Your pet probably spends more time with its food and water bowls than any other single pet product. Pet bowls need to be selected for more than good looks, as some of their characteristics can result in health problems.
Here is what to look for in a pet bowl:
A flat bottom that will prevent bowls from tipping over and spilling.
Rubber feet or rims to keep the dish from traveling across the floor.
A material that can withstand the high temperature water in dishwashers, in order to kill bacteria and germs, and that doesn’t collect grease.
A design that is easy to clean.
Keep your pet’s dishes and eating area clean. Pick up any uneaten food and clean up crumbs from the floor. Wash pet bowls after every use, just as you wash your own. Clean bowls reduce the presence of insects, odor and potentially harmful bacteria.
CAT BOWLS
Cats will appreciate your consideration of their special needs when you choose their bowls.
Cat’s whiskers are very sensitive, so much so that they can detect an object in the dark by the air turbulence against their whiskers. Because their whiskers are so important to their survival, they don’t like to have their them soiled or smashed against the side of the bowl.
For food, cats need a dish that is shallow and wide -- at least five inches across. For food, the bowl should be no more than 1 1/2 inches deep; for water the bowl should be between 2 and 3 inches deep. That the bowl is shallow is more important than the width of the opening. Choosing a bowl that is the right size honors the nature of the cat and their needs.
DOG BOWLS
Dogs have different requirements for bowl size.
For dogs the most important consideration is that the food bowl should be big enough to accommodate one meal of food, and, of course, the ideal size differs greatly depending on the size of your dog. Bowls that are too large get filled with more food than your dog needs, resulting in an overweight pet. The water bowl needs to be at least twice as big as the food bowl. Dogs need a lot of fresh water – having a big bowl reduces the number of times you need to refill it and encourages water consumption.
If your dog has floppy ears, you also need to make sure that the bowl is large enough for their nose, but small enough that their ears don’t fall into their food.
CERAMIC, PORCELAIN, STAINLESS STEEL AND STONEWARE
All of these materials are hygienic and dishwasher-safe, and therefore ideal choices for pet bowls.
Since much of the stainless steel in use today is recycled, it is likely that stainless steel bowls contain recycled content, even though this does not appear on the label.
Lead in the glaze may be a problem in some ceramic bowls, so be sure to check with the potter or manufacturer to make sure that it is lead-free. Lead crystal contains lead as well, so avoid using this as a pet bowl.
PLASTIC AND RECYCLED PLASTIC
Virgin plastic bowls are not the best choice environmentally because they are made from nonrenewable resources that are not biodegradable. However, pet bowls made from recycled plastic -- such as our Worldwise Pet Bowls made from recycled polypropylene plastic -- are a good additional use of plastic that has already been manufactured and is heading for the landfill.
There is one caution with plastic bowls, however. Some cats have been known to develop feline acne, which ceases when they stop using plastic bowls. One explanation is that food particles can collect in tiny scratches and grow the bacteria which causes feline acne. Another explanation is that it is the result of contact allergy to the plastic. Some cats are more sensitive than others, and certainly feline acne will not occur in all cats who use plastic bowls.
Feline acne appears as little black lesions on a cat’s chin. If left untreated, they can develop into whiteheads, which can become seriously infected. We have never had a single complaint that Worldwise recycled plastic pet bowls have caused feline acne. However, if your cat develops feline acne as the result of using any plastic pet bowl, reports indicate removal of the plastic bowl will clear up the acne. If this happens to your cat, discontinue the use of plastic bowls entirely.
Dogs are apparently not adversely affected by plastic bowls.
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