This Smart Pet Fountain Looks So Good I Almost Drank Out of It

CNET

5 days ago

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Petcube's small wireless fountain upgrades drinking water with several smart features.
Tyler Lacoma/CNET
I've gone through a fair share of pet fountains, thanks to a cat with a sensitive bladder who doesn't always drink as much as he should (Purina blames that on a housecat's desert genes). Modern fountains come equipped with increasingly smart features to help with that hydration, but Petcube's model is one of the best I have seen so far.
This smart fountain is compact, well-designed, wireless and does a lot to encourage water-averse pets. At around $70, it's a little expensive but still reasonably priced for everything you'll find inside.
A fountain filled with smarts
The app gives fountain updates like time for cleaning or filter replacement.
Tyler Lacoma/CNET
Petcube's fountain holds about 6 cups at a time and measures about 9 inches long. In wireless mode, it lasts several days on a full battery charge with a chew-proof cord, so it doesn't need to be near an outlet most of the time.
Petcube says that's about enough water for seven days of regular use. My cat, who generally dislikes new things in his favorite spot, took time to come around to the fountain, but this seems like an accurate estimate to me.
The fountain is also equipped with a motion sensor, which activates when a pet draws near or inspects the small, rubber-tipped spout. That means it doesn't turn on all the time, but only when needed, saving on battery life. The app, meanwhile, gives you a rundown of filter health and a cleaning schedule to follow, plus a guide to what different LED light colors mean (red, for example, means the battery is running low). There aren't many settings to adjust, just a few handy alerts.
Stylish and fun to use
Aside from some variable motion detector responses, Petcube's fountain design really shines.
Tyler Lacoma/CNET
My test fountain came with a ceramic tray, although it's also available in stainless steel. Water bubbles from a small spout into the tray whenever the motion sensor is activated, sending a fresh wave of water flowing across the tray and back into the reservoir below. It's especially quiet compared with the other fountains I've had, which is a useful way to avoid a cycle of annoying, loud gurgles.
"My cat drinks from a better water fountain than I had in high school," was my recurring thought while testing. The smooth way the filtered water ran across the clean ceramic surface was, well, tempting. It's one of the best-designed pet fountains I've seen, and inside is a four-layer filtration system with carbon filters, UV-C light and more.
When the time comes to clean, the main components are all dishwasher-safe, too. I did find I had to clean the tray a bit more often as it was where some hair and debris tended to collect, but that only took a few seconds over the sink.
A couple of slips, but ready for your household
The Petcube fountain, for all its charm, isn't entirely perfect. The motion sensor isn't the most accurate, and mine usually activated when the fountain was closely inspected instead of on approach. The fountain does turn on occasionally throughout the day to help water stay fresh, whether from automatically scheduled cleanings or random motion activations, it was hard to say (the app wasn't informative on that part, but it did help keep the water clean).
The filters, which are designed to be replaced about every 30 days, are only readily available in packs of three for $10, so you'll have to purchase them every few months. And a fountain this size can help the average cat or small dog, but it's not suitable for larger pets with bigger appetites.
Overall, the fountain works well enough, and the design is particularly sharp compared with past fountains. If your pet accepts it, and you don't mind a steady repurchase of filters, this $70 fountain could be your water source for years to come.