What is a Slow-Feeder Cat Bowl?
Does your cat eat everything in their bowl within seconds? Would you consider a slow feeder cat bowl? Fast eaters may experience various linking issues, such as nausea and stomach pain. Quickly swallowing food poses a choking risk for your cat.
As a cat owner, you may worry about them since you don’t want your cat to be in pain. It can also be aggravating if they frequently vomit all over your floor.
Our Favorite Slow-Feeder Cat Bowl
Our favorite slow cat feeder is Outward Hound Fun Feeder Slo Bowl . This cat feeder is great for both wet and dry food. It is also dishwasher safe.
Do Slow-Feeder Bowls Work for Cats?
Cats can use a slow feeder cat bowl to slow their eating. These dishes restrict the food cats can get at once and make them work for it.
Factors to Consider Before Buying Slow Feeder Bowls
- If you choose the right one, they function. Every slow feeder cat bowl at least slightly slows down the cats. Some puzzles are too complex or demanding for the cats to appreciate. In the end, it could take trial and error to locate the best bowl that fits your cat. Because your cat could disagree that you purchased the appropriate bowl, make sure to save the receipt and review the return policies before making a purchase.
- Cleaning and serving take more time. These bowls frequently cause dog owners to move more slowly than their pets. Most slow-feeder cat bowls feature numerous nooks and crannies since your cat finds it most challenging to get food out of these areas. However, pushing the cat’s food through these spaces is challenging, particularly when using hard food items like huge kibble. It is also more difficult to weigh individual servings when some bowls are larger, especially wider, platform-style bowls that are wider than the kitchen scales.
- Washing the dishes by hand takes considerably longer than usual to remove any residual food. Most of the bowls are dishwasher safe, but running a dishwasher many times a day is impractical and wasteful for many households. As a result, you’ll need to hand wash your slow feeder cat bowl at least occasionally—or get a backup.
- The hollowed-out moldings that create the contour at the front of your bowl make it possible to discover a pool of water when you remove it from the dishwasher.
- Avoid making things too challenging. The most crucial step in choosing a slow feeder cat bowl is determining its difficulty level for your cat. You want one that is challenging enough to slow them down but not so challenging that it interferes with their ability to enjoy supper. Consider your cat’s personality and how difficult you want dinnertime to be for them. Your cat will find eating more complicated if the puzzles on the bowl are more diversified and the food gaps are smaller.
- Persistent cats, motivated by food and intelligence, will likely benefit more from challenging bowls because they won’t be as readily frightened or discouraged by the task. Less patient cats could undereat or resort to deceptive methods like biting the bowl or flipping it over to facilitate the task.
- Plastic bowls might not be durable. One of the most frequent complaints is that cats destroy the dish. Some cats are far more likely to chew than others; therefore, it’s possible that the cat was having trouble using the dish.
The Benefits of Slow-Feeding Bowls
A slow feeder cat bowl lets a cat eat slowly and promotes eating at a healthy rate. However, why is this significant?
Enhancing Digestive Health
Your cat may have digestive problems if they immediately inhale their food after you set their bowl down.
Your cat will swallow a lot of air along with its food when they eat quickly, which can result in severe bloating. Bloating exacerbates when your cat is eating dry cat food because the kibble can absorb moisture in the stomach and enlarge.
This makes your cat uncomfortable and may even make them throw up their food. They aren’t getting the nutrition they require, which is a hassle for you in addition to them.
Slow feeders encourage healthy eating and hence lessen bloating and relative digestive problems. They are beneficial for your cat’s body a result and enhance intestinal wellness.
Keeping Healthy Weight
Fast-eating cats are more likely to overeat. They feed so quickly that they do not have time to realize when they are full, and before you know it, their bowl is empty.
Obesity can easily result from overeating and harm your cat’s health. Obese cats are more likely to experience severe health conditions, including joint and mobility problems, diabetes, heart disease, and a weakened immune system. Some cats become so obese that they are unable even to groom themselves.
