Published Sep 10, 2026
Annie Butler / Cats.com
In the wild, cats get most of their moisture from prey, so they tend to have a low thirst drive. Domestic cats, however, might not get enough moisture from food alone, especially those that eat kibble. Even domestic cats that willingly drink might not like drinking still water out of a bowl. That’s where pet fountains come in. The running water encourages cats to drink more and to drink more often.
The BalimoPet Stainless Steel Cat Water Fountain is a cute yet practical “bubbler station” that offers fresh, filtered water whenever your cat wants it.
Why Trust Cats.com
As a member of the Cats.com team and a lifelong cat owner, I’ve tried out all kinds of products. My cats don’t have a problem with drinking from a bowl, so testing out pet fountains is always sort of a special treat for us.
I tested the BalimoPet Stainless Steel Cat Water Fountain with two of my adult cats as well as my two 6-month-old foster kittens.
I familiarized myself with the fountain and, while testing it for a couple of weeks, made sure that the manufacturer’s claims held up.
Stainless Steel Cat Water Fountain and BalimoPet Overview
Annie Butler / Cats.com
The BalimoPet brand emerged around 2020 as an online seller of stainless steel and automatic pet water fountains.
The stainless steel ensures a clean and hygienic drinking surface, and this fountain features filtration to remove impurities, along with a no-spill design and an ultra-quiet pump system.
BalimoPet Stainless Steel Cat Water Fountain Features
Annie Butler / Cats.com
The fountain bowl holds 74 ounces of water and features a minimum and maximum fill lines, along with a clear front strip so you can check the water level (including a blue light that makes it easier to see).
The fountain is equipped with an activated carbon filter, which contains cotton layers, activated carbon, and iron resin that forms a triple filtration system.
It came with two extra carbon and sponge filters, which you can also buy separately. The fountain is electric-powered, with a USB adapter, and it’s easy to clean.
The fountain is very quiet—I could hear the water bubbling, but there is no constant humming or buzzing (except when the bowl is almost or completely empty). The waterfall effect is subtle, but it’s strong enough to attract a cat’s attention. The bowl is sturdy, and we didn’t experience any tipping or water spilling.
The water stays fresh for about a week, and we only needed to refill it every two to three days.
The only issue we had was that our senior cat would lean over the fountain piece to drink, which then got her neck wet–but that was her issue, not the fountain’s.
This fountain is a bit old-school, with no app to track your cat’s water intake. However, if, like me, you always notice your cat drinking, an app probably isn’t essential.
What We Like:
- Stainless steel provides a clean and hygienic drinking surface
- Easy to set up
- The waterfall effect is subtle but appealing
- Quiet operation
- Easy to take apart and clean (and is dishwasher-safe)
What We Didn’t Like:
- Doesn’t feature a water intake monitoring app
- The top is easy for exuberant cats to knock off
- While it holds 74 ounces of water, it might be too small for multi-cat households, meaning it can get a little crowded and it will need to be refilled more often
- The instruction booklet isn’t very clear, but there are a couple of videos on BalimoPet’s Facebook store that were very easy to follow
What Did Our Test Cats Think?
Annie Butler / Cats.com
I don’t have an outlet near the floor in my kitchen, so I set up the fountain in my dining room. Once it was set up and running, I brought the cats over to check it out. None of them were scared by it, but there was a little hesitation to use it because it was something new and strange.
My 2-year-old cat immediately ran away from it, but she eventually got the hang of it. My senior cat looked at it for a few seconds, then immediately began to drink. She’s the one who uses it the most. It took a while for the kittens to figure it out, but once they did, they had fun drinking from it. After a few days, all of the cats were using it and I actually noticed them all drinking more.
My cats still have access to their water bowls in the kitchen, but with five cats currently in the house and the summer heat, it’s helpful to have another water source.
What Do Customers Think of the BalimoPet Stainless Steel Cat Water Fountain
The majority of customer reviews were positive. The main complaints were about the size (too small) and that the top was easy for cats to knock off, making a big mess.
Positive Reviews
I was hesitant on getting a water fountain for my cat because I didn’t want to deal with the maintenance, but this fountain makes it so easy. It is easy to clean and easy to put back together once you’re done cleaning it. It’s also very quiet, and the light feature to show you the water level makes it easy to know when it’s time to refill. -Milagros Ramos on Amazon
My cat loves it! She loves drinking water because of the fountain. Super easy set up and has a nice constant flow. I haven’t had any issues with it. -Evelyn Martinez
Negative Reviews
Don’t get me wrong, the product is great. There needs to be a way to secure the lid down, though. My cats are crazy and they kept knocking the lid off and making a mess. In the end, I had to remove everything and just use the bottom as a regular water bowl. If I hadn’t, the motor/filter would have been completely ruined. -Lisa on Amazon
Wish it was a little bigger, but it’s a great product. -Kris on Amazon
Similar Cat Fountain Brands
Looking for other cat fountains similar to the BalimoPet Stainless Steel Cat Water Fountain? Check out some of our other reviews.
