Whiskers are sensitive sensory tools that cat use to navigate their environment. If their food and water bowls have high sides that constantly touch their whiskers, it may lead to whisker fatigue, which can lead to other problems.
You’re looking for a cat bowl that won’t irritate your cat and we’re here to help. Here are 10 of the best cat bowls for whisker relief.
A Quick Glance at Our Favorites in 2024
Image | Product | Details | ||
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Best Overall | Hepper NomNom Cat Bowl |
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Budget Buy | Van Ness Non-Skid Cat Dish |
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Necoichi Extra Wide Cat Food Bowl |
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CatGuru Stress Free Cat Bowl |
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PetRageous Oval Ceramic Cat Dish |
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The 10 Best Whisker Relief Cat Bowls
1. Hepper NomNom Whisker-Relief Cat Bowl – Best Overall
Dimensions: | 16 x 9 x 2 in |
Capacity: | 10 oz |
Materials: | Stainless steel, PP plastic |
Dishwasher safe: | Yes (top rack) |
If you’re a cat owner looking for the best whisker relief cat bowl, you will find the Hepper NomNom Cat Bowl an absolute delight. Its sleek, contemporary design, coupled with the inclusion of two spacious stainless steel dishes, ensures a joyful and comfortable dining experience for all beloved feline friends. The wrap-around tray that supports the dual bowls prevents crumbs from scattering around the feeding area, making cleanup a breeze, while the whisker-friendly feature keeps your cats content and happy during every meal.
In addition to its functional benefits, this bowl adds a touch of elegance to any home decor with its stylish appearance and three color options (white, grey, or pink). Dishwashing becomes hassle-free, as the entire bowl (three separate pieces) is dishwasher-safe. While the bowl is slightly more expensive than a traditional cat bowl, the convenience of having two bowls in one, along with its high-quality construction, makes it a worthwhile investment that will bring years of happiness to both cats and owners.
With the Hepper NomNom Bowl, you can rest assured that your feline companion will enjoy every mealtime in style and comfort.
At Pet Keen, we’ve admired Hepper for many years, and decided to take a controlling ownership interest, so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool cat company!
2. Van Ness Ecoware Non-Skid Cat Dish – Budget Buy
Dimensions: | 25 x 5.25 x 1.25 in |
Capacity: | 8 oz |
Materials: | Bamboo, silicone |
Dishwasher safe: | No |
When you’re working with a budget but still want a good whisker relief cat bowl, we recommend the Van Ness Ecoware Non-Skid Cat Dish. This bowl is designed with whiskers in mind, so it offers relief from whisker stress. Its design also allows your pet better access to their food. The non-skid silicone on the bottom of the bowl keeps the bowl from sliding and scratching up your floor, plus helps prevent spills from occurring.
The Van Ness Ecoware bowl is made from 47% bamboo material that contains no chemicals or heavy metals, making it safer for your pet to eat from. While it isn’t safe for the dishwasher, cleaning is still easy as all that’s required is a quick handwash.
3. Necoichi Ceramic Elevated Cat Food Bowl
Dimensions: | 6 x 6 x 4.1 in |
Capacity: | 16 oz |
Materials: | Ceramic |
Dishwasher safe: | Yes |
The Necoichi Extra Wide Ceramic Elevated Cat Food Bowl is the next pick on our list, and it’s super wide to provide less stress for your kitty’s whiskers, but the elevated height of the bowl provides relief from neck strain. That makes it perfect for felines with arthritis and senior cats. The curved shape of the bowl means your kitty won’t have to chase around the last bits and pieces of its food, as food will stay in the bowl’s center. Plus, with an extra wide lip on the inside, spills will be a thing of the past!
This bowl is made from FDA-approved materials that are not only dishwasher-safe but microwave-safe as well.
4. CatGuru Whisker Stress Free Cat Food Bowl
Dimensions: | 6 x 6.6 x 1.2 in |
Capacity: | 5 oz |
Materials: | Melamine |
Dishwasher safe: | Yes |
The patented shallow, rippled design of the CatGuru Whisker Stress Free Cat Food Bowl allows your cat to get to its food more easily, which means its whiskers are kept clear of stress, and its face is kept clean. The bowl only holds 5 ounces of food at a time, so if your kitty is an overeater, this will help keep them from eating too much. Because melamine is used to make these, they are more durable than most cat bowls. This material also makes them less noisy than stainless steel and less absorbent of odors than plastic. The bowl contains non-slip legs to prevent the bowl from sliding all over the place.
This company has a 100% Happiness Guarantee, so if you or your cat are displeased for any reason, you can return the bowl.
