How fascinating! Now I know why our cat prefers to drink from the dogs' water bowl which is 3 times the size of her head, as opposed to the petite bowl ("here, honey, your very own bowl, so much nicer and cleaner..") I put out for her.
Thanks, NYTimes!
6
A cat related water drinking issue:
After being lost for 17 days (!) my indoor only cat began, for the first time, to drink out of my beer mugs of water I keep by my chair....She now almost exclusively drinks water that way. She will sometimes "paw" at the surface of the water first, as if to see exactly how high it is or maybe the temperature?
My previous cat, now deceased, was a drinker of flowing water as so many cats are....he preferred to drink from a faucet and I often kept a small amount of water flowing from the bathroom faucet for him.
The relatively new "water fountains" for cats and dogs, where they can drink from a flowing fountain (change it often and clean it often as advised) also works wonders.
Cats (per more than one of my veterinarians) don't get enough liquid, especially if kept on an all-dry food diet.
3
When my cat had "catne" the vet advised me to use only either stainless steel or glass bowls/plates.. No china or ceramics. Even with a glaze the latter can harbor bacteria.
2
I have always understood that a cats whiskers (and other animals) communicate to them if they can fit through a space (among other things). I always figured if my cat's whiskers hits the bowl sides there would be a cat brain red alert telling him that his head was about to be trapped. Hard to eat that way.
Stainless Steel Dog Bowls Or Glass Shatterproof Bowls Work Fine.
2
I watched my cat drink spilled water on a glass nightstand while I was in bed, so at my eye level his whiskers came forward, he lowered his head until they just touched the water without breaking the surface tension, and then he started drinking at the perfect level without his usual wet chin. I think that's one thing cats use whiskers for, finding the food or water under their chins where they can't actually see. I agree with replacing deep bowls.
On the other hand, I agree with many others here that the specialty products are ridiculous. I'd even argue they're counter productive at that price you're going to buy only one, or one per cat, while my cat has six or so broad, shallow ceramic bowls from Ikea, which is meant for people, for less than $10. Usually there's at least one dirty one in the dishwasher and he gets a clean, sterilized bowl every time the next is filled, without hand washing any. Clean bowls avoid feline acne, which can be a serious problem. As for raised bowls, I can't speak about unnaturally tall dogs, but cats seem to prefer their food at floor level and it's probably better for them. Crouching over dead prey is their natural eating position
On the other hand, I agree with many others here that the specialty products are ridiculous. I'd even argue they're counter productive at that price you're going to buy only one, or one per cat, while my cat has six or so broad, shallow ceramic bowls from Ikea, which is meant for people, for less than $10. Usually there's at least one dirty one in the dishwasher and he gets a clean, sterilized bowl every time the next is filled, without hand washing any. Clean bowls avoid feline acne, which can be a serious problem. As for raised bowls, I can't speak about unnaturally tall dogs, but cats seem to prefer their food at floor level and it's probably better for them. Crouching over dead prey is their natural eating position
10
This article made a world of difference for our cat Fidello. He always pecked at his food like a pigeon and was a very messy eater. We now feed him on a plate instead of a bowl and he eats like a normal cat. Our other cat, Angelica doesn't have the problem, but we feed her on a plate now too. We are so happy to have made his life better ! Thank you NY Times for reporting on this.
11
A cat approaches a mobile food packet (mouse). The prey animal goes to ground, sitting silently (it thinks) and still as a stone. The cat can smell the creature it is after, but its precise location is not visible, and so the final lunge cannot yet be made.
But as the mouse sits still it is in fear mode, and its little heart is beating wildly under the influence of mousey adrenaline. This frantic heartbeat vibrates the animals chest cavity which acts as a tympanic membrane, a drum head if you will. This drumbeat of pulmonary terror is transmitted into the air as infrasonic vibrations, low frequency sound waves.
As the cat pokes her head around, scanning the environment with nose, ears, and eyes, it is also sensing and localizing those vibrations via the mechanism of its sensitive whiskers.
A cats whiskers are a type of ultra low frequency sonar array spread in multiple dimensions across its head. It uses differential signal strength to direct it toward the beating heart of its prey.
These are sensitive critters, and this is a real thing.
BTW: no, a cat does not have whiskers so it knows whether it can "fit" in a narrow space. They are not curb feelers. They are vibration detectors.
But as the mouse sits still it is in fear mode, and its little heart is beating wildly under the influence of mousey adrenaline. This frantic heartbeat vibrates the animals chest cavity which acts as a tympanic membrane, a drum head if you will. This drumbeat of pulmonary terror is transmitted into the air as infrasonic vibrations, low frequency sound waves.
As the cat pokes her head around, scanning the environment with nose, ears, and eyes, it is also sensing and localizing those vibrations via the mechanism of its sensitive whiskers.
A cats whiskers are a type of ultra low frequency sonar array spread in multiple dimensions across its head. It uses differential signal strength to direct it toward the beating heart of its prey.
These are sensitive critters, and this is a real thing.
BTW: no, a cat does not have whiskers so it knows whether it can "fit" in a narrow space. They are not curb feelers. They are vibration detectors.
11
I find it rather disappointing that the four individuals quoted in this article include a writer/blogger who diagnosed her own pet based on internet research and three people from companies that sell products designed to treat this "problem." The writer could not be bothered to speak with even one veterinarian?
16
I'm sorry but this article really annoys my whiskers. Do we need to research if the author has a connection to the person selling the ridiculous idea of a $80.00 bowl. Next week are we going to be told by this author to give our cats access to yarn only made from the finest wool from the mountains of Scotland so they won't be suffering from yarn grabbing fatigue. If so, I happen to know a supplier. May I suggest a nice ceramic plate from the dollar store and give the remaining $79.00 to your local animal shelter.
30
I have a cat who drops her food on the floor before she eats it. This is quite annoying, especially when she drops it on the rug! I thought it's just what she does.
After I read this, I found a saucer with a shallow rim and tried that - it works! She has stopped dropping her food on the floor! THANKS!!!
After I read this, I found a saucer with a shallow rim and tried that - it works! She has stopped dropping her food on the floor! THANKS!!!
10
My cat eats from a wide, shallow bowl and still likes to pop food out of the bowl and chase it around. For her, it seems to be more like "hunting" and "capturing" the food.
4
Tell me this headline wasn't written by a cat, umm I mean feline!
1
My cats never had any problem eating, but this is good to know. If the problem comes up, I'll check the bowls to see if that is the issue.
2
99.44% of cat people responding here have figured out the saucer thing and ignored the $80 bowl thing. We all enjoy taking good care of our kitties--otherwise why make them our companions in life?--but the $80 bowl is for you, not the cat. Reminds me of the Russian joke about the oligarch who brags to another oligarch about about paying a thousand bucks for a necktie. The second oligarch snorts and says, Fool! You could have gone to the store across the street and paid two thousand!
