A guide to choosing the best dog and cat bowls for your pet

Image: ©Denby Pottery

As a pet owner, one of the simplest yet most important decisions you’ll make is selecting the right bowl for your furry friend. Whether it’s for water, food, or both, the right bowl will enhance your pet’s mealtime experience while contributing to their overall health and comfort. 

When choosing a bowl for your pet, it's important to consider several factors, including their breed, size, and eating habits. But with so many choices, it can be hard to know where to start. 

This guide will walk you through all of the key things to consider when choosing the best dog bowls and best cat bowls for your animal companion, including: 

• Material
• Which is the best dog bowl material
• Are ceramic dog bowls safe?
• Are ceramic cat bowls safe?
• Other materials for pet bowls
• Size
• What size water bowls should you use?
• How high should dog bowls be?
• Elevated cat food bowls: good or bad?
• How to clean dog bowls
• Is it safe to wash dog bowls in dishwashers?
• Style: matching your pet’s bowl to your home

Material

Image: ©Denby Pottery

When it comes to selecting the best dog bowls and cat bowls, material is one of the most important factors to consider. It affects the bowl’s durability, ease of cleaning, and even your pet’s health. 

This section will look at some of the most popular options for dogs and cats.

Which is the best dog bowl material?

Ceramic is one of the best materials for dog bowls, offering numerous benefits for both you and your pet: 

• It’s stylish: Let’s face it: ceramic pet bowls just look better than plastic or metal ones do. Denby’s handcrafted ceramic pet bowls are designed to be both functional and stylish, available in a variety of our best-loved glazes to blend seamlessly into your home décor. 
• It’s sturdy: Ceramic is heavy enough to prevent your pet from pushing the bowl around or tipping it over while eating. This makes it a great option for pets who are particularly active during mealtimes — dogs, cats, and rabbits to name a few!
• It’s durable: Being scratch-resistant, ceramic can stand the test of little paws, claws, and teeth. In fact, our ceramic bowls are so durable we offer a ten-year guarantee.
• It’s hygienic: Ceramic is one of the most hygienic materials for eating. For one thing, it’s easy to clean, and its non-porous surface means it won’t absorb odors, stains, and bacteria as easily as other materials. 
• It’s a good insulator: Ceramic is great for keeping food hotter for longer — that’s why it’s used for plates and serveware. This is good news if your pet prefers warm food. Likewise, ceramic will keep its contents cooler for longer, meaning there’s less danger of it becoming too hot if left outside and spoiling the contents, like a metal bowl might.

Are ceramic dog bowls safe?

Ceramic is one of the best dog bowl materials on the market, and, when made properly, they’re perfectly safe for your animal companion. Denby’s pet bowls are made with food-grade ceramic, and glazed with a lead-free, cadmium-free glaze which is completely safe for your pet.

Our bowls are also microwave, dishwasher- and freezer-friendly, making food prep and clean-up safe and easy.  

Are ceramic cat bowls safe? What about other animals?

Yes, ceramic is one of the best materials for cat bowls, and your feline friend can safely use them for both food and water. Ceramic is also considered safe for a whole host of other pets, including rabbits, hamsters, birds and even tortoises. Many pets can use ceramic bowls for both food and water, while some may need a special water bottle or fountain.

Other materials for pet bowls

Stainless steel is another popular option. Stainless steel bowls resist rust and bacteria buildup, making them a safe choice for both food and water. 

However, stainless steel does tend to be lighter than ceramic, meaning that pets who tend to toss their bowls might create a bit of a mess. 

In general, it is not advisable to use plastic bowls for pets. Plastic is porous and can harbour bacteria, as well as toxic chemicals that could harm your animal.

Size

Image: ©Denby Pottery

Choosing the right-sized bowl is essential for ensuring your pet’s comfort and convenience. A bowl that’s too small can make it difficult for your pet to eat or drink, while a bowl that's too large may lead to spills and messes. 

Generally, it’s a good idea to choose a bowl that can comfortably hold the amount of food your pet consumes in a single meal. Of course, this will vary depending on your pet’s size and breed. For instance, a hamster requires far less food than a Labrador.

