The best bowls for cats: how to make the right choice

What kind of bowl does a cat need?

If you have a meowing pet, it should have separate dishes. It is better to buy not one bowl, but two or three at once: for dry and soft food, water. When arranging dishes for animals, you need to remember three mandatory conditions. Bowls should:

• do not move while eating;
• located at some distance from each other;
• have no cracks or scratches.

In addition, bowls for liquids should be larger, always filled with water, and washed clean. If the cat is still reluctant to drink water from it, purchase another, deeper dish. A small one may remind her of a dirty puddle.

Automatic feeder: what is it?

Such feeders will save mustachioed owners from unnecessary worries.

Everyone has the need to be away for a long time. And there are situations when there is no one to feed the cat. The animal must not die of hunger. Some leave a large amount of water and food for the pet. But this is wrong, because the animal can eat everything at once and seriously undermine its health.

It will also be useful for you to learn about internal and external parasites in cats, as well as how to deal with fleas, lice eaters, and worms.

What if the cat is used to eating 3-4 times a day in small portions, but the owner does not have the opportunity to feed it this way? It is in such cases that an automatic feeder comes to the rescue.

The design is equipped with a timer, a dispenser and several compartments and operates both from an outlet and from batteries or accumulators. There are also automatic feeders with a voice message option.

Cat bowl: varieties

Specialty stores sell bowls of different shapes and made of different materials: plastic, stainless steel, ceramics. The main thing is to make the right choice. Let's consider which bowls are more profitable to purchase for cats.

Ceramic bowls are extremely practical. These also include porcelain and glass bowls. They have a number of advantages:

• they serve for more than one year;
• the food in them does not spoil for a long time;
• maintain temperature longer than other cookware;
• do not contain harmful substances.

They clean well and won't move around the floor when your cat starts eating. However, such bowls have a number of disadvantages. They break or cracks form in them. It is not advisable to feed a cat from dishes with cracks. This is bad for her health. In addition, the containers are quite expensive compared to other dishes for cats.

Plastic bowls are cheaper and there is a wider range of them. Their advantages include:

• cheapness;
• shock resistance;
• Possibility to heat food in the microwave.

But they have a significant drawback: they are very light. To prevent the bowl from moving on the floor, you will have to additionally buy a special mat.

In addition, bowls can retain static electricity, so they are not suitable for long-haired pets. And that is not all. Such dishes can be made of plastic, which releases hazardous substances and causes allergies in pets. Plastic plates have to be changed frequently, as plaque and even scratches can form on them.

Dishes for cats made of stainless steel are suitable for any pet, as they do not accumulate electricity. She:

• practical;
• easy to clean.

Such dishes are quite heavy and it is difficult for animals to turn them over. Containers that are not covered with enamel are preferable. If a piece of enamel breaks off, there is a danger of it getting into the animal's food.

Interactive bowls with spikes for cats

Interactive bowls help your pet develop. They are equipped with round spikes, between which the cat has to get food with his paw. Such dishes stimulate natural instincts, which is especially useful for pets that do not walk outside.

Interactive feeders are also recommended for cats prone to excessive food intake and obesity. How much food an animal will eat at one time depends on its ingenuity and dexterity. This feeder is very useful and interesting for animals.

What are food mazes

Food mazes are special bowls for feeding cats that turn an ordinary meal into a real game! This process has a beneficial effect on the development of the pet, improves mental and physical activity, and improves the quality of life of the domestic cat.

A food labyrinth is a design with various holes, bends, cups, and raised sides arranged like a labyrinth. Between them is placed food that cannot simply be eaten; it must be reached with the paw, using ingenuity.

Dishes on a stand

Containers on a stand are extremely convenient. They will not slide on the floor and create inconvenience during feeding. In addition, the lack of a stand leads to illnesses for the pet, as the spine is bent.

Therefore, it is most practical to purchase a bowl with a stand. This is especially true for metal plates. Their cat is capable of turning over and being frightened by the noise.

If you have already purchased the dishes, you should buy the stand separately.

Additional details

For additional convenience of the pet, and sometimes its owner, the following attributes may be useful:

• Stand.
  Such devices were originally developed for dogs that may experience spinal problems when feeding from the floor. Due to greater flexibility, this is not a problem for most cats. An exception applies to large breeds (Maine Coons, Savannahs, etc.) and animals with problem joints. In this case, you should choose sustainable structures. The best option is a kind of podium with mortise niches into which the devices will be “recessed”.
• Rug.
  By placing it under the bowl, you can prevent it from sliding on the floor. In addition, cats sometimes turn over dishes or like to take out individual pieces and consume them nearby on the floor. In this case, the mat will protect the floor covering from contamination and will allow you to quickly remove traces of your pet’s “meal”. For these purposes, you can also use ordinary plastic napkins intended for the human table.

