Where Should I Put Cat Food and Water Bowls? 5 Ideal Places
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If you’re wondering where you should put your cat food and water bowls, you’re not alone. It’s common for cat owners to wonder the same thing. While it may seem logical to simply choose a random spot to place your kitty’s food and water bowls, it’s best to give the placement of the bowls some thought since cats are finicky creatures with clear likes and dislikes.
We’ll tell you some of the top spots for placing your cat’s food and water bowls so you can find out which option is best for your cat. If you place the bowls in one of these suggested spots and your cat refuses to eat or drink, move on to the next spot and try again. Sooner or later, your cat will be happy with the place you’ve decided to put their bowls.
The 5 Ideal Places to Put Cat Food and Water Bowls
1. A Calm and Quiet Location
Cats don’t like a lot of commotion and activity when they’re trying to eat and drink, so you should not place your cat’s food and water bowls in a busy spot of your home. Think about your home and what areas are calm and quiet. When you put your cat’s bowls in a calm area, your cat can dine in peace and quiet. Plus, the bowls are less likely to be kicked over and dumped by kids playing, the family dog, etc.
If you do choose this option, you’ll have to keep a close eye on the food and water in the bowls to make sure your cat gets the daily nutrition and hydration they need.
- A spare bedroom
- A back hallway
- A basement
- Allows your cat to eat and drink in peace
- The food bowls are less prone to getting knocked over
- You’ll have to regularly check the bowls to ensure your cat has food and water
2. Away From the Litter Box
Cats don’t like to eat near the same spot they eliminate and vice versa. If your cat hasn’t been eating or drinking well and the food and water bowls are placed near the litter box where he does his business, move the bowls further away from the litter box.
This method can help if your cat is inappropriately eliminating outside his litter box. If the room is big enough where you currently keep the bowls and litter box, simply move the bowls across the room so they’re further away from where your cat poops and pees.
This option is challenging if you live in a small apartment or house and don’t have much room to work with. On the other hand, it could be the perfect solution if you’re living in a large apartment or home with plenty of available space.
- Prevents inappropriate elimination outside the litter box
- It may help your cat eat better
- Challenging if you don’t have much space at home
3. On an Enclosed Porch
If you have an enclosed porch and a pet door leading out to the porch, consider moving the food and water bowls to the porch so your cat can eat and drink away from the hustle and bustle of your household. This will give your cat a peaceful and quiet environment to enjoy his food and water.
If you move the food and water bowls to the porch, it may take a bit of extra effort on your part to feed the cat and to ensure they’re upright and not knocked over. But even if you have to do a bit more walking, it will be worth it in the end if your cat loves eating on the porch in peace.
- A great way to give your cat a peaceful environment to eat and drink
- Requires extra effort on your part to feed the cat
4. In the Basement
If you have a basement that’s not used a whole lot, it could be the perfect place for your cat’s food and water bowls. Maybe you could set the bowls under the steps or place them along a wall where your cat can eat and drink without being bothered.
While this solution could be the answer to a cat that’s easily distracted, you may have to watch out for insects and mice. Many basements have creepy crawlers roaming around, and cat food and water are two things insects and mice go after. This means you’ll have to be extra diligent in keeping an eye on things if you put cat food and water in your basement.
Another downside to this option is that you’ll have to go up and down the basement steps every day to fill your cat’s bowls and keep them clean. But you could always look at those extra steps positively and consider them good exercise!
- A good method for an easily distracted cat
- Plenty of peace
- Insects and mice could get into the food and water
- You’ll have to go up and down the steps more to feed your cat
5. On a Raised Feeding Station
A raised cat feeding station could be the ideal solution for your cat’s food and water bowls. By having the bowls up and off the floor, your cat can enjoy his meals in peace without worry. If the raised feeding station is big enough, it can also provide your cat with a safe haven away from the family dog or little kids.
Even though this option involves some setup on your part, it will be worth it in the end if your kitty loves eating and drinking while perched up and off the floor. And you could even ask a handy friend for some help if you consider yourself all thumbs.
This option isn’t the best if you don’t have much room in your home to put up a raised feeding station.
- Makes mealtime peaceful for your cat
- Can provide your cat with a safe haven from dogs, kids, etc,
- Requires some setup
- Not viable if you don’t have much space available
Why Proper Cat Food and Water Bowl Placement is Important
In the wild, cats don’t like to eat and drink in places where they can’t watch for predators and rivals. While it may seem trivial to fuss over where to place your pet cat’s food and water bowls, it’s important to put some thought into it.
By nature, cats prefer eating in peace and in places where they can see what’s going on around them to keep themselves safe. Cats dislike eating and drinking in spots where there’s lots of foot traffic, noise, and distractions.
If your cat is a picky eater like many cats are, he may be particular about where his food and water bowls are placed too. You certainly want your cat to eat well and to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated so put some thought into where you should place his food and water bowls. Pick a spot that gives him a clear view of his surroundings and one that allows him to move freely between the two bowls.
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Conclusion
Even though it’s easy to simply put your cat’s food and water bowls down on the floor in a random place, you shouldn’t do that! Cats don’t like eating and drinking in places they don’t feel safe and secure. Therefore, you should place your cat’s food and water bowls in a location that’s away from the hustle and bustle of your everyday life so your little pal can eat in peace and quiet. Hopefully, one of these ideal places for cat food and water bowls is the right solution for you and your beloved cat.
