10 Best Stainless Steel Cat Bowls in 2022 – Reviews & Top Picks
Stainless steel is easy to clean, tough, and it is safe to eat and drink from. However, it can be lightweight, which means that your cat might find it easy to tip over, and cat owners need to ensure that the bowl is made from good quality, food-grade stainless steel. Buying the right size is also important, and while some cats may like a good depth of water, others, especially those with whisker sensitivity, prefer a shallow bowl that prevents them from squishing their whiskers up against the bowl.
As well as standard bowls, you can also find elevated bowls, dual bowls, and even water fountain bowls with an automatic timer. In fact, the choice can be overwhelming.
Below, you will find reviews of the 10 best stainless steel cat bowls along with information on how to choose the best bowl for you and your cat.
The Hepper Nomnom Stainless Steel Cat Bowl is a double bowl with stainless steel, removable shallow bowls, and a chew-proof tray around the bowls to collect any kibble, wet food, or water that is fired out of the bowl.
The bowls are whisker-proof because they are shallow. Some cats do not like to squeeze their whiskers into a tight bowl, and they may be reluctant to eat or drink from anything too deep. The shallow bowl design of the Hepper Nomnom Stainless Steel Cat Bowl prevents this feeling of having their whiskers trapped. The combination of two bowls means that they can be used for any combination of wet food, dry food, and water, too.
One problem that most cat owners hate is the stray food and the puddle of water that forms around their feeding area. The non-spill design of the Nomnom means that there is a chew-proof tray to catch any stray lunch. From here, it can be easily tipped away.
The tray does a decent job of catching most stray kibble and the majority of wet food and water, although some does escape. Also, the proximity of the two bowl sections means that they also catch stray food from the other container.
All in all, we think this is the best stainless steel cat bowl of the year.
Pros
Shallow bowls are whisker proof
Non-spill tray design
Dual bowls for dry food, wet food, and water
Cons
The bowl layout could be a little better
2. Loving Pets Bella Stainless Steel Cat Bowl– Best Value
The stainless steel bowls have a poly-resin exterior, which offers a more textured finish than a shiny stainless steel bowl that needs regular wiping and cleaning. Both of these elements are dishwasher safe, so all you need to do to clean the bowl is remove the rubber base and put the bowl in the top drawer of the dishwasher.
The rubber base serves a dual purpose. Primarily, it serves to prevent the bowl from being scraped and dragged across the floor, therefore stopping the mess that accompanies this motion. It also stops the scraping and scratching noise that is especially prominent when your cat is trying to clean out morsels of food from the corners.
The bowl is good quality, easy to clean, and cheap, making it the best stainless steel cat bowl for the money. However, there is a sticky label inside the bowl which is beyond stubborn to remove and the external paw design rubs off after a few washes.
The Platinum Pets Stainless Steel Cat Bowl is a non-tip stainless steel bowl that is available in an array of different colors, each with a paw design on the exterior of the bowl. It is also available in a range of sizes, making it suitable for small to large cats and for food or water.
It is reasonably priced and has what the manufacturer describes as being a dishwasher-safe finish. This extra layer provides additional protection against wear and tear so the bowl should last. The ability to put the bowl in the dishwasher is beneficial, and the silicone ring around the base of the bowl is what prevents your pet from tipping the bowl over.
It is wider than the bowl itself, so even if your cat leans against the edge while drinking, the bowl should remain in place without spilling over.
Unfortunately, the ring around the base of the bowl is somewhat loose. Not only does this mean that it comes away easily when being used, but it allows food and other debris to collect and hide over time. The ring will need regular removal for you to ensure it is properly cleaned.
The Ethical Pet Stainless Steel Cat Bowl is a small bowl, ideally sized as a water or food bowl for your cat, and it is designed with a metal hanger that can be used to attach it to a cage, kennel, or wire fence. This provides a convenient and clean way to prevent the bowl from being tipped up, and it prevents the moldy mess that can form under a water bowl following ongoing use.
The bowl comes in three sizes, which means that you can find the right size for your cage and ensure that it fits on the wire. The bowl is dishwasher safe which makes it easy to clean and maintain. Also, the bowl is smaller than they look in pictures, and unless you’re very lucky, the hooks will not fit tightly over the cage or metal wire, so rattling could be an issue.
If you do have a cage or other metal wire to which it can attach, the Ethical Pet Stainless Steel Cat Bowl could be a beneficial purchase. Overall, we think this is one of the best stainless steel cat bowls out there this year.
The QT Dog Stainless Steel Cat Bowl is a dog bowl designed for dogs that wolf down their food, but it does come in a small size that is also suitable for cats.
The stainless steel bowl has three metal prongs inside, so if your cat will be put off by this, you will need to look elsewhere.
There is a no-slip base that prevents the bowl from sliding across the floor while in use, and it also prevents the scraping noise that some stainless steel bowls and other metal bowls suffer.
The rubber bottom is not as stable as it should be, which means that it easily wears off and is difficult to put back on. Also, the pegs are not part of the bowl and there is a slight gap, so wet food could get between the peg and the bowl and fester.
