Cats are inherently a natural characteristic of hunting and fast feeding on prey. Even when domesticated as pets, most of them still have the habit of eating very fast. Because the cat has a small stomach, so with eating at high speed can lead to the syndrome called “scarf and barf” – vomiting by the feline soon after a meal.
If this situation lasts, it will not be a good thing for your cat. Besides, excessively fast feeding will also lead to weight gain for cats who are prone to weight gain and mobility. To improve this problem, you should invest in a slow-feeding cat bowl to help manage the cat’s appetite, help them have a better and digestive system.
Of course, you do not have to tidy up the mess caused by your cat after finish eating. Hereinafter are some of the best slow feeding cat bowls for your cat.
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What Features To Consider When Buying A Slow Feeding Cat Bowl
When you search on Google for slow feeding bowl for cat, there will be dozens of results for manufacturers with different designs, sizes, and materials; However, not every one of them will work well for your cat. So, to find the best cat feeder, you should consider the following essential factors:
Size, weight and capacity
Before deciding to buy a slow-feeding bowl for your cat, you should consider its size to suit your cat. This step will prevent you from having to add food to the bowl several times if you buy a small-sized one. Many manufacturers also have different sizes available for the same model and guide sheet for natural selection.
You should also consider your cat’s weight, breed, and age to choose a bowl that can accommodate appropriate food.
In terms of weight, sometimes your cat will not be patient to get the food in the f, but he will use all of his strength to flip the bowl up to eat the most once. Therefore, you should choose a feeder with a heavyweight, so they do not easily tip it over.
Materials
Manufacturing materials are one of the essential factors to select a cat feeder. You should choose stainless steel, ceramic and non-metallic materials for the cat. For non-metallic bowls made of plastic, silicon or bamboo-fibre plastic, make sure that their ingredients are non-toxic and contain free of BPA, PTC or Phthalate. However, we think ceramics are quite good materials because they are heavy, safe and easy to clean.
The slow feeder tools
The design of the slow feeder determines how difficult it is for your cat. So, you should consider which model your cat fits. Some models are quite complex structures that require the cat to use more physical effort to access food, while others, the slow-feeding bowls quite simple. Some designs are more suitable for clawed cats, or other feeders rare designed to make more than one cat can share a tray.
Moreover, the plan also shows whether it is easy for you to clean or not. Models require you to remove the parts individually for cleaning while others may be safe with a dishwasher.
Type of food available
You should also pay attention to whether it is suitable for dry or wet foods. Because some models only work well with dry food and do not offer the use of wet food. Some manufacturers also assist with some specific semi-moist or wet foods. You should choose the one that suits your cat’s eating habits.
1. Outward Hound Kyjen 51006 Fun Feeder Slow Feed
Outward Hound Kyjen 51006 is an exciting option for your cat and completely safe. It is made from ABS – high quality and safe food materials which do not contain BPA, PVC, and phthalate. The bowl also helps your cat improve its digestive system, and prevent bloating by extending its feeding time with exciting models and mazes. It slows down the usual feeding time of a cat by ten times. Your cat that likes to eat fastly and is sedentary will be distracted with this exciting bowl. Another plus is that it is suitable for both dry and wet foods.
Pros:
- Easy to clean
- Food safety material
- Interesting design with mazes
Cons:
- Sole can move around
2. Pioneer Pet Tiger Diner Ceramic Cat Slow Feeder
The Pioneer Pet Tiger Diner Cat Slow Feeder is intelligently designed with the heavy-duty ceramic bowl to make it suitable for aggressive cats. It also helps the soles not quickly move when eating. It has a container with a hole in the top which can be filled with 3,25 cups of dry cat food. Your cat uses physical movements to make the kibble slowly drop into the holes on the bottom designed with asymmetric openings. Therefore, you also need more a non-skid food mat to limit the food scattered on the floor.
This bowl smartly designed for greedy cats, so it is still useful when you have more than one cat. It can also prevent dogs from eating food in this bowl if you have a dog as well. The tray is quite easy to clean and safe with the dishwasher. Also, it has a plastic version with anti-slip sole, but the ceramic version looks more elegant.
Pros:
- Elegant ceramic material
- intelligent design
- plastic version is available
Cons:
- Only suitable for dry food
- Food can fall out the floor
3. DotPet Ceramic Slow Feed Cat Bowl
DotPet Ceramic Slow Feed Cat Bowl is a more straightforward design than Pioneer Pet Tiger Diner Ceramic Cat Slow Feeder. Like Pioneer brand, this bowl is made of lead-free ceramic porcelain and contains no harmful substances. It also keeps the bowl stable when your cat is eating. With a design that widens the diameter of 8.7 inches and weight of 28 oz, 1.6 inches tall while the high ridges in the centre and the lower ridges placed on the sides, DoPet Bowl slows down the cat’s eating speed effectively. Besides, the rim designed to be slightly concave to prevent food from falling out. This bowl is best suited for dry foods, but you can also get some semi-moist or wet foods. It is also easy to clean and safe with a dishwasher.
Pros:
- Safety material
- Can use with both dry and wet foods
Cons:
- Food may fall out the floor
4. Hyper Pet Lickimat Feeding Plate
Hyper Pet Lickimat Feeding Plate made of non-toxic plastic mats and a non-slip base. This slow-feeding cat bowl can use with both dry food or wet food. It initially designed for dogs, but its effect on cats is quite remarkable. The mat contains obstacles, and your cat has to move through the mat’s surface to get access to the kibble. An interesting fact is that this feeding plate can be put in the freezer; you can fill the mat with food and put it in the fridge for a time. It also comes in a variety of designs and sizes so you can choose the one that best suits your cat.
Pros
- Safe material
- Suitable for both dry and wet foods
- Safe with freezer
- Available in many designs and sizes
Cons:
- Pets can bite or chew the bowl
5. Catit Senses Food Tree
This slow-feeding cat feeder is quite smart and convenient. It stimulates the cat’s ability to set off, increases interest and slows down the cat’s eating process. With a robust and sturdy tree-like design, Catit Senses Food Tree will always be stable when the cat plays with them. You can assure that the safe material made of BPA-free plastic, which is also safe for your kitten.
Another point is that the tool is equipped with three different difficulty levels, meaning you can gradually increase the challenge for your cat. Just by rotating the middle disc, you can adjust openings size to fit your cat. You should adapt from easy to challenging levels for your cat to get used to this feeder. Instead of making them disappointed for the first time. Although the design is challenging for the cat, cleaning is effortless, you just need to use a little mild detergent.
Pros:
- Solid and stable design
- Safe materials, suitable for kittens
- Three adjustable challenge levels
Cons:
- Only suitable for dry food
- Bigger cats can still tip it over.
CONCLUSION
In general, there are many options for owning a slow feeding bowl for your cat because many brands and designs are always available on the market. However, as we mentioned above, there are some essential things that you need to pay attention to promote the optimal effect of the slow feeding bowl for your cat.
Choosing the right cat feeder will not only help your cat improve the function of the digestive system, keep them entertained while eating, but also stimulate their activities to make an effort to reach the food. Slow feeding cat bowl is a vital way to lose weight for your cat that is excess weight gain or obesity. With the suggestions above, hopefully, you will have more options for your cat.