In general, a healthy adult cat should drink 3.5–4.5 ounces (104–133 milliliters) of water per 5 pounds (2.2 kg) of body weight. Cats that don’t drink enough water are at risk of dehydration, which can cause serious health concerns over time.1 Staying hydrated is especially key if you and your cat live in areas of extremely high temperatures, such as you might find in parts of Australia.
Unfortunately, many cats don’t get enough water, and that’s a cause for concern. To help encourage your cat to keep drinking, you need the perfect water bowl. If you’re not sure how to find what you need, we’ve got you covered. In this article, you’ll find reviews of our picks for the 10 best cat water bowls in Australia. We’ve included a buyer’s guide as well, offering even more advice for finding your kitty’s new favorite beverage holder.
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites (2023)
Image | Product | Details | ||
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Best Overall |
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Juqiboom Bowls with Non-Spill Mat |
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Check Price |
Best Value |
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Tilted Cat Bowl |
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Check Price |
Premium Choice |
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Ofat Home Cat Water Fountain |
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Check Price |
Best for Kittens |
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Tolupu Slow Water Feeder |
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Check Price |
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Jemirry Elevated Ceramic Cat Bowl |
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Check Price |
The 10 Best Cat Water Bowls in Australia
1. Juqiboom Bowls with Non-Spill Mat – Best Overall
Materials: | Stainless steel, silicone |
Capacity: | 13.5 ounces (400 milliliters) |
Dishwasher safe?: | Yes |
Our pick for the best overall cat water bowl in Australia is the Juqiboom Bowls with Non-Spill Mat. We like that these bowls come as a set for food and water and that all components are dishwasher-safe. The bowls are set in a non-skid, silicone mat with raised edges. They may not be as messy as dogs, but cats can still cause the need for a clean-up when drinking.
This bowl stays in place as they drink, so it won’t scare or frustrate your cat by moving. It comes in four colors and is made of food-grade materials that are heat and corrosion-resistant. The mat folds easily over the bowls for convenient transport if needed. Users gave these bowls positive reviews overall but mentioned that the bowl needs to be refilled often for heavy drinkers.
2. Tilted Cat Bowl – Best Value
Materials: | Stainless steel, rubber |
Capacity: | 200 milliliters (7 ounces) |
Dishwasher safe?: | Yes |
Our choice for the best cat water bowl in Australia for the money is this cute, tilted option. The stainless steel bowl encased in a silicone rubber ring is stable and easy to clean. The wide, tilted opening makes it easier for cats with flat faces to drink their fill.
However, this bowl doesn’t hold very much water and will need to be refilled frequently for heavy drinkers or multi-cat households. It’s available in two colors and made of food-grade materials. It is sturdy and able to tolerate heat. The rubber ring keeps the bowl from sliding and protects floors from damage.
3. Ofat Home Cat Water Fountain – Premium Choice
Materials: | Stainless steel |
Capacity: | 2.5 Liters |
Dishwasher safe?: | Yes |
Some cats are more likely to drink moving water; if your kitty is one of them, consider the Ofat Home Cat Water Fountain. This stainless-steel product holds 2.5 liters of water, which cycles through a filter in continuous motion. It’s powered by electricity and comes with a USB plug-in or an Australian power adaptor.
The fountain is dishwasher-safe and quiet enough that it shouldn’t keep you up at night. Constant streams of water help attract your cat’s attention and encourage them to drink more. However, if your cat likes to play in water, this fountain could make a bit of a mess. You’ll also need to clean the fountain pump and filter every two weeks.
Most users reported good results when using this fountain, although some noted it might take some cats a few days to start drinking from it.
4. Tolupu Slow Water Feeder – Best for Kittens
Materials: | Rubber |
Capacity: | 29 ounces (858 milliliters) |
Dishwasher safe?: | No |
Small kittens have a bad habit of falling in water bowls, which is both messy and potentially dangerous. To prevent this, try the Tolupu Slow Water Feeder bowl. It features a standard water bowl with a floating disk component that rests on the surface of the water. When the cat licks at the hole in the center of the disk, it pushes down enough for water to emerge.
The bowl only releases as much as they drink in that one lick, making this a much neater way to hydrate your kitten. These bowls aren’t dishwasher safe and must be cleaned at least twice a week. Made of non-toxic, bite-resistant material, this bowl is durable and helps keep your kitten’s water clean as they drink.
5. Jemirry Elevated Ceramic Cat Bowl
Materials: | Ceramic |
Capacity: | Not specified |
Dishwasher safe?: | No |
This cute, elevated cat bowl makes drinking easier for flat-faced kitties and is less stressful on the neck and spine. The Jemirry Elevated Ceramic Cat Bowl is not dishwasher-safe but can be cleaned by hand with soap and water. It’s non-toxic, odor-free, and smooth on the inside to prevent injury to your cat’s tongue.
Your cat won’t need to dip their head as far down to drink, which puts less pressure on their neck. This bowl is especially good for older kitties that may be dealing with some pain and inflammation from arthritis. Users report that this bowl is sturdy and resistant to breaks. It holds a good amount of water and seems to encourage kitties to drink more frequently.
6. Nat and Jules Stoneware and Wood Bowl with Stand
Materials: | Ceramic, wood |
Capacity: | Not specified, 6 inches high x 3 inches tall |
Dishwasher safe?: | No |
For the cat owner who values home design and décor, consider the Nat and Jules Stoneware Ceramic and Wood Pet Bowl with Stand. This product looks like a work of art and will fit beautifully into a modern-style home. The heavy-duty ceramic bowl is available in four colors and fits neatly into a lovely wooden frame.