You will need to ensure regular and thorough cleaning, although the bowl is not described as being dishwasher safe, so this will have to be a manual cleaning job.
The Maslow Stainless Steel Cat Bowl is a small bowl that is designed for placement on wire cages, kennels, and wire fences. Available with a one, three, or four-cup capacity, the bowl hooks over the metal or wire barrier and stays in place.
This prevents the bowl from being pushed around the floor. The bowls are dishwasher safe, which makes care and maintenance easier.
The bowl is quite thin and flimsy, but it shouldn’t be too flimsy for a cat to use. It is safe for use with dry or wet food, or as a water bowl, and it is very reasonably priced but, again, if you don’t have a wire fence or you don’t use a cage or metal kennel, there will be no way to attach the Maslow Stainless Steel Cat Bowl, and because it is a universal design, the hanger is not guaranteed to fit firmly so it could rattle and wobble around.
The PetFusion Premium Stainless Steel Cat Bowl is a brushed stainless steel bowl that is a suitable size for use by cats. The manufacturer claims to have used stainless steel that is not only corrosion resistant while being strong and lightweight, but that has been tested to ensure that it is free of cobalt.
The bowl’s brushed steel finish also looks good, making it suitable for placement in your kitchen or other feeding room in the house. It also helps to mask leftover food until you get a chance to clean up. As well as working independently, the PetFusion Premium Stainless Steel Cat Bowl is also designed for use with PetFusion Elevated Pet Feeders.
The cat bowl is designed to be the right size and shape to prevent whisker fatigue and can also help your cat avoid conditions like feline acne.
The bowl is of decent quality and not too expensive. It is also a handy addition or replacement for the PetFusion feeder, but it does lack a rubber base or rubber feet that would have prevented it from scratching and scraping across the floor during use.
The OurPets Stainless Steel Cat Bowl is a stainless steel bowl that will hold up to one cup of dry or wet food. OurPets has used a heavyweight stainless steel material that is dishwasher safe and that is heavy enough to eliminate some movement.
They have also added a skid-proof base made from a silicone ring that is permanently affixed to the bottom. The shallow design of the bowl helps prevent whisker fatigue which can be a painful problem for cats and is usually associated with deep and narrow bowls.
The bowl is of decent quality, is tough, and it is easy to clean, while also being inexpensive. However, it is smaller than anticipated, so you should probably go a size up. As is alarmingly common with this type of product, there is a sticky adhesive label on the inside of the bowl that is difficult, if not impossible, to cleanly remove. Even if you are unconcerned by the bits of paper and adhesive, it could be enough to put your cat off drinking water from the bowl.
The Legendog Stainless Steel Cat Bowl is actually a set of three bowls, designed for dry food, wet food, and water. The bowls are different colors, each with a cat motif on the side, and they all have rubber rings on the bottom that are designed to prevent bowls from skidding across the floor.
The extra width of the ring means that it should also prevent the bowl from being spilled even if your cat sits on the edge of the bowl. Each bowl will hold approximately a quarter of a kilogram and the bowls are shallow which helps to prevent whisker fatigue and ensures a more comfortable drinking and eating position for your feline friend.
Especially considering it is a set of three, the price for these bowls is very cheap, but the paint on the outside of the bowls rubs off easily and this is especially true if you clean them in the dishwasher. The bowls may be smaller than you expect when they arrive, too, but should be suitable for most cat sizes.
The Van Ness Stainless Steel Cat Bowl is quite a shallow bowl with an 8-ounce capacity and it is suitable for dry or wet food, or for use as a water bowl.
It has an attractive cat face design inside the bowl and a bonded rubber bottom to help prevent the bowl from skidding or sliding across hard surfaces. It is a very good price. However, the cat face inside the bowl starts to wear away almost as soon as you start washing it, and without knowing what type of paint is, it might not be safe for feline consumption.
The design of the bowl also means that if your cat tends to lean against the rim, it is probably going to upset food or water all over the floor.
Pros
Cheap
Bonded rubber base
Cons
Paint rubs away when washed
Bowl easily tipped over
Buyer’s Guide: Picking the Best Stainless Steel Cat Bowls
Cat bowls are used for dry food, wet food, and water. Your cat eats and drinks from its bowl multiple times a day, so you must choose one that best meets the job at hand. Below, we cover the main considerations when buying stainless steel cat bowls, so that you can determine what is most important to you and your furry, feline friend.
Why Choose Stainless Steel?
Stainless steel is widely considered the best choice of material because it prevents the buildup of bacteria, is easy to clean, and is tough and durable while also being lightweight.
Plastic is inexpensive but it is known to harbor bacteria, and some forms of plastic can leach harmful chemicals into the food and water within the bowl. Ceramic is heavyweight and good-looking but it is difficult to clean and it can harbor bacteria as well as dirt and grime.
Although there are different grades and classes of stainless steel, it is considered the best material for items like cat bowls. Below are other factors to consider when looking for stainless steel cat bowls.
