Top Rated Cat Slow-Feed Bowl – Reviews & Guide
Cats can gain weight really quickly and the best slow feed bowls for cats are designed to help them lose weight or not gain any extra weight. We know that finding the right product for your cat’s needs is time-consuming, especially because the market is filled with products that promise great results in a really short period of time. Therefore, our team has analyzed the most sought-after products on the market right now and has concluded that the PetSafe SlimCat Interactive Cat Feeder is a great choice because it is safe for your cat due to the BPA-free plastic that can easily be cleaned using your dishwasher. It is designed like a ball that releases food progressively and engages your cat in entertaining physical activity that will help it lose weight. The ball is perfect even for large cat breeds because it can hold up to 3 cups of food. However, if this is not available in your area, the Northmate Catch Interactive Cat Feeder is also a great option.
Comparison table
Our Top Choice
The design of this product is very effective at releasing food gradually, as long as your cat is playing with it. Therefore, it encourages physical activity, keeping your cat in great shape by targeting both its food intake as well as its activity levels. The ball is made of BPA-free plastic and is suited to be cleaned using the dishwasher.
It is designed to be used for adult and senior cats and the size is a little bit large for young cats that are overweight.
This is a plastic ball that prevents weight gain by slowly releasing food pieces and increasing exercise.
2nd Best
This feeder will keep your cat focused and it will mimic the way that it would feed in the wilderness, by using its paws. By being able to focus for a longer period of time, your cat will significantly reduce its aggressive behavior. The design of the feeder won’t let the food get out easily and will determine your cat to eat less.
It can hold up to only 1.25 cups of food which can be a small amount for large cat breeds that need more.
This Northmate bowl with a great design will gain your cat’s attention and reduce its food intake to keep it fit.
Also To Consider
Ceramic is a material often recommended for food bowls for pets because it does not contain any dangerous chemicals. For this reason, this bowl is preferred to plastic models, and it is also easy to wash. Due to its particular design, the cat will have to work a little for every bite of food, which means that enough time will be granted so that the cat can chew the food and digest it properly.
Smart cats seem to have no problem with figuring out how to by-pass the challenging part of the design.
A ceramic feeding bowl with a challenging design that increases its efficiency.
5 Best Slow-Feed Bowls for Cats (Reviews) in 2023
1. PetSafe SlimCat Interactive Cat Feeder
If you have a cat, you probably know that everyone in your family likes to give it a treat or two – this is why many cats are overweight. PetSafe has designed a slow feeder in order to keep your cat slim. It works by targeting two factors that can make your cat fat: the fact that it does not get enough exercise and the fact that it eats too much.
It comes in the shape of a sphere that has holes in it from which pieces of food come out while your cat is playing with it. This will also keep your cat entertained for a longer period of time and will transform eating into play. It is made of a BPA-free plastic that can be washed inside the dishwasher.
It comes with a well-calculated portion control feature and it is suitable for all cat breed sizes because it has a maximum capacity of 2-3 cups.
This slow feed bowl is very easy to clean and can also be washed in the dishwasher in order to be sanitized with the help of hot water.
It is made from BPA-free plastic and you can be sure that your cat’s health will not be harmed in any way if it eats out of this bowl.
It releases small amounts of food progressively as your cat plays with it more in order to engage your cat in more physical activity.
It can hold a relatively large amount of food or treats, a feature that provides enough food even for cats that belong to a large breed.
Due to the size, this bowl is designed to be used only for adult and senior cats, so if you have younger cats that you think could benefit from this type of slow feeder, you should consider a smaller one. However, young cats are not usually overweight because they are very playful, therefore get enough exercise, or at least they should.
2. Northmate Catch Interactive Cat Feeder, Purple
As you know, felines in the wilderness have to fight for their food and catch their prey with their paws. Cats have this instinct as well, and this is why Northmate has designed a slow feeder that mimics this aspect of a cat’s life, it makes them fight for their food but, this time, against an enemy made of plastic.
The product can hold up to 1 cup and a quarter of food and the feeding process will be slower because your cat will have to take the food out. This will make it engage in an activity that it normally would in the wild, so it activates different parts of its brain that aren’t normally used by indoor cats.
It is easy to clean and will help your cat lose weight or prevent it from gaining weight by reducing the amount of food it eats during a meal and engaging it in physical activity.
The color and the shape of the ball are designed in such a way to draw your cat’s attention and it will keep it very focused on getting the food out, which is great for improving its behavior and reducing aggressiveness.
