Pet Bowls & Feeders

Stainless steel is the easiest bowl to keep properly clean, doesn't hold odours the way plastic can, and is durable enough for a determined chewer. Ceramic is heavier and harder to tip over, which suits a boisterous eater, but it can chip, and a chipped glaze is harder to keep hygienic.

Shallow, wide dishes suit flat-faced breeds and cats whose whiskers are sensitive to touching the sides of a deep bowl, a genuine discomfort known as whisker fatigue. A raised bowl can help a large or older dog eat without stooping as far, though it's worth checking with your vet if joint or swallowing issues are a factor.

A dog who bolts food is at higher risk of choking, vomiting shortly after eating, and in more serious cases a dangerous condition where the stomach twists — a slow feeder, with ridges or a maze pattern built into the bowl, forces a dog to eat around the obstacles rather than in one go.

It takes most dogs a little time to adjust to a slow feeder, and a small number find it frustrating at first rather than simply slower. Persisting for a few meals usually settles this, and the benefit for a genuine fast eater is worth the adjustment period.

An automatic feeder dispenses a set portion at set times, which suits a household with an irregular schedule, or a cat that grazes through the day rather than eating two set meals. It doesn't replace checking in on a pet, but it does take the pressure off being home for an exact feeding time.

Portion accuracy and ease of cleaning are the two things worth checking before buying — a feeder that's fiddly to refill or hard to wash properly becomes a chore fast, however convenient the automatic dispensing itself is.