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The best cat food bowls are made from hygienic materials which can be cleaned in the dishwasher. They should be of a wide and shallow design, with a non-slip bottom. They should also be elevated to avoid strain on your cat’s neck and spine when they eat.
As a cat “mom” to 7 cats, I have tried and tested many styles of cat food bowls over the years. I understand how important it is to consider your cat’s comfort and health when it comes to feeding. That’s why I’ve tested and reviewed numerous brands of cat bowls, so you can choose the best cat food bowl for your cat.
I found that KatSupreme Tilted Cat Food Bowls are the overall best cat food bowls.
All cats are different however, and different bowls suit different cats. So we’ve included reviews of the best cat bowls for every category.
Best Overall
KatSupreme Tilted Raised Bowls
Tilted & raised bowls
Stainless Steel
Dishwasher safe
Best Budget
Milifun Elevated Bowls
Affordable
Raised & tilted bowls
Fun shape
Best For Messy Eaters
Neater Feeder Express
Raised bowls
Collects spills
Dishwasher safe
Our Best Cat Food Bowls
- KatSupreme Tilted Cat Food Bowls (Overall Best Cat Food Bowls) Go to review
- CatGuru Whisker Relief Cat Food Bowl (Best Cat Food Bowl for Whisker Fatigue) Go to review
- Neater Feeder Express (Best Cat Food Bowl for Messy Eaters) Go to review
- Milifun Tilted Cat Bowls (Best Budget Cat Food Bowl) Go to review
- LoeJan Elevated Cat Food Bowl (Best Single Cat Food Bowl) Go to review
Best Cat Bowls Reviewed
The following cat bowls are all made from high grade, hygienic materials, are non-slip and dishwasher safe.
KatSupreme Tilted Cat Food Bowls
Overall Best Cat Food Bowls
Number of bowls: 2
Bowl diameter: 4.8 ins
Bowl material: Stainless steel
The KatSupreme bowls are made from vet-approved stainless steel, and feature elevated bowls which are angled at 15 degrees.
The raised and tilted design of the cat bowls helps cats eat at a more natural angle. This is thought to promote better digestion, and reduce vomiting. The elevated bowls also help older, arthritic cats avoid neck strain.
The high-quality cat bowls are perfect for both food and water, being easy to clean, durable, and rust-free. They feature a unique rounded bottom which helps avoid food getting stuck in the corners of the bowl. The bowls are also fairly shallow which helps alleviate whisker fatigue.
The bowls are set into a plastic plinth. They can be positioned in the normal position, or at the 15° angle, whichever your cat prefers. The plinth features non-slip rubberised feet and curved angles for safety and ease of cleaning. The only downside is that some purchasers have found the plinth a bit flimsy and easy to break.
Overall, these bowls offer a lot of design features for the money. The stainless steel bowls can be cleaned in the dishwasher, and the choice of position means you can accommodate your cats preferences easily. They look nice too, and are good value for the price.
CatGuru Whisker Relief Cat Bowl
(Best Cat Food Bowl for Whisker Fatigue)
Number of bowls: 2 (can also be bought as singles)
Bowl diameter: 6.6 ins
Bowl material: Stainless steel (ceramic and melamine also available)
The CatGuru feed bowls have a patented shallow form with ripples that allow your cat to easily access their food. This design helps prevent whisker fatigue and keeps their face clean. Cat’s whiskers are amazing sensors that collect information and send it to the brain. These little antennas are incredibly sensitive. If they are constantly stimulated while a cat is trying to eat, it can be stressful and painful. That’s where the CatGuru Food Dish comes in. It prevents whisker stress, which is the annoying sensation that occurs when whiskers rub against the sides of a traditional bowl.
To avoid whisker stress, cats often eat their food only in the center of the bowl as this is the easiest area for them to eat from. Sometimes, cats may even start using their paws to take the food out of the bowl and eat it from the floor. This can be frustrating for both cats and their owners. However, with the CatGuru food bowl, food doesn’t get stuck in the corners like in a traditional bowl, preventing this frustration.