The bottom is non-slippery, keeping it in place for the period of time that your cat plays with it.
The plastic blades are designed in such a way to not let the food fall out of it and to make your cat’s job a lot more difficult.
It is very easy to clean and you can also sanitize it at high temperatures using the dishwasher.
The amount of food this product can hold is relatively small compared to its competitors and, even if the purpose is for your cat to lose weight or not to become overweight, they still have to eat enough and for large cat breeds, a cup and a quarter might not be enough.
3. Pioneer Pet Tiger Diner Ceramic Food Bowl
Even though we are tempted to think that cats aren’t smart enough to understand interesting products and how they work, in reality, they can handle even a trap like this that allows you to place the food inside a chamber room surrounded by holes.
This special design is rather cool because it encourages the cat to try to reach for the food simply. Nevertheless, by doing so, the cat gets tired in the meantime and eats less food than she would typically do. This way, you end up saving money, and your cat feels healthier and moves faster because she loses the extra weight.
While trying to get to the food, the cat makes an important pause in the eating process which means that the digestion is improved and the stomach won’t cause any aches.
Made of ceramic, this slow feeding bowl for cats is easy to load with food and enables you to distribute food when needed automatically.
This Pioneer bowl should definitely go to your list of preferences because its design makes it a highly effective tool in protecting your cat’s health.
The design is cleverly encouraging attempts to get the food, but this is also a pretty tiresome process, so the results is a lower food intake.
This is an excellent choice for those cats that need to lose weight in order to prevent other more serious health problems, or those who simply eat out of boredom.
Another health benefit this Pioneer product brings is an improved overall digestion process, and in the long run, this can prevent other issues as well.
This bowl as well is a bit large for some cats, so if you are not sure whether it works for yours, you can ask the seller for details.
Some cats have refused to use it, but this rarely happens, so you don’t need to worry about it.
4. Catit Senses Food Tree
Since cats are felines, they enjoy a nice hunting session. This smart eating toy stimulates their instincts and ability to catch the parade.
Made from BPA-free materials, this slow feeder is safe to use for kittens. Also, it features a solid built and a wide durable base that increases the product stability. Practically, it’s almost impossible for the cat to break it. Even if she plays with it, the unit won’t topple over.
One important aspect is that this slow feeder is outfitted with three levels of difficulty which makes the challenge, even more, fun and engaging.
If the cat wants to indulge in food, she has to paw out the snack-sized portion of the tree.
There’ no need to worry about the setup and cleaning process because the instructions are clear and you can use a mild shop to rinse the tree thoroughly to remove the dirt.
If you rotate the middle disc, you can adjust the opening sizes to match your cat talents of grabbing the food.
No matter if you have adult cats or kittens, this Catit model is safe to use, especially since it’s fully made of BPA-free materials.
One of the particularities mentioned by many reviews as a cool feature is the solid base that enhances stability, which also means that your energetic little friends cannot really break it.
Since cats do like a challenge and they tend to learn new tricks rather quickly, it’s a good thing that this model includes three different levels of difficulty.
This feeder is both an effective solution to keep your cat’s digestion in top shape and a fun way for them to have a lower yet entertaining food intake.
In certain cases, this bowl works better when treats are placed inside, rather than regular dry food.
Stronger cats can still tip it over, which means that you may need to find an additional solution for the base.
5. VOFO Slow Pet Feeder Anti-Choke Pet Bowl
The unique shape of this bowl will slow down gulping and reduce the risk of bloat, which in turn will lower the risk of vomiting and gas. It is also a great purchase if you have an overweight cat or dog since it will make eating their food more challenging and will make them feel full while eating less.
You won’t have to worry that this bowl will cause your pets to view mealtime as a frustrating activity since the soft silicone obstacles won’t hurt your furry companion. What’s more, for most pets, navigating through the silicone maze is very entertaining.
This versatile product is suitable for cats and dogs, regardless of breed and weight. The special design allows it to stay glued to the floor so that pets can’t pick it up or turn it over and spill all of the food on the floor. It is also very easy to keep clean.
It has a non-slip base that will hold the bowl in place so that energetic pets can’t cheat and turn it over to spill the food.
This option is made with high-quality, food-safe silicone, which is very soft to the touch and cleans easily with warm water.
The unique design of this model will add a bit of fun to every bite, and it is large enough to be used by both cats and dogs of all breeds and ages.
