Cats use whiskers to feel their surroundings—a useful tool for navigating low-light spaces—but some cats seem to exhibit discomfort when their whiskers are stimulated too frequently. Some feline researchers have explored the possibility that cats may experience a condition known aswhisker fatigue.
“The theory is that some cats become overstimulated from their whiskers touching the sides of deep food and water bowls,” says Susan Sikule, DVM, owner ofJust Cats Veterinary Clinicin Saratoga Springs, New York. “Some experts hypothesize that whisker stress is a sort of information overload that may impact a cat’s eating or drinking or cause a cat to avoid certain food and water bowls.”
In fact, many pet owners do notice their cats don’t seem to like certain bowls. Cats will sometimes demonstrate behavior suggesting discomfort, such as picking up pieces of kibble and dropping food outside of the bowl for consumption off of the floor. Whisker fatigue bowls address these behaviors by offering broad and open surfaces that your cat's whiskers won't bump against while eating.
“It’s reasonable to try a whisker-friendly bowl if you notice your cat seems to avoid some bowls,” Sikule told The Spruce Pets, while recommending that people first discuss newly observed eating or drinking behaviors with their cat's veterinarian to rule out underlying health conditions.
For now, whisker fatigue is more of a theory than a well-researched phenomena, but a wide range of cat owners have reported that their cats are more likely to use the shallower bowls.
Our favorite whisker fatigue bowl is Americat Stainless Steel Bowls because they’re made of food-grade, dishwasher-safe 18/8 stainless steel—a grade of steel often used in kitchen products because of its high resistance to corrosion. They're also slightly deeper than competing whisker fatigue bowls, which make it easier to serve both food and water in them.
Best Overall
Americat Company Stainless Steel Cat Bowl
Made in the United States
Dishwasher-safe
Deep enough so food or water doesn’t spill out
Stands sold separately
May be a little large for small cats
The Americat Stainless Steel Cat Bowls are made from 18/8 stainless steel, which means that it's 18 percent chromium and 8 percent nickel, a combination that's exceptionally resistant to corrosion and rust. Each bowl is lead-free, mercury-free, cadmium-free, food-safe, and sturdy. The heavy-duty 22-gauge stainless will not tip over, and the wide, shallow shapes with a sloped front make it easy for cats to eat either wet or dry food. The bowls work equally well for water.
There are also bowl stands, sold separately, which elevates the bowl for older cats or cats with health issues that make crouching difficult.
Price at time of publication:$27
Dimensions:| 5.75 x 1.5英寸Volume:16 ounces |Material:Stainless steel
Best Stainless Steel
Dr. Catsby's Whisker Relief Non-Skid Stainless Steel Cat Bowl
洗碗机安全(bowl only)
Reviewers say cats eat all their food, not just the food in the middle of the bowl
Comes with a non-slip silicone mat
Cats may push food out of bowl because it’s so shallow
Stainless steel is better for cats who tend to get chin acne from rubbing against a plastic bowl. Dr. Catsby's Whisker Relief cat bowls are made from food-grade stainless steel with a separate silicone mat that prevents it from sliding. Its shape also makes it tip-resistant.
These bowls are shallower than the whisker-friendly Americat bowls, which make them excellent at addressing whisker fatigue, though they're not very useful for holding water (the manufacturer also makesa separate, somewhat deeper, whisker-friendly water bowl). It's also possible for cats to bump round pieces of dry food out of the shallow bowl.
Dr. Catsby's bowls are dishwasher safe.
Price at time of publication:$20
Dimensions:7.08 x 1.25 inches |Volume:12 ounces |Material:Stainless steel
Best Ceramic
BiteKing Ceramic Cat Bowl
Dishwasher-safe
Available in multiple colors
Lead and BPA free
Has handles on both sides of the bowl
No matching water bowl
Handles aren't as durable as rest of the bowl
This lead-free ceramic bowl is both functional and pretty. A wide, flat base with a rippled bottom keeps food from sliding around and gives your cat easy access to meals. But the outer lip prevents food from being pushed onto the floor, which may be useful for messy eaters.
This dish is dishwasher safe, which means easy clean-up. The bowls also are microwave-safe if your cat prefers the chill taken off food. This bowl comes in sets of two and is available in fun colors to match your décor including black, white, mint green, dark green and pink.
