What to Look For in a Cat Bowl

Many cat owners underestimate the importance of their pet’s food and water bowls. After all, your cat will come into direct contact with them multiple times a day, year after year. So how safe is your cat’s bowl?

A good pet bowl should be durable, sanitary, and free of contaminates. Most consider stainless steel bowls to be the best available option. They can’t be chewed like plastic. They won’t chip or crack like ceramic or glass. They’re also very easy to clean. Plastic can readily harbor bacteria. In fact, use of plastic food or water bowls is a common cause of chin acne in cats. Chips or cracks in the glaze of ceramic can similarly become a place for bacteria to hide and thrive.

Stainless steel isn’t without its problems, though. Most don’t realize that there are many different types of stainless steel. Some types make great food and water bowls; other types don’t. Type 304 stainless steel, also referred to as 18-8, is the most common type used for sanitary kitchenware. Some manufacturers use lesser grades to cut costs.

Sadly, contamination is also a concern, even with stainless steel. In 2012, one major pet retailer recalled 3 types of stainless steel pet food bowls because they were contaminated with radioactive material. Random testing of some off-the-shelf pet food bowls has also indicated high levels of the heavy metal lead.

Last but not least, a proper cat bowl should be of a design that’s comfortable to cats. Most cats want to be able to see theirsurrounding environment while they eat and some can be bothered by heavy contact between the bowl and their whiskers. A bowl design that’s relatively shallow and wide helps avoid these bothersome issues.

Bottom line? Pet food bowls can be more important to your cat’s health than you might suspect. Choosing a high quality bowl – one made from the right type of stainless steel, held to high safety standards, and designed with cats in mind – can save time, frustration, and might help avoid costly health issues. At Basis Pet, we’re proud to say we meet all the requirements with our 100% Made in the USA stainless steel cat bowls. Visit our website to learn more!