The water thing--drinking from human glasses--may have to do with where glasses are usually located--usually higher up, on a table or countertop, where the cat can see as it drinks, rather than facing a corner or cabinet on the floor with its back vulnerable. Same might well apply to the food dish, with both better placed up off the floor on a shelf or sill. Still water in a bowl may also be harder for a cat to see, since feline vision is more oriented toward detecting motion; moreover, in wild places, moving water is generally safer than still. Our kitty, Nika's Guadaloupe Honey Rescue (ahem) prefers a dribbling faucet, thank you, so we let it dribble into her dish several times a day while she's there to catch some licks. She has tooth resorption--check that out, cat folks!--so she prefers pate, and she likes it mixed with water to make a saucy gravy. Yes, the things we do for our critters when they complete our lives...
The water thing--drinking from human glasses--may have to do with where glasses are usually located--usually higher up, on a table or countertop, where the cat can see as it drinks, rather than facing a corner or cabinet on the floor with its back vulnerable. Same might well apply to the food dish, with both better placed up off the floor on a shelf or sill. Still water in a bowl may also be harder for a cat to see, since feline vision is more oriented toward detecting motion; moreover, in wild places, moving water is generally safer than still. Our kitty, Nika's Guadaloupe Honey Rescue (ahem) prefers a dribbling faucet, thank you, so we let it dribble into her dish several times a day while she's there to catch some licks. She has tooth resorption--check that out, cat folks!--so she prefers pate, and she likes it mixed with water to make a saucy gravy. Yes, the things we do for our critters when they complete our lives...
8
Helpful information! I haven't experienced this problem, but it makes sense. I put the wet food for our two kitty boyz on a paper plate I've placed on top of a heavier plate so they don't push the paper plate around. Their whiskers don't touch the the plate at all. They're happy.
2
Good grief. Salad or desert plates work fine and you don't have to fuss
9
Our Maine Coon wasn't eating all of his food at times and, like most owners, we figured that he didn't like the food. However, I did some research and discovered the Dr. Catsby bowls and bought one. Problem solved. He now eats the food we thought he didn't like and usually cleans his bowl in one sitting.
3
I solved this years ago by switching to feeding and watering my cat in big round shallow glass pie plates. I mean really big, like 14" diameter, 1" deep. He's very pleased with being able to push his food around and not have any of it spill out of the dish. I bought them at the grocery store for about $8 each. They're sturdy and easy to clean.
14
I bought pie plates to put under my plants for about a dollar each at a thrift store.I will try them with my cat thought he has whisker friendly bowls now.
1
I bought porcelain saucers at the thrift store. I bought 16 @ $4/1.00. Total $4 for constantly rotated and clean dishes. Also bought a lead test at the hardware store to be sure they were safe, and they passed. I originally had bowls, but I noticed the cats didn't like it so I switched to saucers (human dinnerware type).
11
Yea I'm just going to get a plate for our cat, maybe one from IKEA and not spend 50 bucks on a special bowl...
6
Whisker-conscious bowl...at $40 a pop. Lol, is this for real? How about instead using an old dinner plate for free? :) No whisker trauma that way.
20
My 5-year-old Irish Terrier Suzie feeds out of a small bowl and that doesn't seem to be a problem for her. The only unusual aspect of her eating is that when she is finished she will rub her face against couches or sleeping bags for about a half-minute. She then goes on her merry way chasing mice.
No cats here, sorry, but our dog used to be ridiculously finicky about her food - everyone said it was the poodle in her - but once we switched to feeding her on an old flat plate instead of a bowl, she had no problems at all. Mentioning it here because people gave us a ton of expensive food, supplement and equipment recommendations to help her stop being underweight, and we fixed it with a $0 dish change we had in the cabinet - it's worth a shot if you're stuck.
19
For many years, I was part of a small rescue group that worked with vets and animal control facilities to find homes for hard to place cats. As a result I ended up fostering several elderly Persian cats who were abandoned, strays or given up when their caregiver died. As a popular cat with "backyard" breeders, many of these Persians came to us with health defects which made them too hard to place in other homes. So my home and the homes of close relatives were second homes to extreme flat faced cats with too much fur to groom themselves and usually heart, kidney or bone birth defects. They not only would not eat from normal cat dishes; they could not eat from normal small, deep dishes.
While I've purchased my share of expensive made for cats dishes, my Persians seem to prefer china or stoneware plates (from thrift stores or clearance tables) with a narrow rim, at least 6 to 8 inches in diameter. After one feeding the dishes promptly are placed in the dishwasher on sanitizing cycle to cut down on bacteria or other food issues.
I no longer actively rescue, but my now very elderly cats can recommend Dr. Catsby's dish for its usefulness and how it looks to them and to me. There are two or three Dansk patterns my cats love also.
While I've purchased my share of expensive made for cats dishes, my Persians seem to prefer china or stoneware plates (from thrift stores or clearance tables) with a narrow rim, at least 6 to 8 inches in diameter. After one feeding the dishes promptly are placed in the dishwasher on sanitizing cycle to cut down on bacteria or other food issues.
I no longer actively rescue, but my now very elderly cats can recommend Dr. Catsby's dish for its usefulness and how it looks to them and to me. There are two or three Dansk patterns my cats love also.
19
Blessings on you, Lynda.
4
Always fed the cat on small plates. No rims. Never thought much about it.
However, I now wonder if I shouldn't fo for a much bigger, wider water bowl.
However, I now wonder if I shouldn't fo for a much bigger, wider water bowl.
5
I have a cat that paws food on the floor. I hate him for it, but I will change his bowl and see if it helps. I love the cheeky talk about designer $40 bowls in typical NYT Upper East Side fashion, but I have a better idea, I will feed him in a small $2.99 plate!
13
While this concept makes sense to me, and indeed, I too know have 'low-side' bowls for my cats to eat from, that is no reason for any company to charge MORE money for what is essentially LESS bowl. ;-) So any higher prices are simply companies trying to latch on and try and profit from the latest trend. There's no reason for 'high' food bowls for cats, so just make them all lower on the sides, keep the prices for the bowls the same as they've always been, and let's move on to other things. ;-)
6
I have used waxed paper food trays for several years. They cost about $12 for 1000, are hygienic and disposable. Just throw it away after the cat has eaten.
The dimensions I use are:
Height 1 1/8 Inches
Bottom Length 3 3/8 Inches
Top Length 4 3/4 Inches
Bottom Width 2 Inches
Top Width 3 1/2 Inches
Capacity .375 lb.
They really work out well and I have recommended them to several friends who now use them. They also come in different sizes. Southern Champion is one company that makes them.