You may encourage cats to eat only what they need and promote healthy eating by using a slow feeder for cats. This lessens the possibility that any of these illnesses will manifest. Of course, a cat owner must provide the proper food quantities for their cat.
Additional Fun
Cats are also inherently hunters, but unlike wild cats, which must pursue their next meal, domestic cats essentially receive it on a silver platter.
Due to cats’ innate hunting habits, there is nothing wrong with this; they even love working for their food. Slow feeders for cats arouse these natural hunting urges, so minimizing boredom.
The good news for your furnishings is that entertained and content cats are less likely to engage in disruptive activity. Additionally, since puzzle bowls are more toys rather than just a food dish, cats who don’t show much interest during mealtime can rediscover their passion for food.
Are Slow-Feeder Bowls Good for Cats?
Slow feeder bowls prevent your cat from fast eating the contents of its bowl, reducing the likelihood of overeating, vomiting, bloating, and indigestion. They also make feeding time for your cat more enjoyable and mentally stimulating.
Do Slow-Feeding Bowls Work With Wet Food?
Most cat slow feeder bowls are exclusively for usage with dry food. For example, the Lickimat Fish-Shaped Cat Slow Feeder is a lickable slow feeder mat that you may use with wet food.
Some cat slow-eating bowl allow you to use wet food, but you should check the directions on your specific feeder to be sure. Most puzzle-style slow feeders are only for dry kibble, and maze slow feeder bowls with very high ridges may make it too challenging for your cat to eat wet food.
Some cat slow feeders designs are exclusively for wet food; these are often flattering, mat-style feeders with lower ridges for accessibility. If feasible, go for a wet food slow feeder that is simple to clean and can go in the dishwasher.
Why Does My Cat Eat so Fast?
If you have more than one cat in your home, the competition for food bowls among the cats may be why cats eat so quickly.
Territorial Eating
Having numerous pets in the home can occasionally make one or more cat siblings eat quickly. Particularly in cases where a dominant or alpha cat is in the house. The pack’s leader may be hoarding the food, which prompts the other animals to consume as much as possible while they still have the chance.
Behavior Problems
Your cat may overeat out of boredom, loneliness, or even sadness, just like its human counterparts. Be sure to discuss any significant life changes, new family members, or any other unusual behaviors demonstrated when speaking with your veterinarian.
A Sign of an Underlying Health Issue
An almost insatiable appetite can be a symptom of some medical diseases, including hyperthyroidism and diabetes mellitus. If your cat hasn’t always gulped down its food, it’s time for a vet appointment, which should include a full exam and blood panel.
Dependence
Animals can also have an eating disorder. The prevalence of this is considerably higher in cats eating wet food. However, it’s more likely that your cat is simply eating too quickly because it enjoys the flavor of the food. A change in food (brand or adding a dry kibble to the wet food) can be necessary after you check out other causes.
Previous Trauma
Your cat might have long-lasting trauma if it was in an abusive or negligent environment. Overeating is just one of the behavioral problems that can emerge from this. This is especially true if it has already experienced famine or malnutrition.
An Ineffective Diet
Your cat’s diet of actual food may also play a role. Your pet will likely lack critical vitamins and minerals if given a poor-quality diet. Cats may consume more if their food is high in grains and chemicals. They are essentially attempting to make up for the nutrients they are lacking.
Parasites
Many parasites, including tapeworms, cling to the intestines and rob your pet of all the nutrients it consumes. This may prevent your pet from getting the nutrition it requires. It might end up eating extra to make up the difference. If you think your cat may have tapeworms, you should treat it immediately. This is crucial to avoid causing even more severe problems like anemia. Read our article and find out The 5 Best Cat Dewormers.
What Happens When a Cat Eats Too Quickly?
Cats who consume food too quickly may end up bloated and uncomfortable. Additionally, there is a higher likelihood that your cat will regurgitate food, which is unpleasant for both the owner and the cat. What to do?
