Get

In Your Inbox

Catster is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn more.

How to Clean a Cat Water Fountain in 7 Simple Steps

cat drinking from cat water fountain

If you have the convenience of a cat water fountain, you know that it’s changed the ballgame for how your cat gets their hydration. The water is super fresh, but it requires occasional maintenance, as you already know.

When the time comes to clean your cat’s water fountain, the brand and style will be a factor. Most of the time, it’s relatively the same. But we urge you to read the care directions from your purchase.

divider 3 paws

Supplies You Need to Clean a Cat Water Fountain

Supplies:
  • White vinegar
  • Spray bottle
  • Sponge
  • Cloth
  • Warm, clean water

Unfortunately, cleaning a cat water fountain will be more complicated than rinsing and washing a standard bowl, but giving your cat a free-flowing freshwater source is probably worth it for you.

Why Vinegar?

white vinegar on wooden table
Image Credit by: focal point, Shutterstock

You probably read all over the web that white vinegar is a cure-all for everything. It seems like it’s used in all organic cleaners and other hygienic products to enhance daily living. It’s also a fantastic resource to use when cleaning your cat’s water fountain. If you’ve ever used it in your coffee pot, it’s kind of the same concept. It just gives an extra powerful clean that is entirely organic and safe for your cat.

Using harsh commercial cleaners can be far too abrasive for the fountain’s material, but it also might pose toxic risks for your cat. Vinegar is an all-natural alternative with no ill effects for your cats, permitting it to be adequately diluted and not full potency.

Vinegar Mixture

You can make a simple vinegar-cleaning mixture with one part vinegar to three parts water.

divider 3 paws

How to Clean a Cat Water Fountain in 7 Simple Steps

Here, we can walk you through the steps to clean your cat’s water fountain. However, if you’re more of a visual learner, it might benefit you to hop on YouTube or Google to find an actual video of disassembly and cleaning.

If you’re having any trouble during the process, pause what you’re doing and get some help. The good news is, once you’ve done it one time, it’ll be a breeze every time after that. Let’s get to it.

1. Give Your Cats a Temporary Water Source

If you’re taking away their primary water bowl for routine cleaning, it is essential to have another bowl with fresh available water. You might already have an extra on hand, but if not, it’s time to get one out of the cupboard.

cat drinking water from bowl in carpet
Image Credit by: AnnaStills, Shutterstock

2. Gather Necessary Instructions & Materials

Follow the supply list at the top of this article, gathering up these few items. Once you have each one, you can organize yourself before you begin.


3. Unplug and Empty

Before you start to clean your cat water fountain make sure you unplug it from the wall and empty any water currently in the fountain, which includes any hidden compartments or internal sources.

Follow specific instructions on your water fountain care sheet to see how.


4. Remove the Main Tank

You’re going to want to remove the main tank, as it will likely be in the way of your motor. You need to dismantle it to reach all those hard-to-get places. You can remove it as it shows on the individual model, but you can always watch a YouTube tutorial video to walk you through the steps visually.


5. Disassemble Motor

If you clean the entire fountain, you can’t get the motor wet. So, disassembling the fountain to remove the motor is an important step. While all water fountains can be different, you will need to remove the front-facing panel, exposing the internal motor unit. Remove as instructed.

water fountain for pets with filters
Image Credit by: GS23, Shutterstock

6. Clean Motor Chamber

Now that you’ve removed the motor, it’s safe to clean the internal area. Spray liberally with your vinegar mixture and wipe down. Even though it might not seem like this is a crucial step, debris can get stuck throughout the system and create a bacteria buildup. So, it’s good to get all the nooks, crannies, and crevices.

Once you finish wiping it down with vinegar, you can use warm, clean water to rinse the pieces.


7. Toss It in the Dishwasher

All of the components that can get wet can go in the dishwasher. If you choose to put these components in your dishwasher, you should wash them only with other cat-related products to prevent cross-contamination to your family.

