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Both stainless and ceramic clear the bar that plastic fails: non-porous surfaces that resist bacteria and chin-acne-linked micro-scratches. The real choice is between capacity, durability, and which one your cat will actually use in your kitchen.
Here is the evidence behind that call, row by row.
What matters
PetSafe Drinkwell 360 (stainless)
iPettie Tritone (ceramic)
Winner
Why it matters
Hygiene vs plastic
Non-porous; Cats.com: stainless 'less likely to capture bacteria'
Non-porous; Cats.com lists ceramic alongside stainless as the cleanest materials
Before you click, here is what nobody, including Cats.com and Wirecutter, can tell you yet.
Does ceramic or stainless steel actually prevent feline chin acne?
Cats.com states plastic 'may collect bacteria, promote chin acne, and might need to be cleaned more frequently,' and lists stainless steel and ceramic as the non-porous alternatives. Multiple Reddit users in r/CatAdvice report switching off plastic specifically due to hygiene concerns. Neither material is a treatment for existing acne, but both remove the surface-roughness driver that plastic introduces.
Can I put either of these in the dishwasher?
PetSafe does not publish a blanket dishwasher-safe spec for the Drinkwell 360, and Cats.com's general guidance is that pumps are never dishwasher safe. The iPettie product listing does not claim dishwasher safety for the ceramic basin either. For both, plan on hand-washing the pump and checking the vendor manual before risking the basin.
How heavy is the ceramic option compared to stainless?
Neither vendor publishes a specific weight figure in the data we reviewed, but the Tritone listing flags ceramic as 'heavier than plastic or stainless steel' and 'less portable.' If you refill at a sink across the room rather than in place, the Drinkwell 360 is the easier carry.
Are filters interchangeable between the two?
No. The Drinkwell 360 uses PetSafe's carbon plus foam filter set; the iPettie Tritone uses iPettie-branded filters sold in 12-packs. Stocking up means picking the brand first.
If my cat already drinks fine from a plastic fountain, is upgrading worth it?
Probably only if you're seeing the symptoms plastic causes. Reddit users in r/CatAdvice describe cats refusing plastic fountains after roughly a year, likely because of bacterial smell from worn plastic. If your current setup is recent, clean, and your cat is drinking, the material upgrade is preventive rather than corrective.