You can use the bowl with or without the stand, but the look of both together is quite striking. The frame also helps keep the bowl steady while your cat drinks. Unfortunately, this bowl is hand-wash only and not dishwasher-safe. It makes a nice gift for new kitty parents or home buyers. Because it’s ceramic, it likely won’t react well if pushed off a countertop, as some cats are fond of doing.
7. ComSaf Cat Food and Water Bowl
Materials: | Porcelain |
Capacity: | 10 ounces (300 milliliters) |
Dishwasher safe?: | Yes |
These shallow, wide water bowls are designed to protect your cat’s whiskers from damage, as well as being easy to eat and drink from. The ComSaf Cat Food and Water Bowl come in a convenient two-pack. The bowls are made of non-toxic, odor-free porcelain, but are dishwasher and microwave-safe.
The heavy weight makes it difficult for even an active cat to tip this bowl over or push it out of place, and the company offers a 120-day money-back guarantee. Users were pleased with these bowls overall but mentioned that they don’t hold much water and multiple cats drain them pretty quickly.
8. Automatic Cat Food and Water Dispenser
Materials: | Plastic |
Capacity: | 3.8 liters |
Dishwasher safe?: | No |
This large-capacity, automatic water dispenser is an excellent choice for Australians with multiple cats or ones caring for a colony of outdoor kitties. The gravity water tank keeps a constant supply of liquid in the bowl for the cats to enjoy.
This product is made of BPA-free plastic and completely recyclable. Some cats develop skin irritation from using plastic bowls, so keep that in mind if your kitty is sensitive or has allergies. The automatic water station doesn’t require batteries or electricity to do its job, which is another reason it’s a fine option for use outdoors.
Weekly cleaning is recommended, but this product is not dishwasher-safe. Users report that these water dispensers are easy to assemble and seem to work well.
9. Harper’s Tale Collapsible Travel Bowl
Materials: | Silicone |
Capacity: | 34 ounces (1,000 milliliters) and 13.5 ounces (400 milliliters) |
Dishwasher safe?: | Yes |
These bowls are designed for dogs, but that’s assuming that our canine friends are the ones doing all the traveling. With more and more cat owners taking their kitties on adventures, this Harper’s Tale Collapsible Travel Bowl isn’t just for the dogs anymore! Two bowl sizes are included in this pack.
The bowls fit into each other and collapse for convenient storage. They come with a carabiner clip, ideal for saving space on a backpacking trip. Made of food-grade, BPA-free silicone, these bowls are tough, yet easy to clean. They are dishwasher-safe, with no plastic materials. They receive excellent reviews from previous users, who especially loved how portable they were.
The quality of the product was disappointed some customers, reporting their bowls cracked quickly.
10. Ryxia Stainless Steel Bowl
Materials: | Stainless steel, rubber |
Capacity: | 40 ounces (1,183 milliliters) |
Dishwasher safe?: | Yes |
If you’re looking for a basic, no-frills water container, the Ryxia Stainless Steel Bowl offers just that. This two-pack of bowls instantly gives you both food and water capacity. These bowls have a flat bottom to reduce tipping and a removable rubber rim to prevent skidding. Once the rim is removed, the bowls are dishwasher safe.
Users mentioned that the rubber breaks down easily if it is washed frequently. The bowls are lightweight, which may make them harder to use for large, active cats. Most users were pleased with this product, but some noted that the metal bowls seemed to rust easily.
Buyer’s Guide: Buying the Best Cat Water Bowls in Australia
As you prepare to pick out your cat’s new water bowl, check out our buyer’s guide first to make sure you really know what you want. Here are some points to consider as you shop.
How Many Cats Do You Have?
How many cats will be drinking out of the new water bowl? If you only have one cat, your options are plentiful. However, multi-cat households will want to consider one of the larger bowls or fountains unless they want to spend all day refilling bowls.
What Is the Bowl Made Of?
On our list, you’ll find bowls made of several materials. In general, ceramic or metal bowls tend to be sturdier and less irritating to cats, though they are also more expensive. Non-toxic, BPA-free materials are best as well. If your cat likes to shove the bowl around on a counter or table, a metal bowl that won’t break when it falls might be the best choice.
How Big Is the Bowl?
Even one cat that drinks a lot of water will have you scrambling to refill multiple times per day. To avoid this scenario, buy a bowl that has enough capacity to at least get your cat through the day. Think back to our calculations from the introduction to calculate how much your cat should be drinking in a day and use that to help determine what size to buy.
Is the Bowl Easy to Clean?
This last point is an important one because cat water bowls can quickly become pink and slimy if you neglect washing them. Outdoor cat bowls may also collect dirt, bugs, hair, and other debris. The quickest cleaning method is the dishwasher, but some of the bowls on our list aren’t suited for that.
Conclusion
As our best overall pick for cat water bowls in Australia, the Juqiboom Bowls with Spill Mat are durable, easy to clean, and help keep messes contained. Our best cat water bowl for the money, the 200 mL Tilted Cat Bowl, makes it easy for your kitty to drink without having to bend their head down. We hope our reviews of these 10 cat water bowls are helpful to you in your quest to encourage your kitty to stay cool and hydrated in Australian temperatures.
Featured Image Credit: Vershinin89, Shutterstock