Stainless Steel Cat Water Fountain Reviews (Tried and Tested)
- Rachel
- 5 hours ago
- 9 min read
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All photos are my own and previously unpublished. I am not being paid to promote any of the products mentioned in this article.
I first bought a pet fountain a couple of years ago due to my cat, Simba's, obsession with drinking from taps and almost falling headfirst into the bathwater. It didn't matter how much I topped up or cleaned the water bowls that were placed strategically around the house, and Drax wasn't too interested in them either. They both seemed to have a preference for running water and, in fact, this is a survival instinct that goes all the way back to their wild ancestors.
Related post: Where to Put a Cat's Food and Water Bowls, Litter Tray, Bedding and Other Essential Resources
Running water is clean, fresh and doesn't harbour as much bacteria as stagnant, smelly water - remember, cats live by their powerful noses. Next time kitty screams at you to turn on the kitchen tap - or if they're anything like mine, trying to lick the drips which is unhygienic in itself - it's not being deliberately fussy.
Of course, there's also an element of fun with running water as many cats enjoy patting and playing with it. Placing the fountain onto a waterproof mat will help to protect your floor, as well as limiting the risk of any broken necks!
Main benefits of a pet fountain:
Fresh water 24/7.
Filtered to remove fur and debris.
Encourages cats to drink.
Prevents dehydration.
Helps to prevent urinary tract issues (infections, inflammation, crystals, bladder stones, etc).
Reduces neck strain and whisker fatigue.
Cats that are on a dry food diet are at a higher risk of dehydration and associated health conditions. This is due to their low thirst drive, since cats should get most of their moisture from food.
Related post: How to Keep Cats Cool and Hydrated in Summer
The first fountain I got was a wired plastic one with a motion sensor. Plugs and cables around cats and water isn't ideal, and plastic harbours more bacteria. The material develops micro scratches over time where germs can hide, which also contributes to feline acne. If you've ever drunk water from a plastic bottle that's been sitting around for a few days, you'll know too that it develops an unpleasant taste.
To tackle both of these problems, I invested in some new and improved wireless fountains made from stainless steel, which we'll take an in-depth look at in this article.
PawPoll Wireless Cat Water Fountain
Features
Main features of PawPoll Fountain:
Anti-corrosive stainless steel.
Wireless with rechargeable battery.
Large capacity holds 3.2 litres.
3 hydration modes.
Quadruple filtration system.
Ultra quiet pump.
Anti-splash design.
Transparent panel to see water level.
Materials and Construction
The PawPoll Fountain is made from food-grade, BPA-free stainless steel with a plastic tray. Parts are easy to assemble, and the stainless steel material is dishwasher safe. The quadruple filtration system includes non-woven fabric, activated carbon, ion value and a sponge that slots into the pump to effectively remove hair and impurities.
Instructions advise changing filters every 14 days using the official filters (which aren't always in stock). They're not cheap either, so I usually make them stretch for a bit longer by regularly washing off any gunk that gets stuck to the top - again, this depends on your cats and how many are using the fountain!
The transparent front panel allows you to monitor the water level, but you can't really see it until the LED light comes on when the water is actively flowing.
Capacity and Power
The PawPoll Fountain is suitable for multi-cat households thanks to its 3.2l capacity, which is ideal if you're going away or putting your cat into boarding. Depending on how much your cats drink, I recommend changing the water on a weekly basis.
With no need for a plug (unless charging) the fountain can be placed anywhere in the home, which is super convenient. The battery takes 5-6 hours to charge and is supposed to last 60 days, based on being in sensor mode for one household cat. For reference, I use the timer mode and the battery lasts for about a month, which is still good.
Hydration Modes
Sensor - reaches to a width of 140° and automatically flows for 6 seconds when a cat approaches within 1.5 metres.
Timer - dispenses water for 15 seconds at intervals of 15 minutes.
Continuous - constant water flow but needs to be connected to a power supply.
The PawPoll Fountain uses a 1.5 W energy-saving water pump, designed to be ultra quiet at less than 25 dB. It still makes a humming sound, but coupled with the anti-splash dome, it reduces the sound of trickling water which some owners might appreciate.
Review
Despite Simba's tap obsession, I learned from my original plastic fountain that the sudden splurge of water when triggered by the motion sensor can be rather off-putting. If you have a wimpy cat like mine then it may cause them to run away, so I chose PawPoll especially for the "anti-splash" design. It does the job but still took a while for Simba to get used to, and a minor drawback of the dome is that it takes up space in the water dish.
I use the timer mode so there's less chance of the flow starting when he's drinking, but this is more of an issue with my cat than the product! I also found that the sensor was getting triggered every time someone walked across the room, so you might want to place it in an area where there's less traffic.
Drax isn't bothered by the sensor and enjoys drinking from the stream. The dish has a lip around the top that helps to prevent water from splashing over the edges; however, it's easy for cats to knock since it just sits on top of the filter tray. This is only an issue if your cat pulls it which, for reasons unknown, Drax does continuously.
Another point to note is that despite being stainless steel, the tray that the filter sits in is plastic and slots between the drinking dish and bowl. This is easy to miss in the product details but you'll find that many fountains have the same design. Those that are 100% stainless steel usually come with a higher price tag.
Having said that, water doesn't sit in the plastic area for too long so it shouldn't make much difference. Compared to plastic fountains that can get a lot of slime and algae build-up, especially during the summer months, I haven't encountered this problem with stainless steel.
