This page is one of a series of educational pages from ThirstyCat Fountains. Here we provide objective information to help inform potential cat fountain buyers about major brands of cat fountains so you can determine for yourselves which cat fountains are the best for your needs. We provide a detailed analysis of specific brands of cat fountains you won’t find elsewhere so that you can know what you are buying before you buy. Many websites have articles entitled the Best Cat Water Fountain, then go on to present some of the worst and cheapest cat fountains you can buy. This page should help counter that deception.
Do You Want the Best Cat Watr Fountain That You Can Buy?
Cats are hard-wired to seek moving water and cat water fountains provide that. Cat fountains come in many different designs, so you can choose the model that best suits your cats’ preferences, as well as yours. For example, fountains that are perfect for short hair cats may not be suitable for longhairs who want to stay dry. Some cats are timid and quiet and don’t want much water display while others prefer it and even need it, and you will have your own likes and dislikes too.
Some cat fountains consist simply of a basin that refills as your cat drinks (not reviewed here), and therefore do not recirculate and oxygenate the water while others produce a free-falling water supply for maximum freshness.
We’ve examined and present here our top picks from several of the most popular models.
We have evaluated them according to several critical attributes. Those are:
Food Safeness (this has to do with what materials the fountains are made from and how they are constructed.)
Ease of cleaning (if a pet fountain is hard to clean it won’t get cleaned often or thoroughly enough.)
Water Delivery (is the water presented to the cat in a manner that is attractive to him and easily accessed, thus encouraging drinking?
Longevity (How long will the fountain last?)
Price (short term cost)
Price (long term cost)
Appearance (is the fountain an addition to your home or something you want to hide?) Of course we express our opinions on this with which you may or not agree.
Here are the five cat water fountains we reviewed.
Pioneer Raindrop
Food Safeness – 3.5 – Mostly metal with some significant plastic components
Ease of cleaning – 3.5 – Warm soapy water and a sponge will do most of it but the internal parts take more time.
Water delivery – 3 – This produces a spillway of water, not a free falling stream, and a basin at the bottom. Fine for many cats but not cats needing a stream (faucet lovers & longhair cats.)
Longevity – 4.5 – Metal construction. The metal is fairly light weight but with reasonable care should last.
Price short term – 4 – $40 – $70
Price long term – 3.5 – You can buy a 3 pack of filters for about $5.60 and each should last 3 weeks so over a year you will pay about $35 plus shipping. Over a five year period after purchase you will spend a total of about $161 for a total cost including purchase and five years of use of about $216.
Appearance – 3.5 – This is a reasonably attractive fountain if a bit functional looking. Perhaps not suitable for your living areas but not offensive either.
Food Safeness – 2 – All plastic, will scratch and many reviews speak of the biofilm (slime) buildup.
Ease of cleaning – 2 – Many nooks and crevices, along with the biofilm requiring bleach regularly make cleaning a choir.
Water delivery – 4 – This produces a nice stream of water, however there is a plastic thrumming sound as the water hits the plastic wedge.
Longevity – 3.5 – Should last several years with occasional pump replacement.
Price short term – 4 – About $45.
Price long term – 3 – The replacement filters are about $3 and need to be replaced about every three weeks so the cost for the first year will be about $100 and about $55/year thereafter or $275 over a five year period after purchase for a total cost including purchase and five years of use of $320.
Appearance – 2.5 – Very functional looking. Fine for an out of the way place but definitely not for your living or dining rooms.
Ease of cleaning – 3.5 – Ceramic cleans easily with soap and water, however the corners will require attention.
Water delivery – 4.5 – This produces 2 nice streams of water and provides an upper and lower basin. The lower however is a bit cramped.
Longevity – 4.5 – Should last several years with occasional pump replacement.
Price short term – 4 – About $90
Price long term – 2 – The foam filter, which should be replaced about every five weeks will cost about $2 each and the charcoal filters should be replaced every 2 weeks and cost about $2 ea. So, over the coarse of the first year the Drinkwell Pagoda fountain will cost you about $145 and about $55/year thereafter. Over a five year period after purchase you will spend an additional $275 for a total cost including purchase and five years of use of $565.
Appearance – 4 – A pleasing design available, at this time, in two colors.
Food Safeness – 1 – The cat fountain is 100% plastic, may contain BPA and will become scratched.
Ease of cleaning – 3.5 – Warm soapy water and a sponge will do most of it but the internal parts take more time.
Water delivery – 3 – The streams are variable, which is a plus, but are very short which makes it difficult for some cats. They will inevitably be licking plastic to get to the water.
Longevity – 2.5 – Not considered very durable
Price short term – 5 – $25
Price long term – 4 – You can buy a 6 pack of filters for about $12 and each should last 3 weeks so over a year you will pay about $35 plus shipping. Over a five year period after purchase you will spend a total of about $174 for a total cost including purchase and five years of use of about $200.
Food Safeness – 5 – This cat water fountain is 100% handmade ceramic. The glazes are made in the ThirstyCat studio and certified food safe.
Ease of cleaning – 5 – Warm soapy water and a sponge is all that is necessary for a good cleaning of this pet fountain. Parts to be cleaned are the bowl, the pump cover, the cord cover, all of which are ceramic, and the pump. Cleaning should take about 4 minutes weekly.
Water delivery – 5 – Thirstycats offers just about every conceivable delivery style from simple bubble-ups to four tier streams, raised basins with streams and a lower basin and pretty much any design you can think of. (They are all artisan, handmade so new designs are regularly introduced.)
Longevity – 5 – Lasts a lifetime. Pump warranty is one year.
Price short term – 2 – From about $120 to $180
Price long term – 5 – The foam filter which comes with the fountain lasts 2 years and can be purchased for about $9. ThirstyCats offer a carbon filter that lasts 6 months, available for about $10. So, if you purchase a medium priced fountain for $130 and you add a carbon filter which you replace once, your first year cost will be $140. Your next year cost will be $10 and your second year cost will be $19. Over a five year period after purchase you will have a total cost including purchase and five years of use of $190.
Appearance – 5 – Considered by many to offer the most beautiful cat fountains worldwide.
Cats are hard-wired to seek moving water and cat water fountains provide that. Cat fountains come in many different designs, so you can choose the model that best suits your cats’ preferences, as well as yours. For example, fountains that are perfect for short hair cats may not be suitable for longhairs who want to stay dry. Some cats are timid and quiet and don’t want much water display while others prefer it and even need it, and you will have your own likes and dislikes too.
