Dog Supplies Food and More
Home Products Reviews Articles About Contact


Petmate Deluxe Fresh Flow Pet Fountain Large, White
By: Petmate       Average Rating: 4.0     Total Reviews: 472
More Information

Cats love it...     On: 2009-01-07

Our 2 cats were drinking out of the tub... we would let it drip all day for them, which wasted a lot of water and began to stain the tub. Since purchasing this fountain, our cats no longer care about the tub. The cats quickly adjusted to the fountain too. It took the one cat a couple hours and the other, a couple days.
My cats love this!     On: 2008-12-28

This product is great. With still water, sometimes the dishes can get a little film on the bottom. That doesnt happen with the fresh slow fountain. My cats wont drink out of a bowl now.
works great!     On: 2008-12-27

this fountain is awesome! i bought it for my daughters cat who wont drink water unless it comes from the sink. to avoid a constant drizzle in the bathroom sink, i purchased this in hopes she would drink from it. to our pleasure amelia (the cat) took to it immediately and absolutely loves it!
great price, looks nice, easily assembly w/the filter. i recommend it.
Worst motor ever     On: 2008-12-16

This water bowl is soooo noisy. No matter what we do this thing makes a ton of noise. It really must have the cheapest water pump China can make inside it. It was only quiet for about the first two weeks, then I bet the pumps little heart gave out. Filling it rarely helps, kicking it sometimes does. It looks cool... I hope you have better luck. At least our cat likes it, however he usually likes anything that annoys us.
Great for the kitties     On: 2008-12-16

I have two cats, one was a little scared at first, but the other one took right to it and will even lay beside it on occassion when it is hot. Now they both love it, when I first set it up, it did make a sound, but after a week when I went to clean it, I realized that is makes that sound if it is not completely full. Now the loud sound that others complain about is gone, you have to make sure that not just the reserve part of the fountain is full but also the main container level matches water level as well. Cleaning it once a week is best, since fur can get caught as well as food bits in the main fountain. But it is a really good fountain, it was so good that I got one for my moms new kitten!
Works great and our cats LOVE it.     On: 2008-12-08

I purchased this for our two cats January 2008 and it still works in all the important ways almost a year later:

1. Cats love the flowing water.
2. Just need to deal with the water situation once a week, maybe twice.
3. Still running as if brand new a year later with no problems electrically.

That helps keep happy and healthy cats, in my experience.
cats like it better than me     On: 2008-12-01

I thought this would be the perfect solution for my sink drinkers. They do now drink out of this fountain. The best feature of this is the quiet motor, you can hardly hear it when more than a few feet away. the problem is that the motor starts to grind as soon as the water level goes down, which in our house is every day. So i find myself filling it all the time. You also have to have filters on hand. And it gets grimy quickly. I have several animals, so maybe if you have only one or two, it would not be as much of an issue. all in all, not a bad product, but could use a little improvement.
Petmate Fresh Flow fountain - quality control problems     On: 2008-11-30

Ive had three of these, and my mother has had two. Ive found that the older ones are better than the newer ones: pumps last longer, are quieter, and the pieces fit together better. The new ones (Ive bought three in two years, for two households) have come with defective pumps, parts that jam together and are then impossible to separate for cleaning, and with parts missing. I think the company moved their production to a different facility, or in the case of the pumps may have switched suppliers, and they cant maintain quality control.

That said, if you get a good unit, its a very good product: quiet, easy to clean, and my cats and dog all took to it quickly. But it must be cleaned frequently to keep gunk out of the pump - especially if you have a dog that uses it as a post-dinner face wash!
Petmate Deluxe Fresh Flow Pet Fountain     On: 2008-11-30

I owned this product prior to ordering a new one as the pump shot craps on the old one. The old one I had worked great. The new one that I just got is very noisy. In fact we had to put it in a room downstairs so that it wouldnt keep us up at night. It seems to make a loud buzzing sound that is very irritating and distracting. Taking off the top part of the waterer to clean it is also very difficult with this new one. The old one was a cinch to clean. With this new one I have to pry the parts apart with a knife in order to disassemble it for cleaning. I dont know what happened in the manufacturing process but the new one is certainly not as good as the former product.
Great product for the price!     On: 2008-11-25

Great pet fountain for the price. It was cheaper then Walmart and came with free shipping. Plus it works great so what can I say? Im happy!
Not overly pleased     On: 2008-11-24

Had our Petmate for just over a year. I just tonight threw it in the garbage. When we first got it, it took my 2 cats over a month before they would go near it. They seemed to like it okay after that. About a month ago I found it had been leaking a little. I took it apart, cleaned it and it appeared to be okay. I never did figure out why it was leaking or from where. Tonight after being gone all day, I came home to find a big puddle of water on the floor. Again I cant see why its leaking or where its coming from. I had it setting next to the microwave stand which now has water damage around the bottom. Leason learned. I guess the cats will just have to get used to the old fashoned bowl of water again.
Cat water dish     On: 2008-11-22

The pet smart water dish was noisy when it arrived and the manufacture was prompt in replacing the motor. Works well, Rusty seems to like it. Would purchase it again. Useful as you only need to add water about every other day. After a couple of weeks took it apart, which is easy and ran it through the dish washer. Bill
Try the Drinkwell Platinum instead!     On: 2008-11-21

I have ordered the (blue) Petmate Deluxe Fresh Flow Pet Fountain 3 times in 4 years, but I have finally decided to stop ordering this one and try a different fountain. The first one lasted quite a while before it started to have problems. It started to leak a lot of water all over the floor. I read in one of the reviews that the cause of the problem was the filters. So, I took the filter out and sure enough, it solved the problem (but after having such a huge leak, Ive always kept the fountain on a cookie tray to keep the water on the tray). But then the pump started to make loud noises (even though I cleaned the fountain weekly and kept it full of water). So, I ordered a second one since they arent that expensive. The 2nd one leaked water right away, so again, I took the filter out, but after a while, it was leaking even with the filter out. So I ordered a 3rd one and this one only lasted 4 months until the pump totally broke somehow (the water would not go down the ramp at all). I also could never use the filter because of the water leaking. So, I finally ordered a more expensive fountain, The Drinkwell Platinum Pet Fountain, and I LOVE it and my cats love it (my review is on the Drinkwell page). Wish I would have bought this one the first time!
The cats love it!     On: 2008-11-06

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2B8ZXD575MRIP I have two cats & two dogs: Snappea, as seen in the video, used to prefer drinking out from faucets, and Sweetpea, shes not drinking enough water and prefer to dip her paw in the doggies water bowl.

It has been running for a month now, cleaned once and so far so good. Snappea has stopped hogging faucets and Sweetpea is slowly getting used to it.
Pet Mate Fresh Flow Fountain ( a must have for my cats)     On: 2008-11-02

My cats love this fountain. They cant wait for the water to flow down. They lick it right as it flows into the bowl. This is the second one for me. Suggestion...take it apart about once a month to make sure the motor is free of any particles or cat fur. It saves on the motor.
kitty fountain     On: 2008-11-01

My cat and kitten love the fountain, and drink more water than they would from their bowls. The water in the reservoir lasts about 3 days. The only issue I have at all is that the fountain is a little noisy. You would not want it in your TV room. I am glad to have this product, and would buy it again.
absolutely silent operation     On: 2008-11-01

I have to be honest here. I just got this water fountain yesterday, but my first impressions are very favorable. It was a breeze to put together. That maybe because I had another pet fountain, and although it was a completely different make and design, it was based on the same idea. The instructions however were quite simple to follow. I do feel I need to point out something that i discovered accidently. After I had put the unit together, as instructed, filled it with water and turned it on. I was initially disappointed because it was making a rather annoying gurgling noise. However, when I disassembled and reassembled the parts around the water pump I discovered that one of the top parts that fits onto the water pumps outlet nozzle just hadnt quite set right, but when it WAS in place correctly the noise disappeared, and I mean DISAPPEARED! This thing is asolutely dead "turnded off" silent when its running. like I said at the beginning of this review, this unit is brand new to me, so only time and proper maintenance will determine it true worth, but for now I think its great.
The Drinkwell Platinum is much better and cleaner product     On: 2008-10-31

We previously we had this model (the Petmate Deluxe Fresh Flow) for about 2 years. The motor ran well and it never broke, so I gave it 2 stars. But it is an older outdated model and our pet store stopped carrying the filters. So I decided to upgrade to a newer product, the Drinkwell Platinum fountain.Drinkwell Platinum Pet Fountain

I would definitely recommend the Drinkwell and NOT this product. The new Drinkwell has been wonderful because Ive definitely seen all three of my cats drinking MUCH more water in the last two weeks than with the Petmate fountain. I can promise you Ive found the proof in the litter boxes.

The Drinkwells water stream is much stronger and circulates the water better than the Petmate. It gives the water the power to move most of the debris toward the little trap. That keeps the water bowl so much cleaner; where as with the Petmate, the debris would circulate until it either sank to the bottom or stuck to the bowl walls. In addition, the Drinkwells filter is designed SO much better (6 divided coal sections). The coal in the Petmates filter would just clump at the bottom (i believe it has 2 divided sections).

The Drinkwell also holds a lot more water. Both products are dishwasher safe, so regular washing is easy for either. However, I can say the old Petmate has many tiny corners which made it a pain when it came to scrubbing off the mineral deposit build up (but my guess is the new one will be too).

