Pet Bowls & Feeders

Stainless steel is the sensible default: it does not scratch the way plastic does, and those scratches are where bacteria sit. It also cannot be chewed apart. Ceramic is heavier and stays put, but check any glaze is food-safe and replace a bowl that chips.

For cats, wide and shallow. A deep narrow bowl presses on the whiskers while they eat, which many cats dislike enough to leave food or paw it out onto the floor — usually read as fussiness. A raised bowl can make eating easier for a tall or arthritic dog, though it is not the bloat prevention it is sometimes sold as; the evidence there points the other way for large breeds, so ask your vet if that is your reason for buying one.

Water bowls want to be bigger than you think and washed as often as your own glass. Refilling without washing leaves a film that puts fussy drinkers off.