Recently, we’ve reviewed two Xiaomi devices that are useful for pet owners. We started with the Smart Pet Feeder, a smart feeder for cats and small dogs (our test is here), and now it’s time for the equally smart Xiaomi Smart Pet Fountain. Cats have the floor.
Why do you need a drinking fountain
Like Smart Pet Feeder, the fountain can be used by owners of cats and small dogs. But really small ones, like Toy Terriers, because the water hole is minimal. But it’s cat owners who buy drinking fountains for their pets in the first place. Why: For many cats, moving water is more attractive than stagnant water in a bowl. This may be due to an instinctive preference for flowing water, which may indicate fresh and clean water. I’ve heard cat owners say that their furry friends drink only from a tap with running water. And this is still not particularly convenient or economical.
There are other reasons why you should buy such a drinker for your pet:
- Freshness: Drinking fountains ensure water circulation and oxygenation, which helps to keep it fresh and clean.
- Drinking stimulation: Some cats find it difficult to satisfy their need to drink from a regular bowl. Drinking fountains can encourage cats to drink by providing them with an interesting and active place to drink.
- Urinary System Health: Drinking fountains can encourage cats to drink more water, which can be beneficial in maintaining a healthy urinary system. Increased water intake can help prevent the formation of urinary stones and other problems.
I have two cats at home and, to be honest, I’ve never noticed a tendency for them to drink running water, they are more than happy with stagnant water. A few years ago, I bought them a fountain just out of my own interest (and I had extra money), no one came up to it and was not interested, so the fountain went on the cabinet. Then our old cat passed away, we got a new one, and I took the fountain out again, just in case they liked it. At first, Barsik enthusiastically played with the water jet, and then he realized that he needed to drink from it. When he realized, our cat followed suit. In general, for me, such a drinker is probably not a must-have. But I’ve heard stories that after someone bought a drinking fountain, their cats started drinking twice as much! So you never know until you try.
My fountain was not from Xiaomi, but Catit Pixi Fountain (pictured above). And while I’ve been using an automatic feeder of this brand for two years and I’m happy with it, the fountain turned out to be a disappointment. First, the light indicator failed (well, it’s a trifle), and then the motor. It was partly my fault, because I didn’t read the instructions and didn’t know that the pump needed to be disassembled and cleaned. When I disassembled it, I found a huge amount of water sediments. After cleaning, the fountain worked, albeit not with the same dexterity, but it worked. But by that time, I had already ordered a new one from Xiaomi, so I gave Catit Pixi to a cat shelter.
Why does it say above that it is only “partly to blame”? Because it seems to me that it’s still the design and/or water filtration… I’ve had Xiaomi Smart Pet Fountain for almost a year now, and I’ve learned from experience, I disassemble the motor every 2-3 weeks to check it (it’s the same as Catit’s!), but there’s nothing to clean, I haven’t seen any sediment.
What else is better than the one I had from Catit? The design! Despite the presence of filters, the water container still needs to be washed – dust particles, hair, saliva get into it, and all this settles on the walls. The Catit Pixi Fountain had to be dragged into the sink and washed, trying to get the power wire wet – it was annoying! Xiaomi Smart Pet Fountain is more convenient, its water tank is removable. I took it off, washed it, wiped it clean, and put it back on – no need to drag the “base” to which the power is supplied. But let’s move on from this lengthy introduction and get right to the Xiaomi Smart Pet Fountain review.
We should also note that the device costs about $65. Not too much for a device that brings a lot of benefit and joy to cats.
Read also: Xiaomi Smart Pet Feeder review
Technical specifications
- Capacity: 2 liters
- Voltage: 5.9 V ⎓ 1.0 A
- Data transfer: Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz
- Features: low power consumption, 4-stage filtration, light indicator, remote control
- Dimensions and weight: 19.1×19.1×17.7 cm, 2.5 kg.
Xiaomi Smart Pet Fountain Design
In the package with Xiaomi Smart Pet Fountain you will find the device itself, a filter and a power supply with a 1.5-meter cable.
The cable is good – it’s nylon braided, resistant to the claws and teeth of our pets. However, even if someone manages to chew on it, nothing terrible will happen – the cable transmits minimal voltage.
