Others We Tested
Petkit Eversweet Max costs $80: This Tech Y automatic fountain can be cordless or battery-powered (lasting 83 days) and the drinking water bowl is made of stainless steel, but the reservoir is plastic. Cleaning is a bit awkward due to the basin shape with thick batteries and reservoir bowls. Over time, the app records and compares each time the drinks to determine if your cat’s drinking habits have changed. The app also tracks when the filter needs to be replaced, and when the last time you added water. However, it won’t monitor or show you how much water is left in the basin; you have to check it manually. The design also makes cleaning and easy refilling a little difficult.
Rola Smart Pet Funtain costs $40: This automatic fountain is cordless and runs on a rechargeable battery that lasts 60 days (although it can be plugged in too). It has a wireless pump that uses magnetic induction – this pump is one of all the pumps I tested. The fountain has a stainless steel top that can hold a lot of water even if it is not running. Although the tank is plastic, I am now wary of plastic because it has a tendency to hide bacteria (and, it doesn’t keep the water cold). The app reminds you when the water is low, the fountain needs to be cleaned or the filter needs to be replaced, and in addition, it automatically stops distributing water and sends you a reminder to refill through the app. It also records the number of times your pet drinks and how many times your hydration pattern is monitored over time and compares the statistics with the average time used. My complaint is that even if it is inserted, the fountain does not maintain continuous flow mode, but instead switches to the sensing flow automatically.
home base: This cordless fountain can be used as a traditional fountain inserted into its base or can be removed with a battery life of 30 days and moved around the house. I don’t like this fountain is all plastic, but it’s easy to see the water level from the outside, the top and filter layers are very easy to remove, clean and replace, and the wireless (basically silent) pump makes it easier to clean. Plastics don’t keep the water cold or clean like stainless steel, so you have to clean the water more often. The fountain only starts to bubble when cats (or humans) are doing a way to save battery power, and there is no option to control flow (and no connected apps). I like wireless pumps, but at this point I really surpassed plastic.
Miracle Biocat Fountain, priced at $21: My two cats have been riding bikes in several fountains over the past few years, but this meaningless version has been a firm man. The interior is lit with blue LEDs (bright enough to glow in the dark), and there is a clear viewing window on the sides that easily monitor the water level in the distance. I also love dishwasher-safe metal bowls, the fact that you can remove the yellow and white “flowers” part to create a cat’s favorite fountain configuration (waterfall, low bubbles, tall bubbles). The only major disadvantage is that very frequent cleaning and filtration changes are required due to the plastic body, and in the event of a power outage or a pump failure, there is no reservoir to hold water. When I go on vacation, I have to swap it for an old-fashioned gravity distributor. – Kat Merck
$55: If you prefer Gothic decor over neutral bland, this ghostly ceramic cat fountain from Happy & Polly might tempt you to bite. Water floats out from the pool at the top of the ghost and the top of the ceramic. Its quiet is quiet at about 35 dB at about 35 dB, but when the water is low it will sound loud and I worry about the motor burning because the 1.5 liter capacity can dry quickly. While the ceramic finish is easy to clean, there is no doubt about disassembly. You will need to clean once a week to prevent it from becoming sticky and you will have to change the filter once a month. – Simon Hill
Petkit Eversweet Solo 2 costs $50: I like the three key features of this fountain: the bowl is on a wireless charging basis, so you don’t have to fiddle with a cable, it’s very easy to clean and very quiet, about 25 decibels. The flashing light will warn you when the water flows low and you can check when the filter needs to be changed in the application. There is an optional smart mode that can be pumped intermittently and night modes to turn off the lights. It was pleasantly enough that all three of our cats drank from this fountain, although it did mean I had to refill it frequently as it was only 2 liters. Sadly, the filter is very expensive, at $20 for five. – Simon Hill
Not recommended
Photo: Molly Higgins
Cat Companion Level 3 Pet Fountain, priced at $28: This tall automatic cat companion fountain combines itself with three levels compared to cats who like to drink at all levels. Cleaning the motor requires disassembly using tools and extended soaking. Since the water must be long, evaporation results in the need of replenishing water every other day. The plastic also contains bacteria, and the previous plastic model I owned had a mold problem. The basin is large and sits flat. Therefore, some debris will be located at the bottom and front of the large basin rather than being moved back to the rear filter system. Plastic materials and lack of ergonomic gravity design make this fountain dirtier than others.