Distribute the Cat Food
Avoid using traditional cat food bowls where the food piles high in a small area. This is one of the simplest and frequently most straightforward solutions.
Alternatively, you might try distributing your cat’s food across a 9 by 13-inch (22.86 by 33.02 centimeters) baking pan. This will slow your cat’s eating down because they must make gradual movements each time they want another mouthful, making it impossible for them to eat everything in one sitting. However strange it may seem at first.
Create Barriers in the Path
Your cat may find it stimulating and advantageous if you add obstacles that make it challenging to consume its food.
The chosen barriers must be too large for your cat to consume while still being simple to move out of the way so they can access their food. Try using special puzzle feeders which require your cat to navigate a variety of maze-like fixtures and obstacles to reach their food.
Specialized cat treat toys, which they must push and prod to reveal the food inside, are another way to keep your cat’s mind engaged and their eating at a reasonable pace.
Purchase Automatic Feeder
Automatic pet feeders operate according to a strategy; they start according to a predeterminable schedule and feed the cat frequently to prevent regurgitation.
Avoid the automatic feeders that do not offer portion control options in these situations, as they will only encourage your cat to eat and regurgitate more frequently constantly.
Use a Slow Feeder Cat Bowl
Did you know cat bowls are specifically to help them eat more slowly? A slow feed bowl for cats distributes your cat’s food among several different shapes, making it more difficult for your cat to get their food.
They can not only be a challenge for your cat and slow them down, but they can also lower the number of calories a cat consumes.
Serve More Compact Meals
Serving your cat fewer meals throughout the day rather than larger ones will deter them from overeating their food. This should imply that they are less prone to gobble down considerable amounts of food in one sitting because their meals are in smaller portions.
Pumpkin Cat Food
Use a spoon to press the wet cat food into the bowl if your cat prefers it. This forces your cat to lick its food, slowing the ingestion process. You want to stop them from consuming a lot of food at once.
Cover Up Cat Food
Cats are good hunters by nature, so why not make use of that? Try to hide little quantities of the food throughout the home rather than putting it all in the bowl. Indoor cat hunting feeders are very helpful for this and often come in the form of bowls that resemble mice that you can hide under kitchen appliances or plant pots.
Add Water
Add water to the cat chow to thin it out. Both dry and moist meals will work with this. Your cat’s food intake will reduce by adding water and help them feel full for longer. It also increases their water consumption, which is advantageous if your cat needs extra hydration.
An Overview of the Best Slow-Feeder Feline Bowls
| Product | Best For Case |
| Outward Hound Fun Feeder Slo Bowl | Best overall |
| Lickimat Casper, Fish-Shaped Cat Slow Feeders Lick Mat | Best for all life stages |
| NOYAL Dog Slow Feeder Bowl | Best tiny breeds |
| Upgraded Slow Feeder Cat Bowls | Best anti-slip |
| Slow Feeder Cat Bowl, Cat Puzzle Feeder Ceramic Dish | Best ceramic |
| White Ceramic Slow Feeder Dog Bowls Cat Bowl | Best premium material |
What Should I Look for in a Slow-Feeding Cat Bowl?
Weight
By making your cat struggle for their food, a slow bowl for cats slows down how quickly your cat consumes food. Your cat must use their paws to release the food; however, this is possible through various puzzles they must solve.
To prevent your cat from knocking its bowl about the room or tipping it over as they try to solve the puzzle, your cat’s slow-eating bowl must be substantial. Bowls should be heavy enough to support themselves and remain upright if they weigh at least 1 pound (0.454 kilograms).
The feeder’s base can have a non-slip surface as an alternative to being heavyweight. Typically, silicone or rubber on the bottom works well and stops your cat from gliding the bowl around the floor.
You can get lighter, less expensive items, but it’s not advisable. These bowls are easily tippable, so you’ll have even more cleanup.
