Last Updated on June 19, 2024 by Catster Editorial Team
Does your cat like to play in their water bowl? You’re not alone, as many cat owners have a similar complaint about their favorite furry feline. You’re getting ready to feed your cat and you add fresh water to their water bowl. Two minutes later the bowl goes sliding by as water slops all over your hardwood floor. You clean up the mess and refill the bowl for your cat to splash the water with their paw and get water all over your floors again. Sigh. Pet Supply Training Toys
It’s time to stop cat splashing in its tracks! We’re here to help with reviews on the best spill-proof cat water bowls to hopefully help make your life a little less messy. Let’s get started!
The Hepper NomNom is the best overall spill-proof cat water bowl this year. It is extremely wide and low to the ground making it stable and sturdy, and completely spill-proof, even for cats who paw their dishes or step inside the tray. The NomNom is comprised of three parts: two stainless steel bowls set within one PP plastic tray that features a wrap-around design created to catch crumbs and water drips. The shallow dishes are about 1 inch deep and sit snuggly within a raised platform to promote comfortable eating. This dish combats whisker fatigue, a condition in which your cat becomes overloaded with sensory data from their whiskers becoming overstimulated. The NomNom comes apart for easy cleaning and is also dishwasher-safe.
The versatility of the dual dishes allows you to use them both as water bowls, two food bowls, or both. One thing to note is that the bowls hold 10 ounces each, so if your cat likes a constant source of water, you may have to refill the bowl throughout the day.
At Catster, we’ve admired Hepper for many years and decided to take a controlling ownership interest, so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool cat company!
The best way to encourage a cat to drink more is to provide them with flowing water, and you can accomplish that with the Hepper Stainless Steel Cat Water Fountain. It’s made from stainless steel, which makes it more hygienic, and it is also dishwasher safe (except for the filter and pump). The water basin holds nearly half a gallon to keep your cat(s) hydrated and healthy for several days. Plus, multiple cats can drink at once without running the risk of messy spills or tipping.
Hepper’s Fountain also has a triple filtration system that cleans your tap water, filters out pet hair and dirt, and filters out harmful heavy metals. The filters can be cleaned several times before they need to be replaced, and replacement filters come in convenient multi-packs to save you a few bucks.
Lastly, this top-shelf cat water fountain from Hepper is quiet and makes less than 35 decibels of sound. With excellent features and health benefits for your cat, we can highly recommend the Hepper Stainless Steel Cat Water Fountain.
At Catster, we’ve admired Hepper for many years and decided to take a controlling ownership interest, so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool cat company!
The Frisco Double Stainless Steel Pet Bowl with Silicone Mat is our choice for the best spill-proof cat water bowl for the money. The bowls are 6.5 inches in diameter and are 1 inch deep, which helps to combat whisker fatigue. The stainless-steel bowls are nestled securely within the silicone mat to keep your curious kitty from moving the bowls around your floor. The mat also will catch any water or food spillage, saving you from stepping in puddles or on bits of dry cat food. As a bonus, the bowls and the silicone mat are both top-rack dishwasher safe.
Large, determined cats may still find a way to push the bowls around despite the silicone mat so it will be important to monitor your pet during the first few uses. The silicone mat may need to be aired before use because of a strong silicone scent.
If you’re just looking for a single bowl instead of a double bowl option, the Ethical Pet Stoneware Crock Pet Dish is a good bet. This bowl is the heaviest single spill-proof cat water bowl on our list. The 1.5 cup stoneware bowl weighs just over 2 pounds, ensuring that your cat will have a hard time pushing it around and tipping it over. The bowl also comes in 6-cup and 9-cup sizes so if your cat drinks often, you can order a larger bowl. The bowl is easy to clean and is dishwasher-safe.
The bowls are wide and shallow with a small dome in the middle so order a larger size if you need to leave more water out for your cat while you are at work. The interior of the bowl is a bright blue which can make it appear that there is more water in the bowl than there actually is and you must remember to check the water level frequently.
The Neater Pets Feeder Elevated Cat Bowl is the best elevated bowl for cat owners looking for a spill-proof water bowl. The raised walls of the feeder keep water from spilling as it flows through drainage holes and is collected at the bottom of the stand. The raised walls also prevent food from spilling onto the floor as it collects in the top of the feeder. It comes with a 1.5-cup water bowl and a 1-cup food bowl. An elevated feeder will help older pets with joint and neck issues as it helps to prevent strain while also improving digestion. The elevated design also helps keep pests from getting into your food and water bowls.
The water that collects in the bottom of the Neater Feeder will need to be drained and cleaned properly and often if your cat is a very messy drinker. Determined cats may figure out how to flip this feeder over, but most shouldn’t have an issue. The Neater Feeder comes in multiple sizes (the larger sizes are marketed as dog feeders) and you can pick the best size for your cat.