The dimensions I use are:
Height 1 1/8 Inches
Bottom Length 3 3/8 Inches
Top Length 4 3/4 Inches
Bottom Width 2 Inches
Top Width 3 1/2 Inches
Capacity .375 lb.
They really work out well and I have recommended them to several friends who now use them. They also come in different sizes. Southern Champion is one company that makes them.
9
But lousy for the environment. Our disposable culture is destroying the planet. Is it too much trouble to buy two or three cheap plates and rotate them, actually washing them after each meal?
11
Whisker fatigue?
So, I should feed my cats their food on plates, perhaps, so no whiskers are touched during feeding. I should use grass green plates so they feel like they are eating something freshly killed right off the lawn. Maybe sprinkle some feathers or mice pelts on top to simulate typical backyard prey. I could garnish their food with fresh picked catnip.
(I'm just joking.)
So, I should feed my cats their food on plates, perhaps, so no whiskers are touched during feeding. I should use grass green plates so they feel like they are eating something freshly killed right off the lawn. Maybe sprinkle some feathers or mice pelts on top to simulate typical backyard prey. I could garnish their food with fresh picked catnip.
(I'm just joking.)
5
It has long been known that plastic bowls can cause chin acne in cats.
8
"Often, a regular plate will work just fine as an antidote to whisker fatigue, according to many cat owners." The notion of "whisker fatigue" is a useful one and makes sense to me. But that one line was probably all I needed (and how I currently feed my cat) as to recommendations...
10
This is common knowledge when I was young many moons ago cat's whiskers are dedicated but functional organ. Adults warned children not to trim them. And a Chinese Idiom "Old cat burnt whiskers" more or less points to workers losing their skills.
p.s. Cats were a functional unit of the family because they were skilled mousers
p.s. Cats were a functional unit of the family because they were skilled mousers
18
Eating is a stressful time for cats because it is associated with hunting and killing prey. Cats like to be left alone while they eat. Having some human study their whiskers during this ritual event must also be quite stressful.
12
One also might consider providing hunting opportunities for cats by feeding from food puzzles rather than from bowls. http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1098612X16643753?journalCode...
7
@Tony: and by using interactive toys that they can "hunt and kill" before settling in for a meal.
4
How do you know Moon and Rupert were much happier at meal time?
If Moon was terrified of his dish, maybe it was the food or maybe Rupert got into it with Moon over who eats first. Whisker Fatigue doesn't compare with Trump Fatigue - I'm nauseous all the time!
If Moon was terrified of his dish, maybe it was the food or maybe Rupert got into it with Moon over who eats first. Whisker Fatigue doesn't compare with Trump Fatigue - I'm nauseous all the time!
36
I've always put my cats' food in a saucer. It just seemed messy and wrong to make them go face first into a bowl. Not a complaint from any of the many in 60 years as their voluntary cat slave!
34
okay fine, feed the cat from a plate rather than a bowl. But are the products advertised culled from an Onion article?
28
What about water? My cat, Thomas Keller, is constantly trying to tip over the water dish?
5
Is Thomas the cat cross-eyed? We had a cross-eyed cat who did that. I have only seen that behavior in cats who have vision problems.
2
We use a large (7" diameter by 2.5" deep dog food bowl...it even has little paw marks around it) for water. The cats have plenty of room to drink and no whisker fatigue.
3
Ours too. He creates BIG waves and then will lap at the waves. 2 of our other cats drink from the faucet. I replaced the big bowls of water with shorter, shallower ones and they have been drinking more.
4
This is why I love the New York Times.
21
I found this article to be an insult to the normal journalistic integrity of the NYT. There's not a single piece of evidence that "whisker fatigue" actually occurs, and the author cites only the beneficiaries of the sale of the product to "prove" it. Did the author even attempt to find any actual studies on this? Or research conducted to show that bowl shape makes a difference? Nope, just quoted manufacturers and retailers. Pretty lousy reporting.
34
It's well documented and has been for some time. Obviously, you are thankful not a pet owner.
9
It is common sense.
Who wants sensitive nerve endings being bothered?
Ignore those trying to make money.
Use shallow bowls and saucers.
This article may help people and their pets.
Why so negative?
Who wants sensitive nerve endings being bothered?
Ignore those trying to make money.
Use shallow bowls and saucers.
This article may help people and their pets.
Why so negative?
10
Yes, whisker 'fatigue' in cats is very real and if you're a near lifetime parent of any feline(s), most have undoubtedly had plenty of time to understand basic feline biology and behavior to have a depth of understanding (and compassion) to figure this out without blaming veterinarians for not informing us sooner. Also, no need to be forced to go out and purchase $79 'catware' to solve the problem. I have three cats, all rescues, all adopted as adults, all at different adult times in their lives and they all get along, all love to eat.
I feed mine their solid and wet food from porcelain saucers (no worries about weird Chinese manufactured ingredients leeching into their food), and use large ten inch mixing bowls to put their water (essential!).
Problem solved.
I feed mine their solid and wet food from porcelain saucers (no worries about weird Chinese manufactured ingredients leeching into their food), and use large ten inch mixing bowls to put their water (essential!).
Problem solved.
33
I recommend a stainless steel bowl where the rim of the bowl is 2 inches high and the bowl is 6 inches wide across the top...... and no porcelin painted bowls. Sometimes treated porcelin can cause a cat to have an allergic reaction
8
According to my vet, plastic bowls cause skin acne and skin allergies in cats. Symptoms are a swollen chin, blackheads on chin, or slightly irritated gums. I was skeptical but did switch all cats to serving dishes, glazed ceramic, made for humans. Yes, Rollo the cat no longer has a swollen chin with blackheads after the switch.
10
We used a 6-1/2" wide by 1-1/2" deep stainless steel bowls available for $1ish from any housewares store. The right price AND dishwasher safe.
11
Both of my cats had full mouth dental extractions (due to a virus they had as strays before they came to me) and they had a hard time getting food out of even a shallow bowl. I found the solution at Target with 70 cent children's plates. They have short straight lip that the cats use to help get the food into theirs mouths. They also have a rubberized base so they are more stable. They are plastic but neither cat has a problem with chin acne and they are washed daily. I worked for veterinarians for 12 years and never heard of whisker fatigue but it makes sense to me. Spending $70 on a cat dish does not.
39
"Whisker Fatigue"? What a goofy name. If anything, it sounds more like bruised whisker syndrome to me. I learned a long time ago just how important whiskers are to cats. I was maybe 6 years old and thought our cat, Culver, needed to have his whiskers trimmed because they were so long. Well, after getting a serious and LOUD talking to by my mother, I never made that mistake again - all day long poor Culver kept walking into walls, chairs, anything that came into his path. I cried for days because my innocent mistake caused his such distress and disorientation.
