Cats evolved to take most of their water from prey rather than from a bowl, and a great many house cats simply do not drink enough, which shows up years later as kidney and urinary trouble. Moving water is the lever you have. Most cats who ignore a full bowl all day will stop and drink from something that ripples, and a fountain turns that instinct into a habit you can actually rely on.

Water is drawn through a four-stage filtration process before it reaches the spout, which takes out hair, grit and the flat taste of a bowl that has been standing since breakfast, while the circulation keeps it oxygenated rather than stagnant. The housing is food-grade ABS with silicone, it holds 2.6 litres, and it stands 190mm across and 116mm high, so it occupies roughly the footprint of a dinner plate. It runs from a 5V supply.

• 2.6 litre capacity
• Four-stage filtration before the water reaches the spout
• Smart sensor operation and a clear water-level window
• 190mm wide and 116mm high
• Food-grade ABS and silicone construction
• Runs on a DC 5V supply

Two things worth knowing. And a fountain only helps for as long as it is maintained. The pump needs rinsing and the filter changing on a schedule, or the thing meant to encourage drinking becomes the reason your cat stops.

Who it's for: Owners of cats who barely touch a water bowl, and anyone whose vet has asked them to get more fluid into an older cat.