The Best Cat Food Bowl

No kitty dinner is complete without a good cat food bowl. You might be surprised at how important the design of a food bowl can be. After all, a good bowl will make any cat delicacy both tastier and easier to eat. But not every cat food bowl is up to the standards of your furry gourmand, which is why we've made this list of the ones we think are best. Read on and get ready to serve your kitty in style.

What to Look For

We looked for three things when searching for the perfect cat food bowl: Does it hold a good amount of food? Is it ergonomic and convenient for your cat to eat from? Is it easy to clean? Using these standards as our guide, we found a great cat food bowl for almost every cat (and owner) type. Kitty City literally raised the bar with their bowls, which are in a tasteful pagoda shape that makes for clean, easy eating. We also loved the Y YHY cat food bowl, made in dimensions thoughtfully designed to prevent your cat from getting an upset tummy. Keep reading to see which other bowls earned a five-star review from us.

Kitty City Raised Cat Food Bowl

Perfect pagodas

We adore these bowls' ergonomic, elegant design, and we think your cat will too.
Best Overall

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We aren’t speaking figuratively when we say this cat food bowl goes above and beyond. Its raised pagoda design lets your cat chow down without discomfort, and its rounded edges limit spilling. Even if some food does tumble out, the included mat will be there to catch it. Any kitty owner will be grateful to have this cat food bowl on their dining room floor.

Pros

  • The bowls are dishwasher-safe, making them a breeze to clean.
  • Its ergonomic design makes it a great choice for older or infirm cats.
  • The elevated bowls are ideal for use as a water fountain if your cat doesn’t eat wet food.

Cons

  • The color patterns are more muted in person, but we don’t consider this a dealbreaker.

Rest-Eazzzy Travel Foldable Cat Bowl Set

The wandering kind

These durable, portable bowls are ideal for outdoor cats or if you plan on taking your furry friend with you on your walk.
Runner Up

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This cat food bowl is rugged and compact, making it the ideal choice for the cat who likes to roam. It can be pressed as flat as a dish or pulled into a deep bowl shape, depending on your cat’s needs. And the silicone material is both easy to clean and safe for your kitty. It’s truly a cat food bowl for all seasons, which we’re sure any outdoor cat will appreciate.

Pros

  • The shape of the cat food bowl stays reliably in place when filled with food.
  • This set comes in an impressive number of colors and patterns.
  • If you like to take your cat on walks, this is a convenient way to ensure they stay fed or hydrated if the need arises.

Cons

  • We found that the leash-attachment ring can break off surprisingly easily.

Y YHY Raised Cat Food Bowl

Better digestion

This cat food bowl is designed specifically to protect against vomiting.
Best Elevated Design

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If your kitty has a tender tummy, this cat food bowl will be a weight off their shoulders (and stomach). Its elevated position and curved edges mean the esophagus and stomach of your cat have to do less work to get their meal down. Its sturdy stabilized base ensures it won’t be easy to knock over either. This cat food bowl will be a massive boon for cats struggling with digestive issues.

Pros

  • It’s made of ceramic, so it’s dishwasher safe.
  • The deep, curved edges will reduce the chances of your cat accidentally knocking food onto the floor.
  • Its width means it won’t get in the way of your cat’s whiskers, which some kitties can be finicky about.

Cons

  • The artwork in the bowl comes off too easily after a few washes.

Van Ness Ecoware Cat Dish

Affordable quality

Not every good cat food bowl has to break the bank, as this diamond in the rough clearly proves.
Best On A Budget

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If you’re looking to save some money, Van Ness comes to the rescue with an excellent cat food bowl. This tiny bowl holds a deceptively large amount of food thanks to its emphasis on width over depth. That width also goes a long way towards ensuring the whiskers don’t get irritated, which is great for sensitive cats. This bowl may be inexpensive, but we think it’s money very well spent.

Pros

  • Its silicone design makes it safe to eat from as well as stops the base from skidding on smooth surfaces.
  • The shallow center means that cats with physical disabilities don’t have to lean or crane too much to eat.

Cons

  • They are not dishwasher-safe, so you’ll need to clean them by hand.

Y YHY Raised Cat Bowl

Seeing and tasting

With its cute cat-faced bowls, they're almost too cute to eat off of.
Best Aesthetics

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This cat food bowl provides tasty meals inside of a tasteful design. Its uniquely positioned legs give it a modern look that can blend in with any contemporary interior design. Those same legs also raise the bowls to a comfortable level and provide a solid base that prevents slippage. Add the adorable cat faces and easy-to-clean ceramic material, and you have a cat food bowl set that any home decorator would be proud of.

Pros

  • This cat food bowl comes in an 18 oz variant, which is great for owners who want or need to feed their cats large portions.
  • The ceramic material means cats with plastic allergies will have nothing to fear at dinnertime.

Cons

  • While the ceramic ears on the bowls are cute, your cat can use them to knock the bowls over if they’re sticking out too far.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the elevation and angle of a cat food bowl matter?

When a cat has to bend over to eat, it can be hard on their posture and trigger their sensitive vomit reflexes. A cat food bowl that’s raised and positioned properly will help your cat keep their food down, which will greatly impact their health in the long run.

What’s the best material for a cat food bowl?

Ceramic is becoming an increasingly popular material for bowls due to being easy to clean and free of the harmful chemicals that come with plastic bowls. Silicone is also excellent due to being both lightweight and typically holding steadfast in bumps or falls.

About the Author

Chris is a freelance writer living in Austin with his kitten and elderly cat. Chris adores his cats and understands the joys and struggles of owning more than one feline. With so many options out there, Chris wants to help you find the products to make sure your cat is happy and healthy.

Why Trust Us

Since 2008, CatTime has provided millions of cat owners with all the information they need to keep their pets happy and healthy. Our experts know exactly what it takes to raise our furry friends and our goal is to help all owners, new or experienced, care for their cats with all the right food, toys, equipment, and accessories.