The Best Cat Food Bowls

If your pet cat is anything like many of the other pets out there, they make sure that you know when they need food. From 5 a.m. meowing alarm clocks to kneading in the middle of the night for attention, cats are known for requiring only the best treatment from their owners. Finding a great cat bowl can help your cat stay happy and express your style as well.

While you can always use a simple bowl, finding a top-quality cat food bowl that will last for years can make everyone happier. Many have special features to help your cat keep their food inside the bowl as they eat, thus reducing the mess they make. We’ve researched and reviewed the best cat food bowls for every price point. We also made special notes of the features that make life easier for cat owners.

A-Z-Animals Top Picks for Cat Food Bowls

#1 Best Overall: Y YHY Cat Bowl

In our review, the #1 Best Overall cat food bowl is the Y YHY cat bowl. The simple design is cat-friendly and keeps their food in place where it needs to be. It has a base to elevate the bowl slightly and is tilted toward the front. The base raises the entire bowl by a little over 3″. This keeps your cat’s spine and neck in line as they eat. For cats who tend to cough up or vomit after eating, this small difference can make a big impact.

The bowl comes in three sizes and three colors. The pawprints leading into the bottom of the bowl are also super fun and clearly designate the bowl as your kitty’s. The wide base also keeps it from tipping, even if your cat is super interested in their food and pushes as they eat. Less cleanup is great for cat owners!

One reviewer ended up purchasing them for each of her cats after loving the first one. “I started with one of these bowls. Now there is one for each of our five cats,” the reviewer wrote. “The cats love them and they look much more comfortable eating out of them. I have also noticed less regurgitating/vomiting since I began using these bowls.”

The main customer complaint had to do with the design chipping off. One user said, “The first time I put the bowl in water to wash it, the cute little black design on the bottom of the bowl disintegrated. All of the it came off. The bowl is, of course, still usable.”

Pros and Cons of the Y YHY Cat Bowl

Overall Best

Y YHY Cat Bowl Anti Vomiting, Raised Cat Food Bowl

• Design is cat-friendly
• Comes in 3 sizes and 3 colors
• Features a wide base to keep it from tipping
• The base elevates the bowl slightly

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2. Best Budget: Van Ness Ecoware Non-Skid Cat Dish

We love this simple and adorable Van Ness Ecoware Non-Skid Cat Dish. It is as practical as it is budget-friendly. For less than the cost of a cup of coffee, you can get a bowl that works for your cat, keeps their dish in place, and is made of eco-friendly bamboo. The bottom of the bowl is non-skid, which keeps it from sliding along the floor (and making a mess) as your cat eats. The bowl holds 8 ounces of food, perfect for feeding one cat.

You might want to purchase multiple bowls if you have more than one cat. Fortunately, they are so affordable that you can get as many as you need. You do need to hand wash this bowl. While not a huge inconvenience, it is a factor to consider since you will definitely need to do it to keep the bowl sanitary and clean. It is shallow and wide, making it easy to wash.

“These Ecoware cat bowls do NOT chip, and they do not slide around on the floor, which makes it easy for our kitties to get every bite of their wet food,” said one reviewer. “When I have dropped them on our tile floor, they bounce, but do NOT crack or break. For me, clean-up is important too, and they are very easy to wash.”

While most buyers were satisfied with this dish, some said that it was too small and shallow. One said, “I thought when I ordered this bowl it was going to be large but when I received it, I was surprised to see how small it was. So check the size before you order.”

Pros and Cons of the Van Ness Ecoware Non-Skid Cat Dish

Best Budget Bowl

Van Ness Ecoware Non-Skid Cat Dish

• Practical and budget-friendly
• Made of eco-friendly bamboo
• Bottom of the bowl is non-skid
• Machine-washable

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3. Best Premium: K&H Pet Products Thermo-Kitty Cafe Outdoor Heated Cat Bowl

Heated cat bowls like the K&H Pet Products Thermo-Kitty Cafe Outdoor Heated Cat Bowl can be a literal lifesaver for outdoor cats that have to contend with freezing water and icy food. For pampered indoor cats, having a heated bowl may just be a luxury that they can’t live without. Either way, the K&H Pet Products Thermo-Kitty Cafe bowl is heated for maximum comfort. It even works in areas that get very cold winters. “Last week our Wisconsin weather was below zero and still, the dish was just warm enough for the food to keep from freezing. It does NOT get too hot. Just slightly warm,” said one reviewer.

The bowl has two dishes, 12 ounces and 24 ounces, ideal for water and food. It uses a standard outlet to provide heat to the dish, keeping water and food from freezing. All electronics are sealed and the cord is wrapped in steel so that you never have to worry about danger or wear, even when using it outside. Most reviewers did use it outside, since it is quite pricey and probably not necessary for the majority of indoor cats.

Negative complaints varied, with each being entirely different from the next. We recommend that you read the reviews for this product prior to purchasing it.

Pros and Cons of the K&H Pet Products Thermo-Kitty Cafe Outdoor Heated Cat Bowl

Best Premium Bowl

K&H Pet Products Thermo-Kitty Café Outdoor Heated Cat Bowl

• Keep food and water from freezing
• For outdoor use
• Features two dishes
• Completely weather-proof

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4. Best for Travel: Frisco Wet Food 8-ounce Container Bowl

Taking your cat on the road is easy with the right food bowl like the Frisco Wet Food 8-ounce Container Bowl. This container from Frisco (available in a two-pack, which we recommend) can be used for dry food or wet food. What sets them apart is the included lid. Instead of carting around a big, heavy bag of food, simply put a single feeding in each container and put on the lid. When it is time to feed your cat, just remove the lid and set it down for them to eat.