The device itself is made of non-sticky matte plastic (food-grade) and consists of several parts. Namely:
- The base part, also known as a stand for a water container. A cable is connected to it
- Transparent water container with a volume of 2 liters (according to the manufacturer, this is enough for one cat for 4-7 days)
- Top panel with a water outlet and a recess
- A pump, which is attached to the top with a silicone tube and powered by a cable.
Let’s take a closer look. The base part has a power input on the bottom panel (the connector is successfully hidden in it), and there are high and elastic rubber legs – they allow the fountain to stand confidently in its place and also absorb excessive vibrations during pump operation. There is no battery compartment like in the Xiaomi feeder. So if the power suddenly goes out, your cats will have to be content with the water that remains in the fountain’s recess, and there is not much of it. So if I’m going away for a few days, I make a supply of water in the bowl.
There are three metal contacts on the rim of the base. They are touched by the contacts on the lid, and thanks to this, the fountain turns on immediately. You take off the lid (there is a special silicone “handle”) – it turns off, turn it back on – it turns on. It is very convenient if you need to wash the lid or water tank. Thus, the power supply system of the device is hidden and separated from the water circulation.
I’ve heard reviews that some people have problems with these contacts starting to rust, but I don’t have any problems, although I’ve been using Xiaomi Smart Pet Fountain for almost a year. Of course, after washing the parts, I always wipe the contacts so that no water remains on them. But even if it accidentally remains, nothing terrible happens.
I would only note that although there is no rust, the water supply sometimes does not work. Then you need to turn the lid in place or take it off and wipe the contacts well. It didn’t happen right away, it started a month ago. I am still observing it, but I think it is a matter of careful maintenance of the device.
The base also has a hole through which you can see the transparent water tank and, accordingly, the water level. It’s very convenient, you just need to look at it. And if there is not enough water, this window will be highlighted in red.
The front panel has a button for switching modes and two light indicators at the bottom. I will tell you about the fountain’s operating modes below. If you hold this button for two seconds, the device will turn off, and you can turn it back on in the same way. And if you hold it down for 6 seconds, the settings will be reset.
Now let’s look at the lid. There are also contacts on the back of the lid (very thin and located in a recess, so it’s not easy to wipe them well after washing).
The pump is also connected to the lid with a wire, but it is mounted with a silicone tube. Thanks to this, the motor is not directly attached to the body – there are no unnecessary vibrations and noise.
There is also a removable part on the back of the lid into which the replaceable filter can be inserted.
This is what all this beauty looks like when assembled:
By the way, according to the manufacturer, the top panel has a 7-degree inclination and is ideal for both drinking and quiet water circulation.
I’ll show you the motor separately.
It has a removable lid that holds a pre-filter sponge (the Catit didn’t have this). And under the additional valve is the rotating propeller part itself (it’s a difficult task to get it out, but not impossible – you need to pry it out with something like tweezers). It is recommended to disassemble and clean all of this once every couple of weeks to remove debris and plaque.
Read also: Review of the Samsung JetBot+ robot hoover: The perfect helper
Filter, consumables, service
The water filter, the sponge for the pump, and the tube that holds the pump need to be changed. The manufacturer recommends changing the filters once a month and the tube once every two months (although it seems to me that nothing happens to it anyway, and it’s easy to wash it with a brush).
All of these are sold in sets, so you don’t have to bother. You can find them on AliExpress, and I usually order several sets at once.
The consumables are original, and I have not seen any fakes yet. Yes, they may not be super-cheap, but your cat’s health and clean water are definitely worth it.
We recommend that you rinse the filter under running water before installing it, and then you can install it immediately.
Once a month has passed since the new filter was installed, the front panel indicator light turns from white to yellow. There is no automatic filter cleanliness check, just a timer. After replacing the filter with a new one, you need to manually reset the indicator by holding down the key with the clock icon on the bottom of the device.
As you can see from the photo, the filter retains a lot of dirt. It contains:
- Polypropylene membrane with micropores
- PET cotton
- Activated carbon granules
- Ion exchange resin
All of this, in theory, should effectively retain small debris, hair, and water sediment (chlorine, calcium and magnesium ions). Indeed, it does – when I clean the filter, I can see particles of debris and hair, but not all of it – sometimes some dust particles and hairs still penetrate the water. However, it is unlikely that there are perfect filters that retain absolutely everything. Besides, the appliance is on the floor, and by definition, all dust and hair flies on it.
