Here Comes the Rain(drop)

Posted on May 15, 2011 by Tamar

Review: Pioneer Pet Stainless Steel Pet Fountain Raindrop Design receives 4 out of 4 paws!

As  I’ve said in the past, I want my apartment to announce itself with a resounding,  “Hello, an independent sophisticated single woman lives here “ not “Meeeooowwwww, welcome to Casa Cat.”

I’m always on the lookout for discrete, modern, affordable cat products to review. And have written about litter boxes, cat toys, cat beds and even cat portraits, but hadn’t found a water fountain that fit the bill. Until I laid my eyes on The Raindrop.

Pioneer Pet Stainless Steel Fountain Raindrop Design to be exact. I heard angels singing. But could it possibly be as good as it looked?

Most pet fountains are clunky looking and made of beige or speckled grey plastic with blue and purple accents. The Raindrop nails it when it came to being compact, and aesthetically pleasing. In terms of affordability it retails at $43.71, the higher end of the range but I’ve certainly seen more expensive.

Typical cat pet fountains. Cat like them but not so cute or fun to clean.

 

The big question is, how the Raindrop performs against the most critical success metrics: Ease of Cleaning, Noise Level and arguable the most important, Cat Acceptance.

Ease of Cleaning: Plastic seems to invite algae growth that clings stubbornly to each piece making it a challenge to clean properly (even with the use of special brushes).  In addition to being slimy and gross, algae and bacteria can casue cat acne (catne?).

The Raindrop, made up of two stainless steel pieces and a pump, couldn’t be easier to clean taking less than 2 minutes.  And it’s super easy to put back together. I also noticed after a week there was no algae to clean from the pump or bowl, just a little cat hair!

Noise Level & Cat Acceptance: I’ll let the video speak for itself. Click here if can’t see the embedded YouTube video.

I HAVE CAT Proudly bestows upon Pioneer Pet Stainless Steel Fountain Raindrop Design4 out of 4 paws. An honor that no other product has received to date!  If you forced me to tell you something I don’t love about the Raindrop I admit it’s hard to avoid water stains on the stainless steel.

But lucky for us Pioneer also makes the Pioneer Pet 6022 Ceramic Drinking Fountain, Raindrop Design in black for $37.23. Maybe the stains show up less? Hopefully we’ll get a chance to review it next (hint hint!).

NOTE: While I receive the products I review free of charge, I am not compensated in any other way.

6 MONTH UPDATE:

  • Still loving the Raindrop and recommended to my friends. It would be great if they found a replacement for the short 1/2″ piece of circular plastic where the water bubbles up from the basin. That does get a bit slimy and does require cleaning once a week.

NOTE: While I receive the products I review free of charge, I am not compensated in any other way.



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  • http://www.sparklecat.com Sparkle

     Whoa, that looks pawsome! Now if only there was something to keep the dog away from it, it would be perfect in my house!

    • http://www.ihavecat.com I HAVE CAT

      well check THIS out! Maybe you guys can all share! http://www.esmartcat.com/ProductDetail.jsp?LISTID=80000291-1272647198

  • http://www.DeborahJulian.etsy.com Deborah Julian

     I’ve been thinking of getting a fountain for a while. Thanks for the review. I like the compact size of this one since I have an NYC size apartment.
    Deborah Julian
    http://www.DeborahJulian.etsy.com

    • http://www.ihavecat.com I HAVE CAT

      I want to try the ceramic one! If you purchase it please use this link http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0037NKDSG/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B00329RZFE&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1NEGZRPD93QER4C2DGEB

      It is the link to the products in Tiny Timmy’s Amazon store! 

  • Anonymous

    I’ve had several, from the drinkwell to some domed one and they are a pain to clean and keep them working properly.  I love that this is stainless steel.  Thanks for the review and the link.  I’ll be looking to get a couple of these.  With 5 cats and one Yorkie, a couple around the apartment would be great. 

    • http://www.ihavecat.com I HAVE CAT

      Here is a bigger model! I haven’t tried it but maybe it’s worth checking out? http://www.esmartcat.com/ProductDetail.jsp?LISTID=80000291-1272647198

    • http://www.ihavecat.com I HAVE CAT

      IF you purchase one of the ones I reviewed, please use the link in the post because I used the link to Tiny TImmy’s Amazon store so he can make a little commission off of it (not sure if you know TT?)

  • Tricia

    I too heard angels singing when I saw this fountain as my oldest kitty, the one who owns the biggest chunk of my heart gets acne from drinking from plastic.  And she had loved her drinkwell fountain.  For her this fountain is absolutely purrrrrfect.  All the other cats drink from it also however the only thing I miss (not sure if the kitties do) is that the fall of the water is not long enough to make very much sound.  Just think it would be more attractive in general to kitties if it were slightly deeper so there would be a bit more of a babbling sound.  Otherwise, quite happy with the functionality and ease of cleaning.

    • http://www.ihavecat.com I HAVE CAT

       hear you about the falling water…..did you see this one? http://www.esmartcat.com/ProductDetail.jsp?LISTID=80000291-1272647198

  • http://blog.blanketID.com Cate

     I’m always looking for a water fountain that doesn’t make a noise and this seems to fit the bill! Last time I got one it hummed and Milly and Poppet were totally freaked out by it. Thanks – I’m going to try it :)

    • http://www.ihavecat.com I HAVE CAT

       Cate, if you do purchase one use this link so you can help Tiny Timmy! This link is in his Amazon Store!~ http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0037NKDSG/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B00329RZFE&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1NEGZRPD93QER4C2DGEB

  • bonnie

    great fountain!!!!  it was bigger, the collies might like it too !!

