Cons: Hard to clean, filters don't last as long as they should
The Bottom Line: This fountain is NOT ideal for someone who isn't going to take the time to clean it often. Be prepared to take the fountain apart often for cleaning.
panaceatoo's Full Review: Petmate Fresh Flow Deluxe Purifying Pet Fountain (...
My vet recommended the Petmate Fresh Flow Deluxe fountain after my older cat was diagnosed with crystals in her urine. Just like humans who have urinary problems, the vet said it's important for cats with urinary problems to drink lots of water. The vet said that she'd had good luck with the fountains, as cats can be finicky about stale water.
When I got the fountain, I had to do some minor assembly to put it together. The instructions in the box were OK, though clearly not written by a native English speaker. Also, while the fountain uses a charcoal filter to purify the water, mine did not come with one - so I had to go back to the store to buy one. (Not sure if that was a mistake with the fountain I bought or if they just don't come with filters - but be forewarned!)
Once we got the fountain together, we followed the instructions for filling it. It's more cumbersome than just plopping down a bowl of water because you have to fill the base first, then fill the reservoir where the filter sits, then fill the the storage area.
When we first plugged the fountain in and turned it on, the cats weren't sure what to think. The pump is loud at first while it tries to get the water moving, but it quiets right down as soon as the water starts to flow. After that - the cats were intrigued. They both took to drinking out of the fountain within an hour.
About 3-4 days after plugging the fountain in, I went to change the water. A slime had built up on the reservoir surfaces and on the suface of the water pump. I was surprised because I thought the filter should help prevent this. At this point, I discovered the fountain was more difficult to clean than I'd expected. You have to take the entire fountain apart, wash each piece separately, then put it all back together. This process takes at least 15 minutes, whereas cleaning out a regular water bowl takes less than 2.
After about a month of use, I found that a lot of particles were getting into the water, so I changed out the filter, which solved the problem - for a time. After several months of use, I'm finding I have to change the filter every 3-4 weeks, even though it says it's a 60-day filter.
One last issue that I've had with the filter is the very long cord. While that may be an advantage for some, our kitten has decided it makes a great play thing. As she bats around the cord, the fountain moves too (as it has no grips on the bottom) and water splashes all over the floor. I finally had to get a nonstick mat to keep the fountain from moving.
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