5. PetRageous Designs Frisky Kitty Oval Ceramic Cat Dish
Dimensions: | 5 x 5.5 x 1.5Â in |
Capacity: | 3 oz |
Materials: | Ceramic |
Dishwasher safe: | Yes |
The PetRageous Designs Frisky Kitty Oval Ceramic Cat Dish is made from hand-crafted and oven-fired stoneware to create a highly durable product. Compliant with FDA regulations for human consumption, this bowl is extra wide and shallow to prevent whiskers from coming into contact with it or your pet’s food. It’s safe to put in the dishwasher for easy cleaning, as well as microwave safe if you prefer to heat your cat’s meals. Each bowl is hand-painted using lead-free paint, so it’s both adorable and safe for your kitty to eat from. Plus, since it only holds around 5 ounces of food, you can make sure your cat isn’t overeating.
6. PetRageous Designs Metro Oval Ceramic Dog & Cat Dish
Dimensions: | 25 x 6.25 x 1.5 in |
Capacity: | 8 oz |
Materials: | Ceramic |
Dishwasher safe: | Yes |
This PetRageous Designs Metro Oval Ceramic Dog & Cat Dish may be a tiny bit less cute than the last, but it’s equally as good for pet owners who want to give their cats’ whiskers some relief from stress and fatigue. It’s super shallow, so whiskers won’t get into food or hit the bowl, plus the design helps food to stay in the bowl where it belongs. This ceramic bowl is solid and durable and dishwasher and microwave safe for simple cleaning and heating. It’s also compliant with FDA regulations for human consumption, so you know it’s safe for your cat to eat from. And the smaller size means your pet won’t be able to overeat.
7. Dr. Catsby’s Whisker Relief Stainless Steel Cat Bowl
Dimensions: | 7.08 x 7.08 x 1.25 in |
Capacity: | 12 oz |
Materials: | Stainless steel, silicone |
Dishwasher safe: | Yes |
The Dr. Catsby’s Whisker Relief Non-Skid Stainless Steel Cat Bowl boasts that feline tests have been done, side-by-side with other bowls, to prove that our feline friends prefer this bowl over others. Because the sides of this bowl are low, your pet won’t be forced to constantly pull back their whiskers to keep them safe from getting in food or brushing against the bowl itself. The shallow shape of the bowl was designed after several cats’ faces and whiskers were measured to find the perfect proportions, so it should be great for any kitty. This bowl is made from stainless steel that is BPA-free for safer eating and is easier for you to pick up and put down due to the cut-out on the side. It also comes with a non-skid, silicone mat to keep food from spilling all over the place.
8. Kitty City Cat Bowl
Dimensions: | 5.38 x 3.25 x 4 in |
Capacity: | 5. oz |
Materials: | Plastic |
Dishwasher safe: | Yes (top rack) |
The Kitty City Cat Bowl offers a raised bowl designed to promote a better, healthier posture for your kitty. The ergonomic, oval shape provides your pet with a bowl that’s far friendlier to their whiskers and makes getting to food a lot simpler. You get two bowls with this one, so you’ll have one for food and one for water. The bowl is made from plastic, so it’s safe to put in the top rack of your dishwasher, and the bottom of the bowls is non-skid so that they won’t slip on your floors.
9. UPSKY Cat Dog Bowl Raised Cat Food Water Bowl
Dimensions: | 3 x 6.3 x 2.5 in |
Capacity: | 16 oz |
Materials: | Melamine |
Dishwasher safe: | Yes |
The UPSKY Cat Dog Bowl Raised Cat Food Water Bowl is unique in that not only is it raised to keep your cat’s posture looking great, but it offers three different bowl positions. The bowl can rotate to these different positions via the use of magnets, so you can find the angle that works best for your pet. The wideness of the bowl helps your kitty’s whiskers from getting fatigued, while the slight slope helps prevent food from spilling out. There are also four pieces of non-slip rubber on the bottom to further keep the bowl in place and food where it belongs.
This bowl is made from melamine, so it’s safe to put in the dishwasher, and the bowl is removable for easier cleaning.
10. CatGuru Ceramic Cat Food Bowl
Dimensions: | 7 x 6 x 3.5 in |
Capacity: | 16 oz |
Materials: | Ceramic |
Dishwasher safe: | Yes |
If you’re looking for a bowl that will not only offer your cat some relief for their whiskers but also help prevent food spillage, the CatGuru Ceramic Cat Food Bowl is just the thing! It’s super wide to keep whiskers safe, while the back is raised to help keep food in the bowl where it belongs. It also comes with a silicone mat that’s non-slip to keep the bowl from sliding around when kitty is eating or drinking.
This bowl is made from ceramic that is BPA-free, so it’s safer for your pet to eat from. You can also safely use it in the dishwasher or microwave.
Buyer’s Guide: Selecting the Best Whisker Relief Cat Bowls
FAQ
Many people have some common questions about whisker fatigue and whisker-relief bowls.