I would recommend paying the extra $20 and going for the Drinkwell Platinum and staying away from this old model.
Keeps cats from spilling water     On: 2008-10-31

This item keeps my cats from spilling their water but it is hard to keep clean, runs out of water rather quickly, and tends to be quite noisy when it is low on water and even sometimes when it isnt. It does do what I wanted it to, though, and it was not a bad price with free shipping.
works great     On: 2008-10-26

Works wonderfully! We have two young kittens who are getting used to it, and I was worried that it would rattle like the one I had gotten for our previous cats whod passed away earlier this year, but it is great! The kittens have no fears of it and it is silent and without problems. Easy to assemble and minimal maintenance.
Just what I needed     On: 2008-10-17

The Petmate Deluxe pet fountain is perfect for my 2 aging female cats. They need lots of water for their kidneys and the freshness of the water, along with the movement of it, keeps them drinking it instead of trying to drink from the toilets! I wish I had purchased it long before now.
Cats love its     On: 2008-10-16

Our four cats love this. Fat Sam especially. Very quiet and holds plenty of water for the four cats.
Happy Cats! Happy Mom!     On: 2008-10-15

I read various reviews of the Petmate Fountain before I bought it, but my sister had the smaller version and she was very happy with hers. So I went ahead and bought the jumbo version for my two cats. Weve had it for about 4 weeks now, and its been great! I dont find it hard to clean, or to refill. My one cat loved it immediately, but it took the other a few days to get used to the running water and the noise. Its not noisy by any means, but it sounds like exactly what it is...a fountain! My husband and I travel a lot on the weekends, so its great to not have to worry about them running out of water, or it getting stale. I am happy that I went with the Jumbo size b/c I think I would have been refilling it much too often if I had gotten something smaller...so if you have two adult cats, I definitely recommend the Jumbo.
Don't bother     On: 2008-10-12

Of course your pets enjoy fresh water but this fountain is not the answer. It does not keep the water fresh and becomes dirty rather easily. My dog, who drinks filtered and non-filtered water, did not enjoy the taste of the water after it ran through this fountain. However, the hubby and I decided to keep it hoping hed get more adjusted to it, and he eventually did. But there were other problems: after religiously cleaning the fountain every three days it still grew mildew on the inside within four months. I wrote to Petmate for a solution (figuring this was a defect) and the company never bothered to reply. I wound up with a product I cant use and a bunch of filters for it. So, in short, bad taste for the animals and prone to mold, from a company that doesnt stand up for its products.
Good water bowl bad pump     On: 2008-10-11

These water bowls are awesome and my cats love them but the pump tends to break after 6 months to a year. Its quick and cheap to get a replacement though so its really not that bad.
Superb water fountain for cats     On: 2008-10-06

I purchased this several months ago because my kitties were drinking a lot of water and I felt I was wasting a lot when I cleaned out their water bowl daily.

The fountain is very quiet and requires only a weekly cleaning (my cats dip their paws in the water and put their mouths up to the lip). Its especially important to keep the area near the flow switch clean.

If you use filtered water, the charcoal filters will last longer. I change the filters every 45 days or so, with 3 cats using the fountain.

If you let the water level run too low for too long, or dont keep the fountain clean, the motor may wear out quickly (my first fountain wore out in 6 months) since it uses water for cooling. But my cats love the fountain, so I bought another one.
Works Well, Great Price     On: 2008-10-05

Bought this to encourage my cat to drink more water after his third time in the emergency animal hospital for an urinary tract infection. Assembly was fairly easy and used less than a gallon of distilled water to initially fill. It was noisy at first, but after an adjustment of the flow tab its pretty quiet. My cat loves to drink right off of the ramp that water flows down, so Im glad I didnt purchase an expensive model where the water actually falls and splashes into the water below it. I clean it once every 2 weeks just for upkeep, but it never seems really slimy or dirty so it could probably go longer between cleanings. For the price, this is a great water fountain and Im glad I didnt buy the expensive models available.
The cat and dog love the fresh water     On: 2008-10-04

When i bought this, my wife was saying i was crazy. She swore that they wouldnt care if it was fresh daily, or always fresh. So, we left the bowl that she filled daily with water out as well. It took the pets about a day to get used to the fountain but, once they did they didnt even touch the water from the bowl.
The downside is that it does have a little bit of noise... soft at first but, like a kettles loud whistle to tell you it needs attention. So does this, with an annoying gurgling sound.
We stopped using it!     On: 2008-09-30

This thing is supposed to provide fresh water for your pets, right? Well we stopped using ours and went back to the old water bowl, because dust would build up on the surface of the water. The water flow was slow, not providing good filteration. The dish gets scummy fast, and the filters got nasty in just a couple of days. Before long we found mold in the filer and inside the machine. It is not easy to clean, and requires constant maintainance. We stopped using the filer for a while and it worked a little better, but what is the point of that? I wouldnt reccomend buying one - Id give you ours if I could.
Pet Fountain Disappointment     On: 2008-09-30

Assembled the item as per instructions; the pump rattled loudly enough to annoy me and scare the cats; disassembled and reassembled everything - no luck; opened and cleaned pump (a miniature version of my aquarium pumps) as per instructions - no luck; company quickly sent new pump - success - for about two hours; repeated above steps - success for about two hours; tried a third time - same results; gave up.
love my cats     On: 2008-09-30

My 3 cats love the Pet flow I had the medium but that was always empty so I gave it to my mother in law and bought the Jumbo and that last alot longer the cats and 1 dog drink and drink. I may alittle noise form the water hitting the bottom but that is ok I dont mind it as long as they are all drinking I can deal with it. love it.
Great service.     On: 2008-09-30

The product works just like it is supposed to. The shipping was very quick. I am very happy with the service and the product.
great for pets in a hot weather     On: 2008-09-30

It is great for pets and you dont have to replace the water often, just make sure you add some every 2 or three days. I wish it would have a timer...
Its not the best but may be good enough for your needs...     On: 2008-09-29

In my search for a fresh water fountain I started off with this water fountain from Petmate.
I wasnt very impressed.
True, it will circulate the water. It has a filter & it will work just fine for some people.
The water tank is very small & unless you have just 1 or 2 cats or a Yorkie, youll be refilling constantly. Also, refilling is a bit more difficult than other products.
Im not saying this is not a good product but it wasnt a good product for me.
As one reviewer stated, " you get what you pay for!"
I just think this Petmate is not as good a product as the Drinkwell which I purchased for 2X the price after trying the Petmate.
Ive had the Drinkwell Platinum for well over a year & its never been a problem. Easy to clean, runs quietly & my 2 cats & 4 dogs drink much more water than if it was in a bowl.
In fact, due to adding 2 more dogs to the pack Im on Amazon now to purchase my 2nd Drinkwell fountain.
Again, the Petmate may be just right for you. But the Drinkwell is a far better product.
Cat Water Fountain     On: 2008-09-26

I am somewhat disappointed because I wanted a product where the water came out like a drinking fountain. The water in this product flows down a ramp.
Cheap, noisy pump     On: 2008-09-23

We bought one of these at our local pet store. The first night we used it, the fountain was completely silent. I had to check it a few times to make sure it was still on. The next night, it sounded like a small refrigerator. Something must have gone off-kilter in the pump, causing it to vibrate, but I couldnt find anything stuck or broken. Back to the pet store it went!
Excellent idea, but improvements could be made     On: 2008-09-22

I believe this product is an excellent idea. However there are improvements that could be made.
For one, it is very difficult to clean and stay clean. There are tight crevices and to get every little area, I had to purchase a cleaning kit separately that came with brushes to get those hard to reach areas. The motor also has to be cleaned as well, so you have tiny parts to pull apart and clean as well. The filters need to be replaced often and they arent cheap to replace. In a two cat household, I would need to do these things more often as well.
Another issue with the fountain, is that you need to keep the reservoir full. Otherwise, you will hear a loud motor or water sound.
The good thing to this fountain is that it promotes good pet health. I find that my cats drink more water when using the fountain.
Unfortunately, I do not have time to clean it as well as I would like. I am going to go back the stainless steel bowls and just change the water out twice a day instead of once a day to encourage my cats to drink more water. I will also be using filtered water as well.
If you are thinking about using this fountain, see if you can find one at the pet store and look at all of the parts before making that final purchase and consider the time it will take and whether or not it would be worth it to you.
Solid choice for cat drinking fountain     On: 2008-09-20

Ive found that almost all cats strongly prefer to drink running water as opposed to still water. Cat eyes are attracted to motion. My cats drink much more often from a fountain than a water dish which makes me feel better about their health. Cats love this thing, the only cons are from the human maintenance side of things.

Cons: A water fountain is more work than filling up a dish. You must plug it in, turn it on, clean the pump, replace the filter, and refill the resevoir often. This does get annoying but is not a problem unqiue to this fountain, and to me its definitely worth it for my cats.

The fountain is pleasant looking, a perfect size, and very quiet.
Best water bowl ever     On: 2008-09-19

This the best water bowl for more that one pet ever. With 4 cats and on dog it last 2 days and they love it. It takes a day or two for them to start using it. Would recomend it to anyone with more than 1 cat.
Works Like a Charm!     On: 2008-09-15

I am a new owner of a cat and found that I needed to take a 5 day trip out of town soon after I got her. My daughter was asked to help me find pet waterer that was dependable and easy to use since I have no prior experience with these things. I must say that the Petmate Deluxe Fresh Flow Pet Fountain Large, White turned out to be exactly what I was looking for! It was very easy to assemble and only took about twenty minutes. Two extra water filters were included with the unit as well. The extra reservoir was a nice touch plus the entire unit holds a a full gallon of water! operates very quietly no buzz or hums.
I only have one cat, so if you have more than one you might consider purchasing a larger waterer. I might add that the cat did not hesitate to drink from the unit which had a steady flow of fresh water with no danger of tipping over.
Very pleased with the price, performance, quality and speed of delivery.
I am now looking at purchasing an automatic pet feeder for my feline companion for my next trip away from her.
Seems the kind that just has all that food just laying around was too much temptation for her.LOL!!
Water Them Well     On: 2008-09-15

We have multiple cats in the house and went through the daily routine of rinsing out water bowls and placing fresh water in them all. With the Deluxe Fresh Flow Fountain, we now have much less of a chore. With its footprint, the cats cannot turn it over and spill on the floor the way they could with other bowls. It is quiet if you keep the filter clean (dirty filters = noise).
Cats love this fountain     On: 2008-09-15

I would recommend this to anyone with a cat. This is the second one I have purchased. The first one I had given to a friend after my cat passed away three years ago. When I decided to adopt another cat, I bought one for him, and he loves it as much as my first cat did. It really seems to encourage them to drink more water, and it functions quite well. I would recommend changing the filter at least once every 8 weeks, and cleaning the whole fountain at the same time. The only down side is that I have to fill the reservoir at least every 24-36 hours. If you have more than one cat or are gone for two or more days at a time, you may want to invest in the larger size.
Wonderfully Whisper Quiet!     On: 2008-09-14

This is the third pet water fountain Ive owned, and the best. The first one was the very large size,with large resevoir attachment. I think it was too much water for my two cats - they didnt go through it fast enough so the water seemed to get "stale". I eventually ended up getting rid of it because all of the nooks and crannies inside were too hard to get clean and ended up slimy and gross - I wouldnt want water from it! The second fountain I had was a Medium Petmate - but the "deluxe" model with adjustable fountain speed. This one was very noisy and I always had to fiddle with it to get the water pumping correctly- often in the middle of the night so I could sleep. (Eventually my cat puked in it, jamming the motor. No desire to try to fix it). I had given up on the water fountains - even though my cats LOVE THEM- and then this simple model went on sale. It is perfect. I have to refill it often - may be a downside for some but I figure my cats are getting fresher water this way. It works great and I cant believe how very very quiet it is. Maybe simpler is better!
Petmate Fountain     On: 2008-09-14

