Key Takeaways
- Petlibro Dockstream tracks your cat’s water intake, giving you peace of mind by providing a wealth of data details about their hydration habits.
- Designed for easy refilling and quiet operation, this fountain features app connectivity for monitoring water levels and your cat’s drinking habits.
- While this is convenient for households with one cat, it is not suitable for households with multiple cats as filter replacements can become costly.
As anticipation grows for the summer travel season, I’m always hesitant to leave my cat with a pet sitter. While putting together my packing list for my first trip of the summer, I came across the Petlibro Dockstream App Monitored Water Fountain. I was immediately intrigued. Could an app-connected pet fountain make me feel a little less anxious about leaving my cat with someone?
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The Petlibro Dockstream will not only notify you when the water level is low, but will also let you know how much water your cat drinks each day. You can also get a notification every time your cat uses the water bowl. However, the Dockstream is a smart device that gives you more information, and the water bowl doesn’t reduce your household chores, as you’ll need to change the filter twice a month, which will add to the overall cost.
Petlibro Dockstream App Monitored Watering Hole
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$75 $80 Save $5
The Petlibro Dockstream App Monitoring Water Fountain tracks your cat’s water habits. Using a Wi-Fi connected base, this fountain measures water to determine how much water your cat drinks over a period of time. The wireless pump makes refilling easy; however, the cost of the required disposable filters will add up over time.
- Find out more about the wealth of data on cat hydration
- Easy to refill
- Smart design
- Replacement filter cost
- Not dishwasher safe
Petlibro Dockstream Pricing, Specifications and Availability
The Petlibro Dockstream App Monitoring Fountain retails for $80. A replacement pack of eight disposable filters costs about $32.
Petlibro Dockstream App Monitored Watering Hole
- brand
- Petribro
- Connectivity
- 2.4GHz Wireless
- capacity
- 2.5L
- Power
- CordedElectric
- material
- ABS (BPA free), stainless steel
- Compatible
- Available for iOS and Android
- size
- 231 x 191 x 161mm / 9.1 x 7.5 x 6.3inch
What I like about Petlibro Dockstream
The fountain has a smart and quiet design
The Petlibro Dockstream has two main parts: the wire-free water tank and the wired base. The water pump itself is housed within the water tank. To refill it, simply lift the tank off the base, remove the lid, and take it to the sink. Watching the water pump work with no actual wires attached feels a bit like watching a magic trick. Place the tank on the base and water starts flowing immediately. Of course, wireless charging has been around for a while, but watching the fountain magically come to life when you place it on the base is a childlike wonder. And when the magic wears off, you can easily refill the water tank without worrying about getting a wet cord.
My favorite feature so far is how the app lets me know when the water level is getting low, long before my cat starts meowing in frustration.
In addition to powering the water tank, the base has built-in Wi-Fi and measures the contents of the water bowl to gauge how much water your cat drinks each day. My two cats seem to love the water tank, which isn’t surprising, since my two spoiled felines often jump onto the bathroom counter to drink water straight from the tap.
The fountain is also pretty quiet, and I didn’t notice any noise even though I had it in the hallway right outside my bedroom. Plus, I liked the design; the wood-like base and white bowl blended in with my home decor. One key feature that Dockstream has over other pet fountains is app connectivity. My favorite feature is how the app lets you know when the water level is low, long before your cat starts meowing and complaining.
The connected features also include water level measurements and information about how much water your cat drinks per day. that Know your cat. Getting a notification every time your cat comes to drink water can quickly get tiring. Thankfully, these notifications are highly customizable and you can even set custom times when you want to receive them.
Personally, I don’t think there’s any need to do that.
that
Know more about my cat. Getting a notification every time my cat comes to drink water can get tiring very quickly.
Still, it does seem like there could be potential benefits for cats with chronic health issues like diabetes or frequent urination. I also found the data useful when traveling, as I got a notification every time the pet sitter refilled the water, so I didn’t have to worry about forgetting my cat.
What I didn’t like about the Petlibro Dockstream
Filter replacement can add up to high costs
First, the Dockstream is designed for homes with only one cat. If you have two cats, like me, there’s no way to tell which one is drinking how much water. (I never planned on having two cats, but sometimes life brings with it strays.)
A pack of eight will cost you around $32, meaning over the course of a year you’ll end up spending more on the filter than the fountain itself.
I like the Dockstream’s design, but it does require disposable filters, which the company recommends replacing every 2-4 weeks (though the app only says 14 days), and they cost about $32 for a pack of eight, meaning that over the course of a year, the filters will cost more than the fountain itself.
The fountain also needs to be cleaned every two weeks, but that’s not much of an issue considering pet water bowls also need to be cleaned regularly. It comes with a cleaning brush, and it doesn’t take much longer than a basic bowl, except that none of the parts are dishwasher safe.
I’m a bit sceptical about spending $176 (three 8-pack filters and the water dispenser) over the first year just to keep my cat hydrated. The app connection could potentially signal early warning signs of health issues if your cat’s average daily water intake suddenly increases or decreases. However, the only study on cat drinking habits (admittedly small, with only 14 participants) has demonstrated that cats do not drink more water from the water dispenser than from a regular bowl. So while the Dockstream may alert you to changes in water intake, it doesn’t necessarily encourage your cat to drink more than from a regular bowl.
Should I buy a Petlibro Dockstream?
Some smart home products make your life easier, while others give you more information. The Petlibro Dockstream falls into the latter category. It takes time and money to clean and maintain, but in return you’ll learn more about your cat’s hydration habits.
Petlibro Dockstream App Monitored Watering Hole
$75 $80 Save $5
If knowing your cat’s hydration habits would ease your worries, such as if you have a cat that regularly suffers from urinary tract disease or other health issues, buy a Petlibro Dockstream. Or, if you travel frequently, knowing your cat is well hydrated might make it easier to rest your head on a hotel pillow. But before you hit that add to cart button, consider the cost of twice-monthly filter changes.
If you have more than one cat, avoid the Petlibro Dockstream – its best feature, water monitoring, can’t distinguish between two cats – and if you can’t afford the time and money to change the filters every two weeks, avoid this smart cat fountain.
