The Best Cat Bowls

We all know that our cats deserve the best, and they often make it clear if they don’t like something! Taking the time to invest in the best type of cat bowl for your feline friend will make mealtimes a pleasure. Maybe your cat needs to lose weight and you’re looking for a slow feeder bowl for their diet cat food. Or you’re looking for a more stylish option than the old plastic food bowl you’ve had for years. (Looking for a bowl for your pup? We cover the best dog bowls in a separate review.)

We reviewed dozens of cat bowls to identify the best of the best. We looked at a range of features such as the material each bowl was made from, and whether or not it came with an integrated stand. We also considered how deep each bowl was,and how easy they are to clean.

Looking for cat water bowls? Check out our at our pet bowls, feeders and waterers articles.

Top Pick

Neater Feeder Express Pet Bowls

This feeding station combines stainless steel bowls and an elevated feeding station which meets the approval of even the fussiest feline.

Our top pick, the Neater Feeder Express Pet Bowls stood out as a clear winner. The combination of high-quality shallow stainless steel bowls, combined with a feeding station designed to contain and separate any spilled food and water mean that this is a practical and stylish addition to any cat owning household.

The 5 Top-Rated Cat Bowls

Editor’s Picks Brand Rating
Best Overall Neater Feeder Express Pet Bowls
4.4
Runner Up Bergan Stainless Steel Non-Skid Pet Bowl 4.4
Best Budget Buy Van Ness Ecoware Cat Dish 4.7
Best Stainless Steel Cat Bowl Ureverbasic Stainless Steel Cat Bowls Set of 2 4.1
Best Ceramic Cat Bowl Bone Dry Stripes Ceramic Cat Bowl 4.2

*Ratings are from Amazon at the time of publication and can change

Our Top Pick: Neater Feeder Express Pet Bowls

Many cats can benefit from using an elevated feed station, and the Neater Feeder Express Pet Bowls offer the perfect way to provide this for your cats. With a compact and easy to clean design, this feeder uses two stack-able trays to catch and separate spilled water and food. This helps to keep the feeding area neat and clean, which appeals to fussy cats.

This feeding station includes two high-quality stainless steel bowls, which are one of the best materials for cat bowls. Each bowl holds one cup of food or water, and once placed into the feeder the bowls sit at a height of 2.75″ from the floor. The Neater Feeder Express Pet Bowls have nearly 1,000 reviews on Amazon, with happy customers commenting on how durable and easy to clean this product is.

Neater Feeder Pet Bowls Key Features:

  • All parts are dishwasher safe
  • Available in 2 colors: beige, and gunmetal
  • Spill-proof
  • Made in the USA

Our Runner Up Pick: Bergan Stainless Steel Non-Skid Bowl with Ridges

Runner Up

Bergan Stainless Steel Non-Skid Bowl with Ridges

Your kitty will love eating from this well-made stainless steel bowl.

The Bergan Stainless Steel Non-Skid Bowl with Ridges is another great choice well worth considering. The design features a subtle yet stylish ridge pattern on the exterior sides of the bowl, which makes this bowl eye-catching and attractive. This is combined with a wide, non-skid base.

As well as keeping this cat bowl secure on hardwood or tiled floors, this base also prevents your cat from tipping over the bowl. Some Amazon reviewers noted how happy they were that using these bowls cleared up their cats feline acne, with others mentioning how happy their cats seem with these bowls.

Bergan Stainless Steel Non-Skid Bowl with Ridges Key Features:

  • Hold 1 cup of food
  • Handcrafted
  • Non-skid base
  • Dishwasher safe

Best Budget Pick: Van Ness Ecoware Cat Dish

Best Budget Cat Bowl

Van Ness Ecoware Cat Dish

This bright ceramic dish features a shallow design, specifically designed for cats

If you’re looking for a high-quality cat bowl on a budget, you can’t look past the Van Ness Ecoware Cat Dish. The shallow and wide design of the bowl is specifically designed to appeal to cats. If your cat dislikes deep and narrow bowls, then this is the perfect alternative. It’s suitable for wet food, kibble, and water, so you may decide you want to invest in more than one! The highly polished finish of this bowl is easy to clean, and also features a cute kitty face.

The base of this cat bowl is covered with a kitchen-grade silicone, which prevents it from sliding around on tiled or hardwood floors. Amazon reviewers commented on the great quality of this dish, and how their cats loved eating from the shallow design.

 Van Ness Ecoware Cat Dish Key Features:

  • Unbreakable under normal use
  • Made from 47% bamboo plant material
  • Dishwasher safe
  • Holds 8 ounces

Best Stainless Steel Cat Bowl Pick: Ureverbasic Stainless Steel Cat Bowls Set of 2

Best Stainless Steel Cat Bowl

Ureverbasic Stainless Steel Cat Bowls Set of 2

These dishwasher safe stainless steel bowls are available in a huge range of vibrant colors

This set of 2 stainless steel cat bowls by Ureverbasic combine a high-quality stainless steel with a wide range of colors to suit any home. These small bowls are perfect for holding your cats food and water, and the anti-skid rubber base makes sure that they won’t slide around your floors.