The product works just fine, no complaints. The reason I ordered from the Amazon site is because the product was stated as white in color. I received a tan one which I could have ordered from many other places. Here is the description from Amazon.com.. "Petmate Deluxe Fresh Flow Pet Fountain Medium, White"
I love it!!     On: 2008-09-14

I have been using this for a while now, and I have not had any problems!! It keeps the water moving and fresh, and somewhat cooler. I take it apart about once a week and clean it really well, but other that that, I never have to mess with it. I, however, only have one midsize dog..and I think if someone had a couple of dogs, or a large dog, they would have to get a larger water tank.
OK... hard to clean!     On: 2008-09-13

The fountain works fine although the filter does leak a bit into the bowl so that it gets dirty very fast. I would not reccomend this fountain b/c it is very awkward to clean and refill which needs to be done often. Would be good if the company created a way to take out the bowl seperate from the entire fountain.
Horrendously loud, don't buy this!     On: 2008-09-13

When I was in school, my cat used a Drinkwell fountain, which he loved. After I moved across the country to California, I decided to buy him another fountain, this time a Petmate Deluxe. What a terrible mistake. This beast is amazingly loud! The pump makes a very irritating grating sound, a lot like a fan thats misaligned such that the blades grate against the sides. Its an incessant grinding plastic noise that I can hear two rooms away. The Petmate sits in my kitchen and actually rivals the noise of the dishwasher.

Although it wasnt enough to scare my cat, after three days I couldnt take it anymore and unplugged it. Now it sits there like an overpriced plastic water bowl. At least the Petmate was limited to a splashing water noise, which was actually somewhat calming. There is nothing calming about this. Had I not thrown away the box, Id return it today.

Please dont buy this!!!
Poor Quality Fountain     On: 2008-09-12

This is my 2nd Petmate fountain. My first one lasted about 1 year, then stopped working. This one never worked well. I have it on full flow, and water barely comes out. Not worth the cost of electricity to run it. Pay a little more, and get a better quality fountain.
No Lakes on my floor     On: 2008-09-12

My Newfoundland could not have a regular water dish in the house, because he stuck his paw into it, splashed out all the water, and then knocked over the dish, even the tip-proof kind. He was reduced to drinking out of the toilet. His outdoor water dish (really an enormous soup pot) froze in winter and got bugs in it in the summer.
This water dish is GREAT!!!! Maybe its the flowing water, but he drinks instead of playing. There are barely any puddles. There is enough water for him and his buddy, who is also large (half black lab, half St. Bernard) and also a messy drinker.

I am very, very happy that I bought this. I bought a back up! I bought lots of extra filters! The water stays pretty clean, even when they have been digging in the mud and have messy muzzles.

I highly recommend it!
Great Idea with a weak and flawed pump     On: 2008-09-08

Ive now had this fountain for a little over 2 months and the pump is starting to fail.

As is, if I unplug it, to start it again I need to open up the pump and push the impeller to get it spinning. Without the initial push to get it running, it simply doesnt start.

Also, do not think that this fountain will replace your water dish or be less of a hassle. In fact, this will require a tremendous amount of effort to keep running.

Daily Maintenance:
Clean out cat/dog hair from the mesh.
Fill up.

Every Other day:
Clean the inside filter.

Weekly:
Take completely apart, wash out all gunk, hair, dirt etc.
Open the pump, push the impeller to get it started.

Oh and both the cats and dogs seem to prefer the old large water dish as opposed to the fountain, which they also use, but not nearly as much.
Works exactly as described     On: 2008-09-07

Does exactly what its supposed to. Havent had to clean it in weeks. I simply keep pouring more water in when it gets low. Only drawback is my cats dont like it! My fault, they seem to like running water, but only the kind theyre not supposed to have ;-)
Cats Love It     On: 2008-09-07

This is a great water dish. Its easy to refill and the cats love the flowing water. The kitten likes to play with it. The only thing I do not like is that the cat hair that gets in the dish is not as easy to clean since you have to lift the entire thing up and dump the water in the sink (and clean it out) once in a while. Other than that slight inconvenience, its great because the water lasts a long time (large tank) and the cats really love it!
Great for short-term use...     On: 2008-09-03

This product is great for about 1-2 years. Over time, the motor will get bits and pieces of your pets fur and food, which causes the motor to break down, even with regular cleaning. I found no way to purchase a replacement motor, so I was really bummed (as were my cats!).

I ended up purchasing a new fountain, but upgraded to the Drinkwell Platinum Pet Fountain. I highly recommend that fountain because it has a small guard that blocks food, fur, and other particles from getting into the motor and its reservoir.
Kitty loves it!     On: 2008-08-31

We recently adopted an adult male cat from the local SPCA shelter. He was found abandoned, so there was no information on him. He has become a wonderful addition to our home, but he would only drink water out of a running faucet??? This is not convenient or practical. Looking for a solution, I happened to see the Petmate Fresh Flow Fountain. He loves it and is happy to drink from it--I think the movement of the water into the bowl makes it for him.
cat fountain     On: 2008-08-31

I would recommend this fountain to anyone. It is easy to clean and I have not had an issue with the pump or noise or leaking. It was a reasonable price and the cats,Sweetie,April, and Sam all approve. I do think that next time I will get a larger one but in the meantime this one is just great.
Petmate Fountain dish Leaks     On: 2008-08-30

This products sounds better than it is. The noise it makes scared my cats away - they would drink water from any OTHER dish than that one. After about 2 weeks, the dish began to leak, leaving a puddle on the wood floor, warping it before I realized it had a leak.
Petmate Deluxe Fresh Flow Fountain medium.     On: 2008-08-30

I have two cats that took to it right away. I had seen it at my sisters and since one of my cats liked to drink out of the sink it seemed only natural hed like it, and he did.

The only problem I have is the noise. Air always gets trapped in the chamber before the filter and creates and audible sound. But I have it in my kitchen so I notice it there.

Overall, Id recommend it.
Fresh water for Your Pets     On: 2008-08-30

Our pets love the freshness of flowing water as long as they are happy so are we. Thanks and I recommend this item for all pet lovers.
my cats love it     On: 2008-08-29

It is a pretty decent water fountain, but I shall buy a bigger volume. My two cats can drain the water once a day, so I have to fill the water container everyday. When the water level is low, the pump is kind of noisy coz it sucks the air.
I bypass this pet fountain with a small UPS right next to my computer. This small appliance runs 24/7. I bet it will save some energy.
Loved it, but it stopped working.     On: 2008-08-28

::NOTE:: I originally gave this five stars, and wish now I could change that. I really did love it (see below for original review), but it stopped working properly after 2 months of use. The motor started constantly making the noise that it usually makes when it needs to be refilled and then it started leaking. I was unable to repair it after that. Very disappointed.


My review is similar to many others. I have two cats. One took to it immediately, the other was hesitant at first. After a couple of weeks I took their bowls of water away and now both cats use it frequently. I was worried about how little water they were drinking before (as well as the quality of stagnant water). This makes me feel better because I know they are drinking it, it is moving water (and filtered) and cooler for them. I recommend this to anyone with pets.
Stay away from this item     On: 2008-08-24

It started leaking out the top almost immediately. No way to solve water getting all over the floor. They need to recall this item and give everyone their money back. The water hits the filter and splashes out the back. It needs a water tight rubber gasket and some way to clamp down the top for it to ever work.
Pet water fountain     On: 2008-08-21

Petmate Deluxe Fresh Flow Pet Fountain Medium, White

No bad though kind of disappointed. The stream is not very forceful. My animals are used to the Drinkwell product.
Jumbo Petmate Deluxe Fresh Flow Pet Fountain     On: 2008-08-21

I absolutely love this fountain. I have a small mixed breed dog (25lb), a Shetland Sheepdog, and 2 large cats. I used to have 2 Vanness 3 liter automatic waterers. The water that I filled with them would sit for a week or longer and never be less than half full. After about6 months, I got tired of how hard they were to clean and that the animals did not want to drink out them. So I splurged and bought this. I really love this thing. My pets love it also. They drink it all to the point of me refilling it about twice a week. They are drinking so much water now. Which I dont mind because they need it. It only takes about 10-15 minutes to clean the entire unit and it is very easy to do. My only complaint is that I wish they made a bigger unit. I got the Jumbo, but still I wish they made a larger one. Everything else about this product is excellent.
Cats LOVE it but hidden areas hold bacteria!     On: 2008-08-20

Ive have this fountain for 5 months, but the regular model, without the adjustable flow feature. All 5 of my cats love it and drink regularly, even when the reservoir tank gurgles to fill the bowl since theyre drinking so much at one time!

As with lots of other reviews, I do NOT use the filters as it restricts the flow of water down the ramp to almost nothing within a day. The pump is not strong enough to push the water through such a dense filter bag with very large chunks of carbon. I question whether the large size chunks do much good anyway. When the water cant flow past the filter to get to the ramp, it trickles back into the enclosed bottom reservoir where the pump is, thus making water sounds all the time, very annoying over the usually quiet of the fountain without the filter.

Since I use well water in the fountain and clean every part of it once a week, I found some very hard to reach and HIDDEN areas that harbor/grow the pinkish slime/bacteria that takes a contortionist to TRY and clean!!

Every hard edge around the back reservoirs interior and the upright brackets to align the pump need a cotton swab to de-pink their tight corners. Also, the removable grill area is very tight and requires swabbing the raceway areas. The channels in the filter reservoir also needs a long swabbing action to clean those tight angles where the filter would reside. And last and the very worst part to clean is the uptake columns inside AND into the curved spout where the water dumps into the filter reservoir!!

If the take up tube AND curved spout have goop in them that you missed, it will come out into the fresh water of your newly cleaned fountain, contaminating all the fresh water, and the process must be repeated. Ive started PRE-running the pump connected to the filter reservoir that has the takeup tube into a separate bowl of water just to be sure I had it cleaned right before installing it on all that fresh water.

