8 Best Slow Feeder Cat Bowls – 2024 Reviews & Top Picks
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Some cats are known for their somewhat picky, slow eating habits, but others seem to be happy to eat just about anything and at high speed too! This fast eating can cause all manner of issues, from vomiting to bloating, and it is important to try to get your cat to eat at a calmer pace to prevent this.
One of the best solutions is a slow feeder bowl. It is designed to help your feline eat at a moderate pace with a clever design that encourages healthy eating habits, even for cats that don’t wolf their food down in seconds! Certain feeder bowls can provide mental stimulation during mealtimes too, as your cat will need to work harder to access their food.
There are a ton of these bowls on the market, and we found the best slow-feeder cat bowls and gave them in-depth reviews to help you choose the best one for your feline friend. Let’s get started!
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2024
| Rating | Image | Product | Details | |
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Best Overall
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Frisco Silicone Slow Feeder Bowl |
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Best Value
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IRIS Slow Feeding Cat Bowl |
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Premium Choice
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PAIKKA Slow Feed Ceramic Cat Bowl |
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Petstages Kitty Slow Feeder Cat Bowl |
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Neater Pets Non-Skid Slow Feeder Bowl |
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The 8 Best Slow-Feeder Cat Bowls
1. Frisco Silicone Slow Feeder Mat with Bowl — Best Overall
| Material: | Silicone, stainless steel |
| Food compatibility: | Dry food, wet food |
| Features: | Dishwasher safe |
| Capacity: | 3 cups |
The Frisco Silicone Slow Feeder Mat with Stainless Steel Bowl is ideal for wet and dry food, with a 3-cup food capacity and built-in water bowl, and is our top choice overall. The mat is made from dishwasher-safe, easy-to-clean silicone that is naturally non-skid to reduce food and water spillage, and it has raised edges that further help reduce mess and spillage. Hydration is not far away with the included stainless-steel water bowl that is removable and easy to clean, and the silicone slow feeder can hold up to 3 cups of dry food.
This slow feeder is our top choice for a reason, so it is difficult to fault! That said, it is a bit higher priced than a normal cat food bowl.
- 3-cup capacity
- Non-slip design
- Dishwasher safe and easy to clean
- Raised edges to reduce spillage
- Included stainless-steel water bowl
- Expensive
2. IRIS Slow Feeding Cat Bowl — Best Value
| Material: | BPA-free plastic |
| Food compatibility: | Dry food, wet food |
| Features: | Available in two sizes and three colors |
| Capacity: | 2 cups and 4 cups |
The IRIS Slow Feeding cat bowl is our favorite slow feeder cat bowl for the money, and is made from BPA-free, lead-free plastic with two different size options: 2 cups and 4 cups. The bowl has raised areas in the center that help encourage slow eating, with a rubber base that prevents slipping and spillage. The bowl is suitable for both wet food and dry food and can hold up to 16 ounces of food at a time, more than enough for most cats. The bowl is also a breeze to clean and is perfectly pet-safe, free from BPA, PVC, and phthalates for cats that like to chew. It comes in three different colors to match your feline’s unique personality!
While the bowl is made with pet-safe materials, the plastic material is still chewable, and if your cat likes to chew, there will be indentations left that can easily result in bacteria build-up.
- Inexpensive
- Made from BPA-free, lead-free plastic
- Two different size options
- Comes in three different colors
- 16-ounce capacity for wet or dry food
- Rubber base to prevent slipping
- Easy to chew
3. PAIKKA Slow Feed Ceramic Cat Bowl — Premium Option
| Material: | Ceramic |
| Food compatibility: | Dry food, wet food |
| Features: | Dishwasher safe, tip-resistant |
| Capacity: | 3 cups |
If you’re looking for a premium slow feeder bowl for your feline, the PAIKKA ceramic cat bowl is an ideal option. Made from tough, BPA-free, and completely pet-safe ceramic, this bowl is ideal for kitties that like to chew. The bowl has a 3D bone shape in the center to promote slow eating and has a 3-cup capacity. The ceramic construction helps prevent bacteria build-up, is a breeze to clean, and helps keep your cat’s food cool as they eat. The weight and shape of the bowl also help keep it upright and prevent spillage, and the bowl is dishwasher-safe and microwaveable.
Since this bowl is made from ceramic, it is easy to break if dropped, and it chips easily, which can promote bacterial build-up, so make sure to use it on the floor only.