I can't believe vets didn't realize that cats' whiskers get hurt like human feelings - bruised is bruise whether it's a tangible hurt or not. Like so many commenters stated before me, place Fluffy's meal on a mat, plate or something low and open so he/she can eat without pain or stress. Lord only knows what a vet charges for the same advise. Good column, great comments.
24
Thanks for sharing your experience! A hard-won lesson.
I lived with two (neutered) male cats many years ago and noticed that the whiskers on the less-assertive one were suddenly shorter. I discovered that the dominant male had been chewing them off! I'm not sure whether his intention was to put his brother at a disadvantage, but that was surely the effect.
I lived with two (neutered) male cats many years ago and noticed that the whiskers on the less-assertive one were suddenly shorter. I discovered that the dominant male had been chewing them off! I'm not sure whether his intention was to put his brother at a disadvantage, but that was surely the effect.
18
What a stinker! And here I thought that sibling rivalry was only restricted to humans. Don't think for a minute that Mr. Dominant didn't know exactly what he was doing. Thanks for a wonderful and educational comment.
8
I read this and immediately replaced the cats' dinnerware (old Ikea ceramic cereal bowls) with saucers (old Ikea ceramic saucers) from my kitchen cabinet. Cost: zero. Time: 1 minute.
Design note: My cats prefer the Ikea taupe-coloured saucers (circa 2012). And if you are lucky, you can get these for almost nothing at any charity store.
Design note: My cats prefer the Ikea taupe-coloured saucers (circa 2012). And if you are lucky, you can get these for almost nothing at any charity store.
23
"I read this and immediately replaced the cats' dinnerware ." And if you read that the best way to wash you car was to drive it into Loch Ness, would you?
No, that would not make sense.
6
Interesting article about the time people spend making sure their pets are happy, but as a nation spend billions as a nation on pet health care, and obsess over things like cat whisker fatigue, but we can't manage to come up with a solution that allows our fellow citizens to have affordable access to decent health care.
34
Cats have souls too.
18
"We?" A lot of people have advocated for a single payer solution to healthcare. I suggest you take your complaint to the politicians in DC.
19
@Carl: I agree with you entirely. I would argue, though, that the two are not mutually exclusive. Ideally we would all have access to the care we need.
10
You could spend $40.00 on a nom nom bowl, or... you could buy a $10.00 single serving pasta bowl at any big box store. Either one works.
6
Not sure if whisker 'fatigue' is an apt description, as it may be more of a case of irritation and/or sensitivity. As I was reading this article I watched as our cat Poofy took dry kibble from the bowl with her mouth, drop it out of the bowl and it from it on the floor. So there may be something to this. Also, our cat Junior constantly paws at the water bowl, causing big waves, and THEN he'll drink from it...but not before he has made a tsunami of a mess on the floor! lol I think I'll go to our town's RESALE shop and find more appropriate feeding plates/dishes today. Thanks for this article!
21
Throughout her 21 year life, our Siamese, Sushi would use her paw to remove one piece of dry food at a time. No problem with wet food, provided it was Fancy Feast fish, flaked please. Her rejecting food had nothing to do with the dish and everything to do with food preferences. I liken it to me rejecting beets and not chocolate. Doesn't matter about the plate, I am not eating beets. Hear me Mom?
7
I always fed my cats in a saucer. Large water bowl. All these cutsie pet bowls are ridiculous ! ...dry food in a cake pan.
10
I panicked and immediately purchased whisker friendly bowls off of Amazon for my two orange tabby cats, Lewis and Clark. Should be delivered by drone in a few hours. Vet appointments scheduled.
(Is this why the rest of the world hates us?)
(Is this why the rest of the world hates us?)
36
Why not just put their food on a small plate? Much cheaper than a $50 specialized whisker bowl...
17
I had no idea until now I was in such good company feeding my cat out of Fiestaware.
18
Twenty to 40 dollars for a pet dish?? I love my cat, but she will take her kitty food out of a saucer, thank you very much.
13
Is there some industry organization dedicated to INVENTING problems? And those problems require expensive consumer purchases? imagine that!
$60-$70 for a DISH? for a cat to eat from?
Are you people insane? My cats drink from filthy mud puddles. They kill and eat baby birds. They tear the heads off of chipmunks. Funny, that does not cause "whisker fatigue".
I feed my cats out of any old dishes that are around. I've had 9 cats. They were all fine, lived long lives and not one had "whisker fatigue".
Seriously: who comes up with this horse-puckey?
$60-$70 for a DISH? for a cat to eat from?
Are you people insane? My cats drink from filthy mud puddles. They kill and eat baby birds. They tear the heads off of chipmunks. Funny, that does not cause "whisker fatigue".
I feed my cats out of any old dishes that are around. I've had 9 cats. They were all fine, lived long lives and not one had "whisker fatigue".
Seriously: who comes up with this horse-puckey?
35
My adult cat likes an essentially-flat Royal Norwegian bone china plate ($89.95 if memory serves) when levelly-placed on a thick 1939 Merriam-Webster unabridged dictionary ($129.39). I have no horse-puckey anywhere, but you may send $5 for advice, using a SASE.
55
Sounds like you need to keep your cats indoors. Some people don't take too kindly to wildlife being decimated by invasive predators.
22
The dictionary as a bowl lift is a great idea.
2
I thought this was nuts, but I tried it anyway -- with a wide soup bowl rather than a special bowl. I don't know if the cats are happier, but they do toss less of their food on the floor. I call that a win. I've also found that if I move their food around (just a foot or so) they eventually eat the bits that they have dropped.
14
I would like to correct the mistaken idea in this article that referred to raising dishes in order to help dogs' digestive issues. That theory arose to try to combat the incidence of bloat in large dogs. However, a study disproved that raising the feeding level for dogs would help - in fact , the study showed that raising the levels actually exacerbated the incidence of bloat. Whether this was a true causal relationship or incidental to the fact that people with dogs likely to bloat were more likely to try the current fads is unknown, but I think that just as horses are designed to graze, so to are dogs designed to eat their meal from the floor and that the idea of level makes no sense.
As for the main thrust of this article, I have long ago experimented with different bowls and one cat of two definitely prefers a shallow bowl. However, for my cats, if the food falls out of the dish, they are not touching it.
As for the main thrust of this article, I have long ago experimented with different bowls and one cat of two definitely prefers a shallow bowl. However, for my cats, if the food falls out of the dish, they are not touching it.
16
Absolutely! Dogs are designed to stand on their prey, tear off bits using strong neck/shoulder muscles and then throw the food to the back of their mouth and swallow with minimal chewing. Dogs and cats lack grinding teeth.