What Is Whisker Fatigue?
Your cat’s whiskers hold a lot of touch receptors that pull in a ton of sensory information. Their whiskers let them know what’s surrounding them and where they are in location to these items, for example. So, each time your cat goes to eat or drink in a standard cat bowl, its whiskers are brushing up against the bowl and pulling in information, causing what could become a sensory overload. When this keeps on occurring, it can cause anxiety and stress—otherwise known as whisker fatigue.
How Will You Know If Your Cat Is Suffering From It?
If your cat is feeling overwhelmed because of their food and water bowls, they’ll likely let you know. The most common ways your cat may be telling you its whiskers are stressed are by pawing food or water onto the floor or even tipping their bowls over entirely. Other signs of whisker fatigue include getting cranky when it’s time for meals, pacing by food bowls, and leaving food at the edges of their bowls. Cats may also sit and stare at their bowls, as if they are contemplating their life choices, before beginning to eat.
How Can Whisker Fatigue Be Helped?
To offer your cat quick relief from whisker fatigue, you can invest in a whisker relief cat bowl. These bowls have been designed to be wider and shallower to keep your pet’s whiskers from brushing against the bowl or their food.
What To Look For In A Whisker Relief Cat Bowl
Picking out a cat bowl designed for whisker relief will be a bit different than picking out a regular cat bowl. You’ll need to look at several considerations, particularly how it’s shaped.
Size
Most whisker relief cat bowls are designed to be wide and shallow, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they are all on the larger side. Some bowls may be on the smaller side to hold less food and prevent overeating. If a bowl is too small for your kitty’s face, its whiskers will still brush against the bowl and food, causing whisker fatigue.
Shape
A cat bowl made to prevent whisker stress should be super wide so whiskers will fit without getting smushed or touching the edges of the bowl. The flatter or more shallow they are, the more room will be available for your pet’s whiskers as well (although if it’s a water bowl you need, you might want one a little less shallow, so the water stays inside). To help food or water remain in the bowl, you should look for one that has a raised lip or even a raised back.
Amount Of Food It Can Hold
You don’t want a bowl that’s very deep because that defeats the purpose of the whisker relief cat bowl, but you do want to be sure it will hold enough food for your cat’s mealtimes. The shallow design can mean that the bowl holds less food than your cat is used to. Plus, some bowls purposely only hold a few ounces, so you can keep an eye on how much your pet is eating. If you aren’t watching your feline’s weight, one of these bowls could be much too small for them.
Material
Whisker relief cat bowls will come in a variety of materials, some of which are more durable or safer for your cat than others. Usually, these materials will consist of plastic, ceramic, and stainless steel.
Plastic bowls will be cheaper and simple to clean, but they can easily get scratched up. Ceramic bowls will be harder to scratch up, as well as heavier, so they slide less. They’ll be easy to clean as well. However, ceramic bowls can chip and break if you aren’t careful, and sharp edges are no good for your pet’s mouth. Stainless steel bowls will be a bit more expensive and very durable, but they are lightweight enough to be tipped over.
How Easy It Is To Keep Clean
Cleaning out your cat’s bowls can be a pain if you aren’t careful. Luckily, the shallow design of most whisker relief cat bowls makes cleaning much easier. Plus, many these days are safe to load in the dishwasher if you aren’t a fan of washing by hand.
Anti-skid
You definitely don’t want your cat’s bowls sliding all over the place or tipping over (especially if there’s water in them!). So, look for whisker relief cat bowls that contain a base made of rubber or silicone that’s designed not to skid. Bonus? Anti-skid bowl bottoms will keep your floor from getting scratched!
Elevated Or No
Having an elevated cat bowl isn’t a necessity, but it’s something you might want to look into. The purpose of a raised bowl is to avoid putting strain on your cat’s neck from bending down to eat. This means that elevated bowls are fabulous for older cats or cats with arthritis and joint issues. Elevated bowls can also be helpful for kitties prone to throwing up their food, as it helps keep their mouths and stomachs in line.
Price
Checking the prices of bowls is always advisable. While most whisker relief cat bowls won’t be a strain on any budget, there are a few that will be pricier, and you may end up spending more than you want if you aren’t careful.
Reviews
It’s also advisable to read reviews from other pet owners who have used a product, as their experiences can help you figure out what might work best for your pet.
Conclusion
When you’re looking for the overall best whisker relief cat bowl for your cat, you’ll want to go with the Hepper NomNom Cat Bowl, as its super shallow design provides much relief, plus it comes with two bowls. If you’re on a budget, the Van Ness Ecoware Non-Skid Cat Dish offers the best value and all the whisker relief your cat will need.
We hope our list has helped you to find the bowl you’ve been looking for, and more importantly, helped your kitty keep his whiskers in comfort while he eats.
Featured Image Credit: Hepper