Ceramic, steel or plastic bowls

Bowls are the cheapest thing in the house to get wrong and the easiest to fix.

Plastic scratches, and scratches hold bacteria

A scratched plastic bowl is difficult to get properly clean, and in some animals it is associated with chin irritation. If you use plastic, replace it when the surface stops being smooth.

Ceramic and stainless steel

Both wipe clean properly. Ceramic is heavier and stays put; steel is lighter and effectively unbreakable. Ceramic with a chip should be retired, because the chip is where food sits.

Whisker fatigue, in plain terms

A deep narrow bowl presses on a cat’s whiskers while they eat. Some cats do not care; some pull food out onto the floor to avoid it. If yours does that, a shallow wide dish usually stops it. It is not a medical condition and we do not present it as one.

Height

Raised bowls suit tall dogs and older animals that find bending uncomfortable. For most cats, a low shallow dish is fine.