Where to put the bowl, which one to choose, how to help them drink enough: a cat's feeding corner seems simple. Yet it affects their appetite, hydration and weight. A few habits are enough to set it up well.
Where to set up the feeding corner
A cat likes to eat in peace, without being startled. Choose:
- a spot with little traffic, away from hallways and doors;
- away from the litter tray, preferably in another room;
- away from the noise of household appliances;
- a fixed position, because they like to find their bowl in the same place.
If you have a dog, put the cat's bowl up high or in a room the dog does not enter. For the litter tray, see Where to Put the Litter Tray in a Flat.
Choosing the bowl
The material
Stainless steel, glazed ceramic and glass wash easily and do not hold smells. Plastic scratches over time, and scratches hold bacteria and smells. A heavy or non-slip bowl moves less.
The shape
Many cats prefer a wide, shallow bowl. Their whiskers are very sensitive, and some dislike them rubbing against the sides. If your cat takes their kibble out of the bowl to eat it on the floor, try a flat plate.
The height
A slightly raised bowl can help an older or stiff cat eat more comfortably. For a young cat in good health, the floor suits very well.
Water, often forgotten
The cat descends from an animal of dry regions and naturally drinks little. They rely partly on the water in their food. A cat fed only on kibble must therefore drink more. To help them:
- Keep the water apart from the food, by a few metres. Many cats drink more willingly away from their meal.
- Offer several water points in the flat.
- Change the water every day and wash the bowl.
- Try a fountain: some cats prefer running water.
- Use wide bowls, in glass or ceramic.
Wet food provides a lot of water. Ask your vet what proportion of wet food suits your cat.
Conversely, a cat who starts drinking much more than usual should be seen by a vet: it is sometimes a sign of illness.
How many meals, and how much
Left to themselves, a cat eats many small meals through the day. It is therefore better to split their ration into several meals than to serve one big one.
For the amount, start from the guidelines on the packaging according to their weight, then adjust with your vet according to their age, activity and shape. A flat cat often moves less than a cat that goes outside, and being overweight is common. Weigh the ration with kitchen scales rather than by eye.
Making them work for the meal
Part of the kibble can be given in a treat ball, a snuffle mat or small hidden containers. The cat eats more slowly and stays busy. You will find more ideas in Keeping an Indoor Cat Busy.
Foods to avoid
- Onion, garlic, chives and leek, raw or cooked, are toxic to cats.
- Chocolate is too.
- Cow's milk is often poorly digested by adult cats.
- Table scraps, fatty or salty, unbalance their ration.
If your cat has swallowed something suspect, call your vet without delay.
A clean, discreet feeding corner
Some cats eat tidily, others scatter kibble and wet food. A washable mat or a tray with a rim under the bowls protects the floor and cleans in one go. Choose it in a material and colour that go with your kitchen or entrance: the feeding corner stays in place for years, so it may as well be pleasant to look at. Just avoid surfaces that slide, which make the bowl move during the meal.
Changing food
Make the transition over one to two weeks, mixing the old and the new food, with a share of the new that increases bit by bit. A sudden change can cause digestive upsets or a refusal to eat.
Hygiene and living with others
Wash the wet food bowl after every meal, and the kibble bowl and the water bowl every day. Do not top up old kibble with fresh: empty, wash, then serve.
If you have several cats, give each their own bowl, a few metres apart, or even in different rooms. A dominated cat may eat less without you noticing.
When to worry
A cat that stops eating, even for a day or two, must see a vet. In cats, a prolonged fast can lead to serious complications. Also see the vet in the case of clear weight loss or gain, repeated vomiting or unusual thirst.
In short
- A quiet, fixed feeding corner, away from the litter tray.
- A wide, shallow bowl, in stainless steel, ceramic or glass.
- Water apart, in several places, renewed every day.
- Several small meals and a weighed ration.
- A cat that no longer eats must see a vet quickly.