Petmate Deluxe Fresh Flow Pet Fountain Review

Hello All,



I bought this fountain because my two cats enjoy drinking out of the faucet. High water consumption is very important for feline health as many cats can develop kidney and urinary issues. My cats really loved it and had no trouble adjusting to it. The fountain was easy to assemble out of the package and it did not take long before it was up and running.

I purchased this particular fountain after looking at different models online and ultimately chose this one based on price and brand. I have other products by Petmate and find them to be of good quality and reliable. I also chose this fountain because it was available at nearby stores (Wal-mart) and I could buy replacement filters easily.

The two issues I had with the fountain were the volume of water it held, and keeping it clean. Even with the filter the plastic bowl would develop a slimy film from the cats saliva. The fountain can be disassembled to be cleaned, but certain areas are very hard to reach without a special brush like you may use on lab ware graduated cylinders. Even with these brushes, some corners may retain build up that can really accumulate over time.

The volume of water may not be an issue with a one-cat household, but with two cats I felt I was filling it quite often to prevent the gurgling noise it makes when empty. I was worried the motor might burn out while I was not at home to refill it on time, but luckily this never happened. I believe there may be one larger size available now for dogs, but this can get pretty pricey.

I used this fountain for almost 6 months before I got fed up not being able to keep it sterile to provide a healthy water source for my cats. I now just keep three stainless steel bowls on the counter for the cats and scrub them out daily with a dish brush and refill them. I can just as easily pop them in the dishwasher once a week when I do the other dishes. I know most people aren't this fastidious about water bowls, but as an animal keeper I guess I can be a bit of a clean freak. I find the best health care for animals is preventative healthcare involving proper nutrition, a clean environment, regular veterinary visits, and plenty of enrichment (play time!).

Overall, the fountain is a great way to get fussy cats to drink more water, but does require some maintenance. I would still recommend it to someone who has a cat that has trouble getting the required amount of water or who has urinary/kidney issues. Just be sure to regularly check the cleanliness and water level :)