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How hard can selecting a cat water bowl be? As it turns out, there are some key things to consider when shopping for water bowls, ranging from how safe and comfortable it is for your cat to use to how easy it is for you to clean it. The goal, of course, is to find a water bowl that will give your cat easy access to clean fresh water while also preventing a mischievous kitty from splashing water all over the room.
How Much Water Does Your Cat Need?
In the wild, cats get their fluids from the prey they catch and consume. In the house, they are dependent on you for water. While wet food contains moisture, cats need additional water. This is especially true for older and sick cats that can easily get dehydrated. And if your cat is eating a diet of dry food, it’s essential that they drink plenty of water.
Giving your cat a good water bowl, and placing the bowl where the cat can drink undisturbed will help ensure that they get enough to drink. If you’re concerned they aren’t drinking enough, consider tempting them with a water fountain.
Choosing the Best Cat Water Bowls
What’s the best bowl for your kitty? That depends on your cat’s needs—and on your own preferences. They come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and materials. This PetMD article advises that the safest materials for cat bowls are food-grade ceramic and glass. Some types of plastic bowls are prone to scratches that can harbor bacteria and give some cats facial acne. The bottom line is that if cat water bowls of any material get chipped, cracked, scratched, or otherwise damaged, it’s a good idea to switch to a new bowl. Whatever type of bowl you choose, be sure to wash the bowl (with hot water and soap) frequently.
A basic bowl, made of a safe material and in good condition, is fine for most cats. But there are some cats, and some situations, that require specific types of bowls. So our list of the best cat water bowls includes elevated bowls for arthritic cats, easy-access bowls for Persians and other flat-faced breeds, bowls for cats with whisker fatigue, bowls for cats prone to acne, travel bowls, and bowls for cats that splash and slosh water. We even found heated bowls for barn cats and outdoor cat colonies.
Best Basic Cat Water Bowls
We started with three great basic bowls, one glazed stoneware and two made of durable, easy-to-clean ceramic.
Signature Housewares Coastal Fish Non-Skid Ceramic Bowl
This popular glazed stoneware dish (1-cup capacity) is wide and shallow, making it easy for your cat to lap water without needing to pull their whiskers away from the edge of the bowl. It’s dishwasher safe and heavy enough (1 pound) to stay put where you set it.
Buy on ChewyPetRageous Designs Silly Kitty Oval Ceramic Cat Dish
Need more water? For a multiple-cat household, try one or two of these ceramic dishes that holds 2 cups of liquid. They’re shallow enough to provide easy access to water, and heavy enough to cut down on sloshing. The dishwasher-safe ceramic meets FDA standards for human-grade dishes.
Buy on ChewyPark Life Designs Monty Ceramic Cat Bowl
If cool and contemporary is your style, treat yourself and your cat to a water bowl from Park Life Designs. The shallow, spacious Monty bowl is dishwasher-safe ceramic and meets FDA standards for human-grade dishware. It holds 2 cups of water.
Buy on ChewyBest Elevated Cat Water Bowls for Arthritic Cats
Is your older cat crouching awkwardly to get to its water? Make your kitty comfortable, and encourage it to drink water, with a convenient elevated water bowl.
Necoichi Raised Cat Water Bowl
This porcelain bowl covers all the bases for making water appealing to an older, arthritic cat. The raised bowls come in two heights—2.9 inches and 4.14 inches. A subtle inner lip on the bowl discourages splashing. And water levels are marked in milliliters so you can keep track of how much your cat is drinking. It holds 10 ounces and is dishwasher safe.
Buy on ChewyBest Water Bowl for Cats With Flat Faces or Whisker Fatigue
ViviPet Ceramic Big Head Elevated Bowl
If your kitty is a Persian, Himalayan, or other flat-faced breed, this elevated ceramic bowl makes their water supply more easily accessible. It’s wide and shallow, so whiskers won’t be irritated by the sides of a deep bowl. The 3 cup capacity is great if you have more than one cat using the bowl and it’s dishwasher safe.
Shop on AmazonBest Water Bowl for Cats Vulnerable to Acne
If plastic bowls tend to trigger your cat’s acne, there are plenty of easy-to-clean stainless steel, ceramic, and glass bowls to try.
Harry Barker Enamelware Stainless Steel Pet Bowl
This gleaming enamelware stainless steel bowl comes in red, blue, green, or white. The 1.5 cup capacity is perfect for your kitty’s water. The wide, shallow bowl has plenty of room for your cat to drink without irritating their whiskers. Got lots of cats? Go for the 4.5 cup size.
Buy on ChewyBest Cat Water Bowl for Travel
Alfie Pet Collapsible Non-Skid Silicone Travel Bowl
The perfect solution for traveling with your cat—in the car, on a plane, or at a friend’s place. Open up the bowl and fill it to let kitty hydrate. Then collapse the bowl when you don’t need it. The 5-inch bowl is made of dishwasher-safe silicone.
Buy on ChewyBest Bowls for Cats That Splash Water
Is your kitty one of those that simply cannot resist pawing or batting at their water bowl? Put away the mop, we found these solutions.
Iconic Pet Striped Non-Skid Stainless Steel Bowl
This wide, shallow bowl comes in a range of sizes, including small ones perfect for your cat (or kitties). The stainless steel dish is dishwasher safe for easy cleaning and the non-skid mat prevents water from sloshing onto your floor.
Shop on AmazonNeater Pets Feeder Elevated Cat Bowls
In your choice of cranberry or bronze, this cat-sized feeding station includes two stainless steel bowls (1-cup and 1.5-cup capacity). Use one for food, and the other for water—or both for water. The bowls sit in a dishwasher-safe plastic enclosure that keeps splashing and spilling contained. The enclosure sits on four plastic legs, making access easy for older or arthritic cats.
Buy on ChewyBest Water Bowl for Outdoor Cats
If you are feeding neighborhood cats, there are special considerations for their water. Alley Cat Allies suggests using large bowls and placing them in the shade to slow evaporation in summer. In the winter, they recommended heated bowls like this one:
K&H Pet Products Thermal-Bowl Plastic Cat Bowl
This 32-ounce water bowl with a heating element and 5.5-foot steel-wrapped cord is perfect for your barn cats or for outdoor cats with access to a porch or shed. It will ensure they have a supply of water even in freezing weather.
Buy on ChewyMaking Your Cat’s Water Bowl Even Better
After you’ve found the right bowl, there are a few more things you can do to encourage your kitty to drink plenty of water.
Most experts recommend putting your cat’s water bowl at a distance from their food—just because cats seem to prefer that. This will also discourage them from putting kibble in the water bowl, creating a mess for you to clean up.
Vets recommend that you clean the water bowl every day or two, using hot water and dish soap.
Further Reading
- The 7 Best Water Fountains for Cats
- What to Do If Your Cat Is Not Drinking Water
- How Much Wet Food Should You Feed Your New Kitten?
Featured image by rihaij/Pixabay