To clean the bowls, you have 2 options. Simply wash the entire bowl in hot soapy water, or remove the rubber base and place the bowl in the dishwasher. The bright bowls are combined with a cute cat face graphic which makes for a striking design which is sure to appeal to cat lovers.

Ureverbasic Stainless Steel Cat Bowls Set of 2 Key Features:

  • Available in 12 different color options
  • 8 ounce capacity
  • Anti-skid rubber base
  • 1.4″ high

Best Ceramic Cat Bowl Pick: Bone Dry Stripes Ceramic Cat Bowl

Best Ceramic Cat Bowl

Bone Dry Stripes Ceramic Pet Bowl

This white ceramic bowl with a stylish pale gray design is the perfect modern cat bowl

The Bone Dry Stripes Ceramic Cat Bowl features a stylish striped design combined with a cute paw print so there’s no mistaking who this bowl is for. The silicon rim on the base of this cat bowl will keep it securely in one place even if you have hardwood or tiled floors.

This cat bowl is dishwasher and microwave safe, and suitable for wet food, kibble, or water. Lots of Amazon reviewers noted the heavy weight, and quality feel of this cat bowl. This bowl is perfect for large cats as you can fit a good amount of food within it.

Bone Dry Stripes Ceramic Pet Bowl Key Features:

  • FDA food safe materials
  • Durable porcelain ceramic
  • 2″ high and 4.25″ diameter
  • Dishwasher and microwave safe

Who Should Buy a Cat Bowl

If you’re the proud owner of one or more cats, you’ll know that as well as being adorable, they can be a little fussy. Perhaps your delicate Siamese cat prefers eating their kibble from a wide, shallow bowl. Or your hungry Maine Coon devours their wet food in a matter of seconds and then looks at you expectantly for more.

It’s definitely worth taking a bit of time to consider what type of bowl would suit your cat the best. There’s such a wide range out there to choose from, and if you haven’t upgraded your cat bowl in a while, it might be time to consider changing to one that may just suit your cat a lot better.

Top Pick

Neater Feeder Express Pet Bowls

This feeding station combines stainless steel bowls and an elevated feeding station which meets the approval of even the fussiest feline.

Important Features to Consider

  • Type of material. Cat bowls are available in a wide range of materials with the most common being stainless steel, ceramic, and plastic. All of these have advantages and disadvantages. The type you choose will be down to your personal preference (and that of your cat!), your budget, and what sort of cat bowl you need.
  • Elevated. Some cats benefit from using an elevated feeder. Raising your cat’s food can help improve their digestion, and many elderly cats can benefit from having their food raised off the floor. It makes it easier for them to eat, and helps them get the best from their food. Elevated feeders can also help to keep spilled food and water to a minimum.
  • Slow feeder. Some cats love to gobble their food, and within a flash their meal has gone. This can increase the risk of vomiting, or bloat. By using a slow feeder, you can increase the amount of time it takes for your cat to eat their food. Using a slow feeder can also be a good idea if you’re gone for long periods of the day, as it gives your cat something to entertain themselves with.
  • Depth of bowl. It has been suggested that deep bowls can stress out some cats, due to the fact that they feel a constant stimulus from the sides of the bowl brushing against their whiskers. This is sometimes referred to as whisker fatigue, or whisker stress. While not all vets agree if this is a genuine condition, many vets do agree that cats can prefer eating from a shallow bowl or flat surface rather than a deep bowl.

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of bowls are best for cats?

Stainless steel is a great choice, as it’s unbreakable, hard-wearing, is dishwasher safe, and doesn’t harbor odors. For these reasons, it’s a popular choice for cat bowls. Equally, ceramic is often a popular choice as it doesn’t hold odors and can be put in the dishwasher. It is more fragile though, so may break if handled roughly.

Can cats eat out of plastic bowls?

In short, yes they can. But it’s often not the best choice for a couple of important reasons. Plastic can quickly develop small scratches, which become a breeding ground for bacteria and germs. Even if you wash your plastic cat bowl regularly, bacteria will build up in these scratches more quickly than if you were to use a bowl made from a harder material, such as stainless steel.

Some cats can have an allergic reaction to plastic, and develop something called feline acne on their chin. Depending on the severity, this can clear up simply by cleaning your cat’s chin regularly, and switching to a stainless steel or ceramic bowl. More serious cases may need a course of antibiotics.

Should cat bowls be elevated?

There are a number of advantages to elevating your cat’s feed bowl. One of these is that it can provide a better feeding position, depending on the height of your cat. This can improve digestion and reduce strain on your cat’s body.

Using elevated bowls can also keep your feed area clean and tidy, and of course it also makes it easier for us to pick bowls up when they’re raised off the floor!

What is a slow feed cat bowl and how does it work?

Slow feed cat bowls are designed to prevent your cat from eating their food too quickly. They work by using a raised pattern to separate the food into smaller sections. This makes your cat work harder to remove the food from each small section, meaning it takes them longer to eat their meal, as well as keeping them entertained at the same time.