Luxury cat bowls are those that offer greater ease, improved functionality, enhanced materials, or better looks than the standard bowls that adorn most cat kitchens. These modern bowls usually do more than simply hold cat food or cat water. Examples include elevated bowls, which can take the pressure off arthritic shoulders, or shallow bowls that prevent whisker fatigue. Alternatively, ceramic bowls might be considered luxury cat bowls because the material has a more opulent look than stainless steel, although this does come at the cost of greater cleaning requirements.
There are a lot of luxury and modern cat bowls to choose from and, to help, you will find reviews of some of the best we could find. We have taken into account looks and cost. We also factor in durability, because no matter how luxurious a bowl is, it’s worthless if it becomes unusable in a few months. We look at features, as well, but the most important thing when choosing any cat bowl is whether your cat will benefit from the bowl design.
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A Quick Look at Our Favorites in 2024
Image | Product | Details | ||
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Best Overall | Hepper NomNom Cat Bowl |
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Budget Buy | Platinum Pets Modern Elevated Bowl |
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Internet’s Best Modern Elevated Dog Feeder |
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UPSKY Peto Cat Bowl |
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ViviPet Raised Ceramic Cat Bowl |
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The 8 Best Luxury & Modern Cat Bowls
1. Hepper NomNom Modern Cat Bowl – Best Overall
The Hepper NomNom Modern Cat Bowl is our favorite luxury cat bowl because it seamlessly combines functionality with a beautiful contemporary design. It offers dual stainless steel bowls that sit securely in an innovative wrap-around tray. This was created to keep your floors free of kibble and water dribbles. Each piece of the NomNom was crafted with your cat’s comfort in mind; shallow dishes for whisker relief, catch tray, and slight elevation for optimum cat comfort during meal time.
The unique and modern style of the NomNom is a welcomed cat accessory that fits with all home decor. It is extremely easy to keep clean. The dishes pop out of the PP plastic tray and all three parts can be placed on the top shelf of the dishwasher.
While the shallow bowl design does have its benefits, with only a capacity of 10 oz, you may need to refill the water dish frequently. However, this could also be seen as a benefit since cats flock to fresh water.
When it comes to the best luxury cat bowls, we think this is the best available this year.
At Catster, we’ve admired Hepper for many years and decided to take a controlling ownership interest, so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool cat company!
- Shallow bowls prevent whisker fatigue
- Skirt catches crumbs and kibble
- The skirt is made from chew-proof plastic
- Stainless steel bowls are easy to clean
- May have to refill the water dish frequently
2. Platinum Pets Modern Elevated Bowl – Budget Buy
The Platinum Pets Modern Elevated Bowl is an elevated double bowl. They can be used for any combination of dry food, wet food, and water. These bowls come in a variety of colors, so they can match your walls, the featured highlights of a room, or your kitty’s collar color.
The black metal frame elevates the bowls away from the floor, and while this metal might be too flimsy for a dog, it should withstand regular use by cats. It has rubber feet to prevent the unit from moving across the floor, even as your cat retrieves the final morsels from the corner of the bowl.
The bowl and frame have a powder-coated finish that protects against physical damage like scratches and dents, and the bowls are dishwasher safe, so they are convenient and easy to maintain. Although the bowls do come in a very small size suitable for cats, the wrought iron frame won’t withstand many knocks or bangs, and some of the bowls chip easily after minimal use.
- Elevated feeding suitable for some cats
- Good range of colors
- Bowls are dishwasher safe
- Rubber stoppers prevent the frame from sliding
- The frame is a little weak
- Bowls chip easily
3. Internet’s Best Modern Elevated Dog Feeder
The Internet’s Best Modern Elevated Dog Feeder is billed as being designed for dogs, but the smaller 4-inch tall model may also be suitable for some cats.
It’s important to remember that cats kneel or lean when they are eating. When they are young and accustomed to this dining stance, it won’t cause any problems, but as your cat ages, it might struggle to properly lean over and into a food bowl. At this stage, an elevated or even a tilted bowl can prove beneficial because it reduces the stress on your cat’s joints and even aids in digestion. The Internet’s Best Modern Elevated Dog Feeder is a simple design and it has stainless steel bowls that are completely dishwasher safe. The elevated feeder frame is made from wood and finished in white.
Compared to the cost of two standard bowls, it can appear expensive, but it does enable you to keep everything in one place and may improve the health and reduce the dinnertime stress of your cat.
- Elevated position suitable for some cats
- Double feeder keeps everything together
- Dishwasher safe bowls
- More expensive than standard bowls
4. UPSKY Peto Cat Bowl
The Upsky Peto Cat Bowl is a raised cat food or water bowl that has a detachable, elevated stand. It claims to be a no-spill bowl and comes in a limited selection of pastel colors. There is only one size available, which holds the equivalent of two cups of food or water.