- Made from pet-safe ceramic material
- 3-cup capacity
- Bacteria resistant
- Easy to clean
- Anti-tip design
- Expensive
- Breaks and chips easily
4. Petstages Kitty Slow Feeder Cat Bowl
| Material: | Polypropylene plastic |
| Food compatibility: | Dry food, wet food |
| Features: | Dishwasher safe, BPA-free, tip-resistant |
| Capacity: | ¾ cup |
The Petstages Kitty Slow Feeder Cat Bowl provides a great way for your cat to eat their food more slowly and encourages mental stimulation with its unique maze design. The bowl is made from polypropylene plastic, which is naturally non-slip, and it can hold around ¾ of a cup of dry or wet food. We love that the bowl is 100% BPA, PVC, and phthalate-free and that it is perfectly pet-safe and a breeze to clean!
One of the issues that we found with this bowl is the small size. If you have a large cat, you may need to refill the bowl two to three times for a full serving. Also, the bowl is slippery when used on a smooth surface like tiles.
- Unique maze design for mental stimulation
- Made from non-slip polypropylene plastic
- 100% BPA, PVC, and phthalate free
- Easy to clean
- Inexpensive
- Small capacity
- May slide on smooth surfaces
5. Neater Pets Standard Non-Skid Slow Feeder Cat Bowl
| Material: | Polypropylene plastic |
| Food compatibility: | Dry food, wet food |
| Features: | Dishwasher safe, BPA-free |
| Capacity: | 5-cup, 6-cup |
The Neater Pets Standard slow feeder cat bowl is made with multiple rounded and pet-safe peaks and valleys to help your cat slow down their eating habits and reduce gulping, bloating, and vomiting. The bowl comes in two different sizes, with both 2.5-cup and 6-cup capacities. The Neater bowl comes equipped with rubber non-slip feet to help reduce spillage and is made from safe polypropylene plastic that is free from BPAs. It is dishwasher safe and a breeze to clean and can be used for any age or breed of cat.
The triangular ridges on this bowl are fairly small, so if you put a large amount of food in the bowl, your cat will still be able to eat their food quickly. Although the bowl is stated to have a 2.5-cup capacity, in reality, 1 cup or less is ideal to make the bowl work properly.
- Rounded, pet-safe design
- Comes in two different sizes
- Equipped with non-slip rubber feet
- BPA free
- Dishwasher friendly
- Cannot hold as much food as advertised
6. Doc & Phoebe’s Cat Co. The Wet Feeder Cat Slow Feeder
| Material: | Rubber |
| Food compatibility: | Wet food only |
| Features: | Dishwasher safe, BPA-free |
| Capacity: | ½ cup max |
This unique slow-feeding bowl from Doc & Phoebe’s Cat Co. promotes hunting and play instincts in your feline, making feeding time fun! The rubber bowl is shaped like a mouse and can be used both at mealtimes or hidden in your home as an interactive game. The bowl is BPA-free and made with dishwasher-friendly and pet-safe rubber that your cat can play with during and after mealtimes. The inside is lined with small, smooth grippers that you simply load with canned food for a fun and interactive meal.
However, this bowl is fairly small and won’t hold a full serving for a large cat, and it can only be used with wet food. Also, once it’s seen as a play toy, your feline is sure to make a mess with it during mealtimes!
- Promotes hunting instincts
- Unique mouse-shaped design
- BPA-free
- Dishwasher friendly
- Small capacity
- Only suitable for wet food
- Potentially messy
7. QT Dog Brake-Fast Slow Feeder Bowl
| Material: | Stainless-steel |
| Food compatibility: | Dry food, wet food |
| Features: | Non-skid, easy to clean |
| Capacity: | 2-cup |
The QT Dog Brake-Fast Non-Skid Stainless Steel Dog & Cat Bowl is made from high-quality, easy-to-clean, and hygienic stainless steel, with a non-slip bottom to reduce spillage. The bowl has three raised prongs in the center to help slow down your cat’s eating and is dishwasher safe and a breeze to clean with the detachable nubs. It’s suitable for both wet and dry food and is veterinary-approved to gain control over your cat’s portions and prevent bloating and vomiting. With a 2-cup capacity, it’s suitable for any size cat and is free from BPAs, lead, and other harmful chemicals.
The construction of this bowl is, unfortunately, fairly low quality, as several customers have reported that the non-slip base detached within weeks after purchase, and the screws on the detachable nubs strip easily.
- Made with hygienic and pet-safe stainless steel
- Removable nubs for easy cleaning
- Non-slip base
- 2-cup capacity
- Non-slip base detaches easily
- Nub screws strip easily
8. Frisco Melamine Slow Feed Dog & Cat Bowl
| Material: | Melamine |
| Food compatibility: | Dry food, wet food |
| Features: | Dishwasher safe, non-skid |
| Capacity: | 5–3 cups |
The Melamine Slow Feeder Cat Bowl With Gold Trim from Frisco is an inexpensive bowl that is made from tough and hygienic melamine and comes in three different sizes. It has an attractive cream color with a unique gold trim around the top, with raised inner columns to help slow down your cat’s eating habits and reduce bloating. The bowl is dishwasher safe and a breeze to clean, is BPA free, and has a stylish and elegant design that will fit beautifully into any home.
