Finding the best cat food bowl for your kitty is more important than you may imagine. Although pet parents often feel that any bowl will do (or simply choose a dish because it looks pretty), you'll soon discover that your moggy's mealtimes become more pleasurable if you make a considered decision.
One thing's for sure, cats enjoy eating from bowls. A study published in the journal Animal Cognition showed that cats like having food readily available and they would rather not work for their meals. Yet a lot of bowls are placed on the ground and that can put a strain on a cat's neck and force a moggy's whiskers to bush against the sides, sometimes leading them to turn their nose up at even the best dry cat food.
Opting for an elevated food bowl is great if you’re looking for one of the best anti-vomit bowls for cats as it puts them into a more natural eating position so that the food can travel more easily from the mouth into the digestive system, therefore reducing the risk of gastrointestinal upsets and vomiting. You can also opt for wide, shallow bowls to prevent whisker fatigue or buy one of the best automatic pet feeders to ensure your moggy will never miss a meal. You're certainly not short of options.
To steer you in the right direction, however, we've rounded up the most popular, trusted and well-reviewed products on the market. We have also spoken to Dr. Joanna Woodnutt to get her advice on what kind of cat food bowl is best. As she says, “The best cat food bowl will always depend on your cat,” so let's take a look at what's out there.
Dr Joanna Woodnutt qualified as a veterinarian from the University of Nottingham where she then went on to practice companion animal medicine in the Midlands. She really took to the consulting side of things and helping clients with medical problems such as dermatology, behaviour and nutrition - anything that involved helping clients understand their pets better.
PetsRadar's pick of the best cat food bowls
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Receiving an average of 4.5 stars out of five on Amazon, thousands of happy buyers are in love with this feeder with many saying it's the best cat dish they've ever purchased. Easy to clean and sturdy, people say it does what it says on the tin - keeping food and water off of floors. However, some buyers say they would prefer bigger bowls, noting that the current ones are quite small.
If all that time spent on your hands and knees wiping up spilled food and water is leaving you feeling like you’re living Cinderella’s life before she got to go to the ball, then the Neater Feeder is about to replace your old pumpkin of a cat bowl with a luxury food vessel that will have you back on your feet where you belong.
The Neater Feeder is the ultimate solution if you have a messy eater on your hands, with the protective walls containing any food or water splashes that can happen when your excitable kitty realizes it’s time to chow down again. The dual-reservoir design means any spilled food is contained in the upper reservoir, while spilled water drains into the lower reservoir, keeping your floors clean and dry.
We love that the crew at Neater Pets have designed this feeder with both you and your cat in mind. Not only can you say goodbye to cleaning your floor of spilled food and water, the plastic structure and stainless-steel bowls are dishwasher safe, and they’re available in a variety of colors to blend in with your home’s decor. The base also comes with non-skid rubber pads so if your moggie likes to move their bowl around while eating you can rest easy knowing it won’t tip over.
And there’s plenty for your cat to love too. The bowls hold a generous 1 cup of food and 1.5 cups of water, and the elevated design reduces neck strain and makes for a more comfortable dining experience. You can also purchase the feeder with leg extensions that enable you to raise the feeder if you have a larger breed of cat.
Okay, so, confession time: the Neater Feeder isn’t the cheapest cat bowl on the market, but in our opinion, it’s the best one, so if your budget can stretch to it we know you and your cat are going to love it.
Averaging 4.8 stars out of five on Amazon, this cat food bowl has been praised for being easy to clean, lightweight, inexpensive and unbreakable. Pet parents love the mix of quality and affordability, however they would prefer that it came in a bigger size.
The Van Ness Ecoware cat food bowl is getting rave reviews all over the place, and it’s not hard to see why. This budget-friendly buy isn't just kind on your wallet, it’s also kind on the planet and your kitty, having been designed to provide maximum comfort at mealtimes.
Thoughtfully crafted from 47% bamboo and with a non-skid silicone base, it is eco-friendly, chemical-free, heavy-metal free, and BPA-free, making this the perfect non-hazardous purchase. The circular-shaped bowl was designed to prevent whisker stress and fatigue, which can occur when cats eat out of bowls that touch and over-stimulate their whiskers. It also comes with a cheerful graphic design and three color choices.
