Best Slow Feed Cat Bowl to Encourage Your Cat to Eat More Slowly

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We love our pets! They’re family, and we take care of their every need. What happens when your cat eats too fast? Let’s look at the best slow feed cat bowl.

If your cat eats quickly she may end up with a sore tummy! Eating too fast can make her throw up, and nobody wants that to happen. The solution for a kitty scarfing down food in record time? A slow feed bowl. Let’s look at the best slow feed cat bowl for your pet.

The Benefits of Using a Slow Feed Bowl

A cat that bolts down food can suffer health issues ranging from an upset stomach, bloating, regurgitation of the undigested food, and weight loss.

The best slow feed cat bowl encourages your cat to eat slowly. Slow feed bowls are designed to make eating both dry and wet food a little more challenging, not just scooping up mouthfuls from a basic dish. The design and use of a slow feed bowl also stimulate your cat mentally.

A slow feed bowl can also assist pets with anxiety or boredom issues, and what kitty doesn’t love to pretend they are hunting their food?

Best Slow Feed Cat Bowl: Buyers Guide

When selecting the best slow feed cat bowl, there are several things to consider.

Do you want a slow feed bowl because your cat is gulping down food? Is your cat experiencing anxiety from a move, a new kitty friend, or perhaps you have a new job or new schedule? Is your kitty bored?

You also need to consider how you’ll keep the bowl clean, where you’ll put it, and the success of other cat owners with a bowl you are looking to buy.

Is your kitty bored? The puzzle-type bowls allow for mental gymnastics, decreasing boredom and increasing the cat’s natural hunting behavior. Rather than clawing furniture and bolting food, your little friend can reward meal treats.

Features

Slow feed bowls can include ridges, compartments, or puzzles to slow down your kitty’s eager food-motivated behavior. There are also timed feeders, which will only release food when it’s dinner time.

Problems

Slow feed bowls are not suitable for every cat. If your cat already has issues with food, it may be better to consult your veterinarian as to what kind of bowl would be better suited. Obesity can be an issue with regular bowls. However, some slow feed bowls can impact your cat’s relationship with food and create a scavenging mindset.

Types of Slow Feed Bowls

Slow feed cat bowls come in an assortment of styles and depend on the type of food your cat eats.

For dry food, styles include a raised dish with ridges in the bottom, a flat bowl with raised designs that separates food for smaller mouthfuls, a rolling ball, and various puzzle types.

Slow feed bowls or mats for wet food can have wells resembling a waffle, so your cat has to move from portion to portion.

Ridges

If your cat is scooping up food in record time, a dish with raised ridges or objects in the bottom of the bowl is an excellent place to start. The bumps or objects can be straight lines at opposite angles that make a maze or designs such as little raised fish at the bowl’s bottom. These methods separate the food and distribute it in narrow channels or spaces. Your feline friend must selectively take pieces to eat, thus slowing down the eating time.

If your goal is simply to slow down mealtime, the slow feed cat bowls with raised ridges or designs might work the best for you and your furry companion. The cat must maneuver the pieces around the obstacles to eat from these bowls. The design and purpose are for cats to only be able to take a bit or two of food at a time, not mouthfuls.

Slow feed bowls with raised ridges or designs vary in size from a small dish size to a larger, angled version. These types of bowls are the easiest to clean.

Puzzles

A thoughtful owner could consider a puzzle-type slow feed bowl to encourage the natural hunting behavior of your cat. A puzzle bowl teaches your cat to explore and discover ways to release food.

The bowl may have doors that lift or slide, tubes designed so your cat can “capture” and lift food bits, and layered levels with varying difficulty and different sized openings for even the most innovative cat. A puzzle bowl can range from a large tower type, a mat design of various sizes, or a smaller unit if space is a consideration. Cleaning a puzzle-type bowl is a little trickier.

A slow feed bowl for wet food also ranges in size from the span of your hand to a larger mat. Generally speaking, the more options the bowl has and the larger the size, the higher the cost.

Cleaning Tips

Always refer to the manufacturer’s directions for the best way to clean and maintain your cat’s slow feed bowl. Stainless steel, ceramic, and some plastic bowls can simply be placed in the top rack of your dishwasher, making cleaning a breeze.

Puzzle-type bowls may need minor disassembly and a bit of scrubbing with a soft dish brush to remove leftover food. Clean the bowls with warm, soapy water. Don’t forget to rinse thoroughly and dry with a paper towel or air dry before using again.

Never use stainless steel pads, as these may damage the surface of your slow feed bowl. Also, remember to stay away from chemical cleaning solutions as they can be dangerous if your pet ingests them or licks the residue while eating or playing.

When cleaning your pet’s bowls, please check for any chips or cracks that may occur. While these bowls are well made, accidents can happen, especially if a rambunctious kitten is on the prowl.

Conclusion

We only want the best for our four-legged friend. If your cat is rushing to eat, a slow feed bowl may be a terrific option to curtail his fast-feasting habits.

Whether you choose a bowl with obstacles on the bottom, a mat-type bowl, or a puzzle-type slow feed bowl, your kitty will thank you for having their best interest at heart. Boredom, anxiety, stomach upset, bloating, and vomiting can all be reduced or eliminated with the proper steps and the best slow feed cat bowl for your situation.

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