You can use the bowl for dry and wet food since it can hold both types of food without the risk of spillage.
The main issue with this model is that the silicone material is not very durable, and some pets may take a bite and rip a nub off.
It can take a while for your pets to start eating from the bowl since, at first, it will make them feel a bit confused.
Our Comprehensive Buying Guide
Cat owners around the Globe know how difficult it is to have a kitten that enjoys food and can’t seem to stay away from it. This results in felines that are overweight and suffer from different health issues that can lead to severe complications. The only solution is to get the best food bowl for cats that helps your kitty regulate its eating habits. There’s no need to worry because you can find cool options for sale that are worth the money. Just read this useful buying guide that we’ve showcased in the following paragraphs.
Automatic vs. manual
Slow feeders come in different types even though their purpose is the same: to help your cat maintain the ideal weight and avoid bloating. These bowls are important because cats, unlike humans, don’t judge things carefully upon serving the dinner. They eat to survive, and sometimes they tend to exaggerate.
Feeders, on the other hand, are the best alternative if you want to encourage your funky kitten to eat less food. Cats get distracted, and they forget about eating.
If you’re on a seek for a great slow feeder, you have the possibility to opt between automatic and manual items.
The reason why automatic feeders are so popular among cat lovers is that they enable an easy and fast solution especially if you’re dealing with a feeding schedule. If you have a stressful job and you need to spend more hours at work, you’ll be grateful for this invention. Especially if you don’t have a friendly neighbor to stop by and feed the cat. Or, maybe you’re planning to go on a mini holiday and spend the overnight t a rustic motel. No matter the situations, you have the opportunity to give them only small meals daily, which is the ideal alternative for overweight kitties. All you have to do is plan the meals and set the timer. During the day, at the hours you’ve established in the settings, your cat will receive its kibbles in the slow feed bowl.
Manual slow feeders are somewhat appealing because they are more fun and interactive, which is precisely what cats love most. Usually, these cat food bowls to slow down eating are in a shape of a maze or feature different sections that catch the eye of the curious kitty. This way, they slow down from eating.
Type of food and capacity
Don’t neglect the quantity of the food that your cat eats daily because feeders have different capacities. Try to purchase a slow feeder that can store the amount of food you need to give to your cat.
You can find all the information on the product label. Find out if the feeder is adjustable and if its size allows you to joggle with the portions.
Sturdiness
Cats are fascinating animals that have the capacity to inspect each corner of the house, even the hidden ones, in search of food.
If the slow feed bowl is not sturdy enough, they could break. The vast majority of the slow feed cat bowl reviews mention the fact that it’s better to invest in a quality cat bowl that keeps your cat occupied instead of something simple, of less quality.
Materials
Slow feed bowls are from a variety of materials and there is certainly a product out there to suit the needs of every pet and owner. Different materials offer different advantages and disadvantages and below we will go through each type to make it easier for you to decide on a model.
Plastic bowls have the advantage of being very cheap and lightweight. They are also unlikely to break if you drop them and they offer a wide range of colors making it much easier to find a fun and unique design. The disadvantage is that they can be knocked over by your pet much easier in which case spillage is very likely to happen.
Stainless steel bowls are tough and durable, and they are typically dishwasher safe which makes it very easy to keep them clean. They are more expensive than plastic and you should look for options that have a non-slip base to prevent the bowl from sliding on or scratching your floor.
Lastly, if you want to combine style with function you can choose a ceramic bowl that is heavier than both stainless steel and plastic bowls. It is very difficult for your pet to knock or push a ceramic bowl and it will also keep the food cooler for longer during hot days.
Ceramic bowls are very easy to keep clean especially since most are dishwasher safe. The only downside apart from the higher price is that ceramic is more susceptible to damage if dropped or knocked hard.
Shape and color
Cats don’t like to bend their whiskers when eating or drinking which is why it is important to buy a bowl that is large enough and has a shape that can accommodate their face and whiskers. If you find that the bowl you’ve purchased does not fit this criterion, you shouldn’t be afraid to return it since otherwise, your pet will hate eating out of it.
Slow feed cat bowls come in a wide selection of different colors and shapes which means that it shouldn’t be very hard to find something that both you and the pet can enjoy. Every manufacturer employs different designs and most of them do their job very well so you are free to choose whichever design you find to be most interesting.
While your feline companion won’t care much about the color of the bowl, once you’ve considered all the other criteria listed above, there’s nothing wrong with choosing a color that matches your style.
