl loses 120 mL and the comparison bowl loses 10 mL, your cat has drunk about 110 mL. Make a note of any spills.

An average over a week gives you a baseline for your own cat. If you change their food, measure again, because their drinking habits may change too. If you have several cats, track the household total and watch for any cat visiting the water bowl unusually often.

2. Let Your Cat’s Preferences Guide Your Choice

Set out a regular water bowl and a fountain side by side for a week. Watching where your cat goes after meals can help you see which they prefer. Replace the water daily, clean the fountain bowl regularly, and change the filter on schedule.

If your cat prefers the fountain, try adding one in another room. If they prefer a regular bowl or use both about equally, you may not need another fountain. If you do not have a fountain, start with clean water bowls in several places around your home, as Cornell suggests.

Preferring a fountain does not necessarily mean drinking more overall. After adding one, measure again using the method in tip 1.

Fountains may lose water to evaporation more quickly, so run yours for a day in a room your cat cannot access to estimate how much evaporates. If your cat mainly eats dry food and drinks very little, try gradually mixing in some wet food.

3. Watch for Increased Thirst as a Possible Sign of CKD

Drinking much more than usual can be a sign of CKD, diabetes, or thyroid disease. VCA Animal Hospitals notes that normal daily water intake is well below 100 mL per kilogram of body weight. For a 4 kg cat, that means normal daily intake is well below 400 mL.

Even below that amount, a noticeable increase in your cat’s usual drinking is a reason to book a veterinary visit. Watch for larger or more frequent urine clumps in the litter box, as well as weight loss. Bring your water intake record to the visit.

The Answer Depends on Your Cat

The averages showed no clear advantage for any bowl type, but some cats did drink more from a particular one. Knowing your cat’s usual intake helps you notice increased thirst, one possible sign of a kidney problem. Start with a measuring cup the next time you refill the water bowl.

Kidney care starts while your cat is healthy. Greycoat Research is here to help.

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About the Author and Research Team

Alex Shin, Pharmacist | Greycoat Research

20+ years of experience advising on medication use in animals

Consultations for caregivers of cats with kidney disease · Nutritional formulation advisor

Greycoat Research works with veterinarians, pharmacists, and researchers in South Korea and Japan to study feline kidney health and nutrition.

References

1. Robbins MT, et al. “Quantified water intake in laboratory cats from still, free-falling and circulating water bowls, and its effects on selected urinary parameters.” Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery. 2019;21(8):682–690.
2. Grant DC. “Effect of water source on intake and urine concentration in healthy cats.” Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery. 2010;12:431–434.
3. Pachel C, Neilson J. “Comparison of feline water consumption between still and flowing water sources: a pilot study.” Journal of Veterinary Behavior. 2010;5:130–133.
4. Kosmal PAL, et al. “Diet format, protein, amino acids, salt, and osmolytes, as well as water viscosity, affect water consumption in domestic cats: a scoping review of 32 publications (published from 1975 to 2025) on water intake, hydration status, and related health outcomes.” Journal of Animal Science. 2026;104:skaf434.
5. van Diggelen RA, et al. “Water intake and consumption behaviour of colony and privately-owned healthy domestic cats fed 100% dry, 50% dry and 50% wet, and 100% wet diets: a comparison of research and home environments.” Journal of Animal Science. 2026;104:skag201.
6. Cornell Feline Health Center, Cornell University. “Chronic Kidney Disease.”
7. VCA Animal Hospitals. “Senior Cat Care: Special Considerations.” Updated July 17, 2026.

[Educational Disclaimer]

This article is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional veterinary advice, diagnosis, or treatment. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Please consult your veterinarian before making changes to your cat’s diet, supplements, or care routine.