Once you run the cycle, make sure all sections are completely dry for reassembling.

inside a dishwasher
Image by: manfredrichter, Pixabay

divider 3 paws

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should you clean a cat water fountain?

If you want to reduce slime buildup in the fountain, it’s best to clean it thoroughly one to three times a week, depending on how many cats are in the home.

Why is it important to clean cat water fountains?

Cat water fountains stay fresher longer than traditional water bowls since it’s constantly flowing. However, bacteria is still a real thing that can build up in the water fountain, so routine care is crucial.

Sludge buildup is expected, which is why it is so problematic when you don’t dismantle the entire fountain while cleaning.

What are the downfalls of water fountains for cats?

Water fountains have their upsides, but if you would like to consider all of the downsides of owning a water fountain, think about the cleaning frequency.

While it might seem fine to let water free flow, you have to think about the maintenance. As mentioned above, you’ll have to clean the cage every few days to keep up with hygiene and prevent slime buildup.

Why use cat water fountains?

You might already have a cat water fountain but not be thoroughly familiar with the benefits. It might seem like a good idea just because it is a new product that seems innovative, but it is more than just that. The feline group in the wild gets most of their hydration from the prey they consume.

Since most traditional house cats have a dry kibble diet, they don’t get nearly as much moisture from their food source. So, they often forget to drink what they should. The trickling from the water fountain can entice your cat to drink more, which is ideal.

Not every cat water fountain will make your life easier. This is why we recommend the well-designed Hepper Stainless Steel Cat Water Fountain, which has advanced triple filtration, three different flow modes, and an automatic shutoff feature.

Hepper Stainless Steel Cat Water Fountain
  • Premium 304-Grade Stainless Steel - This metal cat water fountain is hygienic, with superior...
  • Serene & Healthy Cat Drinking Fountain Experience - With whisper-quiet pumping & an advanced...
  • Say Goodbye to Dehydration - Provide your cat with a constant source of flowing water with this...

This modern, minimalist fountain runs surprisingly quietly and is very easy to clean.

At Catster, we’ve admired Hepper for many years and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool cat company!

Are cat water fountains safe?

Cat water fountains can be very safe when used as instructed in the manual. However, because it is an electrical machine, cats that get into trouble chewing chords might have a bit of an issue. Always try to keep cords out of sight to prevent unwanted chewing.

divider 3 paws

Final Thoughts

If you have recently invested in a cat water fountain, you already know the benefits of using one of these grand inventions. But it is still something that you should maintain as directed.

We urge you to look at the specific care instructions on the particular water fountain you have, as every fountain is slightly different in composition.

Once you learn how to clean your cat’s water fountain, you won’t need a tutorial the next time. It’ll be a breeze for you to remember, and you can keep your cat’s water source fresh.


Featured Image Credit: Vershinin89, Shutterstock

How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate (you can leave written feedback after clicking submit)

Help us improve Catster for pet parents!

Your feedback really matters.

What did you like about this post? Also how can we improve it?

Join the conversation

Leave a Reply

You’re very welcome to leave a comment or question. Please know that all comments must meet our community guidelines, and your email address will NOT be published. Let’s have a positive and constructive conversation.

How Often to Change Your Cat’s Water? Vet-Approved Care Tips

We all know that cats need fresh water daily, but if you have a larger bowl that they don’t empty each day, how...

cat and orange bowl inside the house

How To Stop a Cat From Putting Their Paws In Their Water: 3 Tips & Tricks

Cats are often considered incredibly water averse, which probably brings a smile to any cat companion who’s watched their buddy become mesmerized by...

cat dipping its paw in water bowl

What Cleaning Products Are Safe for Cats? 10 Vet Approved Items to Keep at Home

Cleaning when you have cats can be a worrying business. Common cleaning agents like ammonia, chlorine (bleach), phenols, rubbing alcohol, formaldehyde, benzalkonium chloride,...

cleaning-a-dirty-mattress

How to Get Rid of Cat Urine Smell Outside: 5 Simple Options

Cats are usually cute and cuddly, but they have a smelly side to them, too. Not only does their cat litter box get...

