The interesting option here is the infrared one. A fountain that runs constantly wears its pump out and hums quietly all night in a still room, whereas a sensor version wakes when a pet comes near and settles again afterwards, which is easier on the motor and on anyone trying to sleep nearby. The plain round version sits alongside it for people who would rather have nothing extra to fail.

Both share the same stainless steel body, and that is the part that matters for hygiene. Steel wipes down properly, does not scratch into a haven for biofilm the way plastic does, and adds nothing to the taste of the water. Circulation is the other half of it: moving water stays cooler and better oxygenated than a bowl standing all day, and cats who ignore a full bowl will often drink from a stream without hesitating.

• Stainless steel body and bowl
• Two versions: TY09 Round, or TY09 with a circular infrared sensor
• Circulating flow keeps water moving and fresher than a still bowl
• Mains options for UK, EU, US and AU
• Suits both cats and dogs
• Wipes clean without scratching

Two things worth knowing. And order the UK plug variant deliberately, because the region sits at the end of the variant name and an EU line is easy to pick by accident.

Who it's for: Owners who want a steel fountain that is either sensor-triggered or thoroughly simple, and who can live without a stated capacity.