Automatic feeders and automatic drinkers

It happens that the owner has to leave for several days, and the beloved pet is left alone. If you give him a lot of food at once, he may eat it right away and then remain hungry. The best solution in this situation is automatic feeders.

Especially if the cat is often left alone.

There are two types of automatic feeders: plastic and electronic. The plastic ones are quite easy to use, and even a child can handle them. They have one advantage: they can very easily be turned into automatic drinkers by changing the sides of the upper element.

Electronic ones are more expensive and have several functions: programming for feeding times, programming the amount of feed. The devices are equipped with a dispenser, a timer, and have other functions. If you wish, you can even record a voice inviting your pet to have lunch.

Electronic feeders are especially important when one of several cats is on a diet. Then she will need to hang a special keychain on the collar and program the device to dispense food only to this pet.

Of course, such feeders are not cheap, but any owner can be calm about his pet if he is away from home for a long time.

Where to put the bowl in the room

Inexperienced owners do not know where it is best to place a cat feeder.

The following rules will help you choose a territory for your cat's dishes:

• the dishes must be in the same place;
• the pet must have constant access to feeders (especially the drinking bowl);
• the dishes should be on the floor (not on the table, windowsill or other elevated places);
• the feeder cannot be located next to the tray;
• the place must be accessible for cleaning;
• plates should not be placed in the aisle or interfere with them.

Did you know? A cat's jaw is designed so that it cannot move from side to side. Therefore, mustachioed animals cannot chew large pieces of food.

Most popular bowls

To make it easier for you to choose a bowl for your beloved pet, we will present you the most popular ones.

Flamingo. Ceramics

The dishes are ideal for any cat. It is made of white ceramics. Diameter - twelve centimeters, depth - three and a half centimeters. There is a drawing at the bottom. The main advantage is weight. The dishes are heavy and the animal is unable to move them while eating.

Savic "Cibo". Melamine

Modern bowls made in Belgium are easy to clean. They wash and clean very quickly. In addition, they have a rubberized base, which makes it possible not to slip on the floor.

Karlie Flamingo "Ring". Stainless steel

Round bowls with a diameter of ten centimeters hold up to 250 milliliters of liquid. The bottom is made of a material that does not allow the bowl to slip.

How to choose the right one

Bowls for cats need at least 2 pieces. included in the set: for food and water. If the food is mixed, then all 3. You should not buy paired ones - the food will spoil if it gets wet when the cat drinks.

Choose based on these rules:

1. Correspondence of size and configuration to the breed and age of the animal.
2. Availability of a hygiene certificate. Dishes should not pose a health hazard.
3. Ease of care.
4. The bowl must be stable.

Dishes and cat breed

Before choosing a bowl, be sure to know what breed your pet will be. The fact is that different breeds have different muzzle sizes and shapes, and the same dishes will not suit them.

Depth

Small and shallow bowls are suitable for cats of exotic, British or Persian breeds. They have flat faces and are uncomfortable eating from deep containers.

What about Norwegian Forest cats? They have long hair. To prevent it from getting dirty, pets need to buy deep containers.

But even in this case, you need to know that deep dishes are only suitable for dry food. For soft dishes, plates with lower sides are suitable.

Width

The size of the bowl is chosen depending on whether the cat is large or not. If your pet is small in size, for example, a bobtail breed, it is worth purchasing the appropriate dishes. It will be inconvenient for her to eat from a large bowl, and she may even get her face dirty.

It's another matter when the cat is big. In this case, a small plate is out of the question.

The importance of quality cookware

It would seem that there is nothing difficult in choosing a bowl for a cat. A caring owner buys a container of some intricate shape that he likes, and even a double or triple one, pours delicious food into it, and... watches as his pet takes out pieces and eats them on the floor. This happens when the cat's bowl doesn't fit because it's uncomfortable.

You need to choose a bowl for food based on the characteristics of the breed, character and personal preferences of the animal:

• many cats like to eat on half-bent legs, as if reclining, so a container with high sides is inconvenient for them;
• almost all pets are unhappy when the bowl is narrow and the whiskers touch its edges;
• the height of the sides should correspond to the type of food: for canned food and natural food it is better to choose a low container in the form of a “bowl”; for dry food, a bowl with high sides is preferable;
• water should be poured into a wide container with sides of medium height - cats associate low plates with puddles and can cause disgust;
• the shape and depth of the bowl depends on the breed of cat: pets with flat faces (exotics, Persians) find it uncomfortable to eat from narrow and deep plates;
• at the same time, cats with long hair need bowls with fairly high sides, since when using a shallow plate, the animal’s hair will constantly get dirty.

