Easy-to-clean cat water fountains

How we ranked them

The only evidence we use is what each manufacturer states about cleaning. Three things count, in this order:

1. Which parts the maker names as dishwasher-safe, and which it excludes. A broad statement ranks above a single part.
2. How the maker describes taking it apart. A pumpless design, or a reservoir that lifts off through a wide opening, means fewer steps.
3. Whether a cleaning schedule is written down at all.

A count of washable parts would be another obvious measure, but no maker in our database states one, so the table does not show it. We also skipped models where the maker says nothing about the dishwasher, even if their design looks simple. We did not clean any of these ourselves, and the order reflects the strength of the claim, not how the fountain performs in a kitchen.

What "dishwasher-safe" tells you

It tells you what the maker is willing to say about heat and detergent on its parts, usually the bowl, tray or tank. It does not tell you the water will stay clean. The pump is the part makers most often exclude, because it holds a magnet and electrics. A dishwasher also does not reach into the impeller housing, where hair and film collect. Plan on hand-cleaning the pump on the maker's schedule whatever the rest of the fountain allows.

Disassembly: what the makers say

Few manufacturers describe disassembly in terms that can be compared. Three facts are recorded in our data. The PETLIBRO Dockstream line has no submerged pump, which removes one of the awkward parts. The Catit PIXI Smart Fountain has a second plastic layer under its top so the fountain keeps running while the top is washed. The PetSafe Healthy Pet Water Station has a reservoir that lifts off for cleaning through a wide opening, with no pump to remove. None of these is a tool-free-disassembly claim in so many words, so check the manual before you decide.

Choosing by how you clean

• You want to put as much as possible in the dishwasher: the PETKIT EverSweet Max 2, the PETLIBRO steel fountain or the PetSafe HydroSphere Stainless.
• You want the fewest parts and can live without moving water: the Healthy Pet Water Station. The no-filter page explains how it differs from a fountain.
• You prefer to hand-wash and want smooth steel: the stainless steel list has more models.

For the actual cleaning steps, use the cleaning guide. If the water gets slimy even after washing, the slime and dirty water page walks through causes, and the filter change page covers cartridges.