As mentioned, the battery lasts for around a month on timer mode and the flashing red light lets you know when it needs charging. The wire is protected with cord material and slots into the USB port in the back of the battery unit. Cats can still use the fountain while it's charging.
The product comes with a handy cleaning brush and instructions on how to clean the pump to keep it functioning properly. This is fairly easy and can be done in just a few minutes.
What Customers Say
PawPoll Fountain is praised for its long battery life and quiet operation. It's simple to set up, well constructed and easy to clean. Some users mention that the trickling sound from the water spout attracts cats so they remember to drink, and the large capacity lasts a long time even with 2 cats.
While the sensor works well intitally, there are reports of it failing over time. In some cases, replacement fountains have been provided by the company if it hasn't exceeded the warranty.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 / 5
Based on 700+ Amazon reviews.
FeelNeedy Wireless Cat Water Fountain
*This review is for the stainless steel version.
Features
Main features of FeelNeedy Fountain:
High-grade 304 stainless steel.
Wireless with rechargeable battery.
Large capacity holds 4 litres.
3 hydration modes.
Multi-layer filtration system.
Ultra quiet pump.
Filter replacement alert.
Transparent panel to see water level
Materials and Construction
The FeelNeedy Fountain is made from high-quality 304 stainless steel with a plastic tray for the filters. The multi-layer filtration system includes filter cotton, activated carbon, ion exchange resin, a large sponge as well as a smaller one that slots into the pump. This gives it an extra layer of purification, with large filters to ensure every sip is clean and fresh.
Additionally, the replacement filter light comes on when filters are due to be changed. Again, I usually make them last a little longer - you can turn off the warning light by holding down the button for a few seconds.
Spare filters come in a pack of 6 or 10 and are usually cheaper than the PawPoll filters.
The water level can be monitored through the transparent front panel that lights up when the fountain is actively flowing.
Capacity and Power
The FeelNeedy Fountain has a slightly higher 4-litre capacity with a 210ml drinking dish, providing enough water for multiple cats to drink from. When filled, it's supposed to last 2 weeks for a single cat. The fountain itself is a little higher than PawPoll so may benefit elderly cats by putting less strain on the neck.
With its cordless design, the fountain can be placed anywhere in the home and only requires a power supply for charging. The battery provides up to 45 days of fresh water on a full charge, which I've found to be quite accurate on timer mode.
Hydration Modes
Sensor - water automatically flows for 6 seconds when a cat approaches within 1.5m.
Timer - dispenses water for 15 seconds at intervals of 15 minutes.
Continuous - constant water flow when connected to a power supply.
The advanced pump operates at a sound level of 35 dB which, though technically higher than PawPoll, I think it's actually quieter.
Review
It's worth noting that the FeelNeedy Fountain is available in several designs. As well as the stainless steel version, you can choose from black or white plastic at a slightly lower cost (only the drinking dishes are stainless steel).
The FeelNeedy Fountain is surprisingly quiet, even without the anti-splash feature. This is probably due to the water spout being lower down, so it functions like less of a tap and more of a gentle stream. This is much preferred by Simba, but it might be less engaging for playful cats that like to splash around. I keep the fountain on timer mode, again due to the sensitivity of the motion sensor.
The deeper drinking dish holds a good amount of water, which is beneficial for multiple cats - especially as Simba always decides that he wants a drink at the same time as Drax because he's bratty like that. The dish also clips down so it can't be pulled off, much to Drax's annoyance! The only negatives are that there's no lip so water tends to splash over the sides; and no minimum/maximum water guides on the inside of the bowl.
The battery light flashes red when it needs charging via the USB cable, and there's also a warning light on the pump when the water gets too low so you know when to refill it. The product includes a cleaning kit for the pump that consists of a brush and tweezers to remove the fiddly parts.
What Customers Say
The FeelNeedy Fountain has been approved by both cat and dog owners, who are impressed with its battery life, quiet operation and easy maintenance. It encourages cats to drink and the stainless steel helps to keep the water cool and fresh.
Functionality receives some mixed reviews, with a few customers reporting that the pump stops working and the battery fails after a few months.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 / 5
Based on 8,000+ Amazon reviews.
Summary
These are both good fountains that are sturdy enough not to be knocked over, as you might find with more lightweight plastic designs. FeelNeedy is a more expensive option, which shows in the large capacity; overall build and extra features (such as the filter replacement light).
I've also found that it doesn't get as much limescale build-up as PawPoll; however, it is more prone to water spots. These can be removed with regular wiping so they don't get a chance to permanently mark the steel. I descale fountains every few months to keep them looking new.
In the long-term, FeelNeedy may work out cheaper with the lower cost filters. However, PawPoll is still a worthy purchase!
Refer to the chart below for a brief comparison guide.
PawPoll Fountain | FeelNeedy Fountain | |
Stainless Steel | ✓ | ✓ |
Wireless | ✓ | ✓ |
Capacity | 3.2 litres | 4 litres |
Filter Replacement Light | ❌ | ✓ |
Hydration Modes | 3 | 3 |
Filtration Layers | 4 | 5 |
Low-Water Level Warning | ❌ | ✓ |
Have you made the upgrade to a stainless steel water fountain? Do you own either of these products or think you've found a better alternative? Share your recommendations in the comments.
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