Cats will make a game out of almost everything — including their food! Whether it’s dry food, wet food, or water, this can quickly create a mess at every mealtime and even turn into a habit that can be difficult to reverse. This is a fairly common problem among cat owners, and luckily, it has a relatively easy fix.
Spill-proof cat bowls are a simple yet effective solution for cats that enjoy spilling their food and water all over the place. These bowls are designed with either anti-tip or non-slip features that go a long way toward preventing water and food from being sloshed and spilled all over your home.
If you’re looking for a non-spill bowl that actually works, you’ve come to the right place. It’s safe to stay that no bowl is truly spill-proof, but we found a few that come close and gave them in-depth reviews, so you can find the best one for your needs. Let’s get started!
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites of 2023
Image Product Details
Best Overall
Hepper Nom Nom Cat Bowls
Two bowls included
Stainless-steel and tough plastic construction
Dishwasher-safe and easy to clean
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Best Value
Signature Non-skid Ceramic Bowl
Made from tough glazed ceramic
Easy to clean and dishwasher safe
Ideal for food and water
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Premium Choice
Pawfect Pets Elevated Cat Diner
Comes with four stainless-steel bowls
Silicone lip to prevent spinning
Sturdy waterproof bamboo stand
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Best for Kittens
Neater Pet Brands Feeder
Elevated design
Dishwasher safe
Non-skid
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Frisco Pet Bowl with Silicone Mat
Non-slip silicone mat with lip
Dishwasher safe
BPA free
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The 8 Best Spill-Proof Cat Water Bowls
The Hepper Nom Nom Spill-Proof Cat Water bowl is our top choice overall for several good reasons. First, you get a set of two stainless-steel bowls that fit snugly in a plastic tray with a wide lip to catch any spilled water or food. The dishes are about 1 inch deep with a 10-ounce capacity, and both detach easily from the tray for simple, dishwasher-safe cleaning. The plastic tray is tough and durable, so if you have a cat that likes to chew on silicone or rubber, there is no chance of choking hazard with this tray. Lastly, the tray is naturally non-slip to further help prevent any spillage.
Capacity: 10 ounces
Material: Stainless steel
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The only issue that we found with these bowls is their size — they’ll need to be refilled often — and since they’re so close together, there’s a chance of your cat’s food being spilled into their water or vice versa.
Pros
Two bowls included
Stainless-steel and tough plastic construction
Dishwasher-safe and easy to clean
Chew-proof, naturally non-slip tray
Cons
Small capacity
Bowls are placed close together
At Pet Keen, we’ve admired Hepper for many years and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool cat company!
Two bowls included
Stainless-steel and tough plastic construction
Dishwasher-safe and easy to clean
Chew-proof, naturally non-slip tray
- Two bowls included
- Stainless-steel and tough plastic construction
- Dishwasher-safe and easy to clean
- Chew-proof, naturally non-slip tray
Small capacity
Bowls are placed close together
- Small capacity
- Bowls are placed close together
The Coastal Fish Non-skid Ceramic Bowl by Signature Housewares is the best spill-proof cat bowl for the money. Made from glazed stoneware, the bowl is a breeze to clean and stands up to frequent use, and it is perfectly dishwasher safe. The bowl is ideal for use with both food and water and has a decent 1-cup, or 8-oz, capacity. The heavy, dense ceramic is naturally spill and skid resistant, and the bottom of the bowl has a smaller diameter than the top lip, further helping to prevent spillage.
Capacity: 1 cup
Material: Ceramic
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Unfortunately, this bowl will still slide on very smooth surfaces, and the ceramic material can break and crack easily if it falls from a high place.
Pros
Inexpensive
Made from tough glazed ceramic
Easy to clean and dishwasher safe
Ideal for food and water
Cons
Not 100% non-slip
Breaks easily if dropped
If you are looking for a spill-proof bowl that will give your cat a premium dining experience, the Pawfect Pets Premium Elevated Cat Diner is a great choice. The set includes four stainless-steel bowls — so you’ll always have spares on hand — each of which has a silicone lip to prevent them from spinning or making noise while your cat’s eating. The bowls fit snugly inside a sturdy, elegant bamboo stand that is water-proof, and due to its unique design, it is virtually spill-proof too. The entire set is raised off the floor to help promote healthy digestion and ease back pain and discomfort, with non-slip rubber feet to prevent sliding.