I love the fountain as much as my cats, but one must be diligent in thoroughly cleaning EVERY nook and cranny if youre using well water with the minerals etc. due to the propensity for slime build up. I use dish detergent, cotton swabs, a hemostat (used with swabs & paper towels), pipe cleaners for the tube and curved outlet, and wash out the clear reservoir each time as well with detergent before a problem starts.

I also have the blue model which is extremely hard to find, but really looks nicer than a white one showing stains and grime though you can still see junk in it when you have to. Remember to pull out the pumps inner magnetic cylinder with pliers or hemostats and swab around the metal pin, youll see the pink residue on your swab as well as swabbing the inlet hole of the pump itself too.

This is NOT a ton of work to maintain the fountain, I just never saw these issues covered and thought it worthwhile to mention the cause of the slimy strings you may see in your water!! Definitely worth having to get your cats to drink water which is otherwise impossible ;)
great purchase     On: 2008-08-12

We bought one of these for our 4 cats over a year ago now and it has been a great purchase from day one. We do have to clean it once a week and fill it up with water twice a week but considering we have 4 cats, that is much better than we had it before with multiple water changes per day. The pump filter does have to be cleaned each week as well because hair gets caught in it. Total cleanup time is 5 minutes. Our cat love this, they never drink from the sinks anymore. They even drop their toy mice in the water bowl to play with them. The fountain can make some noise when the water flows back into the lower chamber but we found that by using filtered water going in we can eliminate the need for the internal fountain filter which prevents any noise via the water overrun inside the unit.
Highly recommended     On: 2008-08-10

I have had it for maybe 6 years. Also purchased the other type, I forget the name of that brand, it has more of a spout than this one, which is more of a flow. I have 8 cats, some really like the flow, some just want to drink from a bowl. I dont consider this noisy. I dont bother with the filter, consider that kind of useless. If the pump gets blocked by junk (will occur with or without using a filter) it will get noisy, or if the water gets low. That is your clue to add water or clean it. If you ever shelled out $500 because one of your cats had urinary blockage, you dont consider anything that encourages your cats to drink more water a bad idea. I also suggest filtered water (I use the attachment for my tap), cats really go for filtered water more. Bottom line, some of my cats just love this, and they all prefer it to the alternate brand. My toms all go for it, and male cats are more prone to urinary blockage.
great, except for the motor     On: 2008-08-08

I originally got this about 2 years ago for my cats and they loved it. Its a pain to clean, and it has to be cleaned regularly or it gets a weird slimey film inside the bowl.
The motor started dying this spring so I bought a replacement motor, for 2/3 the cost of the original unit. The replacement motor I got was faulty so it makes a very loud hum. Im going to try my luck with a Drinkwell fountain instead.
Fresh water daily     On: 2008-08-08

My cat is enjoying having fresh filtered water daily from his new fountain. I keep it in the kitchen to dump out old water, rinse the bowl and put in new water every couple days. Hes not quite comfortable drinking the water while its flowing but enjoys the fresh water after the flow is turned off. Its also at the right height for him to drink from.
Finicky Cat Owners Beware...     On: 2008-08-08

I think this is a great product. However, my finicky cat refuses to drink from it. I left it there for a month with another water bowl in a different location and she refused to use the pet fountain. I wound up giving it to a friend with 2 non-finicky cats. So, beware if your cat is attached to their water bowl.
The best pet product ever!     On: 2008-08-07

I absolutely love this pet fountain. It was recommended by the cattery I purchased my cat from. Fresh water is always available for my pets. I would never be without one.
Worked for 6 months and died     On: 2008-08-06

The fountain worked for 6 months and the poor quality of the pump I noticed when I put it together came through and died on me this week. After reading another negative review, I will try the drinkwell.
Loud     On: 2008-08-05

One of my cats insists on drinking from the faucet. So I bought this fountain hoping to encourage more water drinking. Needless to say, my cats did not like this pet fountain. They went to the standard bowl of water instead. Also, it is loud. My husband commented on the noise as soon as he walked into the room. I had to take this fountain back. :-(
Horrible!     On: 2008-08-05

We first bought this fountain for price and boy do you get what you pay for! We had actually been through 2 of these, because the first one didnt work properly, well the 2nd one didnt either. The flow is weak and gives out after a day or two and it needs to be constantly cleaned. I was really really disappointed with this fountain. We have since upgraded to the Drinkwell and I mean the difference was night and day. The drinkwell is a little bit more expensive, but it is worth it. Do your pet a favor and get the Drinkwell!
Animals like it, not sure if I do     On: 2008-08-05

We adopted two kitties within the last year in addition to our two dogs, and I was concerned that the kitties werent drinking enough. One was overly fascinated with the toilet, another wanted to drink out of the faucet at every opportunity (the dogs have no trouble drinking enough). I decided to give this a shot. After a brief period of "whats this?" the animals have all really taken a liking to it.

So far I have not had too much trouble cleaning it. I know it needs to be cleaned when it starts getting noisy. I just dump it out and clean everything with very hot water and a little scrubbing. A slime builds up around the pump and when its cleaned away it becomes quiet again (about once a week).

I was hoping the reservoir on the jumbo sized model and the larger size meant it would last more than one day, but I find myself having to refill the reservoir *at least* once a day. If the water level goes below a certain point in the bowl, it starts making a grating sound. So, the true capacity is actually the amount in the reservoir (not much) because the rest of the water is in the right chamber circulating.

I quickly ditched the filters, as these seemed to block the water flow, causing it to make a loud trickling sound in the circulating chamber. The animals dont seem to mind. The benefit for them, I think, is just the cooler and aerated water.

So, the animals like it, but it is certainly not maintenance free. I considered sending it back, but they do seem to like it and my husband and I are forever ruled by our animals, it seems, so we decided to keep it. It performs its function (keeping fur friends happy) but with the caveat of creating more work for the pet owner...well, usually the case isnt it?

quiet, works great     On: 2008-08-01

Weve had this product for several years for our three cats. It needs occasional cleaning -- at first I couldnt figure out why the pump quit, then I realized I needed to pull a glob of cat hair off the pump during cleaning-- but aside from that, it has had no problems at all. The cats drink from it and it means we do not have to refill the water all the time.

Two possible improvements on some future model-- a filter before the water gets to the pump (to remove hair), and a model with a significantly larger reservoir of water. (Wed love to let this go when we go on vacation for a week, but theres no way the waterd last that long. Wish I could somehow connect it to a 5-gallon jug of clean water!)

Overall, a great product that has worked for a long time. Im buying another one so we have one upstairs and one downstairs, for our oldest cats convenience.
Very Cumbersome!     On: 2008-07-28

This product is VERY jumbo! I bought this for my kittens, because they love to gather together at feeding time so I thought theyd enjoy having room to drink at the same time. The main problem with this is that sediment gathers at the bottom of the well very easily and the filter isnt strong enough to get it out. So basically every day you have to unplug it, drag the power cord to the nearest sink, and get the whole thing in the sink to rinse it out without spilling water all over the place. I was unhappy with this product and I really couldnt see myself going through all that hassle every day to rinse out the well, so I returned the product.
Convenience at a low price     On: 2008-07-23

This fountain is quite inexpensive compared to others I have seen elsewhere, and is convenient for those who are always on the run, such as myself.
It keeps the water cool and makes the water fresh (I add lukewarm water and minutes later it feels nice and cool). Rather than changing your pets stagnated water daily, this fountain only needs to have water added whenever it starts becoming noisy due to the filter needing to be fully submerged. It includes a reservoir too which makes your water-filling less frequent and since the water is constantly circulating, you dont have to worry about it getting algae. The filter traps pieces of food your pet may accidentally kick into the water, so at that time it is a good idea to empty the water and clean it with hot water.
Love it, love it, love it!     On: 2008-07-22

This unit is so quiet and works great. I have a 3 pound Chihuahua and a 14 pound Chinese Crested Hairless and the size is perfect for the two of them. I highly recommend this to any petite to small animal owner.
GET THE DELUXE MODEL     On: 2008-07-22

I had the deluxe model, and thought it wasnt working correctly, and I ordered this model, which did not work water gurgled out the sides. I cleaned the deluxe model with vinegar and it is working again! it keeps water circulating and my siamese and jack russell seem to drink more water .. get the deluxe model, you wont be sorry.
Easy to use, good for your pets     On: 2008-07-21

One of the things responsible cat owners have to do is to make sure their felines are drinking enough, especially true if your kitties are on a dry-food diet. This can be a challenge since cats can be notoriously finicky or even lazy about drinking enough water.

With this in mind, as well as keeping more water available during my frequent travels, I tried out this unit, was pleased, and bought an additional one. After about a year, one of them started to leak through the joint whre the water flows through. I replaced the unit with a new one that has not leaked yet.

Ive had three cats use them. One loves the water fountains best and drinks from them pretty much exclusively; that senior kitty cant crouch very well so she drinks from the top of the flowing part, while standing up. Another cat alternates between normal bowls and the bowl of the fountains. A third one never used the fountains.

For the people complaining about noise or burned out units, keep in mind this product uses a submersible pump (like in an aquarium), it needs to be completely immersed to function properly and to cool itself. Letting it run dry makes it both noisy and damages the pump (after a while). Keep it filled and its fine. The fountain will be noisy for 1-5 minutes when you first re-fill it, but otherwise its just a quiet hum.

Caveats: Its hard to tell when the filters are gunked up enough to affect the taste of the water, and replacing them creates some added cost. If your animals shed a lot, fur can get stuck around the pump and eventually impede water flow. My cats prefer if I change the water in the fountain regularly (much more often than Petmate suggests).

Other thoughts: I checked with my P3 International P4400 Kill A Watt Electricity Usage Monitor
and discovered the unit only uses a miniscule 2W, less than most nightlights!

For the price and the health of your animals, these are a bargain. Recommended!
Petmate Fresh Flow Water Bowl for the kittys     On: 2008-07-19

Reading some of these reviews I find there are quite a few people out there that dont know you have to take the little motor apart and clean the cat/kitty hair out of it to keep this unit working like a top and its not that hard to do either. I have had my unit for about 3 years and my kittys just love it. About once a month or every six or so weeks I unplug the unit and totally clean it out and the most important part is cleaning the cat hair out of the motor.. This really is a great product. Thanks Petmate
Good but None Too Large     On: 2008-07-19

Buy a larger size than you think youll need. I bought the Jumbo for a two-dog (one small, one large) household and wished that it came in a larger size. It required refilling every day or so. Other than that no real complaints. Reading the mostly positive reviews here leads me to believe that this product can have a long life. I havent owned it long enough to form an opinion. The first unit I purchased experienced pump failure within a week and was exchanged for another, which did not fail. Maybe the pump is the potential weak point....