The bowl is made of melamine. It’s a non-toxic material that is considered safe and is relatively easy to clean although it’s not labeled as being dishwasher safe, so you will need to wash it by hand. The detachable bowl can be placed at a tilted angle of 0° to 30°. Not all cats benefit from a tilted position, but a slight tilt can help prevent food from being spilled over the sides and back of the bowl while also being safe. A greater tilt angle can be beneficial for cats with posture problems, bad teeth, or other complaints that might lead to stress at mealtimes.
The bowl is well-priced, but the magnet breaks easily, and you need to follow very precise washing instructions if you want the best chance of preserving the magnet, which is used to maintain the tilted position of your choosing.
- Adjustable tilt angle
- Good size
- Tilted feeding is suitable for some cats
- Magnet breaks easily
- Restrictive washing instructions
5. ViviPet Raised Ceramic Cat Bowl
The ViviPet Raised Ceramic Cat Bowl is a ceramic bowl with an attractive and stylistic raised platform. The bowl section itself is designed to look like a cat’s head while the stand is the body and legs: fitting for use as a water or food bowl for your cat. It is tilted to allow for the natural crouch-eating position that cats prefer to adopt.
Affectionately known as big-head bowls, these are made from ceramic. The ceramic is lead and cadmium-free and safe for use as a water or food bowl. Each piece is handcrafted, too, which gives a touch of luxury to the bowl and means that no two pieces are quite identical, although the differences are minimal. The ceramic bowls are dishwasher safe so easy to maintain.
Unfortunately, the bowls are a bit weak and can crack or become damaged when knocked. Also, while the bowl’s slanted design is suitable for wet food, which naturally stays in position, it won’t hold much water. Even dry kibble tends to roll out.
- Good looking design
- Dishwasher-safe ceramic bowl
- Raised and tilted design suitable for some cats
- Easy to crack
- Not suitable as a water bowl
6. Kitty City Raised Modern Cat Bowl
The Kitty City Raised Cat Food Bowl is a collection of two bowls or two bowls and one mat. The bowls hold 6.5 ounces each, which is roughly 1.5 cups.
The design, which looks like a bowl on top of an upturned bowl or like a sideways spinning top, offers slight elevation in the feeding position, which still allows for the natural crouch eating position of your cat and affords some alleviation from posture and shoulder complaints without preventing decent digestion. The bowl design also offers a wide opening, which prevents whisker fatigue when eating or drinking from the bowl.
The plastic is top-shelf dishwasher safe, which means that it is easy to maintain and convenient. The two bowls are inexpensive and look good. Adding the feeding mat, which keeps the mess limited to a single area, does double the cost of the set. Unfortunately, the bowls are made from plastic. Not only does plastic look cheaper than other materials, but it can also lead to feline acne, urinary stones, and other complaints.
- Good looking design, despite being plastic
- Slightly elevated position
- Cheap
- Dishwasher safe
- Made from plastic
- Smaller than they look
7. PawRidge Premium Elevated Pet Feeder
The PawRidge Premium Elevated Pet Feeder is an elevated feeder made from luxurious materials and with a classic look.
The frame is made from solid wood and comes in a choice of two designs, presumably so that you can choose one to fit with the legs of your table or other furniture in the same room as the feeder. The feeder also has rubber feet that will stop the unit from moving across the kitchen floor while eating, although the wood is heavier than a lot of plastic and wireframe elevated feeders so it is unlikely to move much.
It is a suitable size for cats, as well as small dogs and the feeder allows for the holding of two bowls. Two stainless steel bowls are included with the purchase, made from food-grade materials that are easy to maintain. The elevated feeder is quite expensive, because of the use of solid wood and food-grade stainless steel material, but it is designed to last, although the bowls do lose their sheen after a relatively short time.
- Solid wood feeder base
- 2 food-grade stainless steel bowls
- Rubber feet to prevent movement
- Pricey
- Heavy
- Bowls lose their sheen
8. Bone Dry Ceramic Cat Bowl
The Bone Dry Ceramic Cat Bowl is a set of two ceramic bowls that look like a large pestle and mortar set with a rubber base. The rubber bases will prevent the bowls from being pushed around the floor while being used, but this can have the undesirable side effect of making it easier for your cat or uninvited canine dinner guest to push the bowl over and empty its contents all over the floor.
The bowl is a porcelain ceramic that is dishwasher safe and has a unique marble design effect on the outside of the bowl. The bowls are a lot smaller than expected, they do tend to tip over despite manufacturer claims, and, despite being quite expensive, they look somewhat cheaper than a lot of the alternatives.
- Porcelain ceramic bowls are dishwasher-safe
- Set of 2 bowls
- Silicone base is slip-resistant
- Tips over easily
- Smaller than expected
Buyer’s Guide: Selecting the Most Luxurious & Best Modern Cat Bowls
If our reviews haven’t helped you choose the best modern cat bowl, below are some factors to take into account when doing your own shopping around and comparisons.
