Indiegogo staffers are putting crowdfunded products to the test in our series of honest reviews. In this edition Zoe, from our campaign strategy team, tested the Hiigge Snowball Pet Fountain, a cordless pet fountain, with her two new kittens. How well did it work for them? Read on to find out more.
Unboxing the Hiigge Snowball Pet Fountain
I recently adopted two kittens, Arya and Bell. As a new pet parent, the first couple of months were a challenge; I was constantly worried about their health and well-being.
One of the key things I learned is that hydration is essential for kittens. A friend’s cat developed kidney disease later in life, so I understand the importance of establishing good drinking habits early on. Along with feeding them canned food, I want to make sure they drink enough water.
To encourage them, I initially set up two water sources—a simple bowl and a corded pet fountain. Recently, I noticed the Hiigge Snowball Pet Fountain, which is cordless, and it immediately caught my eye.
Unboxing & Setup:
The packaging is excellent, and the design is sleek and minimalist. It’s all white, so it fits seamlessly with any home decor.
Setting it up is simple—just assemble the fountain bowl, pump, filter, and filter tray. All four components are IPX7 waterproof, meaning everything can be easily washed. According to their page, even the bowl is dishwasher safe.
I also noticed the thoughtful addition of anti-slip strips on the bottom, which helps keep the fountain securely in place and prevents it from slipping around.
Features I Loved:
Cordless
I don’t know about your cats, but my kittens are incredibly energetic! They love to chase each other around the house and, of course, chew on any cords they can find.
That’s why I love that the Hiigge Snowball Pet Fountain is cordless—no more worrying about chewed-up cords! Plus, you can place it anywhere in the house and just leave it. They claim a single charge lasts up to 120 days with normal use, which is a huge bonus for me since I’m not a fan of frequent charging.
The app is also a great feature, allowing you to select different modes based on your needs so you can extend the battery life even further.
Different modes
The Hiigge Snowball Pet Fountain offers different modes: sensing mode and intermittent mode. My kittens are particularly fond of the sensing mode, which activates and dispenses water whenever they get close—this feature really grabs their attention and encourages them to drink more!
In intermittent mode, the fountain dispenses water for 10 seconds at chosen intervals, which helps conserve battery life. Both modes offer flexibility depending on your pet’s habits and your preference for battery usage.
TDS monitor
One feature that really sets the Hiigge Snowball Pet Fountain apart from my previous setup is its built-in TDS (total dissolved solids) monitor. Before, I would boil tap water for my kittens, but sometimes I’d use unfiltered tap water.
High levels of dissolved minerals, like calcium and magnesium, are known to contribute to kidney disease in cats. By measuring TDS levels, the Hiigge fountain helps ensure the water is safer for them to drink, which gives me peace of mind.
Plus, the Hiigge App conveniently reminds me when it’s time to change the water, making it easy to stay on top of their hydration and health.
Things That Could Be Improved:
WIFI Connection
At first, I had a small issue connecting the device to WiFi. I suspected it was due to my router settings, so I tried connecting through my phone’s hotspot, and it worked. To resolve this, I adjusted my WiFi settings to separate the 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks, then reconnected the device.
Note: Make sure you’re connecting to a 2.4GHz network, as 5GHz WiFi isn’t currently supported.
Smart APP
I added both of my cats to the app, but unfortunately, it doesn’t seem to distinguish how much each cat drinks. It only shows the total amount of water consumed. Hopefully, a future update will address this issue and allow tracking for each cat.
Conclusion
Overall, I absolutely love the Hiigge Snowball Pet Fountain. It’s been a fantastic addition to our home, making it so easy to keep my kittens hydrated and happy. The design is sleek and minimalist, fitting perfectly with our decor while being highly functional. I believe it’s definitely worth the price, especially since it’s still available on Indiegogo. It would make a great gift for your kittens!