Inexpensive
Made from tough glazed ceramic
Easy to clean and dishwasher safe
Ideal for food and water
- Inexpensive
- Made from tough glazed ceramic
- Easy to clean and dishwasher safe
- Ideal for food and water
Not 100% non-slip
Breaks easily if dropped
- Not 100% non-slip
- Breaks easily if dropped
Capacity: 5 cups
Material: Stainless steel, bamboo
Pros
Comes with four stainless-steel bowls
Silicone lip to prevent spinning
Sturdy waterproof bamboo stand
The unique design is virtually spill-proof
Non-slip rubber feet
Cons
Expensive
The Neater Pets Neater Feeder Deluxe Elevated & Mess-Proof Cat Bowls is a unique anti-spillage solution, designed with protective walls that help contain any splashes from water and spilled food. Any spilled food is caught inside the reservoir that holds the stainless-steel bowls, while any spilled liquid flows gently down through a filtering system into a lower reservoir, which can hold more than an entire bowl of water. The elevated design also helps with digestion and reduces back and neck strain. The entire unit is BPA-free and dishwasher safe and fitted with non-skid rubber feet.
Comes with four stainless-steel bowls
Silicone lip to prevent spinning
Sturdy waterproof bamboo stand
The unique design is virtually spill-proof
Non-slip rubber feet
- Comes with four stainless-steel bowls
- Silicone lip to prevent spinning
- Sturdy waterproof bamboo stand
- The unique design is virtually spill-proof
- Non-slip rubber feet
Expensive
- Expensive
Capacity: 1 cup, 1.5 cups
Material: Stainless steel, plastic
This feeder is not ideal for large cats — since it’s fairly lightweight, they’ll be able to flip it over and spill their food and water.
Pros
Protective walls
Unique reservoir to catch spilled food and water
Elevated design
Dishwasher safe
Non-skid
Cons
Expensive
Not ideal for large cats
- Frisco Double Stainless Steel Pet Bowl with Silicone Mat
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Capacity: 1.75 cups
Material: Stainless steel, silicone
This inexpensive Frisco Double Stainless Steel Pet Bowl with Silicone Mat is a simple yet effective solution to help prevent your cats from spilling their food. The bowls are both 1 inch deep and suitable for food or water. They sit securely inside a naturally non-slip silicone mat with a small lip that prevents food and water from spilling on the floor. Both the mat and stainless-steel bowls are easy to clean and dishwasher safe, and the mat is made with BPA-free silicone that is perfectly pet-safe.
Protective walls
Unique reservoir to catch spilled food and water
Elevated design
Dishwasher safe
Non-skid
- Protective walls
- Unique reservoir to catch spilled food and water
- Elevated design
- Dishwasher safe
- Non-skid
Expensive
Not ideal for large cats
- Expensive
- Not ideal for large cats
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Capacity: 1.75 cups
Material: Stainless steel, silicone
We found that the lip on the silicone mat is a bit on the small side, though, and water or even food could still overflow easily.
Pros
Inexpensive
Two stainless-steel bowls included
Non-slip silicone mat with lip
Dishwasher safe
BPA free
Cons
The protective lip is rather small
- PAIKKA Cubist Cone-Shaped Ceramic Dog & Cat Bowl
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Capacity: 6.5 cups
Material: Ceramic
An elegant, simple, and effective spillage solution, the PAIKKA Cubist Cone-Shaped Ceramic Dog & Cat Bowl is dishwasher safe, BPA free, and naturally tip resistant due to the unique weight distribution of its design. The cone shape of the bowl makes the top rim smaller than the bottom of the bowl, helping to prevent food and water from splashing or falling out of the opening, yet it is still large enough for your cat to comfortably eat from. The heavy, high-quality stoneware is naturally non-slip, difficult to tip, and easy to clean.
Inexpensive
Two stainless-steel bowls included
Non-slip silicone mat with lip
Dishwasher safe
BPA free
- Inexpensive
- Two stainless-steel bowls included
- Non-slip silicone mat with lip
- Dishwasher safe
- BPA free
The protective lip is rather small
- The protective lip is rather small
Capacity: 6.5 cups
Material: Ceramic
This bowl is pricey and will break easily if dropped. Also, if it cracks, it can be a health hazard because bacteria or mold can take hold in the cracks.
