> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.catstandard.co.uk/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # How to clean a cat water fountain, including the pump - URL: https://www.catstandard.co.uk/how-to-clean-cat-water-fountain/ - Published: 2026-09-09T11:20:57.000Z - Updated: 2026-09-10T19:18:53.000Z - Description: A practical fountain cleaning routine, with Catit PIXI and Cat Mate instructions for pumps, dishwasher-safe parts, filters and limescale. - Author: Kieran Simpson - Tags: Feeders & fountains, #guide, #research-guide Care guide · Manufacturer instructions checked 9 September 2026 A fountain can keep water moving. It cannot take itself to the sink. The bit you can see is only part of the cleaning job; the pump has been quietly collecting its own material. ## The short answer **Unplug, dismantle, clean the washable parts and service the pump according to your model's instructions.** Use the [cleaning sequence](#routine) below, check the [PIXI and Cat Mate care differences](#models), and treat [descaling](#scale) as a separate, model-specific job. A new filter does not clean a dirty bowl. [Cleaning steps](#routine)[Model instructions](#models)[Limescale](#scale)[Restart checks](#restart) ## How to clean a cat water fountain Keep a normal water bowl available while the fountain is out of action. Set aside a soft sponge, a small brush suitable for the accessible channels, and somewhere to lay out the components. Check your manual before choosing a cleaning product. 1. **Disconnect it.** Unplug with dry hands before removing parts. Keep the adapter and electrical connectors away from washing water. 2. **Separate the jobs.** Empty the fountain, remove the filter and lay out the removable bowl, reservoir and pump parts. A quick photo before dismantling can save a surprisingly long conversation with a plastic lid. 3. **Wash the permitted surfaces.** Work around corners, spouts and joins, then rinse thoroughly. Use only the cleaners and dishwasher settings allowed for the exact components. 4. **Clean the pump separately.** Follow its diagram to access the impeller—the small rotating part—and remove trapped debris. Do not force a cover because another fountain's video makes it look easy. 5. **Deal with the filter according to its instructions.** Rinsing and replacing are different tasks. Record the installation date so you are not trying to remember which month you bought it. 6. **Reassemble and observe.** Refill correctly, check that electrical connections are dry, then watch it run before leaving your cat to use it. Keep these as separate tick boxes: bowl, reservoir, pump, filter. “Did the fountain” is otherwise quite capable of meaning “rinsed the visible bit”. ## How often should you clean it? Use the schedule for your model, and act sooner if you find dirt or reduced flow. Filter replacement intervals are not a timetable for leaving the rest untouched. __Two specific models, with their manufacturer care instructions.__ | Fountain | Cleaning routine | Important distinction | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | [Catit PIXI, standard white](https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B095PZ8ZXZ?tag=catstandard-21&ref=catstandard.co.uk) | Manual: fountain and filter rinse every three days; pump weekly. | Use a soft sponge and non-abrasive cleanser; rinse away residue. No soap on the filter. | | [Cat Mate three-level fountain](https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B001NYGB8W?tag=catstandard-21&ref=catstandard.co.uk) | Manual: monthly maintenance, or sooner with reduced flow. Hard water may require pump care at least fortnightly. | The removable bowls are dishwasher-safe after removing the pump and filter. | [The PIXI manual, PDF page 20](https://www.catit.com/shared/Product-Manual%5FPIXI-Fountain.pdf?ref=catstandard.co.uk#page=20), specifies removing the impeller cap and impeller, rinsing debris away and carefully reassembling. Its dishwasher guidance is specifically for the steel top of model 43720; it does not establish that the standard plastic-top fountain can go in whole. For [Cat Mate](https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B001NYGB8W?tag=catstandard-21&ref=catstandard.co.uk), see [the 335 manual, PDF pages 2–3](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0472/5401/2063/files/33532%5F0721%5F-%5FPet-Fountain-Instructions%5FOUTLINE.pdf?v=1649241700&ref=catstandard.co.uk#page=3), for the pump-release lock and exploded diagram. Monthly pump maintenance does not mean waiting a month to wash a dirty drinking bowl. Choosing between them? Our [cat water fountain buying guide](https://www.catstandard.co.uk/how-to-choose-cat-water-fountain/) compares drinking layouts, upkeep and running costs. ## Can you use vinegar to remove limescale? **Only where the manufacturer permits it for that component.