If your pet likes to push their food around in their bowl (dogs, for example, commonly do this) choosing a bowl that can hold between two and four times the amount they eat will help prevent messes.

What size water bowls should you use?

The best dog water bowls are typically larger than their food bowls — sometimes up to four times the size, especially if your dog eats dry food rather than wet. The amount of water your dog drinks will depend on factors like size, breed, and age, so it’s important to adjust the bowl size to meet your pet's specific needs. Moreover, dogs with larger muzzles may benefit from a bowl with a wider opening, while breeds with smaller faces might need a narrower one.

Similarly, the best cat water bowls should also be larger than their food bowls, again up to four times bigger. As with dogs, it's important to choose the size that suits your cat’s drinking habits.

How high should dog bowls be?

In most cases, dogs don’t need an elevated bowl and can comfortably eat from a standard bowl placed on the floor. However, each dog is unique, so it’s important to consider their individual needs. Some dogs, for example, may have health needs that would make using a raised bowl more comfortable. If you’re unsure of what the best type of bowl for your pet is, speak to your vet.

Elevated cat food bowls: good or bad?

Should cat bowls be elevated? It’s a common question among pet owners. As cat lovers will know, they can be fussy drinkers, and many are tolerant of thirst, so it’s important to choose a bowl that encourages hydration.

For cats with specific needs, such as older pets or breeds with longer legs, the benefits of elevated cat bowls can be significant. Elevated bowls reduce the strain of bending down, making mealtime more comfortable and less stressful for your cat. 

Whisker fatigue — a condition caused by overstimulation of a cat’s sensitive whiskers — can be exacerbated by using the wrong food and water bowls. Shallow bowls are some of the best cat bowls for whisker fatigue, allowing your cat to eat and drink without their whiskers touching the sides. 

How to clean dogs' bowls 

Image: ©Denby Pottery

Hygiene is crucial to keeping a healthy, happy pet. It’s recommended to clean your pet’s food and water bowls daily to ensure they stay free from harmful bacteria.

You can wash your pet’s bowls by hand using hot, soapy water and a gentle brush to remove food residue. Regular dish soap is considered safe for most types of pets, including cats and dogs. Just be sure to rinse off any remaining soap suds after washing.

Alternatively, you can use the dishwasher for quick and hassle-free cleanup of your pet’s bowls. Keep in mind that not all bowls will offer this feature, so it’s worth checking the product care information before throwing them in the machine. Denby’s pet bowls are dishwasher-safe, so you can easily clean them in your dishwasher without worrying about damaging the material. As with hand-washing, always ensure you rinse any soap residue off the bowl at the end so your pet won’t ingest it.

Style: Matching your pet’s bowl to your home

Image: ©Denby Pottery

When selecting the best dog bowls or best cat bowls, it’s not just about function — the way they look matters too. Your pet’s bowl is a staple in your home, so opting for one that complements your home décor is a great idea. After all, who wouldn’t want their beloved animal companion to dine in style?

Denby’s ceramic pet bowls are designed to last a lifetime, in more ways than one. Handcrafted by artisans from Derbyshire clay, they’re sturdy and durable, featuring timeless designs that will continue to look stunning for years to come. 

Our bowls are available in six of our classic glazes — Kiln, Halo, Studio Grey, Blue Haze, Heritage Piazza, and Heritage Pavilion. These versatile designs seamlessly blend into any home, adding a touch of elegance to your pet’s mealtime. You can even match your pet’s bowl to your own dinnerware, creating a cohesive and stylish dining space for both you and your furry companion.

Choosing the best dog bowls or cat bowls is about more than just picking something functional — it’s about ensuring your pet’s health, comfort, and safety. With Denby’s range of beautifully handcrafted ceramic pet bowls, you can give your pet the best, with the added bonus of easy care and a stylish design.

Ready to shop? Explore our full collection of pet bowls today. Or, if you’re looking for more design ideas, visit our inspiration hub for all our best styling tips.