Pros
Unique tip-resistant design
Cone-shaped to prevent spillage
Made from quality stoneware
Great modern aesthetic
Cons
Expensive
May crack or break easily
The Pet Life Everspill 2-in-1 Food & Anti-Spill Cat Bowl is made from tough, pet-safe thermoplastic elastomer and has a unique anti-spill design that is ideal for both food and water. The bowl has a lightweight, removable splashguard that floats on the water, which enables your cat to freely access the water but reduces the risk of spills. The indentations on the bottom tray act as a slow feeder for fast-eating felines. The bowl is made with a rubberized grip to prevent slipping and a bottom-heavy construction to help prevent tipping. It is a breeze to clean and 100% dishwasher safe and comes in five different colors.
Unique tip-resistant design
Cone-shaped to prevent spillage
Made from quality stoneware
Great modern aesthetic
- Unique tip-resistant design
- Cone-shaped to prevent spillage
- Made from quality stoneware
- Great modern aesthetic
Expensive
May crack or break easily
- Expensive
- May crack or break easily
Capacity: 24oz
Material: Thermoplastic Elastomer
Pros
Made from pet-safe thermoplastic elastomer
Unique splash and spill-proof design
Doubles as a slow feeding food bowl
Rubberized bottom
Dishwasher safe
Cons
Lightweight and can be flipped over by large cats
Sometimes a solid, weighty bowl is all that’s needed to prevent spilling, and the Ethical Pet Stoneware Pet Dish is just that. This ceramic bowl weighs just over 2 pounds, so even the largest cats will have a difficult time pushing it around or flipping it over. Since it’s made from tough stoneware, the bowl is a breeze to clean and 100% dishwasher safe, with a high gloss finish that food will not stick to. It can be used for wet food, dry food, and water, and it comes in five different sizes.
Made from pet-safe thermoplastic elastomer
Unique splash and spill-proof design
Doubles as a slow feeding food bowl
Rubberized bottom
Dishwasher safe
- Made from pet-safe thermoplastic elastomer
- Unique splash and spill-proof design
- Doubles as a slow feeding food bowl
- Rubberized bottom
- Dishwasher safe
Lightweight and can be flipped over by large cats
- Lightweight and can be flipped over by large cats
Capacity: 5 cup
Material: Ceramic
While the weight of this bowl makes it difficult for your cat to move, it does make it easy to break or crack should you drop it. Also, the blue interior makes it extremely difficult to judge how much water is left in the bowl.
Pros
Heavy and difficult to flip over
Made from tough ceramic
Dishwasher safe
High-gloss finish
Cons
Will break easily if dropped
Difficult to judge the water level
Heavy and difficult to flip over
Made from tough ceramic
Dishwasher safe
High-gloss finish
- Heavy and difficult to flip over
- Made from tough ceramic
- Dishwasher safe
- High-gloss finish
Will break easily if dropped
Difficult to judge the water level
- Will break easily if dropped
- Difficult to judge the water level
Buyer’s Guide: Spill-proof Cat Water Bowls
Spill-proof water bowls for cats come in various shapes and sizes, making choosing the right one for your feline somewhat challenging. There are important factors to look for, from material to size and design, all of which can impact how effective the bowl is. Let’s look at a few things to consider when buying a spill-proof bowl for your cat.
Do spill-proof bowls actually work?
It’s safe to say that no bowl on the market today is 100% spill-proof. Cats are mischievous, intelligent creatures and can seemingly always find a way — if your cat wants to get their food or water out of the bowl, they most likely will!
However, spill-proof bowls go a long way toward deterring your cat from spilling their food and water and greatly reduce the likelihood of accidental spilling. Some bowls are elevated or have non-slip bottoms, others have reservoirs to catch any spilled food before it gets to the floor, and still others have slow-feed mechanisms built in that can help prevent food from spilling out. All these factors do not make the bowl 100% spill-proof, but they can certainly help get your cat out of the habit and prevent accidents.
Why do cats play with their water and food bowls?
Some cats prefer their water moving around a bit and will paw at their water bowl to make them feel more comfortable while drinking. If you notice your cats doing this or climbing onto the kitchen counter to drink water from a running tap, they most likely have this unique preference, and a water fountain may be a good option for them.
If you have multiple cats at home, they may empty their bowls to get privacy and security while eating, or other cats may bother them while eating and they’re simply trying to get their food away to eat it in peace. Of course, some cats, especially kittens, simply want to have fun! They see their food and water bowls as toys and want to make dinnertime into a game. If this is the case, you may want to spend more interactive time with your feline to discourage the habit.