The CatGuru food bowls have a non-slip silicone ring to prevent them from sliding around on the floor. They are made from surgical grade stainless steel and can hold up to 5 ounces of dry or wet food. The saucer-like design of this cat dish is specifically made for cats to provide whisker relief and stress-free mealtimes. Plus, it’s dishwasher safe for easy cleaning.
If required, the CatGuru food bowl can be elevated using the CatGuru Food table. This means the cat doesn’t eat in a crouched position which compresses the stomach and strains the neck and spine.
Overall, the CatGuru food bowls are ergonomically designed, quality products which are very popular with cats. They are durable and long lasting, and easy to clean, and are a brilliant choice if your cat suffers from whisker fatigue.
Neater Feeder Express
(Best Cat Food Bowl for Messy Eaters)
Number of bowls: 2
Bowl diameter: 4.6 ins
Bowl material: Stainless steel
The Neater Feeder is designed for cats and kittens of all sizes. It has a feeding height of 2.75″ (at the rim of the bowl), which is ideal for your cat’s health and comfort. The height helps your cat eat in a natural position, aiding digestion, and avoiding strain on their joints.
The feeder features a revolutionary splash guard and dual reservoir design. This ensures that any spilled food is separated and contained at the top of the feeder, while spilled water drains into the catch basin below. This keeps your cat’s feeding area clean and tidy.
The Neater Feeder comes with shallow food and water bowls that are gentle on your cat’s sensitive whiskers. Each bowl can hold up to 1 cup of food or water. Thanks to its splash-proof raised walls, any spills or mess is completely contained within the feeder. Additionally, the feeder is equipped with non-slip rubber feet to prevent sliding and further splashing. This will save you time and effort cleaning floors and wiping walls. The Neater Feeder has stainless steel feeding bowls and sturdy, durable plastic basins that are manufactured in the USA. It is a good quality feeder, which is what you would hope as it is one of the more expensive cat food bowls.
Another great feature of the Neater Feeder is that all of its parts, including the cat bowls, and top and bottom basins, are 100% dishwasher safe. This is a big win for me, as it alleviates the need to soak away dried-on cat food – just stick the whole thing in the dishwasher.
I love the style of the Neater Feeder, and the fact that it is available in 5 colors means you can pick the perfect feeder to complement your home. It’s robust and quality design makes it an excellent choice of cat food bowl, particularly if your cat is a messy eater, or likes to play with their water.
Milifun Elevated Tilted Cat Food Bowls
(Best Budget Cat Food Bowls)
Number of bowls: 2
Bowl diameter: 5.1 ins
Bowl material: Plastic
The Milifun Elevated and Tilted feed bowls are fixed into a base which sets them at a height of 2.75 inches. They are tilted at a 15 degree angle to offer a comfortable, digestion-friendly position for your cat to feed, without straining their neck and spine. My cats seem to find these elevated and angled feed bowls really comfortable to eat from, and I definitely noticed a reduction in vomiting from one of my cats.
The base units are available in 3 colors, and the cat-ear shaped feed bowls are quite cute. There are no non-slip feed fitted, but the base is really wide, and doesn’t seem to move around too much.
Made from ABS food safe plastic, these bowls don’t claim to be dishwasher safe. But myself and many other purchasers have been washing them in the dishwasher without any issues. The bowls can be fiddly to reassemble after cleaning, you have to twist and click them back into place.
Overall these bowls are a good product for a great price, and are our choice of best budget cat food bowls. The only downside is they are made of plastic, but I’ve yet to see mine get scratched.
LoeJan Elevated Cat Food Bowl
(Best Single Cat Bowl)
Number of bowls: 1
Bowl diameter: 5.3 ins
Bowl material: Ceramic
Single cat food bowls are a great idea when feeding your cat, as it means food and water can be kept separate, which most cats prefer. This LoeJan Elevated Cat Food Bowl is a single, ceramic raised and tilted bowl which is available in 5 colors.
