As doting pet parents, we make sure that our furry friends have everything they need for optimal quality of life, including food and water, toys, shelters, kennels, crates, collars and leashes and even clothing. However, when it comes to providing our pets with the appropriate bowls for eating and drinking we often don’t think beyond the cutesy packaging and designs.

Picking the right food and water dish/bowl for your cat is just as important as choosing what kind of food you give them. It can make your cat’s meal time not only more enjoyable, but also safer and healthier, too.

Picking the Right Cat Food Bowl

Material

The type of material your cat’s food and water dishes are made of should be one of your main considerations when deciding what to use.

Stainless Steel Pet Bowls

If you’re looking for a long-lasting pet bowl that will endure tugging, scratching and everything in between, a stainless steel bowl is a perfect choice.

Stainless steel is a good choice for cat food and water bowls, and comes in the widest variety of sizes, widths and depths so you can find one to suit any cat.  These bowls are also wonderful for pets of any age and size.

These bowls are also easy to clean and dry, which will help prevent bacteria from forming in the dish. In addition, stainless steel is generally unbreakable, so this type of dish should last a long time.

Ceramic, Glass, or Stoneware Bowls

Like stainless steel, these materials are also easy to clean, which can help prevent bacteria from forming in your cat’s food or water dish.

They are not unbreakable, like stainless steel is, but these materials are durable and should hold up well. In addition, they come in a variety of colors, so you can find one that complements your home’s décor.

Size

The size of your cat’s bowl is very important. A cute little bowl may be too small for your cat to stick her head into and eat. If the cat’s whiskers flatten against the sides, and she gets food on her face, it is likely that the bowl will rarely be used.

Weight

Another thing to consider is the weight of the bowl. If the bowl is too light and the cat ends up pushing her dish around trying to get every last morsel, try a weighted bowl that won’t slide around the floor or tip over.  Some cats will refuse to eat from a lightweight bowl.

Once you have chosen the best bowl for your cat, make sure to place the bowl in a calm quiet area. Your cat may refuse to eat from it if it is near a noisy washing machine, in the middle of where the kids play or if the family dog is a bother. Many cats prefer to be off the floor when there are other pets or small children around, so find an elevated place that is acceptable to you and your cat.