Saucers suit some pets far better than bowls do. A cat whose whiskers brush the sides of a deep dish will often leave food round the edges and look unimpressed about the whole arrangement, and a shallow heart-shaped saucer removes that complaint entirely. This one measures 13.2cm across, a sensible size for wet food, a topper or a small portion rather than a full dinner for a big dog.

Melamine is the practical choice here. It takes knocks without chipping or cracking, does not hold on to odours the way some plastics do, and goes into the dishwasher at the end of the day. It is BPA-free and food safe. A non-slip base stops the saucer travelling across a tiled kitchen floor while your pet pushes food around it, which is the small detail separating a saucer you keep from one that ends up under the fridge.

• Measures 13.2cm across and weighs 90g
• Shatterproof, scratch-resistant melamine
• BPA-free and food safe
• Dishwasher safe
• Non-slip base
• Available in pink or blue

One thing about melamine. It is durable but it is not microwave safe, since heat damages it, and a melamine dish that has become scratched or crazed should be replaced rather than kept in service. Leave the washing-up to the dishwasher and it will last a long time. At 13.2cm this is a saucer rather than a dinner bowl, and we would rather say so before it arrives.

Who it's for: Cats, kittens, puppies and small dogs on wet food or small portions, in homes where the feeding station is on show.