Best Slow-Feed Bowls for Cats Brands
The team at Outward Hound is very passionate about pets and this passion is evident in the products the brand produces. You can find anything from toys, bowls, gear, and games to collars and chew toys. While the name may make you think of dogs, Outward Hound hasn’t forgotten about cats since it has a huge selection of products for your feline companion.
The main focus of this brand is on offering a selection of products that stand out from the competition because of the quality and ease of use they offer. All the toys, bowls and gear are manufactured with the needs of your pet in mind which is why they are very fun to use and made of durable and safe materials.
You’ll always have something new to purchase since Outward Hound is big on innovation as well and each year it brings new products to the table for you and your furry companion to enjoy.
This brand was founded back in 1979 when Dr. Roger Mugford, the famous animal psychologist, needed a vehicle to sell his inventions. The company is now based on a 100-acre working farm in England where specialists from all over the world research and develop new products to help resolve pet-related training and behavior problems.
The primary goal of The Company of Animals is to give owners new ways to enrich the lives of their four-legged companions. Nowadays the brand has partners, distributors, and suppliers in over 30 different countries which allows them to bring their innovative products to a worldwide market and to as many pets and their owners as possible.
The wellbeing of your pet is very important which is why the brand focuses on producing new and exciting products that everyone can afford and use. As such, there is a big focus on affordability and ease of use.
What started as a small company has now become one of the most popular brands and it focuses on producing products specifically designed for the needs of your feline companions. Its sole mission is to enhance the quality of life of your pet by providing it with the right products to meet all of its behavior needs.
From scratching posts, toys, and bowls, you can find everything that your cats need and then some more. If you have an unruly cat, Pioneer Pet’s wide range of products will help tame behaviors in the home without taking away the natural instincts of your feline.
All of the products that Pioneer Pet manufactures are designed by behavior experts and are thoroughly tested before they hit the shelves. This means that you can be certain that you get exactly what you pay for and judging by the customer feedback, it is safe to say that this brand does not disappoint.
The mission at Catit is to improve the quality of cat care around the world by designing products that can entertain, nourish, motivate, and comfort cats of all ages. It is a leading brand that continues to innovate with each product. Each model is based on dedicated research and development with valuable input from behavior specialists and cat parents around the world.
The brand focuses on four key categories of products namely senses, home, voyageur and clean. The senses line features an innovative range of stimulating products designed to encourage exercise and play.
The home line boasts a practical yet stylish array of products designed for contemporary times. The voyageur line is all about carriers that are built for safe and convenient traveling. Lastly, the clean line introduces smart litter products that will make litter maintenance not only easier but also more hygienic.
Thus, Catit is a brand that can meet the needs of every pet and owner thanks to its comprehensive line of innovative products.
Unavailable products
Joytour Slow Bowl Feeder for Cats Interactive
You know how pets react when their food looks different. Because it’s something new, they tend to move toward it and inspect it using their smell gently.
This is the principle after which this slow feeding bowl was created. The bowl features something similar to green beans inside that are affixed to the bottom. At first, the cat will try to grab them. Unfortunately, that the whole point. While she is occupied, the desire to eat food is considerably reduced.
Furthermore, the material is absolutely safe to use for feeding your cat and is entirely BPA, PVC, and phthalate-free.
It does a great job at helping with common health issues such as bloating, regurgitation, and obesity. Thanks to the engaging design, the cat is motivated to eat at a slower pace. This translates to better diet control and fewer calories eaten within one single meal.
If you want, to can use the bowl for feeding your cat or for giving her water.
Given that cats thoroughly inspect their food, especially when something is different or new, this Joytour product uses this feline characteristic to get the job done.
The green beans placed inside the feeder provide entertainment and thus reduce the desire to eat.
Another thing some pet parents might ask themselves is whether this item is made using any potentially dangerous chemicals, but the answer is no, the materials used are entirely safe for your cat.
If you decide to try this feeder out for your little friend, some of the benefits you are most probably going to notice include less regurgitation, bloating, and weight loss.
This bowl can still be moved around by cats, but you can easily solve this by placing it in a corner.
In rare cases, cats still tend to eat the food rather quickly, but in this case, as well, you can look for additional solutions.
Outward Hound Kyjen 51006 Fun Feeder Slow Feed
Your kitten will be extremely happy and entertained if you decide to get this slow feed bowl. Made entirely from safe materials, the bowl features a food-safe plastic, free of BPA, PVC, and phthalate. This means that you can rest assured that your kitten is healthy and the risk of spreading bacteria and germs is totally removed.
