Petlibro Dockstream Smart Fountain Review

cat using Petlibro Dockstream Smart Fountain

Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com

Did you know that cats are supposed to drink four ounces of water per five pounds of body weight? This includes the water content in their food as well as the plain water from their bowl.

Since cats are extremely prone to kidney disease, keeping them hydrated is especially important. One way to encourage them to drink is with a cat water fountain, since most cats prefer running water to stagnant water.

The Petlibro Dockstream smart fountain is one of the better cat fountains on the market, offering easy clean-up and assembly, quiet operation, and even an app to monitor your cat’s hydration.

I bought the Petlibro Dockstream myself and tested it for over six weeks. Here is my honest review.

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Petlibro Dockstream Smart Fountain unboxing

Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com

I’ve purchased multiple cat water fountains since my oldest cat was diagnosed with kidney disease in 2022. My veterinarian recommended one to help him drink more water, but even cats without health issues can benefit from better hydration. Most cats prefer running water because stagnant water in nature is more likely to be contaminated with algae, bacteria, and parasites.

I have seven cats, and most of them took to drinking from water fountains immediately. However, I was slower to enjoy them because of the maintenance! I quickly learned that what makes a cat fountain great is ease of use for the cat parent.

Things I looked for while reviewing the Petlibro Dockstream include easy assembly, a low noise level, and maintenance that a busy pet parent can actually keep up with.

Petlibro Dockstream Smart Fountain Overview

Petlibro is known for their selection of automatic pet feeders and fountains, though they also sell a handful of other products. Founded in 2019, they quickly became a leader in pet feeding technology due to the quality of their products.

Their Dockstream smart fountain was released in 2023 and now has three versions available. Today we’re reviewing the original corded fountain, which features app connectivity where you can set drinking goals, change the flow type, and more.

Petlibro Dockstream Smart Fountain Features

Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com

The Petlibro Dockstream holds up to 2.5 liters. A four-layer filtration system keeps the water fresh between cleanings, and the app will remind you when it’s time to refill the water, clean the fountain, or change the filters.

The former updates according to weight, which is measured most accurately on hard, level surfaces. The latter two are determined through a simple 14-day countdown. The app doesn’t read the cleanliness of your specific fountain, so your actual cleaning schedule may vary slightly.

Luckily, you can change the durations if you’d like. For instance, I changed my cleaning schedule to weekly since I find that water fountains in my multi-cat home need more frequent maintenance.

Other features of the app include the ability to set drinking goals and track your cat’s water intake. This is especially important for cats who already have health issues or as a way to catch illness early, as a difference in drinking habits are often one of the first signs of kidney disease, diabetes, and other health concerns.

The fountain is much quieter than others I’ve tried, running at just 23 decibels. It’s very simple to take apart and clean, and even comes with a cleaning brush for a few tiny crevices that would be difficult to reach otherwise, such as inside of the drinking spout.

Unfortunately, the Petlibro Dockstream is expensive compared to other cat fountains. If you’re just looking for a simple water fountain, the price may not be worth it. However, if you want a smart fountain that connects to your phone and tracks your cat’s hydration, this is a great choice.

What We Like:

Smart device connects to your phone to monitor your cat’s hydration
5 liter capacity–no need for constant refills!
Runs quietly at just 23 decibels
Easy to disassemble and clean
Filters are affordably priced and sold in 4 or 8-packs

What We Didn’t Like:

Expensive compared to other water fountains, but worthwhile if you’re looking for app connectivity
Bowl is made of plastic, rather than stainless steel

What Did Our Test Cats Think?

The Petlibro was easy to put together, and the app setup was straightforward. I had no technical issues during the set-up process, and my cats took to the fountain after a couple of days.

Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com

They seem to enjoy drinking from it. I get notifications anytime they drink and have been able to learn their schedules and predict who is drinking based on the amount. For instance, one of my boys consistently drinks about 0.14 ounces from the fountain after eating dinner.

Of course, notifications from the app can also be turned off if you’d rather not be notified every time your cat takes a sip!

The fountain holds an ideal amount of water. It’s not so little that you’re constantly refilling, but also not so much that the water becomes gross between refills. I also found it much easier to take apart and clean than our last fountain, which was the Petlibro stainless steel cat fountain.

The wireless motor is especially handy, as you don’t have to juggle cords while cleaning. The bowl lifts right up from the base, which can be left behind and wiped down with a damp cloth as needed. (The base cannot be submerged in water.)

Overall, this is my favorite cat water fountain that I’ve tried so far, and I’d definitely buy it again!

What Do Customers Think of the Petlibro Dockstream Smart Fountain?

Positive Reviews

“This is an amazing product. It is a little expensive but it is very much worth it. I bought mine about four years ago and it has never given me issues in spite of very lax upkeep.” – by Feven, on Amazon, August 17, 2025

“I have tried many pet water fountains over the years and this is by far the best one of the bunch. It is so well engineered. It is really easy to refill and clean because the tank and the pump come off the power base entirely.”- by Brandon, on Amazon, August 30, 2025

Most customers like that the fountain is easy to take apart for cleaning and tells them how much their cats drink each day. Cat parents say that the fountain works well and gives them peace of mind.

Negative Reviews

“Unfortunately, the pump failed shortly after cleaning, and its design issues make maintenance unnecessarily frustrating. The pump contains a flimsy plastic post that holds the propeller, which broke while I followed the cleaning instructions using the brush tool provided. This is a poor design choice—such an important part should have been made of durable metal instead of thin plastic barely thicker than pencil lead.” – by Chrispy on Amazon

“I’ve had this water fountain for approximately 6 months and now it won’t reconnect to the WiFi so using the app is worthless. It functions as a water fountain, but tracking of cleaning and water levels is not functional since it won’t reset.” – by Patrice on Amazon

Most negative reviews are from customers who are frustrated with the app. Common complaints include the app not connecting to the fountain and not measuring water levels accurately.

Some are also unhappy that the bowl of the fountain and interior parts are made of plastic, rather than metal.