- See Also: 7 Best Cat Water Fountains in 2022: Reviews & Top Picks
Factors to consider when choosing a no-spill cat bowl
While no bowl is truly spill-free, here are a few features to look for that can help keep mess to a minimum:
Some cats make a mess of their food or water simply because their food bowls are too light, making them slide around easily and spill their contents. A heavy ceramic bowl or something similar can help because it reduces its ability to slide around and to be tipped over.
There are a handful of unique designs of spill-proof cat bowls, and some work better than others, depending on your cat. Some bowls are heavy or have rubber trim on the base to reduce sliding, while others have silicone mats that stainless-steel bowls nestle into, with a small lip that prevents food and water from getting on the floor. Some are elevated to help prevent wandering paws, and others have floating splash guards or small mouths to help stop spilling. You may need to try out a few designs to see which works best for your kitty.
Naturally, the bowl that you choose should be made with durable, pet-safe material. Stainless steel is best because it’s easy to clean and strong. However, it is also light and slides around easily. Ceramic bowls are great because they’re heavy and won’t slide or tipple easily, but they are prone to breaking or cracking. The bowls that have silicone or plastic mats should be chew-proof or at the very least, be safe to gnaw on if you have a cat that likes to chew.
Some cats make a mess of their food or water simply because their food bowls are too light, making them slide around easily and spill their contents. A heavy ceramic bowl or something similar can help because it reduces its ability to slide around and to be tipped over.
There are a handful of unique designs of spill-proof cat bowls, and some work better than others, depending on your cat. Some bowls are heavy or have rubber trim on the base to reduce sliding, while others have silicone mats that stainless-steel bowls nestle into, with a small lip that prevents food and water from getting on the floor. Some are elevated to help prevent wandering paws, and others have floating splash guards or small mouths to help stop spilling. You may need to try out a few designs to see which works best for your kitty.
Naturally, the bowl that you choose should be made with durable, pet-safe material. Stainless steel is best because it’s easy to clean and strong. However, it is also light and slides around easily. Ceramic bowls are great because they’re heavy and won’t slide or tipple easily, but they are prone to breaking or cracking. The bowls that have silicone or plastic mats should be chew-proof or at the very least, be safe to gnaw on if you have a cat that likes to chew.
- Some cats make a mess of their food or water simply because their food bowls are too light, making them slide around easily and spill their contents. A heavy ceramic bowl or something similar can help because it reduces its ability to slide around and to be tipped over.
- There are a handful of unique designs of spill-proof cat bowls, and some work better than others, depending on your cat. Some bowls are heavy or have rubber trim on the base to reduce sliding, while others have silicone mats that stainless-steel bowls nestle into, with a small lip that prevents food and water from getting on the floor. Some are elevated to help prevent wandering paws, and others have floating splash guards or small mouths to help stop spilling. You may need to try out a few designs to see which works best for your kitty.
- Naturally, the bowl that you choose should be made with durable, pet-safe material. Stainless steel is best because it’s easy to clean and strong. However, it is also light and slides around easily. Ceramic bowls are great because they’re heavy and won’t slide or tipple easily, but they are prone to breaking or cracking. The bowls that have silicone or plastic mats should be chew-proof or at the very least, be safe to gnaw on if you have a cat that likes to chew.
Conclusion: Spill-proof Cat Bowls
We love all these spill-proof bowls, but the Hepper Nom Nom Spill-Proof Cat Water bowl is our top choice overall. The set of two stainless-steel bowls is encased in a plastic tray that has a wide lip, which is tough and durable and is naturally non-slip to further help prevent any spillage.
The Coastal Fish Non-Skid Ceramic Bowl by Signature Housewares is the best spill-proof cat bowl for the money. It’s made from heavy glazed stoneware, is ideal for use with both food and water, and is naturally spill and skid-resistant.
If you are looking for a premium spill-proof bowl, the Pawfect Pets Premium Elevated Cat Diner is a great choice. The set contains four stainless-steel bowls with silicone lips that fit inside a sturdy, elegant bamboo stand that is water-proof and spill-proof.
Choosing a spill-proof cat bowl from all the available options can be tricky, but hopefully, our in-depth reviews have helped you find the perfect one for your feline!
See also:
- 10 Best Heated Water Bowls for Cats in 2022 – Reviews & Top Picks
- 8 Best Luxury Modern Cat Bowls in 2022 – Reviews & Top Picks
- 6 Best Ant-Proof Cat Bowls in 2022 – Reviews & Top Picks!
Featured Image Credit: Krakenimages, Shutterstock