An integral attribute of the tableware is the stand. This is not to say that you cannot do without it, because cats are more flexible creatures than dogs and they do not have problems such as curvature of the spine due to low dishes. However, a stand under cat food bowls makes eating much easier, since your pet does not have to bend down. The most convenient are stable wooden stands with cut-in niches for bowls or tray-shaped structures.

If the bowl is used without a stand, then it is advisable to place a rubberized mat under it to prevent the dishes from sliding on the floor. You can also purchase original containers with suction cups on the bottom, which firmly fix the bowl.

Bowl care

In order for your pet to always be healthy and well-nourished, it is necessary to take care of its dishes. Containers for food are cleaned and washed after each meal, for water - once a day.

It is important that cats have free access to dishes. It’s good if the bowls are located in a quiet place, away from the stove or sink.

You should not save money by giving your cat old dishes from which it will be inconvenient to eat. Even after purchasing a bowl, see how willingly the animal eats from it. You may come to the conclusion that the bowl will have to be replaced. If the health and appearance of your pet is important to you, do not skimp on dishes for it.

Bowl shape and size

The rules here are simple:

• The bowl should be wide enough. It is advisable that the cat does not have to fish out food while eating. Narrow sides irritate many cats not only because of the inconvenience, but also because the cat constantly touches the sides of the bowl with its whiskers and whiskers. Whiskers and vibrissae are very sensitive areas.
• The depth of the bowl should be medium. You don't want your cat to dive headfirst into the bowl. But an option that is too flat will be inconvenient - the food may spill out. 3-4 cm is the optimal depth.

Maintain cleanliness and order

• Cats do not like to eat or drink from dirty bowls. Even dry food contains enough moisture and grease to leave a dirty film on the dishes. Try to rinse dry food bowls at least every few days. Utensils used for canning, poaching or natural food should be washed daily.
• Water bowls should also be washed daily. Some cat owners simply throw out the old water and immediately refill the dish with fresh water. It’s wrong to do this: if the bowl is not washed thoroughly, harmful bacteria will appear on its walls.
• Make sure that there are no traces of soap or detergent left on the dishes; they are toxic to animals.
• If your cat eats and drinks sloppily, you should place a special mat or rubberized napkin under the dishes. This will make it easier for you to clean up any leftover food that falls out of the bowls.

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Material

Typically, cat bowls are represented by the following materials:

• plastic;
• metal (stainless steel);
• glass;
• porcelain;
• ceramics.

Plastic

The most common and inexpensive material for cat bowls. The quality of plastic varies from product to product:

• Cheap material can have an unpleasant odor, and also absorb the smell of food, bend, crack, and even release dangerous toxic substances - phthalates.
• More expensive and high-quality plastic does not have these flaws, and its service life is much longer.

However, be that as it may, in most cases this material has a porous structure in which pathogenic bacteria can multiply, even if you wash the bowl regularly. In particular, the occurrence of acne in cats is associated with plastic bowls. Plastic, especially cheap plastic, is not our option.

Do you need coasters and mats?

Examples of stands - wooden, metal and plastic
The range of cat gadgets is full of different stands, ranging from plastic to wooden. Their purpose is to give the bowls stability, to please the owner's eye aesthetically, and to prevent food and crumbs from spilling on the floor. Some of them are attached to the wall, leaving space on the floor free. But as practice shows, many cats don’t like them. Why?

• Metal stands again prevent the cat from adopting a “half-bent” position; even if they are adjustable in height, they will still have to be lowered to the floor as much as possible - why not just do without them?
• Wide stands in the form of a tray or stands with niches into which bowls are inserted are also not liked by everyone, since they either raise the bowls higher or have a fairly large area, but limited by the sides, which makes it difficult for the animal to access the bowl from different sides.
• Rugs can have an unpleasant odor or scare the cat away from the bowl, since for the animal it is an incomprehensible substance that does not want to get its paws dirty. Although the item itself is useful - rugs can also absorb spilled water, some of them even have sensors that will prevent the robot vacuum cleaner from crawling into the bowls.

Silicone bowl mats
are suitable for your pet if he prefers to eat while sitting or standing. If you want to keep the floor clean, but the cat does not perceive a beautiful stand or rug, you will have to accept it or use regular paper towels, changing them from time to time. Cheap and cheerful!