This bowl may be a cheap buy, but that’s where the economy ends. We’re impressed by the durable design for a cat bowl in this price range, which is unbreakable under normal use, and won’t chip or crack. It’s even degradable when exposed to typical composting conditions. A cute cat bowl that’s also tough and environmentally friendly? Now that’s what we call a win-win-win!
You’ll love that the highly polished surface of this Van Ness bowl makes it super easy to clean, and the kitchen-grade silicone non-skid base helps prevent sliding, spilling, and scratching of floors. It’s also versatile, and can be used for both wet and dry food.
Because of the eco-friendly construction, this bowl isn’t dishwasher safe, as it can cause cracking and flaking, so be sure to wash it by hand. But we reckon for a bowl of this quality and price, that's a tiny drawback.
On Amazon, this product scores 4.7 out of five stars, with buyers describing it as sturdy and highly effective. People love that it does what it says it’s going to do - which is keeping food nice and warm - and it’s also super cost-effective, which is great with most of us feeling the pinch right now. However, a handful of buyers dislike the chemical smell that comes from the plastic.
If you have a cat who loves to roam and spends little time indoors then the K&H Thermo-Kitty Cafe is a winner for those chilly autumn and winter months. Thermostatically controlled, these two stainless steel bowls sitting on a heated base do a great job of keeping fresh food and water from freezing over, even in sub-zero temperatures. After being out and about, there’s nothing your kitty will love more in the colder months than coming home to a warm meal.
This energy-efficient cat bowl uses just 30 watts, keeping your electricity costs low, and being thermostatically controlled means you can set it to turn on and off automatically. While the heating element can’t be removed, simply keep it unplugged during the warmer months.
There’s also a 5.5-foot steel-wrapped cord, perfect to reach most sockets, and all of the electronics are safely sealed inside the bowl. It’s been MET laboratory tested to ensure it meets the highest safety standards, and there’s a 1-year warranty to provide extra peace of mind.
We love that the base is easy to wipe clean, and the two stainless steel bowls can be removed and placed in the dishwasher. The two bowls come in different sizes, one can hold 1.5 cups and the other 3 cups, and can be used for both food and water.
The only thing some reviewers don’t seem to like about this product is the plastic smell it can give off when first heated. But that issue aside, this is another quality product from reputable brand K&H that is bound to get the big paws up from your cat.
With an average star rating of 4.5 out of five on Amazon, people have been loving how easy to set up and use this automatic feeder is, as well as how convenient it is to change the portions or feeding time via the app. That being said, one thing pet parents aren’t so keen on is the flimsy lid - with some users reporting their cats have been able to access the content in the hopper.
If you’ve ever been woken early in the morning to the sound of a purring noise in your ear, or paws kneading you, then you'll know what it’s like to have to drag yourself out of bed blurry eyed and stumble to the kitchen to feed your famished feline. The good news is you can kiss those unwanted early starts goodbye thanks to this automatic cat food bowl from PETLIBRO.
With an impressive 6-liter capacity, this automatic cat food bowl features a flexible feeding timer that lets you program in 1-4 meals per day and up to 9 portions per meal, great for cats who tend to eat too fast and make themselves ill. The transparent hopper means you can easily see how much kibble is left and the desiccant bag means food always stays fresh.
The feeder utilizes a dual-power supply, so if the power goes off, you'll have the batteries to fall back on which means your feline friend will never miss a meal. There's also a voice recorder, so you can record a brief 10s message that lets your cat know that it's dinner time, and both the food tank and tray are easy to remove for cleaning.
It's worth noting that customers have raised an issue about the absence of a lock on the hopper, with some clever cats being able to open the lid with their paw and raid the stash of kibble inside! However, as one of the more affordable automatic feeders on the market, you may be happy to solve this issue by simply taping the lid down.
With a respectable 4.6 stars out of five on Amazon, pet parents describe this product as sturdy, inexpensive, easy to clean, and able to hold a good amount of food. The elevated design has also proven popular, with many reporting that their cat has stopped vomiting since using it. That being said, some feel the bowls are far too big and that they’re better suited to a dog rather than a cat.
These two elevated cat bowls are perfect for keeping your kitty’s neck comfortable at mealtimes. With a raised pedestal design that promotes a healthy posture for digestion and relieves pressure on the neck and spine, these affordable bowls will help make mealtimes more enjoyable.
