Picking the best cat feeding bowl is not as easy as one would think for such a simple item. The cat feeding bowl is one of the most important accessories because if the shape of the feeding bowl stresses the cat’s whiskers or if the design doesn’t contain well the cat food, your feline friend will have a hard time eating its food, which makes the mealtime a frustrating experience that could cause your cat to eat less or stop eating altogether.
Cat feeding bowls are not only a basic accessory for cats, they also provide style to the cat feeding area. Finding the best cat dish with a sleek design that matches the home style is a desirable goal for most.
If your cat has a hard time leaning over to eat its food due to a medical condition or simply because your cat needs to improve its digestion, I suggest to search for an elevated cat food bowl that raises the food to a higher position for the cat to eat more comfortably. If your problem is that your cat is getting too overweight, automatic cat feeders can solve the problem of overfeeding, plus you don’t have to be pouring food in a bowl every day.
Types of Cat Bowls
There are various types of feeding bowls available, some are better and easier to clean than others.
- Plastic bowls are probably the most common as they are cheaper, more durable, almost unbreakable and easy to clean. Not all plastic dishes are dishwasher proof.
- Metal bowls are indestructible and have the advantage that can be sterilized at a high temperature without experiencing any damage.
- Stoneware or ceramic bowls are solid and will not tip over easily, which is an advantage for cats that play with the bowls, but they can be easily broken or chipped if dropped.
- Glass bowls even though they look beautiful, glass is not a good idea because if dropped the bowl will break with the risk that fragments of glass will get embedded in the cat’s paws or, even worse, be swallowed by the cat.
Best 5 Cat Feeding Bowls
Here’s a guide that considers different options for different foods, materials and designs.
TOP #1 Lorde Cat Bowl Cat Food Bowl (Set of 2) 4.8 stars
Key features
- Cute cat shaped design
- Angled and shallow design reduces whiskers stress and keeps the food from spilling.
- Made from BPA-free human grade melamine, non-toxic or allergic to cats.
- Non-skid rubber feet keeps the bowl from moving around on the floor
- Set with food and water bowl
- Food bowl capacity 1 cup dry food. Water Bowl capacity of 8 liquid Oz
- Feeding bowl allows you to feed your cat dry or wet food.
- Bowls are corrosion resistant
- Easy to clean: Hand or dishwasher
- Colors: White/Black or White/Pink
- Money-back-guarantee
- Dimensions:
Pros
- Cute design
- Pack of food & water bowl
- Width and shape reduce whiskers stress and contain the food efficiently at the same time
- BPA-free non-toxic melamine very hard to break
- Less noisy than metal bowls
- Less likely to cause chin acne
- Non-porous surface won’t hold bacteria that easily
- Rubber feet on bottom keep the bowl from sliding around on the floor
- Dishwasher safe
Cons
- Not microwave-safe
- Not as hygienic as stainless steel
- They are lightweight and could be tipped over by cats with this habit.
How to clean Lorde Cat Bowl:
Can be put directly in the dishwasher or wash by hand with soap and water. Wash it every time if used for wet food.
Lorde Cat Bowl is ideal for:
Cats with whiskers sensitivity that don’t play with the bowls when eating or drinking. Cat owners that don’t warm the wet cat food in the microwave. Best value for money.
#2 Basis Pet Stainless Steel Cat Dish 4.7 stars
Key features
- Shallow bowls with rounded inside corners make it easier for cats to eat
- It comes with 2 bowls
- Bowls made of 18-8 U.S stainless steel (kitchen-grade stainless steel)
- Independently tested for lead, mercury, and cadmium
- Suitable to feed dry, wet food and water.
- Dishwasher safe
- Dimensions: 5.75” diameter x 1.5” height
- Food capacity: 1.5 cup (leaving some room before rim)
- Water capacity: (16 fl oz or 1/2 quart)
- Weight: 0.3 lbs per bowl
Pros
- Stainless steel made in the USA, tested independently for toxic elements
- Stainless steel accredited as human safe by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
- Shallow enough for the cat to eat comfortable and tall enough to contain the food
- Easy to clean, can be sanitized to high temperatures, dishwasher safe
- No risk of feline chin acne
- Durable, it doesn’t break
- Hygienic, no bacteria harbor
- Good capacity of 1 cup dry food.
- Can be used with dry or wet food
Cons
- Metal bowl can be a little noisy
- Bowl bottom doesn’t feature rubber feet, it may slide around on the floor.
- Bowl is rather small and some food doesn’t get eaten at the bottom.
How to Clean Basis Pet Bowl
Hand clean or dishwasher safe on top rack
Basis Pet Bowl is ideal for:
Any cat and especially for cats with allergies. Stainless steel bowls are the most durable and hygienic type and this is ideal if you need something to last a long time and if you live in a hot climate. Extremely durable product made in the USA.
#3 CatGuru Cat Food Bowl 4.5 stars
Key features
- Shallow bowl with ripples on the inside helps the food to stay put, making it easier for the cat to eat, keeping its face clean.
- Bowl made of BPA-free, non-toxic melamine
- Design allows the cat to eat comfortably without whiskers stress
- Non-skid silicone feet prevent the bowl from moving around on the floor.
- Cutout for easy picking up to clean or refill
- Suitable to feed dry or wet food
- Bowl capacity: 5 ounces or 5/8 cup
- Dishwasher safe
- Dimensions: 6.6″ diameter x 1.2″ height
- Colors: Ivory, Marshmallow, Atlantis, Aruba, Rose.