The elevated cat food bowl is designed to provide a more comfortable eating or drinking position for cats. It is especially beneficial for older cats with arthritis or mobility issues as it reduces strain on the neck. The bowl’s elevated height ensures that a cat’s mouth is at the appropriate level in relation to its stomach, making swallowing easier and reducing the risk of post-meal vomiting. In addition, the shallow and wide design of the bowl prevents the cat’s whiskers from touching the sides, making it easier for them to eat.
The bowl is microwave and dishwasher safe, making it convenient to clean and perfect for heating up your cat’s food if desired.
This ceramic food bowl is also a great alternative to stainless steel bowls, which some cats dislike. It looks great too!
What to Consider when Choosing the Best Cat Food Bowl for Your Cat
When choosing a cat food bowl, there are several important factors to consider.
Hygienic Materials
It is important to choose cat food bowls that are made from hygienic materials such as stainless steel, ceramic, and glass. These materials are ideal for cat bowls because they’re easy to clean and resistant to bacteria and corrosion.
Stainless steel bowls are particularly recommended for their durability and non-porous surface. Ceramic bowls are another great option as they’re durable and easy to clean. Glass bowls are also hygienic and provide a safe option for your cat’s feeding needs.
Plastic bowls can get scratched, and harbour bacteria which could cause infections and conditions such as chin acne.
Depth of Bowl
You should consider choosing a cat bowl with the right depth to ensure your cat’s comfort during mealtimes. Some cats prefer bowls that are shallow rather than deep, as deep bowls can cause whisker stress/whisker fatigue.
There is no scientific evidence that whisker fatigue exists, but it is thought to occur when a cat’s sensitive whiskers brush against the sides of a deep bowl, causing over stimulation and irritation.
If your cat is a fussy eater, or tends to lift their food out of their bowl with their paw, and eat it from the floor, they may be suffering from whisker stress.
By opting for a shallow bowl, you can alleviate this issue and make mealtimes more enjoyable for your cat.
Height and Angle of the bowls
Elevated cat bowls have become very popular, as it is thought that they offer more comfort for your cat when eating. Raising the bowl off the ground so that your cat isn’t hunched over while they eat may reduce strain on the neck and spine. It is also thought to reduce the risk of post-meal regurgitation and vomiting as the digestive system isn’t compressed. Angled or tilted bowls are thought to improve these benefits even further.
There is little scientific evidence out there to support these theories, but anecdotally, many cat parents have found huge benefits with these types of bowls.
It’s important to observe your cat’s behavior and preferences to find the perfect height and angle for their bowls. If the feed bowl is too high, it may have the opposite effect and cause additional issues for your cat. Kittens and small cats only need an inch or so of elevation, whilst bigger cats require 2-3 inches.
Our Verdict
Choosing the right cat food bowl can make a huge difference to your cat’s comfort and health during mealtimes. We think that the KatSupreme Tilted Cat Food Bowls are an excellent choice, as they provide a comfortable eating position and hygienic stainless steel bowls which can be cleaned in the dishwasher.
FAQs
If you have any questions about cat food bowls, we’ve compiled a list of FAQs to address any concerns or uncertainties you may have.
Q: What materials are best for cat food bowls?
A: Stainless steel, ceramic, and glass are recommended for their hygienic properties.
Q: How can I prevent whisker fatigue in my cat?
A: Choose shallow and wide bowls to prevent irritation.
Q: Are non-slip bottoms important for cat bowls?
A: Yes, a non-slip bottom keeps the bowls stable so your cat can finish their food. Look for bowls with rubber bases or stick-on rubber feet.
Q: Are there cat bowls designed for specific needs?
A: Yes, there are raised bowls for senior cats with arthritis, slow feed bowls for fast eaters, and automatic feeders for portion control.
For more information on cat bowls and feeders, see our articles on automatic cat feeders for wet food and automatic cat feeders for multiple cats.