Bowl Types
Getting the right bowl type can enhance your cat’s eating and drinking experience. It can also enable you to keep the inevitable mess located in one area, and potentially even prevent that mess from spreading out across the floor. Typical bowl types include:
- Double – The double bowl is two bowls in a single frame or unit, rather than two separate bowls. Such a double design enables you to keep everything in one area although, with the frame, they can take up a lot of room and you need to ensure that the frame is decent quality, does not slip around, and is easy to clean. You may not put wet food directly on the frame, but there is a good chance your cat will.
- Bowl Set – A bowl set consists of at least two separate bowls and it may consist of a third bowl, a feeding mat, or other additional items. Sets are beneficial because all of the items within the set will have a complementary design, and they tend to be cheaper than buying the items individually. However, they also mean that you are paying for everything in one go, which can prove expensive if you end up not liking the bowls.
- Tilted – A tilted bowl has a lowered front and a higher back. This means that your cat does not have to lean over and into the bowl and as they crouch when eating, this can be considered a beneficial eating position. However, this type of bowl may not be suitable for use with water, and even some dry kibble is likely to find its way out.
- Elevated – There is some debate over the benefit of elevated feeders for cats. Cats eat in that crouched position which makes it easier for them to retrieve food from near ground level. But, if your cat has posture problems, arthritis, or other joint and musculoskeletal complaints, then an elevated feeding position can help alleviate the pain of these conditions.
Material
Bowl material is important and affects longevity, good looks, and ease of maintenance, as well as cost.
- Stainless steel is the most common choice. Food-grade stainless steel is safe to eat from. It can usually be put in the dishwasher, although you need to check the specific care instructions of each bowl, and it is easy to wipe clean and keep free of bacteria. But it can look utilitarian, and not all grades of stainless steel are equal.
- Ceramic bowls should be easy to clean, some can be put in the dishwasher, but the more porous nature of the material means that they are harder to wipe clean and are more likely to harbor bacteria. However, ceramic tends to be heavier so is less likely to move around, while thin ceramic is easily damaged and broken.
- Plastic is the cheapest material. Even if you choose plastic that claims to be BPA-free, you may find that the bowl has a peculiar smell that is off-putting when holding food or water. It can cause feline acne on your cat, and plastic tends to be light and capable of harboring bacteria and retaining food and dirt.
Size
Although the general shape of a cat bowl isn’t too important, size is. A standard cat meal consists of between one and two cups of food, and you won’t want to have to fill the bowl up halfway through meals. You should also ensure that your cat’s bowl is not too deep or too narrow, because this can cause whisker fatigue which is painful and stressful.
Shallow, wide bowls, tend to be better for cats, although if your cat has always used a narrow bowl and been OK, it may be OK to carry on with the same dimensions.
Non-Slip Feet
Usually made from rubber or silicone, non-slip feet or a non-slip base attach to the bottom of the bowl. They are common on stainless steel and some ceramic bowls and they prevent the receptacle from being pushed around the floor when in use.
A moving bowl is frustrating for the cat and it can be really loud and very annoying for humans, too.
Dishwasher Safe
Dishwasher-safe bowls are easier to maintain. Some can be placed anywhere in the dishwasher although some models must be placed on the top shelf, where the water is cooler and there is less physical force applied to the bowl.
It is usually the stainless steel bowls that are dishwasher safe, although the addition of non-removable non-slip feet can prevent a bowl from being considered safe. Check with the individual instructions, and in particular the care instructions, to determine whether a particular bowl is dishwasher safe or not.
How We Selected Our List of Luxury & Modern Cat Bowls
Catster has an experienced, expert team of writers, editors, and veterinarians who carefully consider a wide range of parameters when choosing the cat bowls. This includes but is not limited to customer reviews, brand reputation, veterinary experience, hands-on testing, and of course, our cats have a say in the process too! We aim to select and review only the best products available, to help you make the best possible choice and most informed decision for your and your cat’s needs.
Why Trust Catster?
A trusted online brand since 2001, Catster has a lot of experience with cat bowls. Our team of cat-loving writers, editors, and veterinarians is dedicated to helping you make the best decision for your precious cats. Our aim is to provide the best information available for cat owners to help cats live their best life possible. To do this, we scour reviews from the most trusted sources available and this, combined with our veterinary team’s experience and expertise, helps us gather the best options available to readers. Our team is deeply invested in the health and welfare of cats the world over, and believes that expert knowledge and veterinary guidance will help you make the right choices—for you and your cats!
Conclusion
Getting the right cat bowl is important. Whether it is for water, dry food, or wet food, the bowl must be able to hold the contents without spilling them or leaking. It should not discolor or taint the flavor of the content but it should also be convenient and easy to look after.
If you have to hand clean the bowl after every mealtime, you will soon tire of the whole exercise and end up looking for a new bowl. Modern bowls can be elevated or tilted, for different eating postures, and there is a vast range of bowl designs and colors, as well as frames and holders.
Our top pick is the Hepper NomNom Modern Cat Bowl for its sleek design, functionality, and durability. We believe that the Platinum Pets Modern Elevated Bowl is a good double bowl holder, although the metal frame is a little flimsy.