Bowl Size And Dimensions
Cat bowls do not need to be large, but they should be large enough to hold enough food for one meal without having to refill it. Whether you are using it for wet or dry food, determine how much space a meal takes and then choose a size up. If the food fills the bowl, your cat won’t be able to help but spill over the edges of the food bowl while eating.
You should also look at shallow bowls. While dogs might appreciate deep bowls, cats typically prefer shallow vessels. Not only is it easier for them to sit or stand and eat, but it can also prevent whisker fatigue.
What Is Whisker Fatigue?
Cats have very sensitive whiskers. In fact, this is their purpose. They are used to detect objects and sizes. They provide your cat with vibrational feedback, but this also means that they can become overstimulated.
Whisker fatigue is the over-stimulation of the sensory system surrounding the whiskers. It can be uncomfortable and even causes pain.
Symptoms include a refusal to eat or drink, and this is especially common when a bowl is deep and narrow. Your cat’s whiskers will rub and press against the bowl, and if this happens too often, your cat could suffer whisker fatigue.
Bowl Type
There are several types of bowls that you can benefit from:
Single – The single bowl is used to hold either dry food, wet food, or water. It stands on its own, on the floor, and you will usually have two or three bowls to meet all of your cat’s requirements.
Double – A double bowl is a single platform or tray that is used to hold two bowls. The two bowls can be used for any combination of wet food, dry food, and water. The problem with double bowls is that a messy cat can easily transfer water into the food bowl and vice versa.
Raised Feeder Bowl – A raised feeder can be beneficial for cats with arthritis or other joint and muscle complaints, although they tend to be more common with dogs than cats. They raise the bowl a small distance from the floor so that your cat doesn’t have to bend into the bowl to eat or drink.
Cage Bowl – Again, these are more common for dogs, but a cage bowl has hooks to attach to a metal cage or wire fence. They stay situated, cannot be pushed around the floor, but they are limited and they may not fit snugly so can rattle when being used.
Credit: Pixabay
Non-Slip Bases
Although stainless steel is considered a beneficial material for cat bowls, it isn’t without its drawbacks. One such drawback is the fact that it slides and scrapes on hard surfaces like kitchen floors. This increases the chance of food being sprayed out of the bowl and it can make a racket.
A non-slip base is usually made of rubber, is attached to the bottom, and prevents this movement. However, rubber cannot usually be placed in the dishwasher, so you may have to remove the rim whenever you want to wash the bowl.
Dishwasher Safe Bowls
Not all bowls can be placed in the dishwasher, and it isn’t just the rubber ring that prevents it. Some designs may rub or wash off in the detergent of the dishwasher, and some coated and painted bowls may need hand washing to prevent their design from being rubbed away. Stainless steel is easy to rub or wipe clean, but if you do want to pop yours in the dishwasher, this is a feature that you will have to ensure from the bowls you buy.
Where Should A Cat’s Bowl Be Placed?
There is no specific spot or location that is best for a cat’s bowl, but it should be placed somewhere that has little foot traffic or noise and that is quiet and peaceful. Cats are easily put off eating and drinking if their bowls are in too busy a spot.
Can I Move My Cat’s Food Bowl?
You are perfectly fine to move a cat’s food bowl, even if they have been eating in the same location for a long time. Just show your cat where the new location is, and as long as they enjoy the food you give them, they shouldn’t be picky about where the bowl is.
Should A Cat’s Food Bowl Be Elevated?
Cats are natural crouch eaters. They don’t tend to stand when eating but will crouch down onto their legs. This puts them at the desired height for eating and drinking, which is just above floor height. Although most cats will do perfectly well eating from floor height, elevating the bowl can help those with digestive problems and with muscular or joint conditions. Ensure that the bowl is not in too elevated a position, however.
Can Two Cats Share A Water Bowl?
In most cases, it is fine for multiple cats to share one water bowl. They will not usually gather around to drink at the same time, and they should not become territorial over the water like they might with some food. However, it is recommended that you have two or more water bowls in different spots so that your cat can hydrate while in different areas of the house.
Conclusion
Stainless steel cat bowls are considered tough, durable, lightweight, and safe. They are also easy to clean, but they can be light and loud, and they can be tipped over by vigorous and keen eaters. Choose the type of bowl, get one that is the right size for your cat, and ensure that you look for other factors and design elements in the bowl that you choose.
Above, we have included reviews of ten of the best stainless steel cat bowls suitable for water or food, as well as a guide to help you choose the one that is best for you and your cat.
We believe that the Hepper Nomnom Stainless Steel Cat Bowl’s double design and its kibble-catching tray design make it the best choice, although a particularly messy eater may end up with their food and water in a single bowl. The Loving Pets Bella Stainless Steel Bowl is the best cat bowl for money because it is strong, tough, and easy to clean while still being inexpensive.
Nicole is a lover of animals of all sizes but is especially fascinated with the feline variety. She’s the proud mom of Baby, a Burmese, and works every day so he can relax in the sunshine or by the fire. She’s always had a cat in her home and has spent countless days with others, observing behaviors and softening up even the grouchiest of the lot. Nicole wants to share her kitty expertise with you so you and your cat can live happy, healthy, and care-free.