It is the use of convenient dry food that has contributed to the health problems. But just like pharmaceuticals designed to stop adverse side effects of other drugs, rather than solve the dietary problems with proper nutrition, companies find ways to name the problem and sell more products to owners.
It is the use of convenient dry food that has contributed to the health problems. But just like pharmaceuticals designed to stop adverse side effects of other drugs, rather than solve the dietary problems with proper nutrition, companies find ways to name the problem and sell more products to owners.
1
If this is remotely true, then why is my cat obsessed with drinking from every human water glass within reach??
115
Yes!
My cat obsessed and will even stick his big boy cat head deep into a pint glass to get at "people water".
Whiskers clearly be damned.
My cat obsessed and will even stick his big boy cat head deep into a pint glass to get at "people water".
Whiskers clearly be damned.
5
Not being snarky, but maybe you want to have kitty checked for diabetes.
4
Absolutely right.
Just feed the cat in a open small size plate. It's probably already in your cabinet & FREE.
55
Fiesta makes purrfect wide ceramic bowls for water and kibble. Made in USA even! Remember: no plastic and keep water and food dishes in different locations, i.e., not next to each other.
10
@Present: Oh, for heaven's sake, WHY? I've had a number of cats over many decades, and their food and water dishes have always been side-by-side without any issues. Can you explain your POV, please? (Or will there be a new product that spaces food and water dishes *just* far enough from each other to make a cat happy?)
1
For those about to spend big bucks on appropriate cat food bowls, spend $5 on bowls at Goodwill or Walmart and give the rest of the money to your local animal shelter.
67
Thanks. This is very helpful. I think it actually explains what is going on with my cat and his food issues that have been driving us crazy. We use a shallow plate but I think it might not be shallow enough.
6
I enjoyed this fun article. Whisker fatigue never occurred to me as a possible problem, but it makes sense. I like that the NYT has these lighter articles sometimes.
13
Really? "Imagine bending down to eat"?
Have you ever watched a cat eat? They fold up their legs until they ARE in a straight line - a HORIZONTAL one. Humancentric analysis needs to be called out and there's plenty of it in this article.
I owned a holistic pet supply for 10 years and saw a never ending stream of guilt laden marketing just like this. That some cats don't like their whiskers touching the bowl is not news to anyone who observes cats and "whisker bowls" (priced at under $10) have been on the market for a decade or longer. Alternatively an inexpensive shallow ceramic or stainless dish will suffice, no need to spend a fortune for a "researched" design unless, I guess, you want to be trendy. But c'mon...Tigers stick their heads into carcasses to pull out organs with no complaints.
A far more pressing issue is what's IN that cat food. All the marketing hype and deceptive bag wrappers are appalling. Grilled chicken breast and whole blueberries? Ha! The ingredients are condemned scraps and 2nd quality grains, processed into what the industry calls "slurry" and then extruded at high heat.
Oversight by regulatory agencies is spotty. Recently, several expensive brands recalled product due to pentobarbital contamination. Euthanized animals are illegal for pet food - USDA & AAFCO both ban it - so how did the dead animals (most likely horse meat) wind up in the product? Profit, perhaps?
Instead of expensive bowls, spend the money on better food!
Have you ever watched a cat eat? They fold up their legs until they ARE in a straight line - a HORIZONTAL one. Humancentric analysis needs to be called out and there's plenty of it in this article.
I owned a holistic pet supply for 10 years and saw a never ending stream of guilt laden marketing just like this. That some cats don't like their whiskers touching the bowl is not news to anyone who observes cats and "whisker bowls" (priced at under $10) have been on the market for a decade or longer. Alternatively an inexpensive shallow ceramic or stainless dish will suffice, no need to spend a fortune for a "researched" design unless, I guess, you want to be trendy. But c'mon...Tigers stick their heads into carcasses to pull out organs with no complaints.
A far more pressing issue is what's IN that cat food. All the marketing hype and deceptive bag wrappers are appalling. Grilled chicken breast and whole blueberries? Ha! The ingredients are condemned scraps and 2nd quality grains, processed into what the industry calls "slurry" and then extruded at high heat.
Oversight by regulatory agencies is spotty. Recently, several expensive brands recalled product due to pentobarbital contamination. Euthanized animals are illegal for pet food - USDA & AAFCO both ban it - so how did the dead animals (most likely horse meat) wind up in the product? Profit, perhaps?
Instead of expensive bowls, spend the money on better food!
46
What better food?
2
Jerry-
I advocate raw diets for dogs and cats but realize that not all folks can manage that. Please don't believe all the fear mongering you see about the germ-laden risks from raw food. As long as it's fresh and human edible, your pet will do fine.
An alternative would be some of the freeze-dried diets that you rehydrate before feeding. I'm not sure if the NYT will permit me to mention specific brands, but you WON'T find these foods in grocery stores or produced by huge companies. Seek out a small independent food store with a knowledgeable staff who can find the right food for your pet. There is no one food that is the "best" food. Any store that immediately points you to a specific brand without asking about your pet's characteristics is only trying selling you something.
One resource for more information is thetruthaboutpetfood(dot)com. Although some of the reader comments can be a bit over the top, most are incredibly helpful and Susan (the site owner and consumer advocate) has valuable information about what's in pet food and how the industry works.
Hope this helps....
I advocate raw diets for dogs and cats but realize that not all folks can manage that. Please don't believe all the fear mongering you see about the germ-laden risks from raw food. As long as it's fresh and human edible, your pet will do fine.
An alternative would be some of the freeze-dried diets that you rehydrate before feeding. I'm not sure if the NYT will permit me to mention specific brands, but you WON'T find these foods in grocery stores or produced by huge companies. Seek out a small independent food store with a knowledgeable staff who can find the right food for your pet. There is no one food that is the "best" food. Any store that immediately points you to a specific brand without asking about your pet's characteristics is only trying selling you something.
One resource for more information is thetruthaboutpetfood(dot)com. Although some of the reader comments can be a bit over the top, most are incredibly helpful and Susan (the site owner and consumer advocate) has valuable information about what's in pet food and how the industry works.
Hope this helps....
2
How about cat fatigue?
7
How 'bout an old saucer from a flea market? 25 cents and dishwasher safe.
20
I agree that this is a truly bizarre article.
Heavy ashtrays work really well. They're shallow, design not to tip and come in different sizes.
Heavy ashtrays work really well. They're shallow, design not to tip and come in different sizes.
18
I've been feeding my cats from low, wide dishes for years, and they only cost a buck each. New schemes all the time to separate you from your money. LOL
18
A truly odd article. $80 for a cat plate?
Adding to the alternate reality vibe, the article was in the Health section on the iPhone app.
At least there was no mention of Trump or the Russians.
Adding to the alternate reality vibe, the article was in the Health section on the iPhone app.
At least there was no mention of Trump or the Russians.