- Shape options: Round or Oval
- Optional food table to raise the bowl
- Money-back-guarantee
Pros
- Melamine non-porous surface doesn’t harbor bacteria
- Less noise than stainless steel bowls
- Bowl shape makes it harder for a cat to tip it over
- Silicone feet on the bottom make the bowl stay put
- Inside shape with ripples makes it easier for the cat to eat
- Easy to pick up and drop off with practical cutout on the side
- Capacity allows you to feed your cat a healthy food intake
- Dishwasher safe
Cons
- Melamine is not microwave-safe
- Less hygienic than stainless steel
- Wet food gets pushed out to the edges where you grab the bowl or when cat eats
- The bowl can be picked up only where cutout area is
How to clean the CatGuru Bowl:
Put directly on dishwasher or wash by hand with soft detergent and warm water.
CatGuru Food Bowl is ideal for:
Any cat that eats dry food. My cat eats wet food from this dish and it works fine, but sometimes the morsels slide out the bowl when my cat is licking the food so I would recommend it better to feed your cat dry food.
#4 ThinkPet Ceramics Cat Bowl 4.3 stars
Key features
- Flat and shallow design helps cat with whisker sensitivity to eat more comfortably
- Cute cat shaped design that add style
- Hand-crafted ceramic bowls are hygienic and stable
- Food capacity: ½ cup dry food
- FDA approved
- Dishwasher and microwave safe
- Dimensions; 5.5” Length x 5.9”
Pros
- Ceramic is hygienic, it doesn’t harbor bacteria
- Bowls color won’t fade or scratch
- Ears/handles allow easy picking up for washing or filling
- Dishwasher and microwave safe
- Flat and shallow design is perfect for flat faced cats
Cons
- Ceramic can break easily
- Bowl doesn’t feature rubber legs to keep it in place
- It feeds small amounts of dry food or snacks
- Wet food gets pushed over the edges
How to Clean ThinkPet Ceramic Bowls
Hand wash with soap and hot water or put directly in the dishwasher
ThinkPet Ceramic Bowl is ideal for:
Cats with flat face or whisker sensitivity. Excellent to prevent feline acne. More suitable for small snacks of dry food.
#5 Dr. Catsby Food Bowl 4.0 stars
Key features
- Shallow design relieves whiskers stress in your feline
- High quality ergonomic design
- Bowl holds a healthy portion of ½ cup dry food or 6 Oz wet food
- Hygienic stainless steel resists bacteria formation, preventing feline chin acne
- Modern and sleek design blends with any home décor
- Bowl comes with a food grade rubber non-slip mat that fits right under the bowl
- Dimensions: 7.2” diameter x 1.2” height
- Bowl weight: 14.1 ounces
Watch a cat eating from the Dr. Catsby pet bowl
Pros
- Nice and modern looking bowl
- Bowl comes with its own non-slip place-mat
- Rubber mat keeps the bowl in place and adds style
- Round soft rim is safe for cats
- Stainless steel is hygienic and prevents feline acne
- Dishwasher safe
- More durable
- Hard to be tipped over by a cat
Cons
- You can’t warm up wet food in the microwave
- Stainless steel bowls can be a little noisy
- Capacity is ½ cup dry food
- Dry food spills around the bowl
How to clean Dr Catsby cat bowl
Put directly in the dishwasher or wash by hand with soft detergent, rinse with hot water.
Dr Catsby Cat Bowl is ideal for:
Any cat and especially for cats with feline acne. Excellent for hard floors due to its high quality rubber mat. The Casby bowl is more suitable to feed wet food.
Best location for the feeding bowl
Usually cat owners choose the kitchen as the most convenient place to feed their cat, as this is where food is stored and prepared. If you choose the kitchen you need to make sure the feeding bowl will be in an area with low traffic so you won’t be forever tripping over the bowls. Probably an utility room is a better idea to place the feeding bowl as it’s safer for you and provides your cat a quiet area where to eat.
How many Feeding & Water Bowls?
If you have a kitten, you need to place two feeding bowls, one in a different room for your kitten to have access to food at all times while playing. The same rule applies if you have an elderly cat that can’t walk too much to eat or a disabled feline.
Adult cats need larger portions of food fewer times a day so one bowl is enough, however, all cats need to have two water bowls with fresh water at all times for proper hydration.
Rebecca Mankin says
My diabetic (diagnosed January, 2020) hasn’t been eating well at all lately. I have to coax and coax and sometimes spoon feed her. I belong to a diabetic feline Facebook group and some of the ladies suggested “whisker fatigue”. I tried feeding her on a flat plate (actually on my grandmothers fine china of all things) and she ate much better. But, being diabetic, she needs to eat about every 2 hours and I work. I have a PetSafe auto feeder and she has been doing great with it until about a week ago. 3 meals are left uneaten and this isn’t your grocery store cat food. She get Merrick Duck pate at $1.19 per 3 oz can. Do you know of any “whisker fatigue” friendly auto feeders? I just don’t know what to do.
Lorena Ávila says
Hello Rebecca, if your cat was eating with no problem from the PetSafe and suddenly she stopped eating her wet cat food, maybe the problem is not the feeder but the cat food itself? I am mentioning this because my cat has been doing the same with her fav wet cat food. I actually wrote an article about this and to my surprise, a lot of cat owners left comments saying that the same is happening to them with their cats; their favorite wet cat food is no longer their favorite and they refuse to eat. This is my article https://www.catfooddispensersreviews.com/wet-food-cat-stopped-eating/ Maybe it’s time to find a new wet cat food. I firmly believe the auto feeder is not the problem since your cat ate from it and the feeder hasn’t changed. Hope that helps!