For others, choosing the right bowl for their cats may not seem like a big deal. But the truth is, cats are very particular about their water and food bowls. Thus, shopping for the right cat bowl matters a lot just like the food you give to your felines. Buying cat bowls is actually a serious matter which doesn’t only involve choosing the cutest and most modern design or settling for the biggest size.
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Why the right depth for your cat’s bowl is important?
It’s best to go with shallow sided cat bowls. This is because high sided food bowls could lead to your fury friend’s discomfort since they have to exert more effort like bending in order to reach their food. Short faced breed of cats will most especially benefit from shallow type of cat bowls.
Aside from the shallow feature, cats also prefer their food bowl to be wide. When your cat sticks his face too far into his bowl to eat, he might experience a lot of discomfort and it may affect his eating habits. Some felines are also sensitive to the feel of the bowl around their little whiskers. If your cat is not comfortable, he may use his paws to take food out of his bowl.
It’s also not advisable to give your cat deep bowl since it could prevent them from looking up and see his environment while he eats. It’s important for cats to see their surroundings no matter what they do as they feel safe that way. Overall, experts say that most felines do best with shallow type of cat bowls.
Other things to consider when choosing the right bowl for your cat
Cats prefer separate bowls than double bowls
Cats do not like it when their hoomans put water next to their food. For them, water placed next to their food can become contaminated with odor or pieces of food itself. On the other hand, double bowls can still be utilized for felines who eat dry and eat wet foods.
The height of cat bowl matters
Elevated cat bowls let your cat eat more comfortably and naturally as it reduces stress on their back and neck. If they are comfortable when eating, their overall digestion will improve. When shopping for your cat’s bowl, bear in mind that the bowl’s rim must be even with your fury feline’s chest area. Having said that, an elevated cat bowl is the best solution.
Why ceramic, melamine, and stainless-steel bowls are best options for your cat
Plastic bowls may be the most affordable cat bowls you can find in the market, but unfortunately, it can absorb odors and affect your cat’s behavior by deterring them from drinking or eating. This is why experts recommend to use stainless-steel, melamine, and ceramic bowls instead of plastic bowls. You should check your cat’s bowls for chips and scratches as it can possibly hurt your feline friend’s mouth or may be a thriving place for harmful bacteria.
Avoid placing cat bowls in high-traffic areas
Your cat will be more comfortable if you place his bowl in a peaceful and safe area. Thus, do not place his bowl in a high traffic area where he may feel threatened. Cats are very sensitive and their eating habits can be easily affected even with just the location of their food bowls. You should also make sure that your cat’s bowl is not placed next to his litter box.
Common questions about why cats prefer shallow cat bowls
Should cat bowls be elevated?
Yes, elevated bowls are best for cat. This is especially true if your feline friend has problems with his digestive system or does not enjoy eating his food. If this is the case, it may have something to do with the positioning of the bowl or the type of bowl itself. You should at least do your research too and find out if there is any underlying issue.
What bowls are best for cats?
Stainless steel is mostly considered as the best material for cat bowls since it’s very durable and easy to clean. This is why most cat owners prefer to give their cats stainless steel food and water cat bowls. On the other hand, ceramic and glass dishes are easy to maintain, but it can possibly crack, chip or break easily compared to stainless steel cat bowls.
How deep should a cat bowl be?
When shopping for cat bowl, remember that the deeper it is, the deeper your fury feline has to reach in order to eat. Therefore, he has to immerse his whiskers in it. In terms of how wide a cat bowl should be, on the other hand, you should go for a cat bowl that’s at least 12cm wide and make sure it’s shallow.
Conclusion
According to experts, cats really prefer to use wide and shallow bowls since they might become uncomfortable when their whiskers always touch the sides of the bowl every time they drink or eat. Their whiskers are very sensitive so they prefer to eat from a wide bowl than small bowls. Deep bowls also prevent them from surveying their environment while they eat, thus, shallow bowls are the best for them.
