Deciding what food to feed your cat is difficult enough, but how do you present your cat with food? What cat dishes or bowls you pick (or the other way around -but more on this later) could make a huge difference to your cat’s eating habits and overall health. Let’s look at these suggestions:
1. Beware of plastic cat bowls.
The manner in which you serve your cat’s food can be equally as the type of food she is eating. Photographs (c)Alena Ozerova Thinkstock.
Bacteria and oil accumulate on the surface of the plastic and can trigger cat acne that manifests as black spots on your cat’s face. Use bowls made from stainless steel or ceramic instead, according to Marilyn Krieger, a certified cat behavior consultant from The San Francisco Bay area, who is also known as the Cat Coach.
2. Think about the size of cat bowls.
Cats love bowls and dishes that are broad and shallow. When cats place their heads in bowls too far to take a bite, they might feel uncomfortable, Krieger says.
“Some cats are extremely sensitive to the sensation of their dish’s tiny whiskers” She explains. “It could be uncomfortable for them. They may make use of their paws to pull food from dishes.”
Krieger mentions that cats could be uncomfortable when eating in the size of a bowl, especially as it stops the cat from being able to observe their surroundings when they eat.
Dr. Leticia Dantas, D.V.M., M.S. and Ph.D. Dr. Leticia Dantas, D.V.M., M. as a professor at the Athens-based university of Georgia’s The Veterinary Teaching Hospital’s Behavioral Medicine Service, says the idea of whisker-irritating theories about shallow, narrow bowls isn’t research-based. However, she does endorse the notion that cats are happier with shallow bowls.
3. Some cats require different food bowls.
What happens if you have flat-faced cats like one of the Persian? Purchase special bowls that feature an angle and elevation for your cat’s flat face, so that it can eat more easily out of the bowl Krieger suggests.
4. Consider where you can find your cat’s food bowls.
Consider the placement of your cat’s food bowls, as well, Krieger advises. It’s not a good idea to eat near your toilet, so you shouldn’t put bowls in close proximity to your cat’s litter boxes. Set the bowls away in separate spaces in your home to ensure that people don’t worry about stressing cats while they consume food. If you have multiple cats do not place the bowls in close proximity because cats are lonely predators and are irritable when another cat eats close to them.
5. Maintain a clean bowl.
Rinse the cat bowls each day, using the use of soap as well as water Krieger says. Dry cat food is more likely to be oily, which means that bacteria can accumulate and create a smell. When feeding your pet moist food, make sure to wash bowls following each use.
6. Move beyond the cat food bowls and cat dishes.
You can encourage your cat’s playful hunter by using different feeding containers to dry your food.
“It’s not just about the bowl, there are many different ways to feed cat food,” Krieger says. “Have your cat chase in a way by throwing pieces of food here and there.”
There are food puzzles available which will test your cat to be a food processor or even muffin tins to make simple DIY versions. Another option? Place dry food inside PVC connectors, and tennis balls with holes.
“You are free to use your imagination,” Krieger says. “You do not have to make use of the standard, conservative bowl. You can use that, as well, but mix it with other ingredients.”
The Dr. Dantas, who is also an official member of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists and recommends the use of traditional dishes and bowls for wet food. However, she recommends food puzzles and toys to dry food. “It is beneficial for their mental health as well as increases the amount of physical activity they do too,” she states.