There doesnt appear to be another, better product on the market, so go with the Petmate!
Doggies Love it     On: 2008-07-18

To my dogs, this is as much fun as drinking from the garden hose or drain spouts!

The unit REALLY should be cleaned everyday, the pump comes apart to clean out the doggie spit and muck that accumulates. A pad last less than a week and a 3 pack isnt cheap. You can run it without a pad in place.
The Cats Just LOVE It!     On: 2008-07-17

Figured it was time to replace my previous pet fountain which is now several years old. Never had a problem with it, just seemed like it was time to get a new one. With a Gold Box Price of only $21.99, this is a SUPER Buy! Just change the filters regularly and clean out the motor area...it works like a charm!

Keeps the cat from drinking out of the pool!     On: 2008-07-17

My cat will not drink out of a bowl, period. This has been a god-send for us. Yes, it does gurgle if the water level runs low, but goes quiet as soon as its replenished. I dont even bother with the reservoir, other than when I first clean and refill it. We just pour fresh water into the well. Cleaning it can be a pain, but I throw all of the parts, other than the motor, into the dishwasher. Weve had ours for a few years now and havent had any problems with the pump. We have one, short haired cat, so hair hasnt been an issue for us. For us, its has been worth every penny and more, now that we have a reliable, safe source of water that the cat will use.
Pump fails     On: 2008-07-16

Great idea, lousy pump. Unlike the other reviewer whos experienced the pump failure, I refuse to buy a new heap of plastic every 6 months. Looks like its hit or miss, since several reviewers have not complained of pump failure, but Ill wait for a better pump before buying another.
Excellent Product     On: 2008-07-14

The best pet fountain I have found so far. It does make a little noise when its low on water, but overall I am happy with it. My cats love it so much they will no longer drink from regular bowls.
Second One Works Well!     On: 2008-07-12

I recently ordered the PetMate fountain because one of my KittenKats had one episode of a urinary problem and I want him to drink more water. After two hours of trying to assemble and get the flow lever to fit the pump; I decided "its not me" and the part was defective. I called Amazon and was immediately provided a postage-paid return label and confirmation of a replacement. Even with the free shipping option, I received each unit within two days! The replacement was easy to assemble, and I was able to see that yes, the first flow lever was defective. So far, it is working very well and is quiet. I left the flow lever on the "Low" position as recommended and it produces a moderate flow of water down the ramp, creating just a little movement of water in the bowl (which is preferrable to Kitties). I am also very pleased with the long power cord, so the bowl can be placed near their food. Even though they get bottled water, I went ahead and used the carbon filter too. Be sure to rinse it well first. BTW: if you use bottled water, check the label for Magnesium content (magnesium sulfate). Magnesium is the primary mineral found in cat foods that can cause urinary crystals and blockage (a veterinary EMERGENCY that must be treated in less than 24 hours!). I am happy with this purchase, especially for the price and free shipping and great customer care. And kittens are fascinated
My cats LOVE this!     On: 2008-07-11

I bought this fountain for my eighteen cats about a month ago. They absolutely love it! All of them are drinking more, which is definite plus in Arizona in July. I tend to add water to the bowl during the day and make sure the reserve is filled for the night so the pump doesnt run dry.

The only possible downside is that I have to clean it 2-3 times a week, but that takes about 15 minutes, start to finish, washing with soap, and much feline help. There isnt a filter before the pump, so with long-haired cats you need to check it more often (15 of my 18 are long-haired.) For someone with fewer cats, I could easily see the need to clean it drop to no more than once a week.
Love it!!     On: 2008-07-09

I bought this product three or four months ago to stop my cats from drinking out of the toilet/tub after we were done showering. It worked! They immediately stopped drinking out of both of them and instead started drinking out of the fountain.

While I will admit this does take a small amount of maintenance, it is still a wonderful product. Okay, sure, you need to clean it every week or so; but shouldnt you do that with a normal cat bowl anyways? Its just a tad bit harder with this bowl because of the small crevices.

I plugged in the filter on the first day and it was as silent as ever. I couldnt even tell that it was running! I originally was so scared that it was going to be a loud filter, causing my cats to run away from it but boy was I wrong. The filter does need to be cleaned out every now and then from the cat hair and debris, which people have been complaining about. But I would much rather have to clean out the pump every week than have that Cat Hair & Co cycle through my fountain until the water became murky and gross!

My fountain has started to "leak" just recently, but I have yet to determine if that is condensation from the high humidity or actual leaking.

All in all, I love this fountain. Like I put earlier, it does take a small amount of maintenance, but that is understandable.
PetMate Watering System     On: 2008-07-08

Petmate Fresh Flow 50-Ounce-Capacity Pet Fountain, Medium, Planet Blue
Never did I believe how this product would change my life. My cat, DCI Barnaby, would hop up on the sinks whenever water was running (a tad annoying, but loveable). I worried that he was not getting enough water since he would mostly avoid the still water in his drinking bowl and since I am gone from the home for many, many hours at a time, I wanted something that would satisfy his desire for cool, running water. Wow! Barnaby took to this watering system right away. We are both thrilled and the bowl does not get "slimy" as his water dish would. I have recommended this to every pet owner I know. It has made such a huge difference in my life, with less worry over Barnaby, I am a healthier person! Amazing!
Great for Cats!     On: 2008-07-06

I got this system to be used by my cat and my dog. My dog is only 15 lbs but she quickly drinks the system dry. Sometimes within the same day. I have the standard size. When I got it, there were no other sizes available. My dog also tends to leave debris in the water from her whiskers and beard. It clogs the hole where the water is taken to be recycled through the filter. I decided to put it up out of reach of my dog and use it for just the cat. I have also not been able to find something like Drinkwells "aqua garden" for the system I currently have.
However, the system is great for my cat. I just wish I could find a cat grass thing for it.
Why combined with non-fitting filters     On: 2008-07-05

Curious why amazon has chosen to combine the Large size fountain with filters that fit only the Medium and Jumbo size fountains.
not great     On: 2008-07-05

our findings:
1) our kitties arent interested: we have a fairly large herd of cats here and were surprised that none of them cared one way or another about drinking their water from this.
2) doesnt circulate water that well: the fountain has to be filled to the brim for a small trickle to appear.
3) gets dirty fast: theres a filter but its probably for show.

conclusion:
waste of electricity.
waste of $30.
Noisy at times, durability issues     On: 2008-07-04

These are reasonably nice and quiet when they work right. However, it has been my experience that they eventually get noisy and that the durability is poor. I would not recommend these unless you plan on replacing it every few months.
Scared at first - but now loves it!     On: 2008-06-30

I have only had the fountain for 6 weeks so I can not say anything about durability. I did not read the instructions carefully and turned it on right away (your supposed to get you cat used to it before turning it on). My cat was afraid of the fountain for several days but has now fallen in love with it - and will not drink from anything else. I think he is now drinking more water than before, which was the goal for the purchase.
The reason for 4 stars is that it is not that easy to clean and the water reservior (the clear part of the fountain in the photo) sometimes drips when you are putting additional water (or refilling) the fountain. We have to refill the fountain once a day. This is the only foutain that I own so I have no comparision.
Nice Pet Water     On: 2008-06-29

I love this waterer. Believe it or not - it is easier to clean and care for then just a plain bowl of water. I refresh the water every few days and rinse it out. Our water is hard- so this is my second Petmate- and I use bottled drinking water exclusively- no lime buildup in this one! It is nearly silent- and my cat loves it- he drinks more water than he ever used to. He never drank out of the bowl anyway- he would jump in the sink to drink tap water- this makes him nearly as happy- and he can play in it a little... I highly recommend it. His first Petmate I got second hand- but it built up with lime and then the motor died- hence the reason for bottled water only in this new one. It makes a HUGE difference.
Good fountain!     On: 2008-06-28

This is my second fountain from Petmate. I ordered the same model because it was only through my own fault that the first one stopped working. I am very pleased with its design and longevity. I think its one of the least expensive models. It wouldnt be good for large dogs.
The cats love it and so do I.     On: 2008-06-26

This is a great product. I compared the Petmate Deluxe with the Drinkwell but decided on this one. My cat likes to drink water that is moving but pooled rather than dripping vertically. The Petmate Deluxe is silent and I have noticed the cats drinking more frequently. The only problem I have with it is the pump; the screen which should filter out cat hair doesnt block everything. Its not a hassle or anything to clean out but I am finding I need to clean out the pump every 2-3 days in a three cat household. One of our cats likes to take pawfuls of litter and dump it in the bowl and that has not altered the performance at all (we just change the water very frequently). I also keep it in a shady area in the house and I have not experienced any slimy buildup (but then again, I change the water often and take it apart to get to the filter). My cat likes it so much that he will not drink out of a standing water dish anymore. He was locked out of the bedroom once for a whole afternoon and when I got home he bolted in to take a drink despite the other bowls of standing water all over the house.
Works well but noisy!     On: 2008-06-25

We really like this fountain, but have found that the intake is too high. The water level needs to be maintained at a very high level to keep the unit quiet. The cats really seem to prefer this over a bowl though and with a cat that just cost us $2000 for a urinary tract infection, this is well worth it to keep him drinking!
Satisfied so far     On: 2008-06-25

This fountain was amazingly quiet for the first few days, and then began to make a loud humming or vibrating noise. Nothing I tried made any difference, and the noise continued for almost two weeks - when all of a sudden the noise ceased. It has now been running absolutely silent for a week. And my kittens love it, though they havent lapped at the waterfall yet.

The quality of the reservoir cap bothers me a bit. Im afraid to over tighten it and break it, so I have been refilling it without removing the cap.
Doggy said "no thanks."     On: 2008-06-25

My dog hates drinking stagnant water. I had to change her water bowls at least 3x a day. I figured Ill solve my problem with this little cool invention...

After sitting for a bit, the "filter" proved useless when dust and little odds and ends are floating in it, obviously NOT being filtered.... also, just because the water is supposedly SLOWLY circulating, doesnt mean the water is "fresh." I literally felt compelled to take this thing apart once per day to clean, and even then, break it down at least 2-3x a week to thoroughly get in the nooks and crannies... not an easy job when you cant really get into the water reservoir where I imagine all sorts of mildew and mold, bacteria and algae will eventually accumlate.

