- This post contains affiliate links. Read more here.
- Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.
Is your cat a gobbler? Does food vanish down their throat in seconds, only to reappear a few minutes later on your hallway carpet? A puzzle bowl or slow-feeder cat bowl might be the solution.
These dishes feature ridges, nubs, or partitions that break up your cat’s food into smaller portions. They force your cat to pause (or use their paws) between bites, increasing the duration of each meal and reducing the risk of regurgitation.
We spoke to Dr. Gary Richter, MS, DVM, about the risks of speed eating for cats and how slow-feed bowls can help. Based on his expert advice, we rounded up a collection of the best slow-feeder cat bowls in a variety of styles to help your cat take the tempo down at mealtime.
- Overall Best: Petstages Kitty Slow Feeder Cat Bowl
- Best for Dry Food: Catit Senses 2.0 Digger Slow Feeder
- Best for Wet Food: HyperPet IQ Treat Mat
- Budget Pick: Frisco Fish Shaped Ridges Slow Feeder Cat Bowl
- Best Puzzle Feeder: Doc & Phoebe’s Cat Co. Indoor Hunting Cat Feeder Kit
- Best Elevated: Neater Pets Raised Slow Feeder Bowl
- Cutest: EveryYay Take It Slow Cat Bowl
- Best for Active Cats: PetSafe SlimCat Feeder Ball
- Best Stainless Steel: Neater Pets Stainless Steel Slow Feed Bowl
- Best Automatic Feeder: Cat Mate C500 Digital Automatic Cat Feeder
Overall Best: Petstages Kitty Slow-Feeder Cat Bowl
According to Dr. Richter, competitive eating is common in multi-cat households and among cats who grew up without enough food. These cats often eat quickly to keep another cat from eating their food. Slow-feeder cat bowls like this one can curb this behavior and slow down your cat’s eating.
This bowl features zigzag-shaped ridges to divide your cat’s meal into smaller portions. The ridges are tall enough that your cat can’t simply eat around them—they’ll need to expend some effort to get the food. The bowl is made from food-safe, BPA-free plastic, and it’s top-shelf dishwasher-safe.
Key Takeaways:
- Ridges help extend mealtime
- Made from food-safe materials
- Safe to clean in the dishwasher
- Affordably priced under $10
Best for Dry Food: Catit Senses 2.0 Digger Slow Feeder
Some slow feeders simply work best with dry food, and the Senses 2.0 Digger from cat-puzzle-toy master Catit is one. This feeder features a wide plastic base into which five cups are set. The cups vary in depth and diameter and, once filled with your cat’s food, they make mealtime a stimulating activity.
To make cleanup easy, the cups have rounded bottoms. The feeder base features a sloped design to funnel spilled food to the front, and it sits on a silicone mat to keep the unit from sliding.
Key Takeaways:
- Makes mealtime into a stimulating activity
- Divides your cat’s meal into five portions
- Comes with a non-slip base
- Round-bottomed cups are easy to clean
Best for Wet Food: HyperPet IQ Treat Mat
Many pet nutritionists recommend wet food as a hydrating dietary choice for cats. For cats on a wet food diet who tend to eat too fast, Dr. Richter recommends lick mats. Not only are they perfect for spreading soft foods, but the act of licking can be soothing for cats.
The Hyper Pet IQ Treat Mat comes in a set of two. One mat features rounded nubs, and the other has X-shaped ridges. Simply spread your cat’s wet food or favorite soft treat on the mat and let them go to town. The mats are made from food-grade materials, and they are both dishwasher-safe and freezer-friendly.
Key Takeaways:
- Licking can be soothing for cats
- Perfect for wet food and soft treats
- Dishwasher-safe and freezer-friendly
- Comes in a set of two mats
Budget Pick: Frisco Fish Shaped Ridges Slow Feeder Cat Bowl
Affordably priced under $10, this plastic cat bowl is designed to extend your cat’s mealtime. Cute fish-shaped ridges inside the bowl force your cat to slow down—they may even have to scoop the food out with their paws.
This bowl is made from BPA-free plastic and it’s top-rack dishwasher-safe for easy cleaning. The bowl can be used with wet or dry food and accommodates up to one cup of food per meal.
Key Takeaways:
- Affordably priced under $10
- Fish-shaped ridges slow down eating
- Dishwasher-safe on the top rack
- Use with wet or dry food
Best Puzzle Feeder: Doc & Phoebe’s Cat Co. Indoor Hunting Cat Feeder Kit
For a slow-feeding solution that takes a completely different approach to controlling your cat’s dining habits, try this indoor hunting cat feeder kit. Instead of putting dry food in a bowl, you put it into three mouse-shaped feeders. Hide the “mice” around your home and let the kitty hunt for their meals.