Wonderful for senior cats who suffer with arthritis or those with sensitive stomachs, these elevated bowls have a whisker-friendly oval design, plus an easy-access front. The modern style and colors will look great in your home and each boasts an impressive 10.8 ounce capacity.
Dishwasher safe when placed on the top rack, the bowls are sturdy and durable, so they're guaranteed to go the distance. The only issue that some pet parents note is the depth of the bowls, with some saying their smaller cats struggled to get to the bottom of their food.
We feel that for most felines, this won't be a problem, and given how affordable this dual set is, we reckon they're well worth trialing if you're looking to create a more natural and relaxed eating environment.
Averaging 4.5 stars out of five on Amazon, owners love the compact footprint of this double bowl feeder and find it’s effective at keeping food and water off the floor. However, some buyers have found the silicone mat very difficult to keep clean, reporting that it remains stained even after being washed and rewashed several times.
This set of two bowls is convenient and mess free for giving your kitty their meals. You can choose from a variety of sizes, however for cats, the smallest sizes (200ml and 400ml) seem to be the perfect fit. The bowls come with a raised silicone mat that will stop your cat from making a mess on your floor, and instead catch any spillages around the edges of the mat.
The stainless-steel bowls are sturdy and safe for your pet, plus they’re easy to clean and dishwasher safe, making these bowls a hygienic choice. The mat is also flexible and foldable meaning you can take this with you anywhere and feed your cat fuss-free. The mats come in a variety of colours and the bowls fit snugly inside the silicone holders so that the bowls don’t slip or slide about during feeding time.
While these bowls are super affordable, one drawback pet parents have noted is how challenging it is to keep the silicone mat clean. The lighter colors may be prone to staining, so if you're wanting to ensure your cat's food station stays looking it's best, it may be advisable to opt for a darker mat.
This product has an average star rating of 4.5 out of five on Amazon with buyers loving that each bowl can be separately slanted or kept level. They also praise the sturdiness and the overall stylishness of the design, although some people aren’t so keen on the small sizing of the bowls.
If you’re looking for the perfect blend of style and substance, then look no further than these elevated feeding bowls from PETKIT. Premium quality, solid, and dishwasher safe, these bowls are tilted to improve digestion and reduce neck strain.
Made from uncoated food-grade and heat-resistant stainless steel sat atop a sturdy and durable plastic base, the deep and wide shape prevents whisker fatigue and the gently rounded edges make it easy for your feline furkid to get their food out.
The slightly inclined surface helps to reduce food spillage and the rubberized grips on the bottom of the base hold the feeding tray firmly in place. The bowls release easily for cleaning and can both hold around ¾ cup of food.
However, while pet parents rave about how stylish these bowls are, they're not so impressed with the sizing, with many reporting that the bowls are too small for large breed cats, like the Maine Coon.
We recommend these bowls if you have a small to medium-sized cat and are looking for an elegant and affordable set of feeding bowls that will add a touch of class to your modern home.
With a solid ranking of 4.7 stars out of five on Amazon, this bowl gets plenty of praise for its great quality and low price. People love that it’s wide and shallow (just what our feline friends love) and that it’s heavy-duty, so it won’t tip over. The only drawback amongst pet parents seems to be the size, with many saying it’s too big for a cat.
If you're looking for a trusty cat food bowl that won't let you down, then look no further than the TRIXIE Ceramic Cat Bowl.
This feline accessory may look a bit plain but if looks aren't important to you, you'll be impressed by its good quality and decent size. If your kitty is particularly prone to spilling their meal across the floor, the bowl's weight and sturdiness could be just what you need as it's much harder to tip over than other bowls.
You can use it to either contain food or water, and its ceramic design is so easy to clean once empty, perfect for the messiest of felines. It lacks any special features like elevation or automatic feeding, but its raised sides are high enough to prevent food from falling out, whilst being low enough for most cats to tuck in with ease.
Whether you prefer the benefits of ceramic or simply feel it's a more hygienic choice for your cat, this food bowl is a wonderful alternative to the plastic options on the market.
The best cat food bowl: FAQs
How to choose the best cat food bowl
Choosing the best cat food bowl can help to tackle whisker stress and cat acne. A good bowl can also aid digestive health. Here is what you should be looking for when considering the perfect bowl for your feline.