Price at time of publication:$15
Dimensions:6 x 1 inch (handles are an additional 1-inch-wide on either side) |Volume:8 ounces |Material:Ceramic
Best Budget
Van Ness Pets EcoWare Whisker-Friendly Cat Bowl
Doesn’t slide around while cat is eating
如果下降不会轻易打破
Handwashing recommended
No matching water bowl
If you’re looking for a wallet-friendly option, this shallow cat bowl is made from bamboo with a skid-free silicone base to prevent it from sliding around while your cat eats. It has a smooth interior that’s easy to clean, though you’ll need to hand-wash it.
It’s only available in one color (blue) and can be used for wet or dry food. However, you’ll need to purchase a different, somewhat deeper dish for water.
Price at time of publication:$5
Dimensions:5.25 x 1.25 inches |Volume:8 ounces |Material:Bamboo, ceramic
Best Elevated
CEEFU 2 Extra Wide Raised Cat Food Bowl
洗碗机安全
Bowls don’t tip over easily
Elevated for easy access
Shapes a little awkward to stack in the dishwasher
Bowls may be too large or too tall for small cats
If you’re looking for an elevated bowl to accommodate an older cat or cat with mobility issues, this set includes a shallow, wide food bowl and a deeper (though still shallow) water bowl. Both are whisker-friendly. The lead-free ceramic bowls are heavy and stable so cats won’t inadvertently knock them over.
With smooth interior surfaces, these dishes are easy to keep clean. The bowls are dishwasher safe and also can be microwaved if your cat likes his or her food heated up to take off the chill. The set is available in two neutral colors: White and pea green.
Price at time of publication:$37 for set of two (one food, one water bowl)
Dimensions:6.2 x 5 inches, 4.5-inch base, 1.6-inch depth (food bowl); 6.2 x 5 inches, 4.5-inch base, 2-inch depth (water bowl) |Material:Ceramic
Our top pick isAmericat Stainless Steel Bowls for Food and Waterbecause they’re made from durable 18/8 stainless and will last a lifetime. But if you’re looking for a budget pick, we likeVan Ness Ecoware Non-Skid Cat Dish, although it does not have a matching water bowl and must be hand-washed.
What to Look For in a Fatigue Bowl
Material
Stainless steel or ceramic is preferred.
“Avoid plastic because some cats can get chin acne when rubbing against a plastic bowl,” Dr. Sikule told The Spruce Pets. Melamine is another type of plastic-based material to avoid.
Dishwasher-safe
This is convenient because water bowls should be washed daily and food bowls should be washed after every use with canned food, Sikule recommends.
Dimensions
Water bowls should be no more than two inches deep, while food bowls should be about one inch deep. Both bowls should be about five to six inches wide. Elevated bowls are higher, and can be helpful for older cats with arthritis, who may find it difficult to squat down to a floor-level bowl, says Sikule.
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What is whisker fatigue?
Some pet owners observe that their cats avoid certain bowls, but theresearch is not conclusiveabout whether the bowls are the cause of their discomfort. “Whisker fatigue is not a disease or symptom of a disease, but it may be that some cats experience sensory overload from their whiskers touching the sides bowls,” says Sikule.
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Is whisker fatigue real?
Research has been limited, but onerecent small studyinvolving 40 cats investigated whether using a whisker-friendly dish would improve a cat’s eating habits. Cats fed from the whisker-friendly dish did not spend more time eating, drop less food or eat more food in a five-minute period. However, some cats did appear to prefer the new whisker-friendly bowl over their normal food dishes. For now, the research is inconclusive.
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How do I tell if my cat has whisker fatigue?
You know your cat best, so pay attention to your cat’s eating and drinking behaviors. If your cat seems agitated at feeding time, paws at the bowl or avoids the bowl, it could be whisker fatigue. Because feral cats squat and eat from flat surfaces, it may be that pet cats also prefer a flat surface—not a big, deep bowl-- for eating, too, says Sikule.
If you suspect this is the case, you can try a wider, shallower “whiskey friendly” bowl to eliminate this potential stress for your cat. But remember you always should consult your vet about any changes in your cat’s eating or drinking habits in order to rule out underlying health issues, says Sikule.
Why Trust The Spruce
Writer Arricca SanSone researched the market based on criteria from Susan Sikule, DVM, a feline practitioner and owner ofJust Cats Veterinary Clinicin Saratoga Springs, New York, as well as current scientific research studies and detailed comparisons of product reviews.