Automatic Cat Feeder and Water: Combo or Separate Fountain?

This site lists feeders, not fountains. Only one feeder in our catalog is sold as a combined feeder and water dispenser, and its brand, Sarpaws, publishes no specs for it.

Why does water matter so much for cats?

Cornell's Feline Health Center says cats need about 4 ounces of water per 5 pounds of lean body weight a day. By Cornell's figure, an average 10-pound cat should drink about a cup daily.

Diet changes how much of that comes from the bowl. Cornell says wet food can be up to 80% water, so cats eating it may drink less. Cats on dry food, Cornell says, take in more of their daily water by drinking.

International Cat Care names kidney disease, idiopathic cystitis, urinary stones and diabetes as conditions where drinking enough helps. Cornell lists lethargy, weakness, poor appetite and dry mucous membranes among the signs of dehydration.

Combined unit or a feeder plus a separate fountain?

International Cat Care says cats prefer not to drink next to their food. It advises avoiding double bowls with water on one side and food on the other. It also says your cat will drink more if food and water are offered in separate locations.

A fountain is optional. Cornell's Feline Health Center says some cats drink more from water fountains, but preferences vary between cats. International Cat Care says some cats like moving water, and that a fountain should be introduced gradually.

Does this site list any combined feeder-and-water units?

One: Sarpaws lists an "Automatic Cat Feeder and Water Dispenser FW1" on its own site. It gives no capacity, power or water details there. Its buy button goes to Amazon, so we can't say how the water side works.

Timed dispenser

SARPAWS Automatic Cat Feeder (FW1)

Why it's here: it's the only combined feeder and water unit we list, but Sarpaws publishes no specs we could check.

$46.99amazon.com price as of Oct 15, 10:26 PM UTCSee it on Amazon

Neakasa's Riko has a 2.4 L water tank, but the water is for meals. Neakasa says Riko rehydrates freeze-dried food with room-temperature water at feeding time. It also has a water-only mode, but Neakasa doesn't say Riko replaces a water bowl or fountain.

Which feeders suit a setup with a fountain?

Any feeder can sit apart from a fountain. These points help you pick one:

• Dry food: Cornell says cats on dry food get more of their water by drinking, so a kibble feeder makes the water source matter more.
• Power cuts: battery backup keeps meals on schedule. PETLIBRO's Granary takes three D batteries, not included, and its Granary 2 has a built-in backup battery lasting about 24 hours.
• Placement: the Sharper Image 6-Meal feeder runs on a built-in rechargeable battery, so it needn't sit by an outlet. It takes dry or wet food and comes with two ice packs.

These timed dry-food feeders all have mains power with battery backup, according to each brand:

See timed feeders with battery backup (23 feeders)

For canned food, see which wet food feeders keep meals cold.

In a multi-cat home, Cornell's Feline Health Center warns that conflicts between pets can keep one cat away from the water bowl. International Cat Care suggests at least one water bowl per cat, plus one extra. For food, see how to feed multiple cats automatically.

How do I set up a feeder and a fountain?

1. Keep water away from the food

   International Cat Care says cats prefer not to drink next to their food, so give water its own spot.

2. Add enough water points

   International Cat Care suggests one water bowl per cat plus one extra, with one on each level of your home.

3. Bring in a fountain slowly

   International Cat Care advises introducing a pet fountain gradually. Keep a still bowl too, since Cornell says cats' preferences for fountains vary.

4. Choose bowls cats like

   International Cat Care says cats generally prefer glass or ceramic bowls to plastic, and most prefer wide, shallow ones.

Going away? Read how long a feeder can cover for you. For picks by need, see the best automatic cat feeders.