Safe and Long-Lasting Material
This bowl needs to be a non-toxic, food-grade material because your cat will be eating out of it. Cat bowls come in various materials, including pottery, clay, stainless steel, and plastic. Any material is acceptable as long as it is BPA free and safe for cats.
The worst choice, however, is a plastic food bowl because your cat can easily scratch the surface and leave ridges in the bowl. These are unrealistic since they can be painfully harsh on your cat’s tongue and serve as a breeding ground for harmful bacteria.
Stainless steel bowls and ceramic are more robust and scratch-resistant. This should be a higher priority when purchasing a slow feeder bowl for your cat because they will need to use their paws to get food.
You should also consider your preferences. Are you clumsy and prone to accidentally dropping the feeder? If so, stay away from ceramic bowls because they easily break. Is your cat rough and prone to spilling its food? If so, ceramic is a fantastic choice because of its greater weight.
Both Amusing and Stimulating
Slow feeder bowls not only help your cat eat more slowly, but they also improve their relationship with food and can make mealtimes more pleasurable.
The bowl has to be entertaining so that your cat receives this beneficial mental stimulation. There are numerous various slow feeder designs. Some include holes your cat must use to retrieve food, some have more intricate revolving disks and trays, and some are like mazes where your cat must navigate their kibble to the edge to eat it.
Pick a pattern you believe your cat will like. You can choose a more challenging cat puzzle bowl that is more curious. However, selecting a simpler puzzle to solve is usually advisable if you have a particularly sluggish cat.
Simple to Clean
Finding a simple bowl to clean should also be a top concern as your cat will be feeding from it. By doing this, you can be sure that your cat won’t contract any infections from dirty food bowls.
You also benefit from having a dish that is simple to clean. You’ll spend less time cleaning the nooks and crannies. Most cat food dishes available today are dishwasher safe, making cleanup a pleasure.
Reviewing the Best Slow-Feeding Kitty Bowls
Outward Hound Fun Feeder Slo Bowl : Best Overall
Brand: Outward Hound
Dimensions: 5.5 x 5.5 x 1 inches (13.97 x 13.97 x 2.54 centimeters)
Color: Mint
Design: Wave bowl
Material: Plastic
Highlights: BPA free
Capacity: 0.2 pounds (90.8 grams)
Care instructions: Dishwasher safe
Dry/wet: Both
Breed size recommendation: All life stages
About This Item
- A dog mom’s dream, Outward Hound Slow Bowl Fun Feeders, is elevating mazes to a crucial component of mealtime.
- Outward Hound SloBowl Fun Feeder dog bowls make feeding your dog enjoyable because dogs adore food. Your dog will love running their teeth over each SloBowl’s colorful patterns.
- Every dog has a different eating style; their bowl should reflect that.
- Dogs with problematic digestion are prone to bloating and fat. The Mini contains 2 cups of dry kibble, while the Large can carry up to 4 cups. Both are excellent for dry- or wet-food diets.
- A dirty dog bowl is unpleasant to all. Simply put your SloBowl on the top rack of your dishwasher to clean it. Your dog’s bowl will be free of the gross bacteria we don’t want them to consume.
Pros
- Dishwasher safe.
- For dry and wet food.
Cons
- The pet can easily chew the bowl.
Lickimat Casper, Fish-Shaped Cat Slow Feeders Lick Mat : Best For All Life Stages
Amazon’s Choice in Cat Slow Feeders by Lickimat
Brand: Lickimat
Dimensions: 8.66 x 6.3 x 0.28 inches
Color: Green
Design: Fish shape
Material: Rubber
Highlights: BPA free
Capacity: 2.4 ounces (68.04 grams)
Care instructions: Dishwasher safe
Dry/wet: Both
Breed Size recommendation: All life stages
About This Item
- If you feed your cat wet food and are looking for a way to slow its eating pace, you’re in luck. The Likimat Fish-Shaped Cat Slow Feeder is a fantastic and cost-effective solution.
