Yes. There are no harmful materials such as lead or toxic colorants used in our fountains. Because we make our glazes from scratch using only certified food-safe minerals that come from the earth we know exactly and how much of what is in them.
The clay we use is Stoneware, cone 6 clay and is used throughout the world for dinnerware for both hot and cold food and beverages.
ThirstyCat Fountains are The Easiest of any cat fountain to clean requiring about 5 minutes about every 5 days (depending on your situation) using a sponge and warm soapy water.
If you have hard water, mineral deposits may occur which can be cleaned with vinegar or a vinegar and salt solution. When cleaning the fountain, the pump should be disassembled (easy to do) and cleaned inside. Instructions come with every fountain.
Yes. The entire fountain including the pump and plug can be put on the top shelf of a dishwasher with complete safety. However, because of today’s aggressive detergents we don’t recommend doing this often because we don’t know if this may have an affect on the glazes over time.
Our pumps are BPA free, aquarium grade pumps designed to be completely submerged in water and run 24/7. They are low wattage (about 4) and standard voltage for the US – 110-120V.
As used in aquariums they remain in the water various creatures live in. They are quiet and remarkably reliable and last for many years. We have fountains still running after 15 years with the original pumps.
Elaborate filtration is not only not necessary, it may be actually harmful. A sponge filter that fits over the pump comes with every ThirstyCat fountain. This prevents cat hair, etc. from getting into the pump and lasts at least a year and should last two years. Replacement cost is under $11.
We also offer carbon (activated charcoal) filters for those with unpleasant odors or tases in their water. These cost under $12 and last six to twelve months.
All the Bubble-up fountains have a small 99.9% pure copper spout and the same can be added to all the other fountain types at no extra charge. Copper is a natural antimicrobial, meaning it helps purify the water and inhibits the occurrence of unwanted microbes.* None of the fountains needs the copper to run
Ceramics is a process susceptible to many variations and anomalies. We never offer a fountain that has any defect which compromises functionality or safety but we do have pieces that are not up to our standards. There may be glaze inconsistencies or surface flaws and these we offer at reduced prices. When we offer such a piece we normally state what the flaw is and show a picture of it in the product listing.
Although shipping remains fairly expensive due to the nature of our product, (and carrier costs), we have reduced the cost of shipping by negotiating a reduced rate with UPS which we have passed along to you
We ship in 2-4 business days via UPS. If you live in HI or AK please contact us we can give you a quote for less expensive shipping via USPS Priority. If you have a sick cat and need your fountain sooner let us know in notes to seller and we’ll ship your fountain ASAP. Filters and cat tap ordered without a fountain ship via First Class Mail. Orders with a copper cat tap may ship in 3-5 business days. If you require a signature for delivery of your package please include this in your note to seller at checkout.
We ship to Canada but currently not through our website. Please contact us for a quote at thirstycats@gmail.com
If you wish to return anything you’ve ordered, please contact us before returning your fountain and we’ll happily give you instructions on how to do this.Â
In most circumstances we do not refund shipping costs.
If for whatever reason your fountain doesn’t work out for you (or your cat) it can be returned within one month of receipt for a refund of the price of the fountain minus shipping.
Yes. Please try to contact us within about a month after receiving the fountain if you can (we’re not sticklers about exactly how long you’ve had the fountain) and if our suggestions don’t help, you can return the fountain so long as it is undamaged, for a complete refund of the fountain price.
If your returned fountain requires cleaning or other work an appropriate fee will be deducted from the refund.
If your fountain does not perform properly upon receipt we will refund you in full including shipping both ways but be sure to contact us right away. In almost every case when a fountain appears not to function properly it is due to user error and is easily resolved.Â
If your fountain arrives damaged in shipping, please keep the box as is with the wrapping and fountain in it and email us pictures of the broken items. We will contact our shipper to inspect the damage and issue you a full refund.
