My cat Sophie is now used to drinking water from a pet drinking fountain and she likes it. She has been drinking from plastic fountains so I decided to try a fountain made with stainless steel and see how it works for my cat. Metal pet water fountains are more hygienic and they keep the water cool longer. Also, they are great for cats with a tendency to develop a chin allergy to plastic, so here’s my review.
My First Impression
The Petlibro Stainless Steel fountain has a good size, not too big or too small, just perfect for a cat. The unit seems solid, the steel is nicely polished and is not heavy, which is good, and has a good quality. The Petlibro’s stainless steel is graded SUS 304 and I found out that this is a way the stainless steel industry labels different grades. The number shows the quality, and SUS 304 is the one you’ll see most often. It’s tough, resists rust and most acids, and is easy to keep clean, one reason it’s widely used in kitchens and food products.
Features of the Petlibro Stainless Steel
- The fountain is quiet when operating (30≤ dB)
- Good water capacity: 2 L
- Adjustable water flow
- A design that prevents leakage & splashing
- Dishwasher safe (metal parts)
- Made of SUS 304 grade Stainless Steel
- BPA-free, rust and corrosion-resistant
- Double Filtration System
- Cord Length: 67.5″ (my measurement without plug; brand lists 5.9 ft with plug)
- Dimension: 10.8” L x 8.1” W x 3.2” H (27.5 x 20.5 x 8.2cm)
- Weight: 1.3 lbs
- Cat Suitabiity: Cats over 3 months old
What Comes in the Box
The fountain doesn’t come with very many parts which makes it easy to set up:
- 1 x Petlibro stainless steel fountain
- 1 x AC Pump
- 1 x Cleaning Brush
- 1 x Filter
- 1 x AC Adapter
- 1 x User Manual
How It Works
The Petlibro Stainless Steel Fountain keeps the water fresh with a solid little pump and two filters working together. The sponge pre-filter wraps around the pump to catch fur and bits before they get inside, and the main filter cleans the water again as it flows back down. You can also adjust the stream from high to low by sliding a tab on top of the spout. This system lets you fine-tune the flow gradually, from a low trickle just above the water surface to a higher jet, instead of being limited to preset levels.
The Petlibro fountain can be placed either sideways or front-to-back to fit your space (I prefer this setup and so does my cat). The pump stays put thanks to four strong suction cups, and I love that the water never just sits on top, it’s always moving and resurfacing.
Watch my cat drinking from the Petlibro Stainless Steel!
How to Set it Up
1. First, you need to wipe the parts clean.
2. Soak the filter in filtered water for 5 minutes.
3. Remove the top from the fountain’s base
4. Pass the pump’s cord through the hole in the holder and base. Place the pump on the base using the suction cups.
5. Put the filter inside the filter compartment
6. Fill the fountain with water, making sure not to overfill it above the maximum level
7. Put the top back on
8. Connect the adapter and plug the fountain (watch if your cat is next to it, it may get scared with the stream)
How to Set Up the Petlibro Stainless Steel
Did My Cat Adopt The Petlibro Stainless Steel Easily?
My cat was nervous about the fountain at first, totally my fault because I turned it on high right next to her and she freaked out. After that, she wouldn’t go near it. Catit’s customer service suggested leaving it unplugged so she could check it out at her own pace. Since the water dries up quickly when it’s off, I plugged it in a few times a day just to let some water pool on top, then unplugged it again. With a little patience, she got curious, started drinking while it was off, and eventually worked her way up to drinking from it while running. If your cat is easily scared (like mine), adjust the flow to the lowest setting before plugging in the fountain. Just turn the small tab on top of the spout all the way to the right.
How to clean the Petlibro Stainless Steel Cat Fountain
As this fountain is made with 304 stainless steel grade you can put it in the dishwasher safely or handwash the unit. To clean it, you have to disassemble it and for this, you just remove the pump and its holder from the fountain. You also need to clean the pump every two weeks. Cleaning the pump is not complicated. Regarding the filter, you need to replace it every two weeks, so every time you clean the pump you change the filter as well. Check my video on how I deeply handwash the Petlibro, including disassembling the pump:
Watch Me How I Clean the Petlibro Stainless Steel
Pros and Cons of the Petlibro Stainless Steel Water Fountain
Pros
- Very quiet when full, you can hardly hear it
- Fully recirculates water so no fur or debris sits on top
- Stainless steel can be sterilized at high temperatures
- Double filtration, before it comes out and as it drops back down
- Metal helps prevent chin acne in cats
- Adjustable flow suits cats that prefer gentler streams
- No leaks or splashing
- 2-liter capacity is enough for 2–3 cats
- Stays cooler longer if kept out of sunlight, great for summer
- Long 67.5-inch cord (plus plug) makes placement easier
Cons
- No water flow during power outages
- Filters and sponges need replacing (about every 3 weeks)
- Stream falls close to the drinking area, which may spook timid cats
- Pump is a bit tricky to remove due to the cord threading
- Water level isn’t visible without removing the top
My Conclusion
The Petlibro Stainless Steel Pet Water Fountain works really well. What I like the most is that all the water stream gets filtered and re-circulated. This doesn’t happen always with pet fountains, because in some cases the water kind of moves in circles on top, but it doesn’t all drop down into the bucket. Also, the design is simple but effective. The assembling is a breeze (passing the cord through is a bit tricky though) and very easy to clean. I recommend this cat water fountain for all cats, oder than 3 months old. Like I said previously, just make sure to start the introduction of the fountain to your cat with the flow adjusted to low, this way if your feline is skittish like mine, it won’t be scared of the fountain. Get your Petlibro fountain on Amazon today here!
Ssource:
Information on stainless steel grades from Reliance Foundry
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