Pioneer Pet Raindrop Stainless Steel Pet Fountain Review
Summary
The Pioneer Pet Raindrop Stainless Steel Pet Fountain is a stylish and sanitary alternative to standard plastic fountains. Cleaning this fountain is a breeze and its low profile design makes it fit just about anywhere.
Description / Features
The Pioneer Pet Raindrop Stainless Steel Pet Fountain is made of lightweight stainless steel and has a raindrop-shaped design.
Unlike standard free-falling water fountains, the Pioneer Pet Raindrop Stainless Steel Pet Fountain utilizes a bubbling flow and water slide. The water flows to a small trough area at the base. The capacity of this fountain is on the smaller side at 60 ounces. But it’s easy enough to fill just by pouring a few cups of water in the top every few days.
A small electric pump that can run continuously for several years operates the fountain. If the pump does burn out, Pioneer Pet sells replacements for about $13. The triple layer filters remove solids and bad tastes and odors. The manufacturer recommends replacing them every 2-4 weeks. The flow setting is inconveniently placed on the motor. So you’ll have to disassemble the fountain to adjust flow.
The dimensions of this fountain are 4 ¼”H x 9 ¾”W x 11 ¾” L. It comes in standard stainless steel and is also available in Rose Gold from the manufacturer’s website.
Functionality
The Pioneer Pet Raindrop Stainless Steel Pet Fountain is one of the simplest pet fountain designs we’ve come across. And that’s a good thing! Not only is this fountain elegant-looking, but it is also highly functional. It circulates water and provides multiple areas for your cat to drink from. The capacity is a bit on the low end, particularly if you have more than one cat in the house.
Noise
If you’re looking for a pet fountain that doesn’t have the running water sound like typical fountains, this is a great choice. There is virtually no water noise from this fountain. The motor on the other hand is a bit noisier than others. A soft humming noise can be heard from the motor, especially if the fountain isn’t filled to capacity.
Maintenance
Cleaning the Pioneer Pet Raindrop Stainless Steel Pet Fountain is about as easy as it gets. The stainless steel parts don’t tend to get as grimy as plastic and they can be tossed in the dishwasher. The pump and filter are encased in a plastic nest that snaps apart easily. The top of the fountain rests on top of the base and doesn’t have any clips to secure it in place. If your cats are fond of playing with the fountain, you’ll have to frequently realign the top to avoid messy water spills.
The pump cord has to be threaded through a channel in the fountain. A power disconnect on the 7-foot long power cord makes cleaning very easy. Overall, the Pioneer Pet Raindrop Stainless Steel Pet Fountain is one of the lowest-maintenance fountains we’ve found.
Quality / Longevity
Stainless Steel is an excellent material choice for pet fountains because it is hygienic, easy to clean, and longer-lasting than plastic. The Pioneer Pet Raindrop fountain is made of quality stainless steel that will last a long time. With the simple design there are fewer parts are pieces to get broken or damaged. Replacement pumps are available from the manufacturer.
Pros
- Elegant design
- Easy to clean
- Dishwasher safe
- Minimal water noise
- Hygienic
Cons
- Noisy motor when water level gets low
- Low capacity
- Top of fountain can get knocked off easily
Summary / Recommendations
The Pioneer Pet Raindrop Stainless Steel Pet Fountain is one of the most stylish pet fountains on the market. The simple design make it a winner for both cats and cat owners.
We recommend the Pioneer Pet Raindrop Stainless Steel Pet Fountain for single cat homes and for cats with feline acne. Due to the minimal capacity, we do not recommend this fountain for multi-cat families or families with dogs. The frequent refilling and added maintenance would become a nuisance.
Filters
Pioneer Pet has replacement filters specifically intended for the Raindrop Pet Fountain. These filters go for about $2.17 each. We recommend getting the off-brand filters by NISPIRA or PetStandard, which are virtually identical to the Pioneer Pet filters, but at half the price. Based on a monthly filter change, the annual cost of replacement filters for the Pioneer Pet Raindrop Stainless Steel Pet Fountain is $13 – $26.
Original Post Date: 9/14/16