Material: Examine what a bowl is made of. Plastic bowls with playful designs might look cute but many cats have an allergy to plastic which gives them nasty bumps and blackheads on their chin. To minimize the possibility of a reaction, opt for stainless steel, ceramic or eco-friendly materials such as bamboo.
Size and shape: To help avoid whisker stress, think size and shape. If your kitty is prone to lifting food out of their bowl and dropping it on the floor, their current bowl may be too small meaning their whiskers are touching the sides. Wide bowls help to prevent this.
Depth: Deep bowls that are elevated and tilted forward are worth considering if your cats make a mess or suffer from digestive issues. They allow your cat to maintain a more natural posture which reduces neck strain and makes digesting food easier.
Smart features: Choosing one of the best automatic pet feeders is fantastic if you’re often away from home. You can program the feeder to dispense wet or dry cat food at certain times throughout the day. And, just like the best smart pet bowls, they’re also a good option for monitoring portion control and managing your cat’s weight.
Go neat: If you hate having food bowls cluttering up your home or if you and your feline often travel together, why not consider a collapsible food bowl? They’re perfect for long road trips and the silicone ones are easy to clean. When you’re done, they fold down into a disk and can be easily stored.
Types of cat food bowl
Here's our breakdown of some of the types of cat bowl you'll likely encounter.
Elevated cat food bowl: If you are asking yourself, “should I elevate my cat’s food bowl?” then chances are your feline has digestive difficulties. An elevated cat food bowl will help your cat swallow, aided by gravity. They are also ideal for older felines who experience problems in their joints, including arthritis or stiff muscles.
A raised bowl is also hygienic and clean. Since the bowl sits off the ground, spillage is reduced and the extra height can help reduce dust and fur particles landing in your feline's meal. They do tend to be more expensive than the average bowl, however.
Automatic feeders: When you're out of the home, an automatic feeder is a convenient and fun way to deliver your kitty their next meal. These machines can typically be programmed to feed your cat with their usual amount of food, but some feeders may end up feeding them too much due to auto-filling once a cat's dish becomes empty. Convenient but they can be expensive.
Traditional cat food bowl: This is likely to be the option you're most familiar with. A traditional cat food bowl is often made from ceramic or stainless steel; its circular design is simple and functional. There are typically no bells and whistles but you'll likely want to consider the material. For instance, if your feline is prone to food spillages, heavy ceramic can be a great choice.
What kind of cat food bowl is best?
There is no single perfect cat bowl, according to Dr. Joanna Woodnutt. Like humans, cats are unique so a bowl that works for one might not necessarily work for another.
“Felines are finicky,” she explains. “Having said that, it’s best to get a cat food bowl made of porcelain or glass, as plastic can harbor bacteria and metal can taint the food. Most cats like a shallow, large bowl.”
Is it better for cats to eat from an elevated bowl?
Whether you’re considering an elevated bowl or even asking “do anti-vomit cat bowls work?”, then the answer lies with your cat. “Most cats will be fine with their bowl on the ground, although for some an elevated bowl may help,” Dr Woodnutt advises.
“Cats with arthritis will often benefit from an elevated bowl. You’ll find many cats still take their food and drop it on the floor, then eat it on the floor - so don’t expect too much.”
How we selected the best cat food bowls
So how did we select the best cat food bowls for this guide? Well, we focussed on three key areas: the material the bowls are made from, their size and depth, and the overall design. We also wanted to ensure we included a few bowls with smarter features, such as elevated bowls and automatic feeders.
Material: We’ve avoided the use of plastic bowls in this guide. While they’re cheap and convenient, they are more likely to harbor bacteria. We’ve opted for safe and healthy alternatives instead, such as ceramic, silicone and stainless steel.
Size and depth: We’re mindful that cats favor large, shallow bowls because they are less likely to irritate their whiskers. We’ve mostly included such bowls, with a few notable exceptions such as the automatic pet feeder. This product, while shallow, does not have high sides, however, and therefore won’t cause irritation.
Overall design: We’ve included a range of designs in this guide, from the simple yet effective to the more elaborate and stylish. You’ll also note that aside from appearance, the cat food bowls above span the range of what’s available on the market right now, such as automatic feeders that give you more flexibility in your day and elevated models, which can help prevent digestive disturbances.