Whisker City Free Fall Cat Fountain costs $40: This huge fountain is better for dogs – with a large bowl with 150 ounces large ounces and a waterfall design. Although the basin has a small splash pad to help offset the waterfall noise, this is one of the largest fountains I’ve tested. The evaporation of the waterfall-like system also makes me replenish it every other day. Due to the structure of the fountain, my cat had to bend his head at an awkward angle. Therefore, they tend to avoid drinking from the basin, and their heads get slightly wet from the splash of the waterfall. The basin also has no angles, so the debris and crumbs sit at the bottom of the bowl.
Petsnowy Snow+ Automatic Pet Water Fountain for $55: Petsnowy’s Snow+ Automatic Fountain is very simple – a curved square design in which water is pumped from the holes at the top while the residual water circulates through a circular filter system. The fountain is connected to an app that doesn’t do much functionality, but can serve as a reminder to clean it and count down when the filter needs to be replaced. Unlike others on this list, the fountain is not actually the top reservoir that stores water in the event of a power failure, and when closed, the highest water level is still very little. Refilling it is a little tricky without taking off the top and water often overflows.
Petkit Eversweet Solo SE costs $27: This very simple, direct fountain has a square body, is translucent, can easily see the water level from the outside, and in the event of a power failure, even 60 ml of water can always be drunk, thus circulating the water from the basin to the highest level. The basin sits on the base and all parts are easily disengaged, making it easier to clean. The fountain does not have multiple modes or associated applications, you must manually check the water level. I noticed that this kind of fountain is not as cold as other fountains, and due to the design of the top, debris often accumulates in the immersion area, which makes me clean it often.
Cats sometimes struggle to consume enough water, which can lead to fatal urinary tract infections and blockages in male cats, especially in males. This is one of the reasons why veterinarians are going to encourage cats to give cats at least one partially wet diet, as this helps them consume more water, especially since cats naturally consume less water than dogs. Unlike dogs, cats are often especially special in situations where they like and dislike, cats can view stagnant water as potentially harmful water. (If the cat is in the wild, stagnant water has greater potential for harmful bacteria). Cats attract more flowing water in nature, and these fountains help encourage them to drink more by imitating what nature attracts.
Honestly, many of these fountains are almost the same. I’m particularly looking for the overall design – I’m a stainless steel demon because porous plastics have harmful bacteria. I also like a wide reservoir without high sides to reduce the chance of whisker fatigue. In the case of low water levels or power failures, I prefer to have a small number of fountains with basin reservoirs at any time. I considered ease of setting up, supplement and clean and overall design. Of course, some of my cats took it away directly, and some of them didn’t seem to be so partial.
After a long test, I’m looking for these three things now, and encourage you too: cordless pumps, which are easier (safeer) clean, are made of stainless steel, therefore more hygienic, and can monitor water levels (especially windows connected to the application).
While automatic fountains are better suited to your cat’s overall water use, they do require more work and money. These are a little more elbow grease than refilling the bowl, but are worthy of your cat’s health. In addition to regular supplements and cleaning, you will also need to remove the fountain to clean all parts, including using a brush on the bowl and pipe. You may also have to disassemble the motor for a deep dry cleaning due to mineral accumulation. These products also have specific shapes of different types of filter cartridges, and these springs require you to purchase and replace the filters, usually once a month, but sometimes more frequently.
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