5 Vet Approved DIY Slow Feed Cat Bowls (With Pictures)
Eating too quickly can lead to stomach upset and health problems, but it is commonly associated with dogs. That doesn’t mean some cats don’t eat too quickly, though! Slow feed pet bowls are a great option for slowing down your cat’s rapid eating habit. There are many types of slow feeders on the market in pet stores and online shops, but these can get pricey.
The good news for those of us who are more budget oriented is that you can make your own DIY slow feed bowls for your cat at home. Many of them you can even put together with things you already have at home! Here are some of the easiest and most effective DIY slow feed bowls for cats.
The 5 DIY Slow Feed Cat Bowls
1. DIY Slow Feeder Pet Bowl by Momma Told Me Blog
| Materials: | Food bowl, rubber dog toys |
| Tools: | None |
| Difficulty Level: | Beginner |
This DIY Slow Feeder Pet Bowl plan is so simple that your small kids can put it together for you. All you’ll need is a food bowl, preferably a little bigger than the average cat food bowl because it will need to be able to hold a few small dog toys. Pick up some rubber or plastic dog toys in a variety of textures and add them to the bowl. Then you’re just going to add your cat’s food and watch them solve the puzzle of trying to eat around the toys or remove the toys so they can eat.
2. DIY Slow Feeder Bowl by No Ordinary Sparrow
| Materials: | Large food bowl, small food bowl |
| Tools: | None |
| Difficulty Level: | Beginner |
Here’s another incredibly easy slow feeder bowl option for your cat from this DIY Slow Feeder Bowl plan. All you’re going to need is a large food bowl, preferably with a flat bottom, and a small food bowl. These food bowls can be just about any material, but metal bowls are going to be the easiest to keep clean. All you need to do is flip the small bowl upside-down inside of the larger bowl and then add your cat’s food.
The small bowl in the middle of the larger bowl will create a barrier that your cat will have to work around, automatically slowing down their eating speed. If the difference between the small and large bowls is too wide, this will allow your cat to eat more quickly, so try to get bowls that aren’t too far apart in size.
3. DIY Glass Bowl Slow Feeder by Kelly Lang-dal
| Materials: | Glass bowl, drinking glass that’s smaller than the bowl |
| Tools: | None |
| Difficulty Level: | Beginner |
This DIY feeder is like the bowl feeder plan we’ve mentioned and is perfect if you have a spare bowl and glass in your cupboard that you aren’t using. If you aren’t sure about using glass for this project, metal or plastic will work, too. Place your cup inside your bowl, and you’re ready to go!
4. DIY Egg Carton Slow Feeder by CatBehaviorAssociates
| Materials: | Large egg carton |
| Tools: | None |
| Difficulty Level: | Beginner |
This DIY feeder option is so simple that there isn’t any assembly required! You only need food and an empty egg carton. Your cat might use their paws to get at the food, so not only will it slow down their eating, but it will also provide mental stimulation.
5. Fun DIY Interactive Slow Feeder by NoLi
| Materials: | Cardboard, magnets, glue, wooden dowels |
| Tools: | Small drill, scissors |
| Difficulty Level: | Moderate |
Here we have a DIY cat feeder that needs a little more skill to assemble than our other options, but it isn’t too tricky, don't worry. The instructions are simple and in-depth, so plan a few hours to get it done or a few days if you like to take your time with DIY projects. This design ensures that food is dispensed slowly, and it requires problem-solving skills to operate. So, not only will it solve the issue of your cat eating too fast, but it also provides mental stimulation every time your cat is ready to eat.
Why Is Eating Too Quickly a Concern?
The primary concern associated with cats that eat too quickly is that it may lead to stomach upset, increasing the risk of your cat vomiting up their food after eating. Obviously, nobody wants to find little vomit piles all around their house, and it’s important for your cat to consume their food appropriately for proper digestion and health.
The other big concern associated with eating too quickly is that it can lead to obesity. This isn’t because the speed of eating itself causes obesity, though. Cats that eat their food quickly are more likely to beg between meals for more food, which can easily lead to overfeeding and causing obesity. Obesity is a serious concern for cats because it can lead to problems like diabetes, heart disease, and joint problems.
Conclusion
That wraps it up! We hope that this article has inspired you to get creative and make a bowl that will help aid in their digestion. While we may be pleased that their cat chows down on the food we selected for them, eating too quickly can lead to problems. But one of these DIY slow feed bowls can help!
Featured Image Credit: PhotodriveStudio, Shutterstock
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Christian started writing for a local newspaper as a teenager, and he's been involved in the publishing industry for most of his adult life. Combining his love of writing with a passion for animals, he is currently the Director of Editorial at Pangolia and the Editor-in-Chief at Catster.
Christian lives in the Philippines with his wife, son, and four rescue cats: Trixie, Chloe, Sparky, and Chopper.