One of the main issues with this bowl is that the inner columns are fairly high, making it difficult for cats to reach and access the food all the way at the bottom of the bowl. Also, the melamine does scratch fairly easily, and the bowl will slip on smooth surfaces like tiles.
- Inexpensive
- Made from tough, chip-resistant melamine
- Stylish design
- Easy to clean
- A bit too deep for most cats
- Scratches easily
- Not 100% non-slip
Now that you’ve found the perfect cat bowl, it’s time to find the perfect cat food.
If you're looking for a balanced, highly nutritious cat food made with human-grade ingredients, take a closer look at Smalls. You can even save 40% on this premium cat food by entering code HEPPER24 at checkout!
Buyer’s Guide: Selecting the Best Slow Feeder Cat Bowl
A slow feeder bowl is a great tool for slowing down your cat’s eating habit, with obstacles in the bowl that prevent your cat from wolfing down their food and force them to eat slower. Commonly, these bowls have curves, indentations, or columns on the inside to make it harder for your cat to access the food. Some bowls are also more puzzle-like in their design and can provide your cat with vital mental stimulation during mealtimes too.
What Are The Benefits Of Slow Feeder Bowls?
Most importantly, slow feeder bowls encourage slower eating in your cats, preventing them from throwing up their food or getting bloat from eating too fast. If your cat is throwing up their food on a regular basis, this can cause malnutrition because they aren’t getting all the nutrients that they need from their diet. This can cause digestion issues and sensitive stomachs over the long term, and even if they are not vomiting, quick eating can cause bloating.
Eating too fast can also hinder your cat’s ability to recognize when they’re full, and this often results in them eating far more than they would if they ate slower. This can result in obesity, one of the most common issues in cats in the United States.
Slow-feeding bowls can help stop these issues by forcing your cat to eat at a much slower pace.
What to look for in a slow feeder bowl
- Material: Since slow feeder bowls have barriers with crevices and tight spaces, cleaning these bowls is more challenging than standard bowls. The bowl should be made from an easy-to-clean, safe material, ideally, polypropylene or stainless steel. These materials are far less likely to break or crack and thus harbor bacteria, and they are dishwasher safe, making them a breeze to clean.
- Food type: Some bowls are made for wet food only or vice versa, so you’ll need to make sure you purchase a bowl that can hold both or at least the food that you prefer to give your cat.
- Size: The size of your cat will determine how large of a bowl you purchase. Some bowls are designed with reduced feeding in mind, not just slow feeding, so they can only hold a small amount of food. Make sure you get a bowl that can hold a full serving’s worth of food so you don’t need to feed your feline multiple times during a meal session.
- Non-slip: It’s important to consider the surface that you typically feed your cat on. If you feed your feline on tiles, you’ll want a bowl fitted with a non-slip base to prevent it from sliding around.
Alternatively, you can opt for a bowl that is practical and modern and was designed to improve your cats' eating habits and benefit their overall health. Our Hepper NomNom Cat Bowl was created with both pet parents and their feline companions in mind. The shallow stainless steel bowls protect your kitty from whisker fatigue and the elevated base brings their food to a height that's comfortable for them to eat. The wrap-around tray ensures that your floors are always clean of mealtime mess. Cleaning is a breeze since the NomNom is entirely dishwasher-safe.
Final Thoughts
Slow feeder bowls are great for your feline, and the silicone mat slow feeder from Frisco is our top choice overall. The bowl is ideal for wet and dry food, has a 3-cup food capacity and built-in water bowl, and is made from dishwasher-safe, easy-to-clean silicone that is naturally non-skid with raised edges that further help reduce mess and spillage.
The IRIS Slow Feeding cat bowl is our favorite slow-feeder cat bowl for the money. The bowl is made from BPA-free, lead-free plastic, has a rubber base that prevents slipping, can hold up to 16 ounces of food at a time, and is a breeze to clean. If you’re looking for a premium slow feeder bowl for your feline, the PAIKKA ceramic cat bowl is made from tough, BPA-free ceramic, with a 3-cup capacity, and helps keep your cat’s food cool as they eat.
With so many cat bowls on the market, finding the right slow feeder bowl for your feline can be a challenge. Hopefully, our in-depth reviews have narrowed the options and helped you find the perfect bowl for your fast-eating feline!
See also:
- 7 DIY Ant-Proof Cat Bowls You Can Make Today
- 9 Best Cat Foods to Prevent Vomiting – Reviews & Buyers Guide
Featured Image Credit: Chewy
