Feeding bowls can affect the health of your pet. The first thing, no matter what, is to avoid PLASTIC bowls. WHY? Scratched or damaged plastic bowls are keeping bacteria and are harmful to your pets. Effects in the short and long term can be: acnes on the cat’s chin, allergies, red gums, and even poisoning.
The best choices are
glass, porcelain, ceramic, or stainless steel bowls (for steel- good to renew such cups yearly as they can go rusty from moisture).
Bowls from the mentioned materials keep fewer bacteria and microbes; they are difficult to scratch and damage and easier to clean and maintain. We recommend washing your pet’s bowls after every meal. Wash the pet bowls only with hot water, vinegar, or pet-safe detergents. Do not use dishwashing liquids or soups directly.
For water bowls–change the water with fresh one 2 times a day if possible. It is best to provide water bowls in every room or a fountain with circulating fresh water to stimulate cats to drink more. It is well known that domestic cats rarely drink enough water and this can cause kidney and other health problems.
Put distance between the food and the water bowls– first, for water to not spill on the food and spoil it, and second, cats associate food next to water sources in nature with danger and rotting.
