Last Updated: 17/12/2025
How to Choose the Best Pet Bowl: A Complete Guide to Feeders and Fountains
Is your pet a messy eater or a fast gulper? Our vet-guide compares pet bowl materials and functions - from elevated feeders for seniors to slow feeders for bloat prevention - to help you find the perfect match for your cat or dog.
Author: Dr Gillian Hill BVSc (Hons)
Reading Time: 6 minutes - short read
While it may be tempting to use a spare plastic container as a water dish, investing in a pet-approved bowl is a much safer bet. Puppies and kittens are notorious for chewing, and flimsy plastic can easily crack or be swallowed, leading to nasty internal injuries. Choosing the right feeder is about more than just matching your home decor; the material, height, and design can play a massive role in your pet’s digestive health and overall comfort.
Choosing the right material for your pet's bowl
Pet feeders come in a vast array of shapes, sizes, and compositions. Every pet has their own preference, and it may take some trial and error to find what suits them best. Providing a variety of water sources is especially important for cats, who often have a low thirst drive; offering different materials can encourage them to drink more and stay hydrated.
To help you decide, here are the pros and cons of the most common materials:
Stainless Steel
Often considered the "gold standard" by veterinarians, stainless steel is a top choice for durability and hygiene.
Pros
- Incredibly durable
- Non-porous
- Easy to disinfect
- Dishwasher safe
- Won't crack or chip, making it safe for teething puppies and vigorous chewers
Cons
- Some pets find the clinking of metal tags against the bowl startling
- Lightweight versions can slide across the floor unless they have a rubber base
- Can be more expensive than other materials
Ceramic
Ceramic bowls are a popular choice for pet parents looking for a combination of weight and style.
Pros
- Excellent stability due , making them difficult for enthusiastic pets to tip over or push around
- High-quality glazed ceramic is non-porous
- Most glazed ceramic bowls are very easy to sanitise and dishwasher safe
Cons
- Fragile - can crack or chip if dropped
- It is essential to choose glazed ceramic; unglazed versions are porous and can trap bacteria in the surface.
- If the glaze chips or cracks, the porous material underneath can trap bacteria
Plastic and melamine
Plastic and melamine feeders are common entry-level options found in many households.
Pros
- Generally the most cost-effective option
- Lightweight
- Available in a huge variety of colours and designs to suit any home
Cons
- Easily scratched by teeth or abrasive sponges, providing a breeding ground for bacteria, which can lead to skin issues like feline acne
- Not recommended for pets that like to chew
- Easily tipped over
Silicone
Silicone is primarily used for modern, flexible pet gear designed for life on the move.
Pros
- Typically collapsible
- Perfect for travel or hiking
- Lightweight
- Durable
- Usually dishwasher safe
Cons
- Lack stability
- Easily destroyed if a pet decides to use them as a chew toy
- Best used as temporary bowls under supervision
Managing fast eaters with slow feeder bowls
Some pets are natural "guzzlers" when it comes to mealtimes, but eating or drinking too quickly can lead to more than just a bit of indigestion. Gulping food can trigger a vomiting reflex or, more seriously, lead to a life-threatening condition called Gastric Dilatation Volvulus (GDV), commonly known as bloat.
Understanding the dangers of bloat
Bloat occurs when the stomach fills rapidly with gas, food, or water. This can cause the stomach to twist, cutting off the blood supply - much like a kink in a garden hose. This is a critical veterinary emergency that can be fatal within hours if not treated immediately.
While any pet can be affected, large, deep-chested breeds are at the highest risk, including:
To help reduce the risk, avoid heavy exercise for at least one hour before and after meals, feed small portions frequently rather than large meals, and feed them slowly.
Solutions for fast eaters
If your pet treats every meal like a race, there are several ways to slow them down:
- Slow feeder bowls: Also known as anti-gulp bowls, these have internal ridges or maze-like patterns. These obstacles force your pet to pick out smaller mouthfuls, effectively extending mealtime.