** A descaling method for one pump is not automatically suitable for every fountain, filter or seal. [Cat Mate](https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B001NYGB8W?tag=catstandard-21&ref=catstandard.co.uk)'s manual gives an equal-parts warm-water-and-vinegar soak for the dismantled pump parts, including the pump body but excluding the power cord. After two to three hours, remove deposits, clean the impeller tunnel with a small brush or cotton bud, rinse well and reassemble. Keep the transformer and electrical connector dry. Follow its diagram rather than soaking the assembled appliance. The [PIXI](https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B095PZ8ZXZ?tag=catstandard-21&ref=catstandard.co.uk) manual linked above does not provide that vinegar recipe. Use Catit's instructions or ask its support team about persistent deposits. Do not transfer the [Cat Mate](https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B001NYGB8W?tag=catstandard-21&ref=catstandard.co.uk) soak to it by assumption. If cleaning repeatedly takes longer than expected, note where deposits collect and how quickly they return. That is useful information for adjusting maintenance with the manufacturer's advice, and considerably more useful than hoping the next filter sorts everything out. ## Check these before calling it finished - **All parts are seated properly.** Nothing left beside the sink is an encouraging sign. - **Water is at the specified level.** Do not run a pump dry to see whether it works. - **Flow has returned.** Check the assembly and filter if it is noticeably weaker. [Cat Mate](https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B001NYGB8W?tag=catstandard-21&ref=catstandard.co.uk) notes that trapped air may take a few minutes to clear after cleaning. - **Connections are dry and intact.** Leave damaged equipment unplugged and contact the manufacturer. - **Your cat still has water.** Keep the backup bowl until normal operation is confirmed. ### Does rinsing a filter make it new again? Our [fountain filter replacement guide](https://www.catstandard.co.uk/cat-water-fountain-filter-replacement/) lists compatible [PIXI](https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B095CFB3VZ?tag=catstandard-21&ref=catstandard.co.uk) and [Cat Mate cartridges](https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07N2ZHS98?tag=catstandard-21&ref=catstandard.co.uk), replacement intervals and how to compare pack costs. No. The [PIXI](https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B095PZ8ZXZ?tag=catstandard-21&ref=catstandard.co.uk) manual calls for replacement every three to four weeks, or earlier with saturation or impeded flow. [Cat Mate](https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B001NYGB8W?tag=catstandard-21&ref=catstandard.co.uk) specifies monthly for one cat, potentially sooner with multiple cats or blockage. Follow the instructions supplied with your exact filter; a rinse is not a reset of its working life. For the other appliance on the kitchen rota, see [how to clean an automatic cat feeder](https://www.catstandard.co.uk/how-to-clean-an-automatic-cat-feeder/). Keep its powered base out of the fountain-washing routine. If upkeep does not resolve the problem, use our [repair-or-replace checklist](https://www.catstandard.co.uk/repair-or-replace-cat-equipment/) to separate a suitable spare from a fault needing qualified assessment. ## Sources and scope Based on the [Catit PIXI](https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B095PZ8ZXZ?tag=catstandard-21&ref=catstandard.co.uk) and [Cat Mate 335](https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B001NYGB8W?tag=catstandard-21&ref=catstandard.co.uk) manufacturer manuals linked above, checked 9 September 2026\. Model-specific methods are identified so you can match them to your equipment. Browse [all feeding equipment guides](https://www.catstandard.co.uk/topics/feeding-equipment/) or read [our editorial standards](https://www.catstandard.co.uk/our-standards/).