The containers fit a 5.5-ounce can of unopened cat food inside. “I have two cats on different diets. These bowls have been a godsend to feed them separately,” wrote one reviewer. “They are sturdy, seem very durable and the lids are cat-proof but easy to remove and close.” The sides are transparent so that you can see what is inside.

They are great to store leftovers to use later as well. “I picked this up so I can pre-mix my cat’s food with a fiber supplement and be able to easily store what he doesn’t eat,” said one reviewer who uses them at home. “The silicone lid fits perfectly and the container and lid are easy to wash. I will order another one to always have one available.”

One negative review posed an excellent question, “For me, this item is useless. It says you can only use it for pet food. I want to know what’s in it that makes it un-useable for human food.”

Pros and Cons of the Frisco Wet Food 8-ounce Container Bowl

Best Travel Bowl

Frisco Wet Food Container with Silicone Lid

• Available in a 2-pack
• Included cat-proof lid
• Sturdy and very durable
• Great to use when travelling

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5. Best Dual Bowl: FUKUMARU Elevated Cat Ceramic Bowls

FUKUMARU Elevated Cat Ceramic Bowls comes with two bowls in a sturdy black frame. You can fill them with wet and dry food, food and water, or use both for dry food. The elevated structure keeps your cat’s spine aligned as they eat. The bowls are also tilted 15 degrees toward your cat. This also helps them eat safely and comfortably.

FUKUMARU is also very transparent about the quality of its ceramic bowl. It is safe to put in the microwave and dishwasher. The bowls themselves lift right out of the stand for easy cleaning. Even the neatest cats will need their bowls washed thoroughly. The stand itself can be wiped clean. There are also two finishes for the wooden part of the stand: walnut and bamboo. If you have a minimalist or natural décor style, this is a great option to try.

One negative issue is that the bowls don’t contain water very well. As one buyer said, “Love product but the bowls lack depth. If you fill with a decent enough amount of water (enough to last a day) it get spilled onto floor by pet drinking from it.”

Pros and Cons of the FUKUMARU Elevated Cat Ceramic Bowls

Best Dual Bowl

FUKUMARU Elevated Cat Ceramic Bowls

• Elevated structure
• Microwave- and dishwasher-safe
• Great stylish design
• Will not slip

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Choosing the Best: What to Look For

Great cat food bowls don’t have to be really complex. A bowl that is designed for safe eating, has a non-skid bottom and includes some special features based on the situation is just what you need.

Safe Eating

Reviewers and their cats loved bowls that were designed to keep spines aligned. These are often elevated and angled toward the cat. This can reduce vomiting and hairballs. It also makes eating more comfortable for your cat. Cat owners who struggled with after-eating vomiting often found drastic improvement when switching to an elevated and tilted bowl.

Non-Skid Bottom

Look for a bowl that stays in place as your cat eats. Cats can be quite enthusiastic eaters, especially when they see their favorite food. A non-skid bottom or base will help keep the dish in its spot, even as your cat devours what is inside. Not only does this mean more food is available for your cat, it also means less clean-up for you. Some cats can still make a mess, which is why having a mat underneath is another good idea.

Special Features

If you are feeding cats outside in cold weather, a heated dish is a great feature. For those that have a specific style, color and finish options can be an asset. No matter what your situation, there are special features available to help your cat’s food bowl fit in with your lifestyle and needs. Just keep in mind that these might increase the cost of the bowl.

The Different Types of Cat Food Bowls: Pros and Cons Compared

Cat food bowls can be divided into simple dishes and specialty bowls. Each option has its own pros and cons, compared here.

Simple Cat Food Dish

Specialty Cat Food Bowls

Verified Review: User Experience

The tilted and elevated bowl from Y YHY is the clear winner among reviewers. One cat owner who had dealt with cats vomiting daily called them “the best food bowl I’ve ever used.” After switching food and trying out multiple bowls, she tried out the Y YHY cat food bowls. “It has been two weeks now and neither cat has vomited again. Not even a hairball! My floor has also remained much cleaner as they are not as able to shove the dry kibble out as easily.”

It is also great for cats who tend to make a mess when they eat. “My kitty is mostly toothless and is very messy when he eats wet food from a traditional bowl. But he doesn’t make a mess (well … almost no mess. sometimes food drops from his mouth) at all when he eats from this bowl,” said one reviewer. “I love that the bowl is ceramic and isn’t too large.” 

The Van Ness Ecoware bowls are also a fan favorite. Many reviewers found that they were the perfect size and design for wet food. “These work very nicely for feeding our cats wet food,” wrote one cat owner. “They are nicely weighted and combined with the silicone bottom, don’t get scooted around the floor quite as easily while the cats ravenously push forward to hoover up every molecule. The outer ring of the inside of the bowl is nicely rounded so the cats have an easier time eating food that gets pushed to the edges.”

Another reviewer ended up switching to the Van Ness bowls for all uses. “I’ve tried several different bowls to serve our five cats their morning breakfasts and NONE come close to being as perfect for us as these. They are super easy to clean and have enough room for the cat food (and the sides are low enough for the cats to get every bite) without spilling over. I use them every day at home and even make sure to pack them for road trips. I don’t bother with the other bowls.”

Products For This Review