Assembly and cleaning of the Lucky cat fountain are very simple and take only a few minutes. Cleaning should be done approximately every two to five days depending on circumstances (number of cats, long hair/short hair, summer/winter).
If you have very hard water in your area, also remember to descale the fountain and the pump descale regularly or use a "Brita water filter" or inexpensive, still water from discount stores.
Simple assembly.
- Place the lower bowl of the Lucky-Kitty cat fountain where the cat fountain should stand for your cat(s) (carrying the lower bowl filled to the brim is only for very skillful people) and fill it as high as possible with water – at least 1.5 liters. When setting up the cat fountain for the first time, please stick the 4 foam rubber feet under the lower bowl beforehand. Check whether the surrounding silicone ring (prevents rattling) rests completely on the lower edge of the lower bowl all around.
Fill the lower bowl with 1.5 liters of water.
- You can adjust the pump pressure a little using the small dial on the pump, so if you want a bit more or a bit less pressure, you can regulate it here (marked - and +).
To get the maximum pressure, the small protrusion on the inside of the pump cover (as shown in the illustration) should be turned all the way to the left. Then the protrusion aligns perfectly with the protrusion on the propeller cover after flipping open the lid, and the opening for the water flow is especially large. If you want less water pressure, the protrusion should be turned all the way to the right.
If you want a "small fountain," you can also use this little trick here: http://on.fb.me/1TqIjqI (link to Facebook)
Set the pump strength, then place it in the front third of the lower shell and press firmly.
- Place the pump in the middle or even slightly in the front third of the lower shell (never in the rear part, as the hose can kink and too little water will flow) and press it firmly to the bottom with the suction feet. Lead the cable loosely to the back over the small recess in the lower shell. Remove the white angled connector from the pump beforehand; we will need it shortly. You can adjust the pump strength using the small rotary control on the side flap of the pump. "+" is the maximum pump power, "-" the lowest setting.
Use the optionally available long hair permanent filter, position it in the lower shell before the pump. (picture right)
Set the pump strength, then place it in the front third of the lower shell and press firmly.
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Place the upper shell in front of you (underside facing up) and push the silicone hose as far as possible over the small connector in the upper shell. Tip: if you moisten the hose inside a little beforehand and hold it with a kitchen towel, it is easier to grip and will slide over the connector more easily the first time. The hose should sit very far and completely straight on the connector – otherwise, the hose may kink during operation and too little water will flow. Then attach the white angled connector to the free hose end so that it points backward. (see picture below)
Attach the hose to the upper shell.
- Take the upper shell in your left hand and hold it – as shown below – close above the lower shell. With your right hand, now insert the white angled connector at the end of the hose into the small pump opening and then carefully lower the upper shell all the way down. Press the upper shell firmly so that it rests well on the silicone ring of the lower shell and, if necessary, correct the position of the cable so that it runs through the two small indentations of each shell and the upper shell rests completely on the silicone ring all around.
Insert the hose with the angled connector into the pump.
- Plug the power supply into an outlet and connect the small plug of the cable to the power supply.
- In the first few minutes, you might still hear faint noises in the pump caused by small air bubbles. Just wait a few minutes until the air has completely escaped and the pump runs "whisper quiet." If you want to "bleed" the pump faster, you can also unplug and plug the power cord a few times.
Congratulations, your Lucky-Kitty cat fountain is now fully assembled – now only your cat(s) need to get used to the new drinking spot. Usually, cats take about 1-7 days to trust the new drinking opportunity. Information on the right placement and some more tips & tricks on how to make the transition to a cat fountain easier for your cat can be found here.
- To refill water during operation, simply pour a glass of water from above into the cat fountain.
- For cleaning, simply proceed in reverse order.
- The instruction manual that comes with the Lucky-Kitty cat fountain can also be downloaded as a PDF to your computer here.
Cleaning the Lucky-Kitty cat fountain
- The Upper bowl and base bowl the Lucky-Kitty cat fountain can be easily rinsed in the sink or put in the dishwasher. Since both bowls have no corners or edges and are made of high-quality ceramic, this is very easy. Please note that the foam rubber feet of the base bowl may come off in the dishwasher.
