Karma-Kat recently celebrated his tenth (!!!) birthday. He’s a kitty that enjoys drinking from running water–like dribbles from the sink and pet water fountains. And we’re fortunate that the vet said he passed his recent wellness check with flying colors. But job one for all pet lovers includes keeping them healthy.

Karma has always loved running water!

Water equals life for our cats. Did you know that water makes up 84 percent of a kitten’s body weight, and 60 percent of an adult cat’s body weight? Water lubricates the tissue and helps distribute electrolytes like salt throughout the body. Water fuels digestion and elimination, and helps regulate the cat’s body temperature. Without enough water, dehydration can cause severe illness. Even a 15 percent loss of body water results in death.

Yet cats get really picky about drinking enough water. We’ve had several pet water fountains here, and Karma-Kat and the doggos enjoyed them. When water sits for a long time, it tastes funny, sometimes taking on the smell or taste of the container. Static water encourages growth of mildew, mold, or bacteria that can make pets snub the bowl. While we hate the idea of pets drinking from toilets, the commode appeals to dogs–AND cats–because each flush fills the cool porcelain with fresh water that churning fills with air (aerates) for improved taste.

A pet water fountain offers a better option, especially in these super-hot days where safety reigns supreme. But most cat water fountains require the pump to plug into an electrical outlet. Pets often chew cords and that poses electrocution risks. A wired fountain also limits the places where you can locate the fountain. So when Uahpet reached out offering to send us the Wireless Cat Water Fountain to test and review, Karma meowed with excitement! Well…not really, but I couldn’t wait to try it out. It also works great for small dogs. I earlier reviewed the Uahpet ball launcher here.

What is a Wireless Pet Water Fountain?

A wireless water fountain offers all the advantages without the risk of wires. The Uahpet Wireless Cat Water Fountain makes this work with a long-lasting rechargeable battery. Once charged, the fountain pump recirculates the water, aerating the liquid for better taste, and preventing the growth of baddies like mold.

The sound and action of the water also intrigues cats to investigate. Some cats go so far as to play paw-pat games, or dunk toys. For me, a great water fountain for cats offers feline enrichment, mimicing what cats might find if allowed free access to outdoor adventures. And while fountains I’ve had in the past included a hum or even louder noise from the pump (that can shoo cats away), this cat water fountain has almost no sound that I can detect.

My previous pet water fountains splattered water, and caused damaged to the bathroom mirror and wall where I had to plug it in. I love the cordless advantage, so I can place this wireless water fountain anywhere. Karma-Kat, at age ten, can’t jump as high as in the past and can no longer reach the previous vanity location. Instead, I placed it on the tub surround–no electrical outlet available, but that doesn’t matter. Also, the tile won’t damage with splashing water, if Karma decides to paw-play in the stream.

The Uahpet Wireless Cat Water Fountain doesn’t run nonstop, though. It has a motion-activated sensor so water only spills out of the spout when the cat (or some other motion) triggers it. I suspect that saves on battery drain, and helps keep the pump charge lasting as long as possible. It continues to run on battery power even if you lose power–or if you must hit the road with your pet. Yep, it’d even run in the car on a trip (although I wouldn’t risk tight fast turns!). It does have little plastic “feet” that slide out to help stabilize the unit from overly-enthusiastic slurpers.

Wireless Cat Water Fountain features

• Battery powered: Wireless for placing anywhere. It took just under an hour for the initial charge. How long the charge lasts depends on how often the sensor triggers (the more cats you have, the more daily triggers). This ranges from 30-45 days for up to 100 daily triggers (multiple cats), or 100-120 days for 20-30 daily triggers.
• Range of sensor: Instructions suggest a cat moving 7+ inches away will trigger water flow for about 30 seconds. However, mine triggers and flows water when I walk into the room, sensing my motion from about 6-feet away!
• Timed mode: You can switch off the auto-sensor and instead the fountain will flow every 15 minutes.
• Translucent reservoir: The reservoir holds two liters (67 ounces) of water. While convenient, I’d worry about forgetting to check and refill, but you can easily see and monitor water level through the bucket.
• Filters: To ensure the cleanest, freshest tasting liquid, water runs through two filter systems. Recommended changing filters every 2-3 weeks.
• Cleaning: Take apart, and hand wash parts with mild soap and water. Do not use harsh cleansers.

