Catit PIXI Smart Water Fountain
A good smart fountain for owners who will actually keep up with it. Cats tend to prefer it to a bowl once they adjust, the water stays clear thanks to the filter and the UV-C light, and the app notifications earn their place because this fountain does need looking after. Plan for the upkeep before you buy. The plates, bowl and filter want a rinse every few days and a proper wash weekly, or the pump starts to hum and the sensor throws false empty alerts. Budget for a new filter roughly every 30 days, and know that a fair number of owners see the pump fail near the one-year mark, though replacements are sold separately. If you want the smart water-quality features and don't mind the routine, it is a solid pick. If you want something you can ignore for weeks, look elsewhere.
Our editorial rating, not aggregated user reviews
Cats take to it, the water stays fresh between cleans, and the app is more than a gimmick. Push notifications for low water, a filter change and pump cleaning are genuinely handy on a fountain that needs regular attention, and a UV-C light that runs three times a day helps keep the water clear. When it is clean, owners rate the suspended pump as very quiet. Two things hold the score back. The first is upkeep. This is not a set-and-forget device, and owners who skip the routine end up with a humming pump or a false low-water warning from a fouled sensor. The second is longevity. A recurring theme in reviews is the pump giving out at around the one-year mark, after which you are buying a replacement. Add a filter you swap roughly every 30 days and the running cost is real. Score reflects owner consensus of about 4.3 out of 5, marked down for pump durability and the maintenance load.
Pros
- The suspended pump runs quietly when clean, and most cats drink from it happily once they get used to it
- The app earns its place, with genuinely handy push alerts for low water, filter changes and pump cleaning
- A UV-C clarifier runs three times a day to help keep the water clear between cleans
- Three flow modes (an arching spout, a bubbling top and a calm pool) let you find what a fussy cat will use
- Stainless steel top and a 2 litre reservoir, so it holds a decent amount and the drinking surface wipes clean
Cons
- High maintenance. Owners are advised to rinse the plates, bowl and filter every few days and wash weekly, or the pump hums and biofilm builds
- A fouled water-level sensor commonly triggers a false red low-water light even when the reservoir is full
- Pump longevity is the standout complaint, with many owners reporting failure around a year and buying a replacement pump
- The filter is a recurring cost, replaced roughly every 30 days, and the ongoing spend adds up over the fountain's life
- 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi only, and setup or reassembly after cleaning trips up some owners
- Limescale from hard water can seize the impeller, so the pump runs noisily or stops circulating until it is descaled
Specifications
- Capacity
- 2 L (about 67.5 fl oz) reservoir
- Filtration
- Triple-action filter pad, reduces odour, debris and some magnesium and calcium; replace roughly every 30 days
- UV-C
- Built-in clarifier light, runs three times a day for about 60 minutes each, or on demand from the app
- Flow modes
- Three: arching spout stream, bubbling top and a calm pool in the stainless steel bowl
- Pump
- Detachable, suspended in the reservoir to cut vibration, average power draw under 1 W
- Wi-Fi
- 2.4 GHz only, controlled through the Catit PIXI app
- App features
- Remote power and mode control, timer, energy-saving mode, manual UV-C, and notifications for water level, filter change and pump cleaning
- Material
- Stainless steel top over a BPA-free plastic base
- Power
- USB, DC 5V 1A adapter