How to choose the right bowl for your pet 🐶🐱

Something that seems a simple and unimportant point, is actually not so simple. In fact, there are pets that may even refuse food because the bowl in which we give it to them is not to their liking.

Starting with cats, amazing but very complex and sensitive creatures. The tendency is to think that as it is a rather small animal, it will need a bowl according to its portion, which is small, so it is common to buy a bowl similar to the one we would buy for a small dog, which after all eats a similar portion.

But no.

It is important to take into account the long and sensitive whiskers of felines, which do not like to rub against the edges of the bowl while eating their food, especially if it is a metal bowl. We will detect the problem because they are reluctant to eat, they put their heads in and then take them out again, or they hover around the food bowl without making up their minds. This problem is known as whisker fatigue.

Therefore, cat bowls should be wider, shallow and with low edges. They can stick their heads in and grab the bottom (both food and water) without their sensitive whiskers rubbing against the sides.

Dogs are much less demanding in this respect, and will basically eat from any type of feeder, although there are several points that we can take into account to perfect our choice:

• Material: The best choice will be stainless steel, as it is easy to clean, even in the dishwasher and does not release chemical substances, and is also the most durable.
• Size: As it is evident, it should be adjusted to the size of our pet and accommodate its daily ration. The same for water, which should always be available.

Special needs

For dogs with long ears, such as the coker, narrow mouth bowls may be of interest, as this way the ears remain outside avoiding staining them with food and wetting them with water.

There are very anxious pets, which devour their food in a jiffy, which in addition to causing nervousness and a feeling of being hungry, can alter digestion by swallowing without chewing and with a lot of air. For them, slow feeders are marketed, which in this case are usually made of plastic and have raised areas and ridges inside that make the animal have to make a little effort to access the food and therefore eat more slowly, improving digestion and feeling more satiated.