How to set up the Wireless Cat Water Fountain

1. Unbox. My unit came snuggly packed in a cardboard shipping box, with the fountain bubble-wrapped inside a second an interior box. After lifting off the shallow drinking tray, the water bucket reservoir contained 6 filters, filter holder, 6 pump filter sponges, the pump (with battery), filter head, and a charging wire USB cord. The paper pamphlet provides a pictorial list and label of contents, with installation instructions, plus a QR code to scan to download an instruction manual for more detail.
2. Uncover the rubber gasket of the charging port, and attach the charging device. The cord came without a plug for the wall, but an extra phone cord charger worked to insert the USB connection. A blue light flashes during charging, and stays steady when fully charged. It took just under an hour for the battery to fully charge. NOTE: A red light flashes to indicate low battery that needs charging.
3. Rinse the water bucket and drinking tray before using. Remove one filter and one sponge from containers, and rinse well before using. Insert the filter sponge into the flter head that sits inside the water bucket.
4. Detach the charging cord. Slide the charged battery and pump into the external holder (the filter head falls INSIDE the water reservoir, the rest remains outside).
5. Place the cat water fountain in the location you prefer. Extend the plastic “feet” on both sides for stability. Fill with water using a pitcher (it’s a bit awkward to carry, but you can fill at sink and then place). Insert the filter in the holder, and hook over the edge of the reservoir. Place the drinking tray on top.
6. Press and hold the ON/OFF button (on the top of the pump/battery) for 3 seconds  to engage. You’ll hear a short “beep” sound telling you the fountain is on. To switch between modes (either “motion sensor” or “timed”), quickly press the button. An indicator light comes on to show which mode engages along with the short “beep.” The blue light indicates when the given mode is on, and stays off when on standby.

How we tested it

Before receiving the Uahpet Wireless Cat Fountain, Karma-Kat drank from a large open pan in the same location on the bathtub tile surround. That location also keeps Shadow-Pup from drinking the cat’s bowl dry, and we have a second very large and shallow container on the kitchen floor that both pets use. I set Karma’s previous water container down inside the tub itself (not a far distance) so that he still had access to something familiar. And then I set up the new water fountain.

Karma immediately wanted to investigate (as you can see in the pictures, below). It often takes cats hours, days, or longer to adjust to something new in their environment, especially shy or insecure felines. My Karma, though, has a confident c’attitude. By the first evening, he already began sniffing the water and ultimately drinking. Now after about a week in place, Karma fully accepts the new water fountain and appears to drink more from that location than in the past.

I wanted to test the fountain with Shadow-Pup, too. Since he knows not to “paws up” on the cat’s domain, I moved the fountain into our bedroom to introduce it. He wasn’t impressed. And surprisingly, Shadow acted a bit fearful of the fountain. Not his fault, because he never experienced a fountain before and I rushed the introduction. He’s used to a water pan three times wider, and–well–he respects Karma-Kat. After all, the kitty rules our house! Given time, Shadow or any dog his size or smaller could easily use this fountain.

Reviewer Concerns?

I’ve only had the Uahpet Wireless Cat Fountain a short time, and wanted input from others, so I checked out reviews on Amazon. While the vast majority of reviewers said their animals (and they) adored the fountain, the biggest concern and disppointment noted that the pump didn’t last as long as it should. Even in those instances, though, reviewers who reached out to the company praised Uahpet’s prompt response making the situation right with replacement parts.

I asked my contact about the issue with the pumps. The description says they use the same technology as those used in automatic coffee makers (and some of my coffee makers last longer than others, LOL!).

“Regarding the pump issues that were mentioned in some of the reviews, we have indeed addressed this concern. We’ve made significant upgrades to the pump system, ensuring its reliability and longevity. The latest version of the fountain now comes with a more robust and efficient pump, designed to deliver a consistent flow of water without any issues. Furthermore, we’re delighted to hear that customers praised our quick response in resolving any concerns they had. Our customer support team is dedicated to providing timely and effective solutions to ensure customer satisfaction.”

Pros

• Easy to set up and clean
• Wireless–set up inside anywhere
• Motion activated & virtually silent
• Runs for weeks without recharging
• Large water capacity
• Two convenient modes
• Shallow water tray for no-touch whiskers
• Sleek design
• Fountain comes with 1 to 6 filters (prices vary)
• 6 replacement filters sold separately for about $25 (about $4/month cost)
• Great customer service
• 4400+ Amazon reviews averaging 4.2 stars

Cons

• A bit small for medium or larger dogs (perfect cat size)
• Hard to move when full (fill once in place with pitcher)
• Indoor use only recommended (don’t expose to sunlight)
• No plug for charging (most people have an adapter that would work)

Final verdict

Securely packed, well made, and designed to turn on the purrs for your cat.  I really like the Uahpet Wireless Cat Water Fountain. But really, I don’t count as much as the pets’ opinions. Karma gives it four paws up! Shadow-Pup continues to reserve judgement.

Where to get the Uahpet Wireless Cat Water Fountain

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Let me know what you think of the cat water fountain. Or, tell me about any of the other products you decide to try out!