The cat owner may wonder, how to make mealtime safe and healthy for the pet. Among other questions, one may ask: do cat bowls affect health?
Choosing a proper cat bowl for your cat relates to daily health, not only to aesthetics and convenience. There are three common cat bowls in the market: stainless steel, plastic, and ceramic, each with advantages and disadvantages. But which one is worth choosing?
Today, we’re going to share all the pros and cons of those three materials with you so that you can select the safest and most hygienic feeding bowl for your feline friend.
Stainless Steel Cat Bowls: first choice for durability and safety
Advantages:
Hygienic: Stainless steel is nonporous, meaning food particles, bacteria, and odors cannot penetrate into its structure; hence, it is clean and hygienic. Just washing it in warm soapy water makes it look just like new.
Durability: The bowls are very sturdy, hence resistant to cracks and chips, and more long-lasting than plastic or ceramic bowls. The cat would not scratch or chew on the bowl; hence, this bowl is quite safe for long-term investment.
Non-Toxic: Unlike plastic bowls, stainless steel does not contain harmful chemicals such as BPA, which leaches into your cat’s food or water and thus always keeps your pet safe from toxins.
Stability: Most stainless steel bowls have a non-slip bottom; this keeps the bowl in place and doesn’t let it slide away while your cat is having her dinner. This reduces the ‘food scattering’ tendency of your cat.
Temperature Control: compared to a plastic or ceramic bowl, a stainless steel bowl keeps food and water warm for longer; this would be helpful in keeping your cat’s meal fresh and cool.
Disadvantages:
Noise: stainless steel bowls can be noisy during your cat’s meal and the metal may make noise whenever hit with teeth. Anyway, most cats get away from noise soon.
Price: stainless steel bowls are a little more expensive compared to plastic or ceramic bowls; however, their strength and quality are completely worth this investment in the long run.
Plastic Cat Bowls: handy but a risk
Advantages:
Affordable: Plastic bowls are always cheaper compared to all other materials. If you happen to fall into the tight budget category, plastic may be the most striking option for you.
Lightweight: Plastic bowls are so light and easy to carry and maneuver; hence, they can also be suitable for travel and environments that have less space.
Disadvantages:
Scratches and Bacteria Breeding: The downside of plastic bowls is that they scratch really easily, and such scratches tend to be a great place for bacteria breeding. These scratches are very cumbersome to clean. Over time, plastic may turn out to be porous and absorb food odors.
Health Risks: Most plastic bowls have poisonous chemicals, including BPA and phthalates. These substances leach into your cat’s food or water and cause health hazards that include hormonal imbalance and other digestive problems.
Stains and Odors: plastic bowls easily stain and possibly absorb the smell of food, hence not hygienic for long use.
Ceramic Cat Bowls: good looking but fragile Pros
Advantages:
Attractive Appearance: ceramic cat bowls are stylish and usually come in different colors and designs. If you mind the looks of your pet’s dining area, then, without a doubt, a ceramic bowl is an elegant one.
Stable: in comparison with plastic and stainless steel bowls, a ceramic bowl is much heavier; therefore, your cat will not be able to tip it over. This makes them highly stable for feeding purposes.
Disadvantages:
Fragile: The biggest downside to ceramic bowls is that they can crack or break easily, and if they fall, they are surely going to break. They are dangerous for your cat and you. The edges of the broken ceramic bowls could be sharp.
Porous: Just like plastic, some of the ceramic bowls can be porous- meaning they absorb food scraps or bacteria or odors that make their cleaning hard.
Price: Ceramic bowls are indeed more expensive than other bowls. Though attractive, due to their fragile nature, they also do not last anywhere near as long as the stainless steel ones.
Which Bowl Material is Best for Cats?
While both plastic and ceramic have their respective advantages and disadvantages, from the point of view of durability, safety, and hygiene, stainless steel is doubtless the best option among the three. It scores in durability, hygiene, and cleanliness. Stainless steel is a recyclable material; thus, it’s friendly to the environment.
At Pebuudty, we specialize in high-quality, 18/8 304 series stainless steel pet bowls that are also nontoxic, dishwasher-safe, designed with safety and convenience, and with style in mind. Whether you need a simple bowl or a custom design, we offer the widest selection of cat bowls in a variety of sizes.
About Us
Introduction: Pebuudty is a professional manufacturing enterprise specializing in the production of stainless steel pet dishes. Our modern equipment and fully automated production lines can meet various demands. We strictly follow the ISO9001 standard. Our products get FDA und ROHS. We have been awarded several patents and mainly export to Europe, America, Southeast Asia, and so on. We offer full-range certification and service, welcome global customers to cooperate and create a better future.
Feel free to contact us to find out more about our stainless steel pet bowl or to place an order!