47
Amen!
More proof that cats own their "owners" not the other way around.
19
Also, don't buy plastic dishes as any cats with food sensitivities are probably also allergic to the plastic dishes.
6
I put my cats' food on a paper plate on a ceramic dish. I dispose of the plate daily. No built-up bacteria, no whisker issues, happy cats. (Except when I inadvertently get them the wrong food.)
18
I do likewise....sheer laziness on my part...but where I live the city collects food waste and other related items for composting...so I put in the bin the paper plate plus uneaten food. Currently I am down to one geriatric cat with many issues...but not whisker fatigue.
2
I figured out many years ago that cats like to sleep on clean pillows, in dim light, and like to eat off of plates. I've fed my cats off of rectangular porcelain single serving mini-plattters for a long time. I've recently started doing likewise with our dogs. Turns out my picky eater Shiba Inu isn't picky after all. She just likes to see what she is eating. Since I make my pets' foods I can separate them on the small platter. Guess what. She likes to eat the green beans first. Then the rice, then the meat. Carrots and apples are always last. With our Pembroke Corgi, it is just about the same but now she is able to avoid the egg altogether with. And before I get trolled. Yes, I make my animals' food. It runs us about 10€ a week and takes me about 20 minutes to prepare on Saturdays. I use an Instant Pot, a steamer, and my Kitchenaid Mixer with attachments to pre-prepare many foods that we will eat over the week so it is no bother. Nearly everything can be prepared in advance and then warmed in the microwave later. I began doing this when I had my own business and 3 small children. I stopped when my kids left home but now I am older and have returned to the habit. I use to cook during Saturday morning cartoons
and I still do it on Saturday mornings without the cartoons. It is nice to know I will only have intense cleaning and cooking one day a week for all the week's meals.
and I still do it on Saturday mornings without the cartoons. It is nice to know I will only have intense cleaning and cooking one day a week for all the week's meals.
30
Hi Susannah!
Would you be so kind to share your kitty food recipe? Also, I am curious as to their health...does this diet agree with them? Do you freeze portions to keep it fresh? Thanks!
Would you be so kind to share your kitty food recipe? Also, I am curious as to their health...does this diet agree with them? Do you freeze portions to keep it fresh? Thanks!
6
Cats need taurine in their diet. Manufactured cat food contains taurine. Lack of taurine can cause blindness. I don't think cooking meals for your cats is a good idea.
2
You can buy taurine to add to the homemade food. Lots of cat owners do this and it's perfectly normal.
2
My cats' preferred food bowls are small oval au gratin baking dishes -- they're shallow, wide, ceramic. When one breaks or cracks, I buy another cheap at Home Goods or a resale shop.
Years ago I picked up a couple small, United Airlines-branded dishes at a Pfaltzgraff factory outlet. They were designed for the meal trays we used to get on long flights (even in steerage!). Now repurposed, they make perfect cat food dishes, if you can find them.
Years ago I picked up a couple small, United Airlines-branded dishes at a Pfaltzgraff factory outlet. They were designed for the meal trays we used to get on long flights (even in steerage!). Now repurposed, they make perfect cat food dishes, if you can find them.
8
Oh good grief. This is *not* news. Anyone who knows why cats have whiskers at all knew this. Cats will generally not put their heads into any opening if their whiskers brush the sides, because there would be insufficient room to turn around. Therefore they do not eat out of deep bowls if their whiskers brush the sides. I learned this as a little kid a half-century ago.
Next week in Science Times, you will reveal that disc-shaped objects roll; scientists have provisionally called them 'wheels'.
Next week in Science Times, you will reveal that disc-shaped objects roll; scientists have provisionally called them 'wheels'.
22
It's great to hear you are very knowledgeable about and have had these facts for 50+ years. This article will serve to inform young kids today, and perhaps people who have more to learn about felines. This news item is certainly more useful than the type of reality show drivel and coverage which has lead to our current crisis in government.
I would add one caveat to those who have made the suggestions of plates from garage sales, ashtrays, etc.: please ensure you are not purchasing ceramic items which might contain lead or other hazardous glazes. I'm certain there are many who're well aware of this, and hopefully someone unaware will find the information helpful.
I would add one caveat to those who have made the suggestions of plates from garage sales, ashtrays, etc.: please ensure you are not purchasing ceramic items which might contain lead or other hazardous glazes. I'm certain there are many who're well aware of this, and hopefully someone unaware will find the information helpful.
1
Not a universal fact. I had one cat that always put her head as far down as she could get it when she was given a plain yogurt container to lick out. Don't know how many times they got stuck on her head.
5
@ACW: "Anyone who knows cats"? Would that include my cats-only vet? Because the rule I learned is that IF a cat can get its head inside an opening, then it can get the rest of itself through the opening (and back out again); this of course presumes the cat is not massively obese.
Whiskers deliver information to the cat, and every cat I've ever had has cheerfully gone into places where their whiskers certainly brushed the sides.
Whiskers deliver information to the cat, and every cat I've ever had has cheerfully gone into places where their whiskers certainly brushed the sides.
i never thought about this. i feel that i did learn something here. first using saucers has been the correct surface all these years. i had no doubts there. raising the platform for my cat is an idea i never considered till i read it. it makes total sense. after my gym this morning this retired man is going to make his kitty an elevated eating area. thank you N Y T
14
If cats (and dogs) are congenitally designed to eat from raised platforms, how can we expect that their earlier evolutionary predecessors managed to survive without humans to build for them their necessary/preferred eating platforms?
As for humans not bending over to eat: that is because our bodies are not designed to eat bent over, which is why we eat with our throats and stomachs aligned, as they are when we are standing or sitting upright.
Do not raise your cat's (or dog's) eating stations unless you also believe it is best for you to bend over from your waist and slurp your food from the surface of a table.
As for humans not bending over to eat: that is because our bodies are not designed to eat bent over, which is why we eat with our throats and stomachs aligned, as they are when we are standing or sitting upright.
Do not raise your cat's (or dog's) eating stations unless you also believe it is best for you to bend over from your waist and slurp your food from the surface of a table.
3
I feed my cats on a plate. They like it better, and goes in the dishwasher easier.
6
Both of my cats eat out of a ceramic bowl, and they're very happy to do so. Neither of them has ever shown any 'fear' of a food bowl.
4
My cats eat out of stainless steel very shallow plate/bowls and especially one of them eats more since I switched to these dishes from a deeper stainless steel bowl. I think there is something to this.
1
Years ago I purchased small ceramic bowls commonly sold in pet stores, first for our 11-pound dog and then for the cats that succeeded her, and they have all eaten like pigs. No whisker fatigue here! These bowls cost $5-$10.