A BIG waste of money, a HUGE waste of time, an even LARGER inconvenience.

Im back to my old ways of changing both her indoor and outdoor water bowls at least 3x a day, whenever I walk pass it, and just washing a simple bowl out at the ened of the night... cheaper that way too... no electricity to use, no fear of electrocutng my doggy, no pricey carbon filters to buy.

Used it for 2 weeks and now its in another "bad buy" pile....
Cat loves it.     On: 2008-06-23

I first tried the Drinkwell unit but they are so noisy neither the cat nor I would go near it. This fountain is whisper quiet and provides enough water to be able to be away for a few days without worry. Cat loves it, end of story.
My cat drinks and drinks from this fountain!     On: 2008-06-22

I had only had my cat for about a month, rescued from the Humane Society. I noticed she barely drank any water from the water dish I set out for her with water changed daily. After reading many reviews of various pet fountain products I chose the Petmate Fresh Flow hoping this would entice her to drink more.

My new kittie now drinks lots of water and I couldnt be happier with the Petmate Fresh Flow fountain. Its fairly quiet and although a little tough to clean becauses of its nooks and crannies and odd spaces its not that bad- it can be done with a toothbrush or other type of small brush.

My cat and I are both very pleased with this product.
Very Pleased     On: 2008-06-20

I was very pleased with the speed of arrival. The product is very handy and is almost identical to an old one I had before I moved a year ago. It is a little louder than the old one, but other than that, great.
happygabbie     On: 2008-06-20

I recently purchased the Petmate Fresh Flow from a near-by pet store after I complained that my year-old kitty loves drinking from the toilet. The sales lady recommended the Fresh Flow because cats like drinking water that flows. Worried that Gabbie was not drinking enough water I purchased the item only to discover that she loved drinking from a "cleaner bowl". The Fresh Flow is easy to set up and clean which I do twice a week and so far I havent had any problems. Now, with the warm weather, she spends more time drinking clean water from her fountain and I no longer worry that shes not drinking enough. I totally recommend this item for cat-loves who care that their cats drink enough water which prevents kidney problems along the way.
Diminished Quality     On: 2008-06-16

I have an older PetMate Pet Fountain purchased about 4 years ago. It is still running, and running well. This new purchase is for an outdoor kitty who recently "found" us. First off, the manufacturer is making the unit smaller, which is actually a good thing, as it really does not have to be that big to do the job, so I was happy about that. What I was NOT happy about is the quality of materials, particularly and especially the water pump, which is the guts of the unit. They are obviously cheaper (materials) and Ive had some noise issues here and there (meaning not constant, but I have to take the fountain apart and mess with the pump). If I had known this, I probably would have looked at an alternative. I am guessing all of the manufacturing and assembly is done oversees, so, as with all other things, this product will just get cheaper and cheaper quality-wise. Its sad, really. So, really, its a crap shoot. Well see if this one lasts as long as my older, better quality unit. Oh, and BTW, for years I owned (more than one) Drinkwell Pet Fountain. The pumps on those are REALLY noisy, no matter what, which is why I had switched to the Petmate. Just an FYI for those of you researching pet fountains. Good Luck!!
quiet, wonderful pet fountain     On: 2008-06-13

This fountain is very quiet. It keeps my pets happy. My cats have been drinking more water since I bought this. It will help keep them healthy and happy, which will make me happy.
Previous model better     On: 2008-06-09

Petmate 24860 Deluxe Fresh Flow 50-Ounce-Capacity Pet Fountain, Medium, White
The color of white over blue is great, but the new water pump is very noisy and without the filter guard it is more difficult to clean. Fortunately I was only buying a new FreshFlow for the looks. The previous one had worked beautifully, so I was able to pirate the motor and filter from the one that I was retiring. So together they have made a good combination.
Pretty Nice Product!     On: 2008-06-09

I bought this for my 4 dogs. One of them is a mastiff who slobbers into her water bowl;making it so the other dogs wont drink from it. The Petmate filters that out and it circulates the water to keep it fresh. My only gripe is that it doesnt circulate with enough force to pick up heavier particles like dirt and kibble particles. I still have to clean out the dish regularly.
The dogs were a bit reluctant to use it at first but quickly realized the benefits of it and drink much more frequently than they did from a regular bowl that I emptied, cleaned and refilled daily.
I dearly wish they would make a tap for an ice maker water hose; which would keep the water level constant; just thinking out loud here but maybe turning the refill bowl into a float system with a tap on the back so people (like me) could add it to our system.
Petmate Deluxe Fresh Flow Pet Foutain, Jumbo     On: 2008-06-07

Ive had the med. size Fresh Flow for years, and the cats and myself love it, in spite of the fact that debris can collect in the bowl (I solved that problem long ago, by using a turkey baster to suck out food bits, etc.., !). I now have five kitty mouths to water, and the med. just didnt cut it any more, so I purchased the Jumbo. It has pretty much the identical design, except for a small spout at the top of the return flow tube that delivers water to the filter. I assume this is because there is a greater distance for the water to travel with the jumbo, but not sure. While the med. made absolutely no descernible noise, the jumbo made a constant trickling sound. For some reason, after using it for a while.. couple weeks.. it isnt making the noise any more! The med. size released water to keep it at a level of ½" below the rim, but this jumbo one doesnt add water until the level in the bowl drops to an inch below the rim... fairly minor difference. I sort of expected a more powerful pump, though, in retrospect, it doesnt seem to affect performance at all. All in all... Positives: I like how much water the reservoir holds; it doesnt spatter at all, like so many other brands do; it is (now) totally quiet; The "kids" love it; the price was very right! Negatives: I wish it kept the water level a bit higher(just a minor negative); still wish Pet Mate could find a way to have their products circulate the water strongly enough to catch debris, even though Ive found a "work-around" ;o) If they could do that last thing- Id consider pretty close to perfect. As it stands, its still my first choice, and I would recommend it, in whatever size makes sense, as a great way to supply cool, oxygenated water to your cat(s), especially since cats often dont drink enough water to supplement the dry food many eat. Of course- great for the woofers, too!
Great water fountain,but fails in one area.     On: 2008-06-07

I have two Persians,which are long haired,and I
find I have to clean the pump and replace the
filter every week,if I dont the water flow drops
to zero. This fountain was designed for a short
hair cat,but when it is cleaned my persians love
it. I still recommend this item because it pro-
vides a fresh and cool water source.
Petmate Fresh Flow Fountain     On: 2008-06-02

We had used our Petmate Fountain for 7 yrs before the motor went out. We ordered a new one from Amazon and are as pleased with this one. Our pets love to drink from running water.
Great fountain for the cats.     On: 2008-06-01

This type fountain was recommended by our vet after our one male cat suffered from urinary blockage. A part of his care is to get him to drink more and our vet said a flowing fountain would help since cats like the water moving. The price was good. As soon as it arrived, it was put to use ( easy to assemble) and the motor is quiet. Our other cats enjoy it too. The resevoir lasts about 2 days for our crew.
Umm Yeah     On: 2008-05-31

I purchased this fountain for my two JRTs. While one of them was ok with it the other did not like the gurgling noises it makes when the tank releases water. It preforms as advertised. It keeps the water nice and cool and holds a lot of it.. But I found I had to keep a separate bowl of water for my other dog as after the 2nd or 3rd gurgle she no longer drank out of this fountain.. It now sits empty in my basement.. I gave it four stars because it does work as advertised.. It just doesnt appeal to my sensitive dog..
Cat loved it; too bad it broke after a week!     On: 2008-05-26

I had high hopes for this fountain, but, alas, like other folks have mentioned, the pump failed. Unfortunately, my cat didnt even get 2 weeks enjoyment out of it. I guess I could go get a new pump, but I think Ill probably just return the whole thing. Kind of peeved that we didnt get more than a weeks worth of use.
So far so good....     On: 2008-05-25

Have had this about a month. My kitten enjoys drinking from it (but still attacks our RO unit!!)--appears to function well, but the strange shape keeps it from being ergonomically perfect on my kitchen counter--actually the trickling noise it makes is not too loud, and rather soothing.....overall appears to be a good deal, but again, time will tell as far as durability.....
Needed slight modification     On: 2008-05-23

I am pleased with the size and water capacity though I was instantly disappointed with the water dribble. I found an easy solution I thought I would share. I inserted a 1" diameter clear tube, 6" in length into the exit hole. I trimmed the height of the tube slightly so that it would fit snug into the opening and wa la, instant waterfall. The tube was just a standard fish tank hydro-lift tube used for under gravel filter systems.
You can play with the length and orientation of the tube to fit your animals needs.
Great product     On: 2008-05-18

I am pleased with the product - some of the cats aare taking a while to get used to it though :-0
A wonderful idea for your pet     On: 2008-05-18

I purchase this fountain for my new puppy...he loves it. The first day he loved it. The fountain itself is great. I had one before, so I know about it. Its nothing wrong with it all. When the water is low, or course the motor will sound off. Other than that, its a wonderful machine. It keeps the water clean and cool at all times. I clean mines once a week and by me having one pet, I change the filter once a month. I recommend this to anyone. Its a great buy, if you purchase at Petco or walmart then you will pay more. So it is a good buy from amazon. I love it and I advise anyone to buy it for your pet. It is good for them.....
My cats love this fountain (lasted 9 months before pump died)     On: 2008-05-17

Three months ago, I bought the large Pet Mate Deluxe Fresh Flow for my 3 kitties. They love it. Ive never had a fountain before this one so I cant compare it against other brands. It was kind of expensive about $36 at the pet store down the street but I had $10 off. Im definitely glad I got the large one. The reservoir is large enough that you only need to clean & fill it about once or twice a week. The charcoal filter (kind of like what you use in fish tank filters) I had to throw away because my brat cat, Eleanor, pokes her paw into the hole and rips apart the filter. Not only does brat cat rip the filter but she is fascinated by water and paws at the reservoir until the top comes off. Easy solution for this though.. I duct tape the top of the fountain in place every time I clean it and it is now cat proofed! It has a long electrical cord and it even disconnects from the plug for easy cleaning. The reservoir is large which is great. I wait until the reservoir runs out of water and the fountain is making gurgling noises. Thats when I turn it off and put it on my To Do List for cleaning.