These unusual mice are an especially popular pick among pet parents with bored cats who yowl for food at night. Even once the feeders are empty, they make great toys for your cat to bat around.
Key Takeaways:
- Encourages natural hunting instincts
- Makes mealtime more active
- Only works with dry food or treats
- Comes with a scoop for easy filling
Best Elevated: Neater Pets Raised Slow Feeder Bowl
Dr. Richter notes that while eating quickly isn’t always a medical issue in cats, there’s a danger that they’ll eat too fast and vomit up the food. This can make mealtime messy. For some cats, switching to an elevated cat bowl helps reduce vomiting.
This elevated feeder from Neater Pet Brands is specifically designed to extend mealtimes. The plastic feeder is available in three different heights, and the slow-feed tray can be removed to use the base as a water bowl. Anti-skid rubber feet keep the bowl from moving, and the entire unit is top-rack dishwasher safe.
Key Takeaways:
- Removable slow-feed tray
- Available in three different heights
- Dishwasher-safe for easy cleaning
- Non-skid rubber feet prevent sliding
Cutest: EveryYay Take It Slow Cat Bowl
Shaped like a cat’s head, this slow-feed bowl is cute and simple. The plastic bowl has a 1.6-cup capacity and can be used with either wet or dry food. Raised partitions inside the bowl break your cat’s meal up into smaller portions to slow down their eating.
Customers comment that this bowl is easy to fill, especially in comparison to lick mats. Simply add dry food and shake the bowl to distribute it. When using wet food, you can spoon it into the sections between the dividers.
Key Takeaways:
- Cute cat-shaped bowl
- Tall ridges break meals into portions
- Top-shelf dishwasher-safe
- Use with dry or wet food
Best for Active Cats: PetSafe SlimCat Feeder Ball
Turn mealtime into an opportunity for active cats to burn off excess energy with this feeder ball. Designed for dry food and treats only, this ball dispenses food as your cat bats it around. It comes in three colors and is economically priced under $10.
As your cat gets the hang of the ball, you can adjust the difficulty level. Simply twist the insert to change the size of the opening and thus the amount of food it dispenses. The toy holds about two-thirds of a cup of dry food.
Key Takeaways:
- Burns calories during mealtime
- Adjustable difficulty level
- Holds up to 2/3 cup of food
- Works best with dry food and treats
Best Stainless Steel: Neater Pets Stainless Steel Slow Feed Bowl
It’s essential to keep your cat’s food bowl clean, and stainless-steel materials are typically the most hygienic. This metal cat bowl features a raised center. Your cat will have to work around it to get their food, making mealtime more of a challenge.
This bowl holds up to two cups of food and works with either dry or wet food. It comes with a nonslip silicone ring around the base to keep it from sliding, and the entire unit is dishwasher-safe for easy cleanup.
Key Takeaways:
- Made from hygienic stainless steel
- Silicone ring prevents base from slipping
- Holds up to two cups of food
- Works with either dry or wet food
Best Automatic Feeder: Cat Mate C500 Digital Automatic Cat Feeder
Cat slow-feeder bowls work great, but only if you’re home to fill them. If you’re looking for a solution for that works even when you’re away, an automatic cat feeder might be a good choice.
This digital feeder from Cat Mate enables you to schedule up to five meals. Small compartments are perfectly sized for cats, and twin ice packs help keep the food fresh—even wet food. The lid and bowl are dishwasher-safe for easy cleaning, and the unit runs on three AA batteries.
Dr. Richter suggests that feeding smaller, more frequent meals is important for cats who tend to eat too fast. Products like this makes the task hassle-free, though there are some guidelines with automatic feeders pet parents should keep in mind.
Key Takeaways:
- Twin ice packs keep food fresh
- Use with wet or dry food
- Schedule up to five meals automatically
- Runs on three AA batteries
How We Chose
We selected the slow-feeder bowls featured here based on a combination of our own hands-on testing, customer reviews across a wide variety of retail platforms, and interviews with veterinary experts, including Dr. Gary Richter, DVM, the founder of Ultimate Pet Nutrition.
When making our selections, we prioritized slow-feeder cat bowls that were durable, easy to clean, and effective in impeding speed-eating behavior. We choose products in an array of designs for different needs and different types of food.
We’re also guided by the experience of living and playing alongside our own much-loved and strongly opinionated cats, who are never stingy with their feedback.
Further Reading
- My Cat Eats Too Fast! What To Do About Your Speedy Eater
- The 6 Best Automatic Feeders for All Kinds of Cats—And All Kinds of Foods
- Are Automatic Feeders Bad for Cats? The Pros and Cons, According to the Experts
- The 9 Best Cat Lick Mats for Slow-Feeding and Enrichment
