Pet Food Bowls and Water Dispensers

Slow feeder, no-spill or travel bowl

Match the product to the feeding habit. Fast eaters gulp food, and a slow-feeder bowl with ridges or a maze stretches mealtime. Messy drinkers do better with a heavy or no-spill bowl. For walks and car trips, a travel waterer pairs a bowl with a bottle, such as a 26 ounce bottle with a 5.25 inch bowl. Capacity is listed in ounces, so size the bowl to the pet's daily intake. Shallow, wide bowls are easier for flat-faced cats and dogs.

Bowl materials and microchip-feeder inserts

Plastic is light but scratches, and scratches can hold residue, so wash it often. Silicone is flexible, folds for travel and is usually dishwasher safe, but check the label. Nylon suits tough travel bowls. Some silicone slow-feeder inserts are designed for specific microchip-activated feeders; match the feeder model named in the title and confirm the bowl fits the feeder's opening. Automatic feeders and waterers need power or batteries and regular cleaning.

Questions about Pet Food Bowls and Water Dispensers

Do slow feeder bowls help dogs that eat too fast?

They can. Ridges, mazes and raised patterns force the pet to work around the food, so it eats more slowly and may gulp less air. Pick a size that suits the pet's mouth, and avoid designs so hard that the pet gets frustrated.

Is plastic or silicone better for pet bowls?

Each has trade-offs. Plastic is light and easy to replace but scratches, which can trap bacteria. Silicone is flexible, travels well and cleans easily but can be chewed. Whichever you use, wash bowls daily and replace them once scratched or worn.

How big should a pet water bowl be?

Dogs commonly need about one ounce of water per pound of body weight daily, so choose a bowl that holds that and is wide enough to reach comfortably. Cats generally like wide, shallow dishes. For walks, a travel bottle of about 26 ounces covers a short outing.