The Drinkwell 360 Stainless Steel Pet Fountain is another great spill-proof cat bowl option. Perfect for the cat that likes to drink directly from the faucet, this water fountain offers 350-degree access to fresh, free-falling water. This fountain is ideal for multiple cats, or for cats and dogs that like to share their water bowl, as it holds up to 1 gallon of water. The fountain has adjustable flow control and a receiving ramp to curtail any splashing of water out of the fountain. A submersed pump keeps the water circulating and a filter cleans the water, so your pet always has fresh water.
This fountain has 5 options for the water streams. Three clips hold the fountain together, which can be a bit difficult to get to lock into place. You will need to make sure to keep the fountain full to avoid any issues with the motor. Most of the fountain can be taken apart and cleaned in the dishwasher. Users need to make sure to take apart and clean the interior of the pump by hand when they deep clean the fountain to ensure the pump continues to function properly.
The Petmate No Spill Bowl is the best spill-proof bowl for travel. The bowl has a lid that looks like a donut with a hole in the middle for your cat to drink out of it. This same hole helps prevent your pet from playing in their water bowl and from spilling their water all over your floors. To clean the Petmate No Spill Bowl, remove the lid and clean it with soap and water before refilling it. It is also dishwasher safe. If you’re planning a trip and are worried about spilling your pet’s water, this bowl will help keep the water where it belongs – in the bowl!
You may have some trouble separating the top lid from the bottom bowl. Put the bowl on a flat surface, hold firmly, and then put your hand through the hole in the middle and pull the lid off.
As anyone who has ever owned cats knows, each cat has their own distinct personality and, well, quirks. No one knows your cat’s needs better than you, but it will be important to think about a few things before you decide to purchase a spill-roof water bowl.
Cost is always a consideration when making any pet purchase. Choosing a cheaper cat water bowl may end up costing you more money in the long run if the item doesn’t work properly or it’s easily damaged. On the other hand, spending money on a more expensive item can also end up being cost-prohibitive if the item requires extra parts that need to be replaced often, such as filters. Always determine what your actual needs are and then find an item that meets those needs within your price range.
Quality is important when choosing a spill-proof cat water bowl. If you choose a cheaper option, you might end up with a product that breaks easily, or that doesn’t meet your needs. Paying a little extra for an item made of heavier materials or silicone could save you time and money in the long run because it doesn’t break or need to be replaced often.
Water bowls need to be cleaned often. Pieces of food settle at the bottom and disintegrate to make a mushy mess. A thin biofilm often spreads across the interior of a water bowl that doesn’t get cleaned often enough and this can make your pet sick. Choose a spill-proof water bowl that you know you will have no problem cleaning regularly. For example, the cat water fountains often need to be taken apart to have all their nooks and crannies cleaned to prevent mold. If you know you don’t have the time for that, pick a different spill-proof water bowl that is easier to clean but still helps to prevent water from ruining your floors. You can even choose a spill-proof water bowl that can run through the dishwasher for ease of cleaning.
Some cats spill water by just nosing their water bowls around and others are “tippers,” knocking their bowls over to watch the water flood the floor. What fun! When you decide to purchase a spill-proof water bowl, pick one that is made of the best materials to deter your cat from making a watery mess. For some pet owners, a cat water fountain may be their best bet because it is heavy, but it gives your cat the water movement they want, which will deter them from splashing and encourage them to drink instead.
Choose a spill-proof bowl that meets your cat’s daily water needs. Choosing a cat fountain that holds a gallon of water, but your cat drinks only a little water each day just means more work for you as it needs to be taken apart to be cleaned.
For some cats, their issue with their water and food bowls is the bowls are too low to the ground. Discomfort in the joints or neck may cause a cat to lash out in frustration by spilling the water bowl. Cats may also bat their food out of their bowl to try a different surface to eat on to make it more comfortable on their neck. An elevated feeder with water and food bowls helps naturally resolve neck and joint issues and it also keeps your floors free of water and food.
An additional option is to also purchase a mat to place under your food and water bowls. Mats come in a variety of materials. For pets that slobber water all over the place as they drink, a water-absorbing mat will help clean the floors dry. Absorbent mats are also great for pets that like to splash the water out of their bowls. Silicone mats are great for helping to prevent bowls from being moved around or tipped over. Silicone can also be washed and dried easily, cutting down on mess.
There are plenty of spill-proof water bowls on the market, but we believe that the Hepper NomNom is the best overall for cats with its wide-lipped plastic tray to catch spills and crumbs. And for the fancy feline that likes a premium product, the Hepper Stainless Steel Cat Water Fountain provides fresh water and is nearly impossible to tip over. The Frisco Double Stainless Steel Pet Bowl with Silicone Mat is another good choice. Choosing a spill-proof water bowl is never easy, but we hope our reviews helped you make the right decision for you and your cat.
Featured Image Credit: Nils Jacobi, Shutterstock
Leather Pet Collars 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.