Cat Bowls and Feeders Buying Guide
When your cat needs something to eat or drink, you want be able to provide a bowl that makes mealtime appetizing. Cats can be picky, but with the right bowls, you might be able to make the event less of a chore. As with all things pet-related, your supplies could range from amazingly simple (eating directly from the cat food can) to the incredibly expensive (everything gets fancier when you put diamonds on it).
Chow Time!
Cats hate drinking stagnant water. You can do a couple things with that information. You can let your cat splash around in the water, you can refill the water often, you can let your cat drink from the tap (a bad habit!), or you can get a fancy water dispenser that constantly moves your cat's drink.
| Fill Me! |
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Classic Dishes  - Can be as expensive, cheap or understated as you'd like.
- Shallower is better. Cats don't like having their whiskers touch the sides of the bowl.
- Should be solid enough not to tip over easily.
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Combo Platter - Cat food and water in one stop.
- The whimsical possibilities are endless!
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Fountain - Lets your cat have a constant supply of fresh water.
- Comes with a pump and often a filter.
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Choosing the Right Bowl
- You might consider several cat bowls at feeding time: a water dish, one for dry food, and one for wet food.
- Make sure that the bowls are heavy enough that they don't slide around, especially if your cat prefers to eat on the counter.
- A rubber base will also help prevent any spills or accidents, or consider putting a mat underneath (this will also help minimize the damage from messy eaters).
- Choose a bowl that is dishwasher safe and clean it regularly so Kitty doesn't get sick from spoiled food residue!
- Some cats prefer shallower dishes that allow them to survey their environment, and others are fine with a deeper dish. Your cat will let you know.
- Ceramic (with a lead-free glaze) and stainless steel bowls are ideal - both clean easily, don't create germ breeding grounds, and are sturdy. Plastic is suboptimal because some cats are allergic; it also gets scratched and creates a spot for germs to live.
- Cats prefer fresh food, so a smaller bowl is probably best.
Feeders
- Feeders either offer a continuous supply of dry food and/or timed feedings of canned meals.
- Look for a feeder that is sturdy, dishwasher-safe, and hermetically sealed to lock in freshness and prevent spoilage.
- Some feeders come with multiple feeders for multiple cats.
- The bigger your automatic feeder, the more days' worth of food you can store in there for vacations, etc. A seemingly endless supply of food may not be the best idea for overweight cats, plus it's not good to leave your cat alone for more than 24 hours - call a sitter!
| Feed Me! |
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Bowls - Like the water bowl, this allows for simplicity or opulence.
- Kitty may like dry and wet food. Time for two bowls!
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Dispensers - Can give Fluffy an regulated amount.
- May be electric or gravity-powered.
- Might be better for dry food than wet food.
- Can be programmed to dispense several days' worth of food continuously or at specific intervals.
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