Pet Bowls & Feeders Guide: Materials, Fountains & Storage

Short answer: stainless steel bowls are the easiest to keep clean and last for years; heavy ceramic bowls stay put; plastic is light but scratches. Pick a bowl sized to your pet's face and portion, consider a raised bowl for tall dogs and a slow-feeder bowl for dogs that gulp, and give cats wide, shallow dishes and fresh water placed away from their food. Store dry food in its original bag inside an airtight container, and weigh portions in grams.

Bowl materials compared

• Stainless steel: hygienic, dishwasher safe and almost indestructible. A rubber ring or non-slip base stops it skating across the floor.
• Ceramic and stoneware: heavy and stable, available in lots of colours, and easy to clean. Check for chips and replace a chipped bowl.
• Plastic and melamine: light and inexpensive, but scratches can be hard to clean, so they suit travel or occasional use better than daily meals.
• Silicone: collapsible silicone bowls fold flat for walks and days out.

Wash food bowls after every meal and water bowls daily. Browse our dog bowls.

Raised bowls: for tall dogs

A raised feeder lifts bowls closer to chest height, which many owners of large and giant breeds find more comfortable for their dogs, and it keeps bowls off the floor and out of the way of muddy paws. Measure your dog's height at the shoulder and choose a stand with adjustable height if your dog is still growing. If your dog has any medical condition, ask your vet whether a raised bowl suits it. See our raised dog bowls.

Slow-feeder bowls: for fast eaters

If your dog finishes a meal in seconds, a slow-feeder bowl with ridges or a maze pattern makes it work around obstacles to reach the food. That turns dinner into a short puzzle and means less gulping. Start with a simpler pattern and move to a more complex one once your dog has the idea. Lick mats, smeared with wet food, work in a similar way. Browse slow-feeder dog bowls.

Cat bowls: wide and shallow

Many cats prefer to eat from a wide, shallow dish where their whiskers do not brush the sides. A slightly raised or tilted bowl can make eating more comfortable for flat-faced breeds such as Persians. Ceramic and stainless steel are the most practical materials. If you have more than one cat, give each its own bowl in a separate spot. See our cat bowls.

Water fountains: moving water

Cats in particular often drink more readily from moving water, and a fountain keeps water circulating through a filter. When choosing a fountain, compare:

• Capacity: 1.5 to 3 litres suits most single-pet homes.
• Power: check whether the pump uses a UK plug, a USB adaptor or batteries, and how loud it is if it will sit in a bedroom or a quiet kitchen.
• Filters: check how often they need changing and the cost of replacements.
• Cleaning: stainless steel and ceramic fountains are easy to clean. In hard-water areas, limescale builds up on the pump, so dismantle and descale it regularly.

Our cat water fountains include models from PetSafe and Catit; dogs can use larger fountains too.

Automatic feeders: portions on a timer

An automatic feeder releases measured portions of dry food at set times, which helps if you work long or irregular hours or want to split the daily ration into several small meals. Look for a model with battery backup in case of a power cut, a desiccant pocket to keep kibble dry, a jam-resistant dispenser that suits your kibble size, and a bowl that lifts out for washing. Feeders with app control let you check meals from your phone. Browse automatic cat feeders, including models from PETLIBRO.

Food storage: keep it fresh

Dry food stays fresh longest in a cool, dry place. The simplest approach is to keep it in the original bag, which shows the batch number and the date to use it by, and put the whole bag inside an airtight container. Choose a container sized to the bags you buy, with a tight seal, and wash and dry it between bags. Wheeled containers are handy for large bags. See our dog food storage.

Reading the food label

UK pet food labels tell you a lot. A food labelled complete is made to be fed on its own as the whole daily diet; a complementary food, which includes most treats, toppers and mixers, needs to be fed alongside a complete food. The label also states the life stage the food is made for and gives feeding amounts in grams by body weight. Weighing portions with kitchen scales is more accurate than a scoop. Our article on how to read a pet product label explains each section in more detail.

Small pets: bottles and hay racks

Rabbits, guinea pigs and other small pets should always have fresh water. A drip-free bottle fixed to the side of the cage or hutch saves space and keeps water clean, while a heavy ceramic bowl is a more natural way to drink and many rabbits prefer it; offering both is a good idea. Check bottles every day, because the ball valve can stick, and in winter make sure water in outdoor hutches has not frozen. Browse small pet water bottles and feeders.

How to choose: a quick checklist

• Choose stainless steel or ceramic for everyday bowls; keep plastic for travel.
• Pick wide, shallow dishes for cats and give each pet its own bowl.
• Consider a raised bowl for tall dogs and a slow-feeder for fast eaters.
• Check fountain capacity, power supply and filter costs, and descale in hard-water areas.
• Keep dry food in its original bag inside an airtight container.
• Check that the main food is labelled complete, and weigh portions in grams.

Frequently asked questions

What is the most hygienic material for a pet bowl?

Stainless steel is the easiest to keep clean because it does not scratch easily and is dishwasher safe. Glazed ceramic is also easy to clean as long as it is not chipped.

What is the difference between complete and complementary pet food?

A complete food is designed to be fed on its own as the whole daily diet. A complementary food, such as most treats and toppers, needs to be fed alongside a complete food.

How often should I clean a pet water fountain?

Follow the manufacturer's instructions, but most owners rinse the bowl every few days and take the fountain and pump apart for a full clean every week or two, changing the filter as recommended.

Can I return opened pet food?

Opened food cannot be returned for hygiene reasons unless it is faulty or not as described, but unused items can be returned free within 30 days. See our delivery and returns page for details.

Keep browsing

See the full feeding and bowls range, read our dog supplies buying guide and cat supplies buying guide, or explore every category on our shop by category page. Delivery is free on every UK order; see delivery and returns.