Sometimes we’re so concerned about what we feed our pets that we forget their pet food bowl is important, too.

Pet Food Bowls to Avoid

• Did you know plastic food bowls contain toxic chemicals, like BPA?  Furthermore, these toxic chemicals can leach out over time into the food or water that your pet drinks and eats.

• Did you know that plastic pet food bowls can trigger “acne” on the chins of kitties?  This is caused by the plastic material harboring bacteria – yuck.

• Even stainless steel pet food bowls, considered by some to be the best material for pet food bowls, may contain radioactive material – yikes!

• And did you know that kitties can develop “whisker fatigue” from eating out of a deep bowl?  Cats don’t like their whiskers touching the sides of a bowl so they use facial muscles to hold back their whiskers while they eat.  Instead you can use a plate or very shallow bowl for feeding your cat.  His/her whiskers will appreciate it!

Our Choice for an Inexpensive, Safe, Nontoxic Pet Food Bowl?

Ceramic dishes which have been made for human use!  You can easily pick up these dishes/bowls at thrift stores or yard sales – usually for mere pennies.  Also, they come in wonderfully different colors, patterns, and sizes so your cat or dog can have his or her own unique pet dish.  You can get small plates or shallow bowls to use for pet food or larger bowls or crocks to use as a water bowl.

Check out this beautiful crock we use as our pets’ water bowl. We found at our local thrift store for only $2:

And always make sure to wash your pet bowl daily to avoid any possible bacteria accumulating.  The easiest way to clean them?  Just run the dishes through the dishwasher each day.

In addition to providing your pet with safe and nontoxic bowls, you will be lowering your carbon paw print by recycling/reusing some fun, funky, beautiful dishes.  And that means it’s good for your pet, the planet, and your pocketbook!

Meow for Now,

Kristi & Dora