A-Norwegian-forest-cat-lounges-on-a-table-outside-on-a-sunny-day

More related

tabby cat sitting next to a bowl of water

Why Does My Cat’s Water Bowl Get Slimy? 3 Likely Reasons

The dog’s water bowl may be one of the dirtiest items in the house, but a cat’s water bowl can get pretty disgusting,...

Cat tested, Zelda approved.

Zelda Likes Her Water Shaken, Not Stirred (with Video)

Hi, I’m Dr. Karyn! Read my introduction to learn more about me and meet my five hilarious cats: Clutch, Cyril, Alex, Zelda, and...

kitten drinking water from the water bowl

How Much Water Does a Kitten Need Per Day? Vet-Approved Facts & Tips

If you’re a new kitten owner, you may not know that many cats drink too little water to keep themselves properly hydrated. So,...

close up of a cat paw

How to Clean Cat Paws: Vet-Approved Step-by-Step Guide

Cats are typically considered naturally clean creatures. However, that doesn’t mean that they don’t experience some poor hygiene problems, especially if they spend...

Keep reading

Is Cat Water Additive a Good Idea? Vet Approved Pros & Cons

Dental hygiene plays an important role in a cat’s overall health. It’s essential to develop a dental hygiene regime to ensure the teeth and gums stay healthy in order to prevent other medical problems occurring down the road, such as...

hepper nom nom cat food bowl water

Can Cats Drink Coconut Milk? Vet Approved Facts & FAQ

It’s a tale as old as time—a cat’s thirst for milk. But with advancements in feline nutrition, we know that cow’s milk is actually bad for cats. So, in an attempt to give your kitty a cool sip of milk—what...

Can Cats Drink Coconut Milk

10 Best Stainless Steel Cat Water Fountains in 2025 – Reviews & Top Picks

Cats are picky when it comes to drinking. They’ll drink from the puddle in your backyard but turn their noses up at your indoor water sources if it doesn’t pass their inspections. Most veterinarians recommend water fountains as they provide...

grey cat drinking water from bowl

Can Cats Drink Smartwater or Flavored Water? Vet-Approved Nutritional Science & Advice

Water is one of the most important elements that living things need for survival as it plays an important role in proper body function. Of course, this includes cats as well; fresh water is absolutely essential for all pet cats...

Can Cats Drink Smartwater or Flavored Water

What Are Cat Paws Made Of? 5 Vet-Reviewed Facts & FAQ

Cats’ paws are incredible and are used for a host of different things. Paws help with balance and carrying the load of the cat, and they also provide protection, offer grip, and even dissipate energy, which is how cats can...

close up paws of orange cat

Applaws Limited Ingredient Wet Cat Food Review 2025: How I Supplemented My Cats Diet

Any dedicated cat owner likely knows that their house cat does not drink enough water. Whether they were told by their vet, noticed the market explosion of cat water fountains, or simply observed that their cat’s water dish rarely needs...

Applaws Limited Ingredient Wet Food Review - featured image

Addiction Cat Food Review of 2025: Recalls, Pros & Cons

Review Summary Addiction Cat Food was founded in 2002 by a professional nutritionist to make foods using novel proteins from sources like kangaroo, brushtail, and wild game. Although the modern range of Addiction Cat Food has expanded to include more...

Addiction Cat Food Review

Why Won’t My Cat Drink Water From Their Bowl? 6 Vet-Reviewed Reasons

Cats are notorious for not drinking enough water. You also may notice that your cat prefers to drink from other locations than the bowl of fresh water that you provide every day. The bowl may be fresh, but that stale...

young cat staring at the bowl