Cat water fountain filter cost per year: PETLIBRO, PetSafe, PETKIT and Catit
Yearly filter cost for 8 cat fountain filters from 4 brands, from each maker's own pack prices and replacement interval.
Pack prices and replacement intervals read by hand from each maker's own site on 17 October 2026. We have not tested these filters ourselves. How we research | How links work
The short answer
About $43 to $104 a year for one fountain, depending on the brand and how often the maker says to change the filter. A PETLIBRO Dockstream filter changed every 2 weeks, as PETLIBRO advises, costs about $88 a year at its best pack price. PetSafe's Drinkwell carbon filter costs about $43 to $87 over its 2 to 4 week range, and the PETKIT Filter Unit 3.0 about $52 to $104.
Your yearly filter cost
About $88 a year
26 filters at $3.37 each.
Every filter, cheapest year first
Price per filter is the cheapest across the packs each maker sells on its own site. The yearly cost uses the maker's interval: 26 filters a year at 2 weeks, 13 at 4 weeks.
| Filter | Fits | Packs (filters for price) | Best price per filter | Maker's interval | Cost a year, one fountain | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PetSafe Drinkwell Replacement Carbon Filters | Drinkwell Outdoor Dog, Everflow, Multi-Tier, Original, Platinum, Zen and Mini | 3 for $9.99 | $3.33 | 2 to 4 weeks ("each filter provides 2-4 weeks of filtration") | $43.29 to $86.58 | PetSafe |
| PetSafe Drinkwell 360 Carbon Filters | Drinkwell Stainless Multi-Pet and 360 fountains | 3 for $9.99 | $3.33 | 2 to 4 weeks ("Replace filter every 2 to 4 weeks") | $43.29 to $86.58 | PetSafe |
| PetSafe Drinkwell Outdoor Fountain Filter Multi-Pack (3 carbon + 1 foam) | Drinkwell Outdoor Dog and Overflow | 3 for $10.99 | $3.66 | 2 to 4 weeks ("Replace them every 2-4 weeks") | $47.62 to $95.25 | PetSafe |
| PETKIT Filter Unit 3.0 | EverSweet 3 Pro, EverSweet 3 Pro (UVC), EverSweet Solo 2, EverSweet Solo SE | 5 for $19.99 | $4.00 | 2 to 4 weeks ("recommended to replace the filter every 2-4 weeks") | $51.97 to $103.95 | PETKIT |
| PETLIBRO Stainless Steel Fountain filter | Stainless Steel Fountain (3L) | 4 for $14.99, 8 for $22.99 | $2.87 | 2 weeks ("Every 2 weeks") | $74.72 | PETLIBRO, interval |
| PETLIBRO Dockstream filter | Dockstream 2 Smart Fountain, Dockstream RFID, Dockstream Cordless | 4 for $14.99, 8 for $26.99, 24 for $80.97 | $3.37 | 2 weeks ("replace the filter every two weeks") | $87.72 | PETLIBRO, interval |
| PETLIBRO Capsule filter | Capsule Fountain | 2 for $7.99, 4 for $12.99, 8 for $22.99 | $2.87 | Not shown ("not shown on the filter page") | Not computed | PETLIBRO |
| Catit PIXI Fountain Filters | every Catit PIXI drinking fountain | 3-pack, 6-pack, 12-pack | No price on maker site | 30 days ("should be replaced every 30 days") | Not computed | Catit |
Price notes: PETLIBRO figures are the price shown before the first-order discount; the PETKIT figure is the sale price shown on petkit.com; PetSafe's are the prices on petsafe.com. The PetSafe Outdoor pack also holds a foam pre-filter. PETLIBRO's Capsule filter page shows no interval, so no yearly cost is given for it.
Next step
Check which filter your fountain takes, then compare the price per filter of the pack sizes, not the pack price, before you reorder.
Common questions
Which fountain filter is cheapest to run for a year?
Of the filters with a price on the maker's own site, the PetSafe Drinkwell carbon filter is cheapest if each one lasts the full 4 weeks PetSafe allows: about $43 a year. At PetSafe's 2-week end it is about $87. Among filters with one fixed interval, PETLIBRO's Stainless Steel Fountain filter is cheapest at about $75 a year.
Why is there no yearly cost for Catit?
Catit says the PIXI filter should be replaced every 30 days, about 12.2 filters a year, and sells packs of 3, 6 and 12. Catit's own site shows no price, so we did not put a retailer's price in its place. Multiply your pack price per filter by 12.2.
Do PETLIBRO prices include the first-order discount?
No. PETLIBRO shows two prices; we use the first figure, the price shown before the first-order discount, because the discount applies only once.
Does the filter cost depend on how many cats I have?
The intervals here are the makers' general guidance. None of the filter pages we read gives a separate interval for several cats, so if you change filters more often, set a shorter interval in the calculator.
Method
- Prices. Each pack size and price on the maker's own filter page, read one page at a time on 17 October 2026. PETLIBRO pages were read in a browser at about 21:55 JST.
- Interval. The maker's own wording, quoted in the table. A range such as 2 to 4 weeks gives a cost range.
- Cost. Cheapest price per filter times filters a year: 52 divided by the weeks, or 365 divided by the days.
- Not covered. Shipping, tax, subscription and first-order discounts, retailer prices, pumps and other spare parts. We did not test any filter.
Sources
Changes
- : Published. 8 filters from PetSafe, PETKIT, PETLIBRO, Catit, each read on the maker's own site on 17 October 2026.