Where to Put Your Cat’s Food Bowl for Optimal Health & Happiness

You might’ve heard that location counts in real estate, but it’s also important when it comes to cat food and water bowl placement. Cats can be finicky about where they eat and drink, and in households with dogs or multiple cats that don’t seem bonded, the question of how to keep cat food away from the dog or safe for all cats often arises. A simple thing like the location of food and water bowls can impact cats’ health, well-being and behavior, so a few minutes spent making thoughtful choices on where to put your cat’s food bowl is time well spent in avoiding possible problems.

Why Bowl Placement Matters: Understanding Cat Behavior

Cats’ eating habits are influenced by their wild ancestors, and even the most pampered indoor cat retains more than a few of these ancient instincts. Cats evolved as both predator and prey, making them sensitive to their environment, and feeding time in the wild sometimes places them in vulnerable positions.

It follows that cats have definite preferences on the location of their food and water bowls. Competition with other cats (and other pets) and the distance to litter boxes also come into play in finding the best cat feeding area.

The Ideal Cat Food Bowl Location: Key Considerations

Almost all experts agree that cats tend to prefer quiet areas for eating and drinking.¹ While it’s tempting to simply line up food and water bowls in the kitchen, you’ll instead want to allow cats a private and quiet location where they can eat and drink in peace. Especially for picky or slow eaters, having a place where they can be undisturbed may help encourage a cat to eat.

A few additional tips: 

• Try to ensure your cat can see around the area when eating and drinking. Cats dislike their food and water sources placed in corners, since it forces them to turn their backs to open areas. 
• Avoid putting food or water bowls near litter boxes. Not only can the smell turn cats away from the bowls, but litter – or worse – can contaminate them. 
• Find a different feeding location, at least temporarily, if you discover ants in a cat’s food bowl. Products used to get rid of ants shouldn’t be placed near pet food.

Water Bowl Placement

Behaviorists continue to debate whether to place cat water bowls near food bowls or in a separate location.¹ The recommendation to separate the two assumes that in the wild, cats would not want to contaminate their water source with dead prey. Others point out that because many cats are fed at least some dry food, it might be beneficial for water sources to be close by.

Since there aren’t any good studies about ideal cat water bowl placement, it’s up to cat owners to determine what their cats prefer by putting water sources both near and far from food sources and monitoring their cat’s preferences.^1-3

The most important factor is making sure your cat is drinking water and staying hydrated. To encourage your cat to drink, make sure that water bowls are kept clean, and refill them with fresh water daily. Some cats prefer running water, so a pet water fountain might also help.

Elevated Bowls: Are They Right for Your Cat?

You may be wondering: Do cats need elevated bowls? Some cats with digestive issues might benefit from an elevated food bowl. Elevated bowls can also help some pets with osteoarthritis or neck and back pain caused by another condition. 

Because cats tend to eat in a crouched position, an elevated food bowl is probably not necessary unless your cat shows signs of pain. So should cat bowls be elevated? If your cat seems uncomfortable while eating, or has been diagnosed with any of these problems, talk to your veterinarian about raising your cat’s food and water bowls.

Bowl Placement for Feeding Multiple Pets

In multi-pet households, cat bowl placement really matters. Experts recommend multiple, separated areas for food and water bowls.^1-3 Most cats are solitary eaters and prefer their personal space. If you’re feeding two cats (or more), simply lining up food bowls in one place is a recipe for conflict and stress. Putting resources in different rooms and different levels allows for a lot of space for cats to eat and drink and should help lower tension and avoid unwanted behaviors.

In multi-pet households, placing a cat’s food bowl on a higher platform, like a cat tree, can help prevent another pet from eating the cat’s food.

Where to put cat food when you have a dog in the house is a common dilemma. One potential solution is to put your cat’s food bowl on a table or other elevated, out-of-the-way spot, which might make your cat feel more comfortable and safer while eating. The question of how high a cat’s food dish should be depends on the size and agility of the dog. However, if you have an elderly cat or a cat with osteoarthritis or an illness that makes jumping hard, this might not be a good option. A baby gate or other device like a collar-activated feeder that allows your cat access to their bowls but keeps other pets out can also work well.

Conclusion

If your cat is experiencing eating issues, trial and error is a valuable tool in finding solutions to where to put your cat’s food bowl. However, it’s important for cats to eat every day, so if your cat won’t eat from a bowl even after you’ve tried several approaches, it’s time to talk to your veterinarian to ensure it isn’t related to a medical reason. Providing multiple quiet, safe and clean spaces to eat and drink is one key to helping keep cats happy and healthy!

For more expert tips on cat feeding, explore our other cat feeding guide articles. 

References 

1. Delgado M, Dantas LMS. Feeding cats for optimal mental and behavioral well-being. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract. 2020;50(5):939-953. 

2. Rochlitz I. A review of the housing requirements of domestic cats (Felis silvestris catus) kept in the home. Appl Anim Behav Sci. 2005;93(1-2):97-109. 

3. Anderson RS. Water balance in the dog and cat. J Small Anim Pract. 1982;23(9):588-598.