Stainless steel or ceramic fountains are the way to go. Almost all are dishwasher safe when you want to sanitize them. They also don’t absorb stains or impurities over time. We’ve had 2 different kinds. The first was a pioneer pet stainless steel teardrop fountain. Loved it & had no problems. Needed a couple of replacement pieces after 4-5 years, emailed the company, the shipped me the 2 pieces at no charge. 👍

The one we have now is a ceramic pagoda style of fountain. Cats like it & it’s definitely more attractive aesthetically. The pumps were essentially the same for both types. The pagoda has an extra formed-foam filter that goes around the pump even before the water goes through the charcoal filter. My only negative is that it’s a true fountain in that you can hear the water falling from the top (output) to the bottom (reservoir).

Both fountains had 2 pieces & then the pump unit. Once a week, we take everything apart & thoroughly clean each piece of the pump & the 2 ceramic pieces with Dawn detergent & water. Toothpicks & Q-tips are ideal for getting into all the nooks & crannies of the pump that a toothbrush or dish brush just can’t get to. Filters are changed every couple of weeks unless the boys decide to add something to the water that they shouldn’t.

The pumps are pretty sturdy & can last a long time if they’re thoroughly cleaned regularly & never forced to run dry (without water). They are also easy to replace if needed.