PetSafe Drinkwell Butterfly 50 oz review

The Drinkwell Butterfly Pet Fountain is a compact, plug-in 50-ounce fountain for a household that wants a low water station with a choice between four small falling streams and a gentler bubbling presentation. This assessment covers the current U.S. model PWW00-16928, not every older Butterfly listing or a generic 50-ounce fountain. Its selling distinction is the removable butterfly-shaped topper; the water still circulates continuously from an outlet with or without that piece.

One fountain, two presentations

With the topper fitted, PetSafe describes four free-falling streams. Remove it and the upper tray supplies a bubbling flow instead. That gives a shy drinker a less elaborate place to approach without buying a second fountain, but it is not a pump-speed control: the exact product page calls the water flow non-adjustable. The choice changes the shape of the water at the top, not the fountain’s source of power or its continuous operating plan.

The wide upper tray offers access around the center and holds some water when the pump is off. That can leave an accessible drink during an interruption, but it does not keep the streams running, turn the unit into a battery fountain, or guarantee a stated backup volume. The unit is intended to stay plugged in and run continuously while the owner keeps the water level up. PetSafe instructs owners not to run it dry and says to check the level regularly. Its 2.5-watt figure describes the electrical use, not a measured energy bill.

At 50 U.S. fluid ounces, nominal capacity is about 1.48 liters. That is smaller than the 60-ounce PetSafe Creekside, Seaside, and Outlast models and the 64-ounce Oasys. These are labeled volumes, not a promise that a given pet can go a particular number of days between checks. Drinking, evaporation, and the fountain’s maximum fill mark all affect how often it needs attention. If a minimum close to 1.5 liters is essential, note that 50 ounces converts to just under that threshold.

Check the fit on your counter or floor

PetSafe gives the assembled dimensions as 10.7 × 10.4 × 4.6 inches, without labeling the three axes in its table. The fountain is described as shorter than many alternatives and suitable for kittens; it also has a wide tray intended to keep whiskers from touching the sides. Those are useful shape cues, not a substitute for checking the actual opening where the unit will sit. The official product image shows a turquoise bowl, white tray and butterfly topper, with the pump and filters shown separately; the manufacturer does not specify whether that image is a photograph or a product rendering.

The bowl, upper tray and topper are plastic and identified as BPA-free. That makes it a poor fit if stainless steel or ceramic contact surfaces are non-negotiable, and the manual cautions that some animals may be sensitive to plastic food or water containers. If a pet shows a reaction, PetSafe says to discontinue use and consult a veterinarian. The wide plastic dish should not be mistaken for a steel-lined basin.

Cleaning remains part of the decision

The exact 12-page quick-start guide identifies the PWW00-16928 on its cover and walks through the pump, foam filter, carbon filter, housing, bowl, upper tray, topper and adapter. Rinse the carbon filter before use to clear loose dust. After removing the filters and taking the pump and adapter out, the bowl, upper tray and other non-electrical fountain pieces can go on the top rack; the pump and adapter cannot. Remove and clean the pump parts separately rather than treating “dishwasher safe” as permission to put the whole fountain in the dishwasher.

PetSafe’s online cleaning instructions call for cleaning the fountain at least monthly, with multi-pet households potentially needing a two-week interval. The quick-start guide says to replace the carbon filter every two to four weeks and the foam filter every one to two months; these are different maintenance intervals. The manual lists compatible carbon filters PAC00-13906, foam filters PAC00-13711 and replacement pump PAC00-16977. Check water and flow between cleaning sessions, and keep the outlet above the fountain with the plug and hands dry when reconnecting it.

Who should compare another model

Choose the Butterfly when the smaller stated capacity, plastic wide tray and optional four-stream topper match the room and the pet’s preferences. Skip it if you need battery operation, a documented low-water automatic shutoff, a steel or ceramic drinking surface, app monitoring, or a larger capacity as a hard condition; none of those should be inferred from its appearance or its retained top tray. For a ceramic surface, compare the Creekside 60 oz. For stainless steel, compare the Seaside 60 oz. If avoiding an outlet matters more, the HydroSphere Cordless has a documented battery plan that changes to motion-triggered flow when unplugged, rather than continuous pumping. That is a real operating difference, not just another fountain shape.