For this story, we evaluated 15 popular pet fountains, enlisting six feline and three canines as our testers. The Good Housekeeping Institute regularly evaluates gear and accessories for pet lovers, including pet hair removal tools and best cat carriers. The only disadvantage of a fountain over a bowl is that an automatic fountain requires electricity. Most include a carbon filter to clean the water, much like a water pitcher filter you might use for yourself. A pet water fountain can often hold several days worth of liquid, so you'd need to refresh it less often than a bowl. 'Cats instinctually like moving water because it’s likely more clean than standing water when encountered in the wild.'Īn electric, automatic cat water fountain can entice the feline in your life to drink more often, though some families get a fountain for a dog to ensure there's always fresh water on hand. 'Cats that are attracted to running water sources are likely expressing an evolved trait that is part of the natural evolution of the species,' says Mieshelle Nagelschneder, owner of the Cat Behavior Clinic in Portland, Oregon. Plus, many cats also just dig moving water. Most dogs will slurp from a bowl, but cats are famously finicky and some don't like their whiskers touching the sides of a small dish. Some cats can be territorial, and a more timid cat may not approach or use the scratching post of another cat because they’ll be able to smell the other cat’s pheromones warning them off.Providing sufficient water is the most basic, must-do chore for pet owners, especially when the weather heats up. If you have multiple cats, make sure you give each of them a scratching post. It can be difficult for some cats to realize that while scratching their carpeted post might be positively encouraged, doing the same thing on the stairs is definitely not going to be met with a smile from their owners. It’s usually recommended to avoid scratching posts that are covered with carpet if you have other carpeted areas in your house. If you can, it’s better to have a variety of scratching surfaces, including horizontal, vertical, and angled surfaces. Scratching is an instinctive behavior, so your cat can’t help but do it! The best way to protect your carpet from their claws is to make sure you offer an alternative surface for them. Whatever carpet you decide to go for, it’s always important to offer your cat at least one scratching post.

Best runner if you have cats