Dishwasher-safe cat fountain for Russian Blues

That's such a frustrating experience — you invest in a ceramic fountain to keep your cat hydrated, run it through the dishwasher like any sensible person would, and it cracks. Ceramic fountains vary wildly in quality, and unfortunately some just can't handle the heat cycles. The good news is you've already proven your cat will use a fountain, which is the hardest part. Water fountains really are one of the best things you can do for a cat's long-term health — moving water is more appealing to cats than still water, and better hydration directly reduces the risk of kidney and urinary tract disease, which are serious concerns in older cats. Before I point you to something sturdier, can you tell me a bit more about your cat — how old are they, and was the cracked fountain their only water source, or do they also drink from a bowl?

Perfect — a 6-year-old Russian Blue who's already converted to moving water is exactly who benefits most from getting this right. Russian Blues can be prone to kidney issues as they age, so keeping her well-hydrated now is genuinely protective. Is it just her, or do you have other pets sharing the fountain? And roughly how much counter or floor space do you have — some of the sturdier options are a bit larger than typical ceramic bowls.

In that case I'd go straight to the Pioneer Pet Raindrop Fountain in stainless steel. It's designed specifically with hygiene in mind — the stainless steel basin and top piece are fully dishwasher safe, and stainless steel doesn't harbour bacteria or absorb odours the way lower-quality ceramics can. The 'raindrop' flow is a gentle falling stream that cats find very attractive, and it's quiet enough that it won't bother her or you. For one cat it holds more than enough water between refills. It's widely available on Amazon UK and has a strong track record — this is the fountain I'd recommend to someone who's been burned by a fragile ceramic and just wants something that works reliably for years.

Russian Blues especially can be particular, so it's a fair question. High-quality stainless steel is genuinely neutral — it doesn't leach anything into the water the way some plastics do, and it doesn't develop the slight mineral smell that cheaper ceramics sometimes get after repeated dishwasher runs. If anything, most cats prefer it to plastic. The Pioneer Pet Raindrop also uses a replaceable carbon filter which keeps the water tasting fresh between cleans. If she was happy drinking from a ceramic fountain before, she'll almost certainly take to this — the flow style is more important to cats than the material, and the raindrop stream is one of the more appealing designs out there.

Great choice — I think you'll both be much happier with it. One tip: when you first set it up, run it for a day or two before she uses it so the filter activates properly, and give it a full clean every one to two weeks to keep everything fresh. Given her age, it's also worth mentioning her hydration habits to your vet at her next check-up — they'll be pleased she's already drinking well from a fountain. Hope she takes to it straightaway.