- Interactive toys for dogs and Puzzles for cats: Ditching the bowl entirely is often a great strategy. Using a treat-dispensing toy, such as a Kong Wobbler for dogs or a Catit Food Maze for cats, turns dinner into a mentally stimulating game and prevents guzzling.
- Lick mats: These are perfect for wet food or pastes, requiring the pet to lick the food out of small grooves, which provides a calming effect while slowing ingestion. In addition, lick mats also reduce whisker stress for cats - caused when their whiskers touch the sides of a traditional feeding bowl.
For more information, take a read through The Benefits of Slow Feeding Bowls.
Why elevated bowls are a great choice for senior pets
Elevated feeders bring food and water to chest height, removing the need for pets to stoop or crouch. This small adjustment can significantly improve mealtime comfort for specific pets.
Ideal for senior and tall pets
Raised bowls are a great choice for:
- Arthritic pets: Reduces strain on the neck, spine, and joints by allowing a neutral standing posture.
- Tall breeds: Prevents large dogs from having to splay their legs awkwardly to reach the floor.
- Mobility issues: Provides better balance for pets with limb weakness or injuries.
Medical and digestive support
Elevated feeding can also assist with:
- Megaoesophagus: Uses gravity to help food travel down the oesophagus.
- Digestive ease: May help some pets swallow more comfortably and reduce regurgitation.
Vet tip: If you own a breed prone to bloat, such as a Great Dane, consult your vet before switching to a raised feeder, as their use for these specific dogs remains a topic of clinical debate.
Automatic feeders for convenience
With our increasingly busy lives, automatic pet feeders are a great tool for hectic households to ensure that your pet is fed the correct amount of food at the correct times. They're also great for pets with a hunkering for more food, who try to convince their owners that they really haven't been fed that day!
Microchip feeders are essential for multi-pet households, where one pet can tend to chow down on everyone else's food, or where one pet requires a specific diet.
Improving hydration with pet water fountains
A water fountain is more than just a stylish home accessory; it is a practical tool to boost your pet’s hydration. Many pets, particularly cats, are instinctively drawn to moving water, which is often perceived as fresher and safer than still water.
Why choose a fountain?
- Encourages drinking: The sound and movement of flowing water make it easier for pets to see and more enticing to drink
- Cleaner water: Most fountains include a filtration system that removes hair, debris, and unpleasant tastes or odours, keeping the water clean
- Health benefits: Increased water intake is essential for supporting the urinary system, helping to prevent urinary issues such as urinary crystals and bladder stones and Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease, and supporting long-term kidney health.
Accessibility for senior pets
For older pets with limited mobility or declining eyesight, staying hydrated can be a challenge. Placing multiple water sources - whether fountains or classic bowls - in various easy-to-reach locations around the home ensures they don't have to travel far when they feel thirsty.
Learn more about How to Increase Your Cat's Water Intake.
Portable solutions: travel bowls for pets on the go
Hitting the road with your dog? If your pets are very much a part of the family like they are for us here at Pet Circle, then travelling with your fur-baby is a wonderful thing! Ensuring that they are well prepared with fresh water, and food provisions if needed is an important part of packing for your journey.
Collapsible bowls and water bottles with inbuilt serving cups make travel easier and more relaxed.
FAQs
Whether you have a deep-chested dog at risk of bloat or a senior cat with a stiff neck, the right bowl makes every mealtime safer and more enjoyable. By matching the feeder's material and function to your pet's specific needs, you are supporting their long-term health one bite at a time.
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History
Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space and we update our articles when new information becomes available.
Thu 18 Dec 2025
Edited by Dr Gillian Hill BVSc (Hons)Dr Gillian Hill BVSc (Hons)
Veterinarian
Dr. Gillian loves being able to provide depth and detail to pet parents questions, and give up to date, evidence based advice. She loves the variety of pets and inquiries she receives - she especially loves the 'curly' questions that require some research! Seeing the gorgeous photos that pet parents send through of their babies is a highlight of the day! Gillian enjoys to further her veterinary knowledge, and has completed further training in ultrasonography, behaviour and backyard poultry!
