Petmate Replendish Automatic Gravity Waterer

Note: The lone product picture on this page (as of 4/28/2015) doesn't match the packaging on the Replendish I received. The paperboard on mine contains helpful information I would've liked to know prior to purchase, so I've added several pictures to this review to help other shoppers. Here are answers to two common questions I noticed in the product page Q&A, and wondered myself before receiving the Replendish: yes, the unit is BPA-free; and, yes, it comes with one filter. ____________________________________ First impressions: We have three cats, though I purchased the Petmate Replendish 1/2 Gallon Waterer specifically for two of them: they happen to be water connoisseurs. Their preference is drinking from faucets, and no unattended glass of water has been safe in this house for the eight years that we've had them (sisters from the same litter). After rinsing the pieces of the unit this morning and filling it from the connoisseurs' favorite faucet (judging by their preference, we ought to bottle the water from our guest bathroom's faucet and sell it at Acqua Panna prices), they immediately took to the Replendish without the scrutiny with which they typically regard new things. Our third cat, however, who daily goes into what we affectionately refer to as "stealth mode," crouching low and nervously gliding across the floor each time she notices anything is out of place in a room, regards it with her typical level of suspicion--but after about an hour, she drank from it several times. The Pieces: Altogether, the Replendish unit consists of five pieces: the base, the clear reservoir, a black cap that acts as filter housing at the mouth of the reservoir, a filter, and a plastic strap that secures the filter inside of the cap. The plastic strap is a bit of a pain to snap into place over the filter; it took me three attempts, even though I have small hands and wear my nails short. The mouth of the reservoir is threaded, so that the filter housing cap screws on to it. Then, the entire assembly of the reservoir twists about a quarter turn into the base, locking it in place. Observations: First, I'm very pleased that, with the filter in place, the water flows slowly from the reservoir into the bowl; the result is that it isn't noisy. We bought Drinkwell Platinum Fountains at two different points over the years, and the cats never got used to the loud (and sudden) gurgling and bubbling that occurred each time the equilibrium shifted enough for the reservoir to dispense water. When I first put the Replendish down, our connoisseurs began drinking without any regard for the fact the reservoir was actively dispensing and quietly gurgling. Next, one reviewer had mentioned the 1/2 gallon size didn't work for them, as the opening of the bowl was too small and too near the reservoir, so that their cat didn't like it due to its ears and whiskers being crowded. I nearly purchased the 1 gallon model as a result of that review, because our cats won’t eat out of small bowls that crowd their whiskers. However, being a starving college student, I opted for the less expensive 1/2 gallon, and the cats don't mind it. The only trouble with this size is that only one cat can drink at a time. Another reviewer indicated no instructions came with the unit, and so it took trial and error to figure out that the filter needs to be removed from its plastic wrap, and secured by a plastic strap included with the unit. As I noted above, the paperboard that came with my unit is different than the product picture, so perhaps it didn’t previously come with instructions, already assembled, and clearly labeled. However, mine arrived with instructions; the pieces were already assembled, so that by disassembling them it was impossible not to see how to reassemble them after removing the plastic from the filter and rinsing the pieces. Further, the filter housing and strap are clearly labeled as to their function. Bottom line: assembly and disassembly are simple and fool-proof. Many reviewers (and those that provide answers within the product Q&A section) seem to omit the filter. I don’t know how useful the filter is for actual filtration, since, unlike in a powered fountain, the water from the bowl--which tends to accumulate fur and crumbs of food--isn’t being continuously circulated through the filter. However, I will continue to purchase filters for the simple reason that using one causes the water to dispense slowly and quietly from the reservoir. Overall, our cats are happy with the Replendish thus far, so I’m happy with it, too. Though the opening of the reservoir (see pictures) is small enough that a bottle cleaner is required, the base doesn’t have any awkward or tight spots to clean, like Drinkwell Platinums, which are full of nooks and crannies. I’ll revisit this review in one month with an update as to whether the cats and I continue to love it. In the meantime, feel free to post comments on this review should you have questions! _________________________________ 5/29/15 Update: I still consider this a five-star product for what it is: a waterer. The cats still like it, and drink more from it than they would a bowl of water replenished as frequently. However, this is not a be-all and end-all product for me, because it requires more cleaning than a bowl (since the Replendish has more parts) or a fountain (since the Replendish doesn't circulate). I recommend this product to anyone who prefers a waterer, but will continue my search for fountains, as I do prefer something that circulates and filters the water supply.