Is it ok that we feed our cats on the same plates we use? It's original Fiestaware, so I'm guessing about $1. at the time of purchase per plate. Is that ok? My two cats seem fine, but maybe they'd be happier if I fed them on a $72. plate? Does anyone know the answer to this pressing problem? Maybe my cats have a problem that I don't know about and if I did then I could throw some money at it. Please respond quickly as I am stressed out about my cats. TIA.
39
Totally depends on the color of the Fiestaware.
After years of struggles with food bowl issues, my late cat scratched the word "Tiffany" into his litter box. Problem solved.
After years of struggles with food bowl issues, my late cat scratched the word "Tiffany" into his litter box. Problem solved.
36
The makers of original Fiestaware used depleted uranium in the glazing. If yours was manufactured after 1972 it might be safe.
And yes, I caught the snark.
And yes, I caught the snark.
7
I once had a cat who peed on a Gucci bag. None of the other cheaper leather bags. The Gucci bag. Who knows?
1
Excellent observation. A round shallow bowl works best. And for best results use stainless steel. Plastic is a no no, for any pet.
6
Leave it to modern marketing to invent a problem we didn't know we had and should all panic over and offer up a pricey solution to soothe our fears and anxieties. Apparently eating out of a saucer is soooo yesterday.
7
I once watched my cat drink spilled water on a glass nightstand while I was in bed, so at my eye level. Her whiskers came forward, she lowered her head until they dimpled the water without breaking the surface tension, and then she started drinking at the perfect level without her usual wet chin. I think that's one thing cats use whiskers for, finding the food or water under their chins where they can't actually see. So yeah on replacing deep bowls.
On the other hand, I agree with many others here that the specialty products are ridiculous. I'd even argue they're counter productive--at that price you're going to buy only one, or one per cat, while my cat has six or so broad, shallow ceramic bowls from Ikea (meant for people) for less than $10. Usually there's at least one dirty one in the dishwasher and he gets a clean, sterilized bowl every time the next is filled, without hand washing any. Clean bowls avoid feline acne, which can be a serious (and disgusting) problem.
As for raised bowls, I can't speak about unnaturally tall dogs, but cats seem to prefer their food at floor level and it's probably better for them. Crouching over dead prey is their natural eating position. Watch wild animals--primates largely eat with our heads higher than our stomachs, felines with their heads lower than theirs. Your cat may be a person, but she's not a primate!
On the other hand, I agree with many others here that the specialty products are ridiculous. I'd even argue they're counter productive--at that price you're going to buy only one, or one per cat, while my cat has six or so broad, shallow ceramic bowls from Ikea (meant for people) for less than $10. Usually there's at least one dirty one in the dishwasher and he gets a clean, sterilized bowl every time the next is filled, without hand washing any. Clean bowls avoid feline acne, which can be a serious (and disgusting) problem.
As for raised bowls, I can't speak about unnaturally tall dogs, but cats seem to prefer their food at floor level and it's probably better for them. Crouching over dead prey is their natural eating position. Watch wild animals--primates largely eat with our heads higher than our stomachs, felines with their heads lower than theirs. Your cat may be a person, but she's not a primate!
1
The cat fatigue makes some sense.
What does not make sense is the 80 bucks for 2 cat food bowl.
Another fine example of the American entrepreneurial spirit - sell overpriced stuff to people who have money to burn.
What does not make sense is the 80 bucks for 2 cat food bowl.
Another fine example of the American entrepreneurial spirit - sell overpriced stuff to people who have money to burn.
23
It has a cute name though.
1
Yep, can't possibly afford a tax hike on the wealthy.
19
This is why. They need the money for $80 cat bowls.
8
I had a tiny new kitten who wouldn't eat, even though I was using a shallow bowl. I finally tried putting her food in a saucer, and the poor baby chowed down immediately. Saucers and plates have the added advantage of fitting easily in the dishwasher
9
Somebody spending $50 on a solution for this problem has more money than sense.
16
My cat's favorite toy is his food, which he tosses around before eating. I have a large plastic floor protector, made for use under an office chair, under his bowls. I scrape up the food with a dough scraper and a small squeegee to keep the cat food smells at a minimum. And no, it makes absolutely no difference if his bowl is deep and narrow or broad and flat.
4
Probably a vestige of his hunting instinct.
Maybe if you wear him out with interactive toys before mealtime he won't play with his food?
Maybe if you wear him out with interactive toys before mealtime he won't play with his food?
4
Instead of s[ending $40 for a an overpriced dish, simply put the cat's food in a saucer.
115
When I found out about whisker fatigue, I began feeding my tabby her food on disposable paper plates. That way, she has a flat surface to chow down from--and it's always going to be clean.
20
It would be even better if you offered her a more environmentally friendly option-Try it!
Dear Author,
Bacteria grow just fine on stainless steel. Sure plastic is worse, but I wouldn't call SS unable to harbor bacteria. If you clean your cat dish, be it a ceramic bowl, a plastic tupperware, or whatever, it will probably be ok.
Bacteria grow just fine on stainless steel. Sure plastic is worse, but I wouldn't call SS unable to harbor bacteria. If you clean your cat dish, be it a ceramic bowl, a plastic tupperware, or whatever, it will probably be ok.
15
Agreed. Washing the food bowls thoroughly after each meal is essential, and not doing it will cause problems. Although I have had cats who developed severe chin acne from eating out of a plastic or resin bowl, and I washed them religiously. Even the treatment for the acne which the vet prescribed didn't quite work. When I switched to ceramic, the treatment worked, the acne cleared up, and it did not return. One of these cats also quickly lost a patch of fur on her neck when she wore a collar made of synthetic webbing. Some cats just can't handle regular skin contact with plastic. Since that time we've always used either stainless steel or glazed ceramic shallow bowls, and there have been no problems. They're washed after each meal with very hot, soapy water and rinsed well, whether they've had wet or dry food in them. Dry food leaves a residue that can cause breakouts, too.
21
Or in my case, just give the cat dishes to the dogs to lick out.
16
Yes, the product prices given here are absurd. But I, who have owned cats for decades, sure didn't know anything about the potentially problematic issues raised in the piece, so I was glad to read it. I now have some ammo for the next bout with my cats' developing weird new habits related to eating. Information is power; just read past the sales pitch.
80
So absurdly priced but there are lots of much cheaper alternatives. I have the double Messy Cats feeder which is also a shallow bowl. It cost about $30.
(Messy Cats Stainless Steel Double Cat Feeder with Non-Slip Silicone Base on Amazon)
Alternatively, I am sure you can find cheap shallow bowls - a set for less than $10 at a human store
(Messy Cats Stainless Steel Double Cat Feeder with Non-Slip Silicone Base on Amazon)
Alternatively, I am sure you can find cheap shallow bowls - a set for less than $10 at a human store
3
The only problem is there is no factual information in this article. This is not a real issue.
