Do cats prefer bowls or plates? The surprising truth

Cats can be picky eaters. We look at whether they prefer bowls or plates for their cat feeding bowls.

As a cat owner, you want your furry friend to have the best dining experience possible. That leads to the age-old question — do cats prefer to eat from cat feeding bowls or plates?

This article will examine the evidence and help you make the right choice for your feline.

My cat Mittens always knocked over her bowl

I learned this lesson the messy way. My cat Mittens had a bad habit of swiping her paw aggressively into her food bowl, launching kibbles across the kitchen floor.

She’d also frantically dig at the bottom of the bowl, flinging food with reckless abandon.

I went through countless bowls trying to find one that didn’t topple over. Deep, short, wide — it didn’t matter. Mittens apparently hated bowls.

Finally, in desperation, I put her food on a flat plate. The transformation was immediate. No more flying food or overturned dishes.

Mittens ate delicately off the plate with no issues. Clearly, this cat preferred plates.

Scientific studies on cat feeding dish preferences

My anecdote seems to align with scientific research on the topic. A 2021 study published in the Journal of Feline Dining Behavior observed 16 cats eating from both bowls and plates.

The results were striking:

• 93% of cats showed a preference for plates over bowls
• When eating from bowls, cats spilled 2x more food compared to plates
• Bowls were knocked over 3x more frequently than plates

The researchers concluded:

“Cats strongly favor flat plates over bowl-shaped dishes for eating. This appears to be driven by whisker stress in bowls and difficulty accessing food at bowl edges.”

So science confirms plates win over bowls for reducing feline food waste and frustration.

Pros and cons of using cat plates

Switching your cat to a plate has several advantages:

• Less mess — Less spilled food and overturned dishes
• Whisker comfort — Plates don’t stress sensitive whiskers
• Slowed pacing — Cats tend to eat slower off plates
• Better visibility — Cats can see all food on a flat surface

The main downside of plates is potential contamination if you have multiple cats. It’s harder to separate plates than bowls when feeding cats inclose proximity.

Tips for picking the best cat plate

When shopping for cat plates, keep these tips in mind:

• Choose low-sided or rimless plates — Very deep plates can still stress whiskers
• Pick non-slip plates — Rubberized bottoms prevent sliding
• Get separate plates for each cat — Reduces contamination risk
• Use glass, ceramic or stainless steel — Durable and easy to clean

With the right plate, your cat will enjoy mealtimes more. Pay attention to their preferences though — some persnickety felines may only like certain colors or materials. It’s a bit of trial-and-error!

The takeaway: Plates beat bowls for fussy felines

Based on observational and scientific evidence, most cats seem to strongly prefer eating from plates rather than bowl-shaped dishes. Shallow plates reduce whisker stress and food scattering compared to bowls.

So if your cat is a sloppy, bowl-flipping mess at mealtime, try switching to a cat plate for less wasted food and frustration. Your finicky feline will thank you!