1. Plastic cat bowls
Products made of plastic materials on the market can generally be classified into PE, PP, PC, PVC, ABS, etc. And most of the common plastic cat bowls are made of PP material, while some are made of PC material.
Advantages: They are inexpensive and come in various shapes and colors.
Plastic cat bowls have the following problems:
1） Poor stability
Plastic will age when exposed to high temperatures, ultraviolet rays or after long-term use, posing potential safety hazards. For example, in an environment under direct sunlight, plastic cat bowls may become brittle, deformed and even release harmful substances.
2） Low surface hardness and poor smoothness
They are prone to scratches, and the oily substances in the scratches are difficult to remove, which easily leads to the growth of bacteria. When cats eat, the oil in the cat food will adhere to the bowl and it is very difficult to wash it off once it gets into the scratches, which will cause bacteria to multiply.
3） Prone to causing health problems for cats
When cats lick the bowl, they are likely to get the oily substances or bacteria on the bowl onto their chins, causing folliculitis and resulting in the symptom of “black chin”.
4） Easy to be moved or knocked over
Plastic cat bowls are usually lighter. During the process of eating, cats may accidentally kick them over or push them away while licking, causing inconvenience.
For the health and convenience of cats when having meals, it is recommended to choose cat bowls made of safer and more durable materials, such as stainless steel or ceramic cat bowls. These materials are superior to plastic cat bowls in terms of stability, hygiene performance and so on.
2. Melamine cat bowls
Melamine tableware, also known as imitation porcelain tableware, is formed by heating, pressing and molding melamine resin powder.
Advantages: It is lightweight, beautiful, resistant to bumps, corrosion-resistant, hard, durable and not easy to break, and safe to use. It is generally used in the catering industry and children’s food service industry. Cat bowls made of melamine material have a higher density than those made of plastic material, with higher surface hardness and better smoothness. They are not easy to get scratched, so they have better hygienic performance and are less likely to cause the problem of “black chin” for cats.
Disadvantages: It can’t withstand high temperatures above 80 °C. After being used for a long time, a layer of brown patchy marks is likely to form on the surface, which will affect its appearance.
3. Stainless steel cat bowls
The common stainless steel tableware on the market is basically made of SUS304 and SUS430, with a thickness ranging from 0.4 to 0.5 millimeters and being lightweight.
Advantages: It can withstand high temperatures, has high hardness, good impact resistance, is easy to clean and is not prone to breeding bacteria.
Disadvantages: The surface of stainless steel cat bowls is prone to retaining grease and fingerprints, which affects the appearance. Moreover, long-term contact with salty and acidic foods will cause the electrolytes in the food to have a complex “electrochemical reaction” with the metal elements in the tableware, resulting in the dissolution of some metal elements. Also, due to its lightweight material, it is easy to be kicked over or pushed away by cats when they lick it.
4. Ceramic cat bowls
Ceramic bowls are basically the must-have choice for every experienced cat owner. The firing temperatures of common ceramic tableware on the market are basically medium to high temperatures. The firing temperature of medium-temperature ceramics is between 1200 °C and 1280 °C, while that of high-temperature ceramics is above 1280 °C. The higher the firing temperature of ceramics is, the greater the hardness, the better the density and the better the smoothness will be, so it is less likely to get scratched. In addition, ceramic tableware can also be made into different shapes and patterns for people to choose from.
Advantages: They are elegant and beautiful, with diverse shapes and colors, have a smooth and delicate glaze surface, are easy to clean, are not prone to breeding bacteria, can withstand high temperatures, are resistant to acids, alkalis and corrosion, do not deteriorate, are stable in nature and are not prone to chemical reactions. Moreover, ceramic cat bowls are relatively heavy and are not easy to be kicked over or pushed away by cats when they lick them.
Disadvantages: They are fragile and easy to break.
5. Glass cat bowls
Due to the influence of the manufacturing process and materials, the cost of glass materials is higher compared to that of ceramic tableware.
Advantages: They have a simple and elegant appearance, can withstand high temperatures, are resistant to wear, are not easy to change or fade in color, are easy to clean and have a high level of cleanliness.
Disadvantages: Compared with ceramic bowls, they have a monotonous appearance, are prone to cracking under sudden changes in temperature, and are fragile and easy to break.
6. Wooden cat bowls
Apart from some relatively common cat bowls on the market, there are also wooden cat bowls. Wooden cat bowls generally need to be coated with at least three layers of environmentally friendly paint, so the cost is relatively high.
Advantages: They are environmentally friendly and degradable, have natural patterns with good ornamental value, have good heat preservation properties, are sturdy and durable, are lightweight and have no peculiar smell.
Disadvantages: They are high in price, are relatively rare on the market, are prone to cracking, and when the environmentally friendly paint peels off, they are prone to water seepage, which may lead to mildew and are not suitable for long-term use.