- This item is a mat as opposed to a bowl, in contrast to the other things on the list thus far. Place your preferred cat food, whether kibble or wet food, on top of the mat and press it down with a spoon so that it fills all the grooves. This will prevent your cat from eating their full meal in one sitting by forcing them to lick the mat and use their tongue to extract food fragments.
- Along with improving digestion and lessening vomiting, Lickimat has additional health advantages because it encourages licking. Licking increases salivation, which is vital for maintaining your pet’s teeth and gums and removing food particles adhered to their tongues to aid with bad smells.
- This feeding method also resembles how a cat would eat in the wild. Additionally, if your cat is a picky eater, this cat food bowl to slow down eating might promote interest in food by providing a more entertaining manner of eating.
- Although this feeder appears to be silicone, it is a food-grade rubber and is silicone-free. Although this is dishwasher safe and completely safe for cats, cleaning may be more difficult due to the small grooves. Additionally, because it is chewable, you must watch over your cats while using it.
Pros
- Suitable for use with moist cat food.
- Incredibly reasonable.
- Eating more slowly improves digestion and decreases vomiting.
- Lowers foul breath and encourages dental health.
- Stimulates interest in mealtime.
- It is a food-grade rubber material.
- Safe for dishwasher.
- Available in three colors and two designs.
Cons
- When eating, supervision is necessary because the rubber is chewable.
- Cleaning small grooves can be challenging.
NOYAL Dog Slow Feeder Bowl : Best Tiny Breeds
Brand: NOYAL
Dimensions: 8 x 8 x 1.9 inches (20.32 x 20.32 x 4.82 centimeters)
Color: Blue
Design: Non-Slip bowl
Material: Plastic and rubber
Highlights: Non-BPA free
Capacity: 8.47 ounces (240.1 grams)
Care instructions: Dishwasher safe
Dry/wet: Dry
Breed Size recommendation: Tiny to medium-sized dogs
About This Item
- The interactive and enjoyable feeder’s swirl floral pattern can slow down hasty eating, stop choking, modify pet weight, and prevent indigestion by extending meal times. It also promotes fun and a balanced diet.
- The package contains four non-slip mats that you may glue to the bottom of the bowl to stop it from slipping. The bottom four edges of the slow flow dog dish attach with anti-skid pads, and the base expands to prevent pets from tipping it over.
- The dog feeder bowl makes all fun feeders work well for dry or wet food diets, making any amount of food go further, and the dog feels full on a smaller amount of food.
- It is also top-rack dishwasher safe.
Pros
- It is dishwasher safe.
- Has non-slip mats
Cons
- It is expensive.
Upgraded Slow Feeder Cat Bowls : Best Anti-Slip
Amazon’s Choice in Cat Slow Feeders by Lfpkixise
Brand: Lfpkixise
Dimensions: 4.65 x 2.32 x 0.71 inches (11.81 x 5.89 x 1.80 centimeters)
Color: White
Design: White fish design
Material: Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene
Highlights: Non-toxic
Capacity: 5.93 ounces (168.11 grams)
Care instructions: Dishwasher safe
Dry/wet: Both
Breed Size recommendation: All stages
About This Item
- Eco-friendly materials and food-safe. The slow feeder bowl is made from non-toxic, high-strength ABS material for your pets.
- The interactive and fun feeder reduces tummy aches, diarrhea, and vomiting by fast eaters. This slow feeder bowl can act as an anti-choking and slow the eating time.
- Due to the product’s form, which includes numerous ridges, digestion naturally improves. It can encourage a better eating pattern in your pet, preventing bloat, indigestion, and obesity.
- With a carefully chosen smooth surface, the Cat Feeder Bowl makes all fun feeders function well. It also offers extra ease to wash for better usage the next time.
- It also has four anti-skid pads on the bottom to keep it from slipping, making it excellent for most pets.
Pros
- It is dishwasher safe.
- It has an anti-slip bottom.