- You clean the hose of the cat fountain best with a hose brush like the one included in our hose set. You can also get these hose brushes in pharmacies. Many customers have told us that a pipe cleaner works great as well. If you have none of these at hand, simply "knead" the hose thoroughly in the dishwater.
- Remember also the two white connectors onto which the hose is attached should be cleaned thoroughly from time to time, so that no dirt or lime deposits inside. Here too, using a hose brush or a pipe cleaner is very helpful. Many of our customers also swear by denture cleaner tabs to clean the areas that are hard to reach.
- The Pump of the Lucky-Kitty cat fountain can and must can be disassembled for cleaning. We explain exactly how this works here:
Cleaning the Lucky-Kitty pump
To ensure the pump lasts a long time and runs quietly, it must be cleaned regularly and descaled if necessary. The pump can be easily disassembled into several parts without tools; a thorough cleaning takes only a few minutes.
- Always unplug the Lucky-Kitty pump from the socket before cleaning.
- Open the black side flap - which is only clipped on - with your fingernail or carefully with a small screwdriver or a blunt knife. (If you haven't done this for a long time, there may already be limescale between the lid and the housing, making the cap difficult to remove.)
Remove the cover cap.
- Also remove the second black propeller cover underneath.
Remove the propeller cover.
- Pull the small green propeller (in some pumps it is also blue) out of its magnetic holder.
(Works very well, for example, with the help of tweezers or a paperclip or with the handle of our cleaning brush)
Pull out the propeller.
- Thoroughly clean the pump under running warm water. (not too hot, as the pump and suction feet can deform) This works especially well with an old toothbrush. To remove stubborn deposits, soak the pump for a few minutes in water with some dish soap added. In this case, rinse the pump thoroughly with fresh water afterward! Pay special attention to the opening where the propeller is inserted - there must be no dirt or limescale deposits there or on the propeller's magnet! (Please note: when the parts are wet, limescale deposits are almost invisible - when dry, the white deposits are very visible) Otherwise, the pump will become noisy or may even stop completely.
Clean the pump.
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Clean the angled nozzle. Always clean the small white angled nozzle that is inserted in the pump and the nozzle in the upper bowl. Dirt or limescale tends to accumulate inside, which is hard to see, and after some time causes the pump to apparently deliver less water. Use either our small brush from the hose set or a pipe cleaner, toothpick, skewer, denture cleaner tabs, or pull a string/cord multiple times through the nozzle. To descale, simply place the angled nozzle as described below in some lemon water or descaling solution.
Regularly clean the angled nozzle inside.
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Descaling. If you have very hard water and limescale deposits have already formed on the pump, soak all parts for one or two hours in a bowl with a mild descaling solution. (Please note: when the parts are wet, limescale deposits are hardly visible - when dry, the white deposits are very visible.) Diluted citric acid has proven particularly suitable, as it does not damage the rubber feet of the pump as quickly as vinegar (acid). Citric acid (E330) in powder form for dissolving in water is very affordable, e.g., at drugstores or pharmacies. If necessary, water and the juice of a squeezed lemon or a good splash of household vinegar will also do. Always place the pump in the descaler so that the rubber feet point upwards and do not come into contact with the descaling liquid.
Descale pump parts.
- Once all pump parts are clean and free of limescale, place the propeller back in its holder, put on the propeller cover, and then the side pump cover. From time to time, you should lubricate the metal shaft on which the rotor is mounted and the magnet of the propeller with a touch Apply petroleum jelly (pharmacy, drugstore). (Works well, for example, with a cotton swab)
- You can also download the cleaning instructions for the Lucky-Kitty pump here as a PDF to your computer.
Cleaning and disinfecting the Long Hair Permanent Filter
- Simply boil the Long Hair Permanent Filter for 2-3 minutes. You can also pour boiling water from the kettle over it and/or microwave the damp filter for two minutes at 500-600 watts. Afterwards, it is germ-free again.
- If you have very hard water, limescale can build up on the filter, which can cause an unpleasant "musty" smell - in this case, please also descale the filter regularly.
Further information
What is good cat food?
Recipe: Chicken Broth for Cats
How to get your cat to drink more
Lucky-Kitty Cat Food Sample Set