CLEANING: I use VERY hot water with the water sprayer and disassemble the whole unit. I use my hands to feel where it has gotten slimy and keep running my hands over it until its not slimy any more. There are nooks and crannies and crevices to look out for too. And the MOST important thing is to be sure to pull out the pump each time and rinse it out to remove the cat hair. I always have cat hair in my pump and you cant see it until you pull out the pump. The hair is usually underneath the pump or actually inside the pump itself. The hair gets inside the pump through the little slits. This is probably why some folks have their pumps die on them because their pump runs too long with fur in it. And if you also have a brat cat remember to duct tape the top on too.

UPDATE NOVEMBER 2008: My pump died too. I am disappointed. It only lasted about 9 months before the pump stopped working. Its a great product too bad they cant provide you with a great pump to go with it.
My cats love this fountain     On: 2008-05-17

Three months ago, I bought the large Pet Mate Deluxe Fresh Flow for my 3 kitties. They love it. Ive never had a fountain before this one so I cant compare it against other brands. It was kind of expensive about $36 at the pet store down the street but I had $10 off. Im definitely glad I got the large one. The reservoir is large enough that you only need to clean & fill it about once or twice a week. The charcoal filter (kind of like what you use in fish tank filters) I had to throw away because my brat cat, Eleanor, pokes her paw into the hole and rips apart the filter. Not only does brat cat rip the filter but she is fascinated by water and paws at the reservoir until the top comes off. Easy solution for this though.. I duct tape the top of the fountain in place every time I clean it and it is now cat proofed! It has a long electrical cord and it even disconnects from the plug for easy cleaning. The reservoir is large which is great. I wait until the reservoir runs out of water and the fountain is making gurgling noises. Thats when I turn it off and put it on my To Do List for cleaning.

CLEANING: I use VERY hot water with the water sprayer and disassemble the whole unit. I use my hands to feel where it has gotten slimy and keep running my hands over it until its not slimy any more. There are nooks and crannies and crevices to look out for too. And the MOST important thing is to be sure to pull out the pump each time and rinse it out to remove the cat hair. I always have cat hair in my pump and you cant see it until you pull out the pump. The hair is usually underneath the pump or actually inside the pump itself. The hair gets inside the pump through the little slits. This is probably why some folks have their pumps die on them because their pump runs too long with fur in it. And if you also have a brat cat remember to duct tape the top on too.
Not big enough for three cats     On: 2008-05-14

This would probably be good for one, very dainty cat, and an owner whos home all the time. However, the instructions say not to leave it on when youre not around - and indeed, the reservoir is so small that it runs out of water in 1 to 2 hours anyway. I have three cats, all of who love to splash in the water so crud gets into the dish and just stays there until I clean it out. My old inverted-jug waterer is easier to clean and change the water, and doesnt have a carbon footprint except for when it was made. Im going back to that.
My 2 cats LOVE this     On: 2008-05-12

My 2 cats LOVE this thing. We had one for 3 years until the motor died. I went and got them a regular water bowl, but missed watching them drink from the fountain and having to wash the bowl every day. With this, it is filtered and I only wash it every week or more. The water is clear and clean.
NOT BAD     On: 2008-05-08

The cat likes it but still prefers the fish tank filter. Its a bit noisy but anything w/ a motor will be.
Makes kitty happy :)     On: 2008-05-08

My cats were lovin this thing even as I was putting it together! It gets quiter after a few days of running. The pump makes some noises when the water is running low. Water resevior is not the biggest, but adequate for 2 fat and thirsty kitties! I suggest rinsing the charcoal filters for a few minutes in the sink before putting the new filter into action. My cats are my best friends, and anything I can do to make them happy, I will do. The investment to bennifit ratio on this product is astronomical! Just buy it, you wont regret it.
Lousy Design     On: 2008-05-06

This is an excellent idea but a lousy design. Its impossible to clean in all the nooks and crannies inside the reservoir and the crud that grows there is nasty. Usually I donate things I dont care for to someone else who might use them. But I wouldnt wish this nightmare on anyone who cares about their cat.
Good Fountain,cats and dogs love it. A little difficult to clean     On: 2008-05-06

I have had this product for about 5 years with no issues. The cats and dogs love it. I had been filling it at least twice a day so I also purchased the Drinkwell. Which is also good, but not as well liked by the dogs. They prefer the Petmate.

Most of the parts are dishwasher safe on the top rack and it does a great job of cleaning it. I usually clean both fountains by hand about every two weeks. The tight areas are a bit difficult to clean. I find that the Drinkwell is easier to clean. But the hassle of cleaning it is worth it to keep the cats urinary tract and kidneys in good shape.

I have had no issues with the pump in all the years I have had the product. Which ever brand you choose it will be great for your cats!
Excellent, Our cats actually enjoy drinking water now!     On: 2008-05-02

We have a one year old and a 3 month old siamese, and they both just love to drink out of this fountain. Our 1 year old had this finicky habit of only wanting to dring off of your hands at the sink, seemed to have an issue with drinking out of a "body of water" such as a bowl. Even to the point he would wake my wife or I up in the middle of the night to come to the sink in our bathroom for water! Not a good relationship builder.
My hopes were answered with this fountain, they both took right to it, and our older one has drank more in the last two days than he normally would in a week! We look forward to less hairballs, reduced chance of UTI and kidney stones, and most importantly (MORE SLEEP!) Just kidding.
I highly recommend this to any cat lover who wants a great water supply for there kitties.
I have to make mention of another cat item I just got that I love...The Litter Robot LRII, definately worth checking into if you have multiple cats.
Sincerely,
RJG-FL
Great, you just need to clean it!     On: 2008-04-30

This fountain has worked great for my 3 Maine Coons who are traditionally hard on everything. I clean it every 3 days and it stays immaculate. It takes about 4 minutes. I also add something the vet gave me to prevent gingivitis, the cats love the fountain, they drink and play in it all the time.
waterfall     On: 2008-04-27

This is the third Petmate I have gotten. My cats seem to enjoy drinking fromt the flowing water and it does stay cleaner than standing water. Im not sure why they seem to start leaking after about a year and I have tried other types of flowing fountains but come but to this one. It was easy to put together and is quiet.
My cats love it     On: 2008-04-27

I have two of these--one upstairs and one down. Im lazy so I keep bottled water next to each of them in order to top them off every other day. I clean them once a week and my cats seem to like drinking from the slide. Ive have one for three years with no problems and the other old one died when I my pet sitter didnt keep it filled up. It does take from 5-10 minutes to clean, but I prefer that to washing a bowl every day. I also like that my cats are enticed to drink more water. My cats fround the other brand too noisy, although if you have a cat that loves drinking out of the tap when it is half force, they may prefer that one.
DO NOT BUY PETMATE PRODUCTS..THEY DO NOT STAND BEHIND THEM     On: 2008-04-26

This PetMate product lasted less than two months! I have had similar products, so I know I did not abuse or misuse the product. I contacted PetMate twice...they did not respond to either inquiry. They do not stand behind their products! I would have rated it 0 stars if I could have.
cleans the water, keeps the wife happy     On: 2008-04-23

Bought this for the wife. Cats will drink water out of anything, but it puts a smile on the wife. Quiet and filters the water, probably healthy for the cats. Good price compared to the others I looked at. Cheaper then at the store.
Cat Water Fountain     On: 2008-04-23

MY CAT LOVES!! WATER AND HE KEPT TRYING TO LAY IN HIS WATER FEEDER DISH. I THEN FOUND THE CAT WATER FOUNTAIN @ A STORE AND THEN WHEN I GOT HOME I LOOKED ON-LINE AND FOUND THE SAME DISH WITH EXTRA FILTERS @ $10.00 CHEAPER WHICH INCLUDED THE SHIPPING!! I WAS REALLY HAPPY, BUT THE ONE WHO IS REALLY HAPPY IS ESCOBAR. HE LOVES HIS NEW WATER DISH AND HE ALSO DRINKS A LOT OF WATER NOW, WHICH IS HEALTHY FOR HIM. NO MORE SPILLAGE ALL OVER THE FLOOR. THE DISH WORKS GREAT! I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS TO ANYONE WHO HAS AN ANIMAL THAT DRINKS WATER.
My cats prefer this new fountain     On: 2008-04-15

This fountain replaced a Drinkwell fountain that my two cats gave up on after a year of use. I spent the past year wondering whether it was worth trying to buy another fountain or just let them drink from the dripping faucet (which is the older ones preference).

This fountain has several improvements over the previous fountain:
*very large capacity in a compact space, over 200 oz. with no extra water bottles attached to the back
*silent! Our previous fountain made a lot of noise when the stream of water hit the bowl. This one is quiet, and I cant even hear the pump.
*power switch on the cord

Both of my cats (ages 2 and 6) love the new fountain. The older has not once tried to drink from the faucet (which I appreciate). They are also drinking a lot more water.

This fountain is certainly big enough for more than 2 cats. (Does that mean I can get another one?!?) I was actually surprised by how large it is...perhaps it is intended for dogs, but I love how much water it holds.
Decent, but had flow problems from the reservoir, and it needs pre-filter for larger crud     On: 2008-04-07

I got it because it was a bit shorter, front to back, and I thought the cats would prefer the water slide. From the start, the water in the reservoir never trickled out when the water level dropped in the bowl. Six months later it seems to be working, go figure. It has a fabric and charcoal filter, which may look clean, but you have to remove it to see that green slime is building up inside it. It also needs a pre-filter for hair and other crud, because the pump gets clogged. Sure, you need to clean it regularly, but a small screen would give you a visual indication. The Drinkwell Platinum has one, which I intend to purchase.
Noisy but good..     On: 2008-04-01

Ive been reading the reviews for this product and others similar to it. I broke down and bought this one. It wasnt hard to assemble. The blue part is a resevoir of water with a floater to continually add water to the bowl as it gets used up. When you clean it or set it up you have to make sure that you add the water to the base before putting the resevoir on, or all the water from the resevoir will trickle out to fill the base. It comes with a replacement filter. The motor is small and makes quite a bit of noise, like an aquarium. It also has an adjustment lever to control the flow of water.
The cats were afraid of it at first but once they got used to the sound they started to use it. The ferret loves it too. Ive noticed them drinking a lot more water. I put a couple of ice cubes in the bowl everyday so that they have cold water.
They seem to appreciate having clean water with no woozies in it. They lick their own butts, but dirty water, they aint havin that. One cat likes to wash her feet in the bowl, which I appreciate since she sticks her foot in my nostrils while Im sleeping.
Ive had it for several months now, and all seems okay. Overall, this is a product that I would recommend to other pet owners.
Great for outdoors too!     On: 2008-04-01

I am sure, buried somewhere in the manual, it says not to use it outdoors. Well, sue me, I do. :-)

I have an outdoor-only kitty whose water is periodically contaminated by her raccoon friends. Yes, the raccoons are the kittys friends! [shrug]

Anyway, I keep this in a sheltered place outdoors so it is not exposed to the elements. I have had the unit for nearly 9 months with no trouble. It can maintain acceptable water level for 2 - 4 days, depending on the temperature so a weekend trip is doable.