Cons
- Not effective with dry food sticking inside.
Slow Feeder Cat Bowl, Cat Puzzle Feeder Ceramic Dish : Best Ceramic
Brand: MWZTECH
Dimensions: 10.71 x 10.55 x 2.87 inches (27.20 x 26.79 x 7.28 centimeters)
Color: White
Design: Ceramic smooth
Material: Ceramic
Highlights: Non-toxic
Capacity: 1.8 pounds (817grams)
Care instructions: Dishwasher safe
Dry/wet: Dry
Breed Size recommendation: All
About This Item
- Another strong contender is the Lorde Slow Feeder Cat Bowl, which similarly uses an interactive puzzle to slow down how rapidly cats eat.
- The fact that this dish weighs 1.8 pounds ( 0.81 kilograms) is what makes it wonderful. For cats who can be more playful and frequently tip their food bowl over, scattering kibble all over your kitchen floor, its sturdy and untippable shape makes it the ideal choice.
- This porcelain slow-feed cat bowl contains a fishpond maze that cats will enjoy navigating. They must use their paws to move their biscuits around the bowl so they may eat them. This fosters play, encourages a healthy supper, and reduces indigestion.
- It is high-quality ceramic and one of the best materials for cat food bowls. Because it is strong, scratch-resistant, and has smooth edges, you won’t have to worry about your cat rubbing its mouth on it. Additionally, it is non-toxic and suitable for cats.
- The main drawback to this bowl is that porcelain does break quickly, so if you’re a clumsy owner, you might want to choose a different bowl.
Pros
- Interesting and enjoyable fishpond puzzle
- It successfully reduces eating speed.
- Its material is a dependable, premium ceramic
- It has a substantial weight preventing it from tipping over.
Cons
- Ceramic can easily break.
- Fit only for dry cat food
White Ceramic Slow Feeder Dog Bowls Cat Bowl : Best Premium Material
Brand: LIONWEI LIONWELI
Dimensions: 10.04 x 8.15 x 3.07 inches (25.50 x 20.70 x 7.79 centimeters)
Color: White
Design: Ceramic raised
Material: Ceramic
Highlights: Dishwasher safe
Capacity: 1.89 pounds (858.06 grams)
Care instructions: Dishwasher safe
Dry/wet: Both
Breed Size recommendation: All
About This Item
- Premium material: The Slow Feeder Bowl is a premium, food-grade safety ceramics that are non-toxic, environmentally friendly, robust, and completely safe for your dogs. It encourages slower, healthier eating in pets.
- Slow feed and keep fit: The raised maze-shaped portions of the bowl divide the food and encourage pets to eat more slowly, reducing the risk of bloating, nausea, and vomiting. Slow feeder dog/cat bowls encourage healthy eating, regulate pet weight, and help pets consume more wholesome food.
- Utilizes motifs drawn from nature to encourage dogs and cats to eat at a pace that seems natural.
- Each slow feeder bowl is a creation of a maze of gaming mechanics, making the meals somewhat difficult but much more enjoyable. This helps foster the cerebral growth of the pet. You will transform every meal into fun activities for healthy pets.
- This entertaining feeder is simple to use and maintain, ideal for dry and wet food, and suitable for cats and dogs. Place your slow-feeding bowl on the top rack of your dishwasher to clean it. Or, simply rinse under running water to remove any remaining residue.
Pros
- Ideal For wet and dry food.
- It is dishwasher safe.
Cons
- It is expensive.
Conclusion
Any cat owner should consider purchasing Outward Hound Fun Feeder Slo Bowl . They are fantastic for cats who eat quickly and experience stomach issues. However, they are also great for cats who already eat at a comfortable rate and want to spice up their mealtime with some fun and mental stimulation.
The variety of items in this review will provide you with some ideas for selecting the best slow feeder cat bowl that works. The days of wiping cat vomit off the floor are over; if you buy one today, your cat will be happier and healthier.