On top of that, the product is incredibly fun to use for cats. If yours likes to eat fast, you can easily distract her with this cool maze.
The product is outfitted with meal-lengthening ridges and mazes that keep the kittens engaged for a long period. Until they get bored and no longer have an appetite. This way, your overweight feline will start losing weight rapidly and significantly.
After each meal, you can take the bowl and wash it with a mild detergent and soap. Moreover, you can put the product in your dishwasher because it won’t suffer any cracks.
This bowl is made of food-safe materials that are free of potentially harmful chemicals, such as phthalate or PVC.
Another aspect that you may want to consider is that this bowl is also quite attractive, which means that your kitty might be very happy to have some fun with this maze design.
For yourself, this might mean a longer period during which your pet is entertained, which might also bring you some ease of mind in case you don’t spend too much time at home.
There’s nothing to worry about in terms of its maintenance, given that all you need to do is wash it with some soap and water.
Even though it does come with a slip-resistant base, this dish can still move around quite a bit.
Stronger cats might tip it over, so you might need to find an additional solution for this.
Green Interactive Feeder Large
All pets like to be challenged. And all pets, including cats, love to play fun and interactive games that they think they can win.
This slow feeding bowl has a lovely vivid color that attracts cats and makes them curious thanks to its unique shape.
If the cat wants to eat, she need to find a way to push the food using the paws. There are several blades of grass that keep the food inside the bowl and makes the entire eating process way more difficult. Nevertheless, if the cat is smart, she will manage to eat a decent amount of food that is required for her age and weight.
The best part is that this product is able to reduce the risk of gas, bloating, and vomiting that many kittens have because they tend to eat out of boredom.
Also, the bowl is made from a durable material that can be washed using the dishwasher, without having to worry about any damages.
The bright color this product comes in works like a charm in attracting your cat’s attention and making him or her curious, and the shape helps in the matter as well.
The trick of this model is that cats need to find the right way of pushing the food and they can do this by using their paws, which makes matters a lot more interesting.
The built-in blades of grass are specially designed to keep the food within the bowl, thus making the task of enjoying a meal more difficult, but that’s the whole point of slow feeding your pet.
The benefits this feeder brings are a lot more important for your cat’s health, including the prevention of bloating, gas, vomiting and many other similar ones.
This unit is a bit bigger than some previous buyers were expecting.
There’s no leaflet included in the package with instructions on how to use it.
Bibliography
1) How to Slow Down a Cat Who Is Eating Too Fast
2) The Most Common Reasons Cats Throw Up
3) Why Is My Cat Always Hungry?
4) Are Slow feeding bowls good for cats?
January 8, 2020 at 5:43 pm
That outward hound feeder was way too deep for my cats to use. They spent a few minutes poking at it and were unable to get any food out before turning to me for new food. I left it out overnight with food in it and they didn’t touch it at all.
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May 31, 2019 at 6:19 pm
I’ve been using the Catit food tree for years for my cats but they’ve figured it out. They stick their paws in and pull back, tipping it a little bit. 10 to 20 pieces come out, it’s like JACKPOT for them. Little turds — I also use the Catit digger bowl, which isn’t mentioned here. That works a bit better. I’m going to try the Outward Hound one from this article next. Gotta switch it up, keep things interesting.
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June 2, 2019 at 7:46 am
That sounds like fun for your cats but maybe it’s a little frustrating for you since it’s not a slow-feed bowl anymore :). We hope the Outward Hound one works better for you!
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March 6, 2019 at 5:25 am
Thank you. This article gave a lot of useful information. I ‘ve been looking for the right dish for my cat for awhile now. Often you can only find ones for dogs, which have a longer snout, and seem like they’d be uncomfortable for a cat. My cat is 10 years old, and tends to eat too quickly and then regurgitate. I can expect this at least 3 times a week. I want something to “help” her slow down without being too challenging or difficult pr frustrating for her. She is not overweight.( I joke that she is bulimic , and wants to maintain her girlish figure.) Based on your recommendations, I am going to get her the Joytour Interactive Feeder. It also is assuring to me that the bowl is “entirely BPA, PVC, and phthalate-free”. I hope this works for her, and that you also will be able to find the right bowl to satisfy your cat’s needs 🙂
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April 4, 2019 at 6:46 am
Great, we’re happy for you.
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