Hi Noramuse!
Yes, the fountains are for the kitties to drink from. I have been considering buying one for my Gretl, she seldom drinks from a bowl, but LOVES to drink from the bathroom faucet. The fountains that you can buy re-circulate the water from the bowl, up into a little waterfall, that many cats like to drink from. For a kitty with Kidney disease, this promotes water intake - so important! Hope this helps!