  • bonnie

    great fountain!!!!  it was bigger, the collies might like it too !!

    • http://www.ihavecat.com I HAVE CAT

       Oh but wait, you are not off the hook – did you see this? http://www.esmartcat.com/ProductDetail.jsp?LISTID=80000291-1272647198

  • The Island Cats

    We have the Raindrop in the black ceramic!  And we really like it!  It’s easy to clean and put back together. If we have one complaint it’s that the thing that holds the filter and motor is plastic and it has a tendency to get a little yucky over time.  But we give it 4 paws too!

    • http://twitter.com/ihavecat I HAVE CAT

      Yes I hear you on the bits of plastic that are still on the fountain. I feel like they could replace that small bit of tubing, but the motor casing I guess is hard to change from plastic. 

  • http://www.friendsfurevercatblog.blogspot.com/ Florida Furkids &Angel Sniffie

     Our Petmate fountain broke last week.  There was water all over the floor and the woofies didn’t do it!!
    Mom likes the Raindrop but we had a super large one and she didn’t think the Raindrop came that big.  She’s going to go check it out.

    The Florida Furkids and Angel Sniffie

    • http://www.ihavecat.com I HAVE CAT

      Check this one out! Looks much bigger! Same people make it! http://www.esmartcat.com/ProductDetail.jsp?LISTID=80000291-1272647198

  • http://animalsheltervolunteer.blogspot.com meowmeowmans

    Thanks for the review … the raindrop sounds great!  I’m afraid Moosey would just sit there and play in the water all day (yes, he’s one of those cats who is fascinated by moving water!).

    Have a great Wednesday, T.

    • http://twitter.com/ihavecat I HAVE CAT

      Love the name MOOSEY! :)  

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=530401628 Layla Morgan Wilde

    I’m sold.

  • Karen at Life with Tigers

    We have the raindrop fountain here at Life with Tigers studio, but the older kitties are not fans. They still prefer to drink from the sink, or randomly placed cups or my glass before I’m finished with it. However, it’s not a bust, because little Moo enjoys the fountain very much. And it IS lovely to look at!

  • Karen

    We had a Drinkwell Platinum for about 4 months.  The vibration from the pump was so noisy, I had carpet under it as well as pieces of foam underneath all the edges and we could still hear the vibration from the pump.  One day it just stopped working..don’t really miss it. 

    We have two cats, Roxie liked it, Kasey did not.  I don’t think Kasey liked the sound of the water running.  I love the look of this fountain I would definetely like to try it out for them.

    Thanks for the review.

    • http://twitter.com/ihavecat I HAVE CAT

      Let us know if you do try it out Karen! Thanks for visiting and for leaving your comment! 

  • mimi

    wow… we want one!!!!!!!!

    although.. probably only mommy wants one.. us kitties were scared of the other waterfall kind!!!  but we will drink out of the sink and tub!! Wud up with that!!

    • http://twitter.com/ihavecat I HAVE CAT

      You may like it because the water doesn’t fall down it just bubbles up and it is VERY quiet. If you use the link in this blog post then Tiny Timmy can get $ of each sale…a little bit but every penny helps!

  • Zoe Spumoni

    Miss Tamaw! Miss Tamar! Gwammikins an mommy was tawking abowt getting a fowntin fo…ummm…two wittle vibsitors hoo is coming soonifully.Heeheehee! I sed, ” MOMMY! GWAMMIKINS! Miss Tamaw roteded abowt one!!!!” An herew it is be!!! Pank woo sooo mush!!!! Mwah! mwah! Mwah! I can’t wate to twy it!!!

    • http://twitter.com/ihavecat I HAVE CAT

      YAYAYA! Thanks Zoe!!!! Two wittle vibistors?! I can’t wait to hear about it !You guys could have your very own ZOO over there :) How lovely!Also they make a larger version too that has more levels…..lemme see if i can find that…..if you like it, we can ask TINY TIMMY to put it in his AMAZON store so he can get some $$ on each sale! http://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-Fountain-Max-Stainless-Steel/dp/B004EFVQDC
      If you use the link in this blog you can purchase the one i reviewed from Tiny Timmy’s store.

      • Zoe Spumoni

        Pank woo, Miss Tamaw!!! We gotted da wittler verbshon froo da link on herew and bowt it on Timmiful’s paje! YAYAYAYY!!! I cant wate to twy!!!! Mwah!

        Oh! Da wittle vibisitors endered up not coming—-darew wescue mommy felled sooo mush in wuv wiv dem! But we stillw gots da fowntin!!! Yay!!!

        • http://www.ihavecat.com I HAVE CAT

          Zoe are you liking your raindrop? If you have trouble with the motor let me know, it’s REALLY easy to clean but they don’t really tell you about how to do it, there’s a good video online that shows you step=by-step! 

  • Tdelecia

    Just wanted peeps to KNOW the link you have takes you to Amazon, where right now the black ceramic one is only around $31.00. For ME, being on a fixed income that makes a huge difference!! Thanks SO much I had NEVER seen this one ANYWHERE, and I’m in LOVE!!!

    • http://www.ihavecat.com I HAVE CAT

      Thanks for the update on the prices – I updated my post! Let me know if you get one and if you like it! Don’t forget to get refill filters while you’re at it!