My unit is virtually silent. I suspect the noise that others talk about is due low water levels. In fact, that is my signal to add water.

Adding water is easy and quick.

DO NOT forget about filters. You will need to replace them at least monthly; more often when it is warmer.
Better than the others, but still short of perfect     On: 2008-03-30

Compared to the Drinkwell fountain I had previously - its a much better fountain for a number of reasons.

Good things:
- Quiet. When its running properly, you cant hear a thing.
- Doesnt make the water too warm. This is important because with the Drinkwell fountain, the motor would get hot and warm the water - not only do the cats dislike this, but it leads to an increased chance of bacteria formation. I honestly dont know how it keeps the water cool, but it does.
- Filters are cheap. You can get 2 or 3 packs at Petsmart for cheap, or get them from Ebay for even less.
- Material is easy to clean. The entire unit is made of a very smooth plastic that makes it very easy to clean. The Drinkwell fountain was made of a rough material that "trapped" food particles and made it difficult to clean.

As much as I like it, there are some things that definitely need to be improved:

Bad things:
- The motor traps hair easily. Hair gets caught in the motor and you have to remove the hair almost weekly. If not, youll find the fountain doesnt work properly and you have to keep turning it on and off.
- Theres a plastic piece on the main water reservoir thats so thin that it breaks easily. Ive broken it twice when cleaning it - luckily customer service is great and they send me free replacements.
- Theres an issue with the motor where if you turn it off to add more water, then turn it on, itll make a loud bubbling noise as it tries to get water up to the top. It fixes itself if you turn it on and off repeatedly, but its a pain.

I usually let the fountain run 2-3 days. By then, the reservoir is more than half empty so Ill empty the entire thing, give it a quick wipe, then refill it with fresh water. Once a week, I clean it with dishsoap and use a Q-tip to clean out the motor. Im told it isnt necessary, but I like the idea of a clean fountain.

Overall, this is much better than the Drinkwell fountain. Not perfect, but definitely one of the best out there. I paid $50 and its since dropped to just over $25, which is a great deal.
Best Pet Bowl For Your Money     On: 2008-03-29

3 years ago, when I was still living with my mother, we decided to purchase this cat fountain. My cat, Sally, always had a desire to drink from the fresh running water of the sink, but wouldnt be nearly as eager to drink out of the automatically filling plain water bowl that we had. We bought this fountain and shortly after, the previous still-sitting water bowl was entirely abandoned by all three of our cats. They all switched over, exclusively, to the Petmate bowl. They seem to enjoy the running water and the fact that the water is continuously moving and that its filtered. We no longer see bits of cat food sitting at the bottom of the bowl, mucking the bowl up.

I occasionally saw stray strands of fur floating at the top of the water in the bowl, but the cats would drink from the little slide the water ran down. We were easily able to just scoop the little bits of fur out of the water. We also found we were easily able to monitor the cats water intake by watching the resevoir levels, which helped us keep an eye out on the cats to see if any of them were getting sick.

The fountain isnt very hard to clean at all, so Im not sure why everyone is complaining. We refill the resevoir when it starts to get low, empty the water out and rinse it with hot water before refilling it with cold water and replacing it. We change the filter every 4-6 weeks and the bowl, itself, is easy to clean using hot water and dish soap (like a regular pet bowl). I find it stays clean a lot longer than a regular sitting-water pet bowl. I cant imagine what a persons cat must be doing in these bowls for them to have slime of any sort on any of the components or to find themselves needing to clean it daily. Even weekly seems rather meticulous for this bowl.

Our cats are drinking more water than they did with the old bowl, were happy we dont need to clean their bowl so often, and its very quiet. You can hardly tell the fountain is running at all unless you were to see the water running. The filters are cheap and its really a good luxury for any spoiled or well loved pet. The price really just cant be beat!

And now that I live in an apartment with my cat, Im buying another one just for her. Theres no way Id switch and theres no way Id cheat my cat out of this fantastic treat. Ive never once had a single problem with this product. Its perfect.
This fountain is awesome     On: 2008-03-26

I have two big dogs and I was afraid that this would have to be refilled everyday however, it has a very large capacity. My dogs havent drank out of the toilet since we got this fountain!!! I am very happy with it. Only problem is when they drink after they eat so food particles get to the very bottom, but I read someone elses review about using a clean fish net to get it out and it works great!! This is definitely a must have!!!
Wonderful!     On: 2008-03-25

This pet fountain kicks butt! I have had it for about a month now. Two out of my 3 cats are obsessed with the shower when I get in, because they love running water. I was curious as to whether or not this would translate to the drink fountain, and I was glad that it did. It took a few days for my cats to realize what the heck it was, but now all three of my cats are drinking out of it. My cats were very finicky about fresh water before--I had to change the water bowls twice a day, and they would stand there and stare at me until I did it! Now with the constant filtration of the Petmate Fresh Flow, all I have to do is refill the reservoir every other day. I highly recommend this quiet, efficient product!
It must have magic in it     On: 2008-03-13

Personally, I dont get it. Its a glamourized water bowl. Nothing more. I bought it thinking that the filter system would be like a fish tank - you know, it sucks out the food and waste and you clean it off and replace as necessary. No, this filtering system does not have any vacuum sytem for sucking up hair and food. The hair and food chunkies lie in the bowl until you dump it out. I have 3 cats and thought I could get away with changing the water bowl every 3 days or so. I could, but then how much hair and chunky stuff do you allow to accumulate in the bowl? So I change it completely out every other day. But here comes the interesting part. My cats LOVE THIS FOUNTAIN. I swear there must be some magic or crack in the system, because they cry and pace the floor until I put it down and start it up running again. They drink so much more water than they used to, which is a plus for their health. If it were up to me, Id give this product a 3, but this product isnt for me, its for my cats and they would without a doubt give this a 5. Get your pet(s) one of these and be amazed like I am.
My cats love it!     On: 2008-03-11

Ive had the product for about a month. I didnt start out running the pump so the cats could get used to it [as Mfg. suggests] After 3 days I started the pump. I would suggest for multiple cat household to get the largest size you can afford. My cats are definitely drinking more water. I refill the resevoir every couple of days.
The only problem I had was 1 of my cats is an adventurer and stuck her paw in the opening above the ramp and started pulling the filter out. I solved that by a couple strips of duct tape to make the opening smaller.
Have had no problem with pump getting clogged and not working, and when I took it all apart after 3 weeks I only found a small amount of hair in the water so its staying pretty clean. Be sure to turn the flow control [on large deluxe model] to its lowest setting before doing maintenance, oherwise it tends to overfill.
The cats sit and watch it before drinking.Very happy, and so are the cats.
blah     On: 2008-03-11

It worked fine for a week and then its just a giant pain to keep working properly. Even with the water level at where it should be, the petmate makes odd sounds. I prefer a regular water dish after using this product.
NOT AS APPEALING     On: 2008-03-06

not as appealing to my 3 cats as i had thought, also water gets dirty even with the filter? so its harder to fill and clean than just there plain old bowl?
Do Not Buy This!!!     On: 2008-03-06

Fresh Flow Pet Fountain by PetMate : Size DELUXE
DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY.It will clog very easy.
Then it sounds like the garbage disposal running.
Buy a drinkwell.my wife works for a cat rescue.
they have drinkwells and they work great.
Back for another     On: 2008-03-03

Ive had one of these pet fountains for about 7 years of constant use by my two cats, and I heartily recommend it to others. The main things you should keep in mind are that you will need an electric outlet and you should not put this next to your pets food bowl. Because you dont empty and replace the water each day, you need to prevent food from being dropped into the fountain. Also note that the blue unit is incorrectly described here as the Deluxe model. Only the versions that actually show "Deluxe" in the printing on the side fit into this category; however, Ive never had any complaints about my basic model.

The fountain is easy to set up and my cats love it, which means better health because they drink more. I like the way the water circulates through a filter, which catches bits of hair and debris and keeps the water fresh longer. I wash out the filter a time or two before replacing, and I buy replacement filters at my local PetSmart.

I also discovered that the unit (with the exception of the pump) is top rack dishwasher safe (just dont use the drying cycle). The water resivoir does become cloudy in the process, but I like the ease of cleaning and knowing that the unit is sanitized. I tend to wash it by hand between times and use the dishwasher method about once every 2-3 months.

As the fountain got older, I did have a temporary overflow problem that I thought was a leak until I discovered that it was actually flowing out through the opening hole behind the filter when the water level would get too high. Adjusting the pump by moving the lever on it to a lower flow level fixed the problem.

The pump on mine just stopped working last week, but that isnt at all a complaint. It has had a much longer life than I ever expected. Im currently deciding whether to replace the whole unit or just the pump ($13+shipping); Im leaning toward the former. Either way, I plan to continue using the Petmate fountain for as long as I have pets.

Follow-up: After reading reviews referring to a pump-cleaning process, I went to the Petmate website for details. I opened up the pump as described and cleaned it thoroughly using dish soap and q-tips. When I re-assembled the unit and plugged it back in, it worked! Ill certainly purchase another Petmate fountain when the time comes, but for now its rolling again. My cats sat in front of it for a good 10 minutes, as if to say, "About time this thing is working again!"
Love it!     On: 2008-03-02

I have the medium size and the Jumbo Petmate Fountains. I clean them out once a week and have no problems. These fountains run quietly and are very easy to clean.
Not good for mulit cats households.     On: 2008-02-29

I must say that my cats do enjoy drinking running water. I first encountered a problem with this product with in its first week of use. mainly, my cats would reach their paw in the hole that the water comes out of and rip holes in the filter cartridge.The cartirage is poorly designed in the first place. it is made of a felty material the is just asking to be ripped apart. my second, and finial problem with this product is the lack of filtering on the water pump. This product is made for pets, you would think that they would put a filter of some kind infront of the pump to prevent it from being clogged with fur. well they didnt. my pump would clog with fur at least once per week. i had this product for 3 months when the pump stopped working.