2
The sales pitch is really heavy and overwhelming but cat acne is a real thing. 70 some dollars for a dish is ridiculous! Ceramic saucers will do just fine for most cats. Who uses their whole set all the time anyways? Plastic is terrible for pets as well as people to eat from.
Think of raising dishes for elderly pets like a handrail for elderly people. Something to make old age easier. I needed to raise my cat's dishes when her arthritis made it difficult for her to sit down to eat when she was 19. I just turned over a large bowl.
Real problems that can be solved at home or with a trip to the thrift store. Not hundreds of dollars to the pet industry.
Think of raising dishes for elderly pets like a handrail for elderly people. Something to make old age easier. I needed to raise my cat's dishes when her arthritis made it difficult for her to sit down to eat when she was 19. I just turned over a large bowl.
Real problems that can be solved at home or with a trip to the thrift store. Not hundreds of dollars to the pet industry.
46
$71.99 for a cat dish? Do people actually believe they are buying a high tech scientifically designed dish?
Here's a thought. Buy a beautiful small Japanese PLATE made out of ceramic for under $15. If your cat is like mine, he/she will appreciate the artistry and design while avoiding whisker fatigue.
Here's a thought. Buy a beautiful small Japanese PLATE made out of ceramic for under $15. If your cat is like mine, he/she will appreciate the artistry and design while avoiding whisker fatigue.
81
It's $71.99 for TWO dishes. Still crazy expensive, but if you don't have to buy a $1500 stroller for the human baby, you can afford the latest in cat accouterments. And still probably cheaper that the vet visit for the acne!
1
My cat eats off used paper plates (my sister's too lazy to wash dishes, also too lazy to cook, so the only thing that's been on them is Hot Pockets). Wasteful perhaps, but there are no issues.
5
I use a blue and white one from Daiso that is shaped like a cat's head. Dollar-fifty.
5
Wow, the amount of BS in this article is impressive. And not just the ridiculous prices and the justifications. The fact that the BS is coming from pet products companies, whose goal obviously is to sell, and you're presenting it here as some sort of pseudo-scientific evidence? For example, the ridiculous line "Imagine you bending down to eat." Yeah, also imagine you drinking from the toilet bowl or eating a raw mouse. How about that? The mindless personification of animals is what leads to 80-dollar food dishes, not some anatomical need. Predator animals eat from the ground. That's where their dead prey lies. Period. They didn't evolve to eat "in a straight line" from a 4-inch-tall, 80-dollar stainless steel elevated bowl setup. Anybody who looks to themselves to explain a different species needs to get out of their narrow mindset and actually get to know other species.
149
Commenters seem to be getting to the point that they can rage about anything. Just because the article mentions some admittedly ridiculously priced cat accessories doesn't mean that you need to trash the information about whisker sensitivity.
You are contradicting your own statement that people need to "get out of their narrow mindset and actually get to know other species" when, in your own comment, you give no credit at all to the author for presenting valuable data concerning a species that has a very different information-gathering system from ours. Whisker sensitivity is a very real thing with cats, I've had cats all my life and am very aware of it, although some seem to have more problems with it than others.
Many readers give good advice here : buy cheap ceramic saucers that are flat or with barely rounded at the edges, and make your cats happier. Period (as you say, to emphasize your knowledge of predator animals).
You are contradicting your own statement that people need to "get out of their narrow mindset and actually get to know other species" when, in your own comment, you give no credit at all to the author for presenting valuable data concerning a species that has a very different information-gathering system from ours. Whisker sensitivity is a very real thing with cats, I've had cats all my life and am very aware of it, although some seem to have more problems with it than others.
Many readers give good advice here : buy cheap ceramic saucers that are flat or with barely rounded at the edges, and make your cats happier. Period (as you say, to emphasize your knowledge of predator animals).
15
I agree that we all too often anthropomorphize our pets. However, cats in the wild seldom live beyond 5 or 6 years old. Arthritis in old pets is a real an d serious health problem. That said, any assistance with eating definitely does not require obscenely expensive dishes.
9
Touché
I have always used plates. What's with bowls for eighty dollars?!? I'll take some of that excess cash those folks seem to have.
23
Sorry, I agree with the previous comments: this is nothing more than a puff piece for a hugely expensive cat food bowl.
If a cat is hungry it will eat.
If a cat is hungry it will eat.
11
But the whisker thing and the chin acne are real; why would you want to aggravate them? No one says you need to buy the expensive product. If you don't have something in your own cupboard that will work, a trip to a local thrift shop will probably set you up for about 50¢/cat.
65
Exactly what I did. Bought two ceramic salad bowls, originally from Pier I for 90 cents each.
4
This is ridiculous – – specialized products to solve this problem? Holy moly.
Here's an idea: go to a discount store and buy a cheap dinner plate. Let your cat eat off of that. Problem solved for two bucks.
Here's an idea: go to a discount store and buy a cheap dinner plate. Let your cat eat off of that. Problem solved for two bucks.
50
Actually, I did have a Miniature Schnauzer who had this problem. I found a Pfaltzgraff cereal bowl for 50 cents in Goodwill that made him very happy.
75
This article is nothing more than a shill to purchase the (exorbitantly priced) products therein. No interviews with veterinarians about the phenomenon of whisker sensitivity, which appears to have been plucked from the pet industry ether? I'm not buying it. Literally.
35
$71.99 for a FOOD BOWL? Puh-leeze. I feed my kittehs (all rescues) on small plates and saucers. No 'whisker fatigue' to be seen, just plump felines tucking into their grub.
120
I agree. I have been using plates and saucers as cat food dishes for years. No issues with "whisker fatigue." An inexpensive solution is to use small plates or saucers and save yourself $$.
35
It's a BOWL! a BOWL! how can it cost $60-$70? That's impossible! The pet stores sell plain steel bowls in all sizes.
If this WAS a problem...just buy a larger bowl. Duh.
I have some steel bowls for my dog (bought at a yard sale: $1 each) but the cats get fed out of whatever dish I pull out of the dishwasher at the time. Cat food is smelly and kinda gross, so when they have finished their meals I throw whatever dish or bowl into the dishwasher.
I've had 9 cats and though some are picky eaters, I doubt it ever had anything to do with "whisker issues".
If this WAS a problem...just buy a larger bowl. Duh.
I have some steel bowls for my dog (bought at a yard sale: $1 each) but the cats get fed out of whatever dish I pull out of the dishwasher at the time. Cat food is smelly and kinda gross, so when they have finished their meals I throw whatever dish or bowl into the dishwasher.
I've had 9 cats and though some are picky eaters, I doubt it ever had anything to do with "whisker issues".
4
I always feed my cat on a plate.
90