In general, I rinse the top cover with water and wash the filter about once every 3-5 days, then the fountain is clean and shiny. I change the water completely about once every 6-7 days. And here are the maintenance instructions from the official website:
Our city has very hard water, and we have constant problems with limescale formation. The fountain also feels it – limescale appears on the lid, on the filter compartment… Therefore, to extend the service life of the device, it is very important to clean it regularly with special means, even if it is vinegar. It is also important to remember to disassemble and clean the motor.
But the base does not need to be washed in water, just wipe it off from time to time.
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Xiaomi Smart Pet Fountain in operation: water supply, noise level
I recorded a video of the fountain supplying water:
In general, the “fountain” is more of a pretty word here; it’s not a fountain, but a stream, an underground spring. Maybe those cats who love water running from the tap won’t be too keen on it. For comparison, here’s what it looks like in other “fountains”:
But in any case, there is water and it circulates. At first, my cat even tried to play with this “stream”.
It is also important to note that this method of water supply was chosen with care for us, or rather people: the fountain does not bubble at all.
And in general, it is practically silent – no more than 30 dB. I’ve already mentioned why this is the case: the rubber feet dampen vibrations, the pump is suspended, the water supply is at a well-thought-out angle, the way the water circulates is also reasonable, and there is no gurgling. So even the most delicate people will be able to sleep peacefully and won’t hear the fountain – unless they put their ear close to it!
And if you do notice some slight buzzing, it’s usually enough to move the lid a little or make sure the pump doesn’t touch the water tank body.
For comparison, my former Catit drinking fountain often buzzed throughout the kitchen, especially if limescale appeared on the plastic. It was partially possible to overcome this by placing it on something soft, as you can see in the photo below. There are zero problems with Xiaomi.
Operating modes
There are two modes:
- normal: the water is just constantly circulating
- economical: during the daytime (8:00-22:00) it turns on for 10 minutes, then pauses for 10 minutes and so on in a circle; at night (22:00-8:00) it turns on once an hour for 10 minutes.
It’s interesting that the second mode is called smart, but I don’t see anything “smart” here – it’s just a regular scheduled operation, and it’s not customizable in any way. There are drinking fountains (the same Catit Pixi in the Smart version) that detect when an animal has approached and then turn on – this is smart and really economical.
The modes can be switched using the round button on the panel or via the mobile app.
Speaking of my experience, the device works in standard mode all the time. Cats are “round-the-clock” animals, sleeping during the day and sleeping at night, drinking during the day and drinking at night. I just don’t want to stress them with the drinking bowl off, it doesn’t consume that much energy.
Mobile app
To be honest, I’ve been using this drinker for almost a year without installing the mobile app. Although the device is Smart, I don’t see any benefit. The Xiaomi Smart Pet Feeder app is useful – you can set up a feeding schedule there, so you can’t do it without the app. As for the drinking fountain, Xiaomi Home only allows you to receive notifications (if you need to wash the water tank, if the water runs out, or if the filter needs to be replaced), and switch operating modes. But even without the app, the modes are switched with a button (and I don’t touch them at all), and you’ll know when the filter needs to be replaced or water added thanks to the light indicators. At the same time, the “smart” mode is not customized at all..
But if you still want to connect Xiaomi Smart Pet Fountain to the network, you need to hold down the small button on the bottom panel for 7 seconds to switch the drinker to pairing mode (the indicator will start flashing blue), and in the application, select Add New Device. Keep in mind that the device, like other devices from the Xiaomi ecosystem (we recently reviewed an air purifier and a feeder), works only with 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, which is a disadvantage.
Conclusions
The Xiaomi Smart Pet Fountain is a well-made and thoughtfully designed cat fountain (it’s also suitable for small dogs). I say this because I have something to compare it with – it is very easy to clean and maintain, change and add water. It works reliably, and I’m not writing these lines after a typical 2-week journalistic test, I’ve had this device for almost a year. With proper care, there are no problems. The design is also good – the device is compact and fits into any kitchen. Consumables are widely available and not too expensive.
There are no particular disadvantages, only one: “Smart” is probably a bit of a stretch. Yes, the device connects to a mobile application, but there are no settings there that are not available directly from the panel. And the so-called Smart water supply mode is just a scheduled operation, moreover, it is “sewn in” and cannot be changed. But this is just a nuance, and otherwise it is a high-quality fountain at an adequate price, we recommend it!
Where to buy Xiaomi Smart Pet Fountain
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