How To Clean Cat Mate Pump

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My trusty water fountain finally gave up last week so I ordered a new one.
The new pump has instructions attached showing how to disassemble the pump to remove deposits, so I pulled the old one apart. I currently have it soaking in a bowl of white vinegar so cannot say whether I will indeed be able to resurrect it but I have to point out how much stinky gunk there is hidden inside the pump, despite my efforts to rinse and clean it previously.
So my new maintenance regime will include monthly fills with white vinegar to run through the pump PLUS periodically taking the whole pump apart to clean inside.
http://www.felinediabetes.com/petmate_freshflow_cleaning.htm
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I hated cleaning mine. It wasn't a cat mate but the small parts look similar. I used a toothpick or barbecue stick that I wrapped a kitchen tissue around to get to the hard to reach places.
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Would white vinegar spray work?? My local Wilkinsons sells this and soda crystals. I am always using them and bicarbonate of soda. X
huckybuck Cat Chat Friend

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That's so useful!! I haven't opened mine, didn't know you could and I do get gunk coming out when I clean it. I tend to run it once after a clean and then refresh the water a second time. I clean mine every 3 days but will be interested to see what it looks like inside!!
huckybuck Cat Chat Friend

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Ha ha me too!!
My cupboard staples are white vinegar, bicarb and biotex.
spotty cats PetForums VIP

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I've always done this, perhaps why they last so well.
Our oldest fountains are over 9 years and still running as when they were new.
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I fill mine with a mixer of filtered water and tap water sometime spring bottle water too and I don't get much lime scale and clean it out when its needed about once a month
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Can I use normal vinegar?
huckybuck Cat Chat Friend

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We use filtered softened water so no scale but ONCE A MONTH????? What fountain do you have???
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I buy bottles of white vinegar from Tesco.
You really need to take the pump apart ( if you can ) to get rid of the build up. I was horrified at the amount of gunk in there.
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I have a drinkwell mini and I find that if you leave the filter in it blocks up quit so I removed it thats why I use a mixer of water
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I always thought you shouldn't drink softened water? @huckybuck.
huckybuck Cat Chat Friend

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That's why we have a water filter tap as well lol
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Ah so you can drink softened water when it's filtered. I didn't know that! Thanks Hun! Lol!