Choosing safe, non-toxic and eco-friendly DISHWARE for your kitty

As a minimalist, I’d like to keep my blog posts informative and as short as possible. Today, we’ll talk about the worst and the best materials for cat plates and bowls, and I’ll also share with you what I use for our kitties.

If you prefer listening vs reading, check out my YouTube video on this topic!

I’m not going to bore with you a long preview of why heavy metals like lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium and others are bad for anybody’s health. These metals damage vital organs, even at trace levels of exposure. They primarily affect immune, neurological and endocrine systems, and they are responsible for many autoimmune disorders, allergies, depression, aggression and anxiety. Heavy metals affect metabolic and cognitive functions, as well as mobility, coordination, and reproductive system.

As you can see, they’re bad for us, and they’re bad for the cats. When you think about it, cats lick their food directly from their plates and their water stays in their bowls for 24hours. Can you imagine what kind of horrible things can leach into their water during that time? We talk not just heavy metals, but BPA and bacteria!

So, how do we protect our furbabies?

First, let’s talk about the worst materials for dishes and bowls.

1. Plastic. Let’s briefly recap why plastic is not the best option for dishware:

· Since plastic is incredibly porous and easily scratched, it becomes a favorite place for bacteria and germs to grow and multiply. This is not great for dry, wet and especially, for raw or freeze-dried raw foods

· Most plastics contain BPA (Bisphenol A) - a chemical that is present in hard plastics, including drinking water bottles and many household items. Research has shown that exposure to BPA can disrupt the functioning of the endocrine system and it has also been linked to several health problems

· Phthalates appear in many plastic items including bowls and toys. They’re on a list of 10 most toxic chemicals and can damage the liver, kidneys, lungs, as well as reproductive, endocrine, developmental, and neurological systems

· Some plastic can contain lead, even if it’s “BPA-free”

· Plastic plates are the main cause of Feline Acne

Bottom line – avoid plastic at any cost, both for you and your furbaby. Especially try to avoid plastic water bowls, since water stays there for 24hours. We don’t normally eat or drink out of plastic plates and glasses – why should we be ok with our cats doing so?

2. Melamine. Melamine is a nitrogen-based compound that is usually combined with formaldehyde (a well-known carcinogen) to create a melamine dish. On top of that, melamine increases the risk of kidney stone formation and kidney injury in humans, and logic suggests that would be the same for the cats.

3. Bamboo. Bamboo is a pretty sustainable resource; the problem is that it often contains melamine or toxic glues as a binding agent during crafting and production. On top of that, bamboo has porous surface, therefore it’s not suitable for serving your cat her meals.

4. Paper. Some people opt in for single-use paper plates for their cats because most paper plates have no BPA nor toxic coating nor hidden heavy metals. Sounds good, right? Not really! Even if you’re buying plates made from recycled paper, it still creates so much waste on the other end! Stained paper plates aren’t recyclable so they will have to go directly to your trash bin, and from there, to landfill.

What kind of dishware is the safest?

Quick disclosure here: I’m not an affiliate with any of these brands. All the products I recommend here are just that – my recommendations based on my own research.

3rd Place - Ceramic

Ceramic is mostly made of clay that has been heated to high temperatures and hardened and then cooled. Often, additional materials are also added for durability or color, and that’s where the problems rise.

· Ceramic is certainly safer than plastic, but you need to watch out for that glaze and color dyes, as they often contain lead or cadmium (avoid red, orange, yellow and terracotta hues)

· Since ceramic dishes are pretty fragile, they can develop chips or cracks which harbor bacteria, similar to plastic. That’s why it’s recommended to replace ceramic dinnerware every two years or so

· I’d avoid any ceramic dishes from Mexico or Asia simply because of their manufacturing process and possible lack of regulations and no quality standards

· When buying a ceramic dish for your cat, look for words “lead-free” and “food-safe”, as often pretty ceramic dishes are simply used for décor

My choice of ceramic dishes and bowls for cats:

Emerson Creek pottery

Emerson Creek pottery products are completely lead and cadmium safe, they’re designed and manufactured in Bedford, Virginia. All of their clays and glazes are custom formulas and mixed on-site using raw materials from North American ceramic suppliers (USA and Canada). Everything is non-toxic, free of harmful chemicals, and safe for daily use.

They have a collection of bowls for cats and dogs with pretty Earthen colors and designs.

Specifically for cats and their head anatomy, I’d recommend getting Emerson Creek’s children’s plates which are very shallow and just purrfect to prevent whisker fatigue. It’s 7″ (18cm) in diameter and can hold 1 cup. Did I mention they have very cute minimalistic designs that I absolutely adore?

You can also browse their super cute cake plates that are pretty shallow and only 6.25″ (16cm) in diameter. Again, just in case, I’d stay away from red, orange, yellow shades and just stick with nice neutral colors.

2nd place - Stainless Steel

Stainless steel is generally a good material, let’s look at the pros at first:

· It’s germ-resistant and has non-porous surface which means it will not harbor bacteria (remember that most of the medical tools are made with stainless steel because of its anti-bacterial properties)

· It’s safe for raw feeding

· It’s long-lasting and durable and won’t easily scratch or rust even with every day use;

· It can be sterilized (good news for raw eaters!)

· Easy to clean and dishwasher safe

That all sounds good, but there are a few “buts”:

· Being a metal, stainless steel bowls can contain harmful radioactive and heavy metals, especially if it’s made in China. For example, in 2012, Petco has announced a voluntary recall of certain stainless steel bowls due to contamination with radioactive material. Read more about it in this article.

· There are hundreds of grades of stainless steel based on its alloy composition, so quality can vary greatly. If you see a dish that doesn’t state its grade, it’s likely that it was made from low quality cheap stainless steel, so don’t buy it. Any reputable company that uses high quality materials and do proper testing will make sure to tell their customers about it!

You can look out for a “18/8 stainless steel” label, as it’s a food-grade metal and it’s the most widely used form of stainless steel. The numbers 18/8 represent its composition - it is 18% chromium and 8% nickel, making it very resistant to corrosion and oxidation. 18/8 stainless steel, or as it’s also called 304 series stainless steel, is most often used for food preparation and dining.

I found 2 companies - Americat and Basis Pet - that make stainless steel bowls for cats that meet all the safe requirements. I have to confess these products look identical to me, so feel free to choose whichever one you like!

Americat

Here are a few cool things about them:

· Made in the USA from U.S. 18/8 or 304 stainless steel

· It was tested and certified free of lead and radioactive metals by an accredited lab

· Non-toxic and safe for human use

· It’s 22 Gauge of stainless steel which means it’s heavy and tip-proof

· It’s food grade and dishwasher safe

Their stainless steel bowl is 5.75’’(14.6cm) in diameter and 1.5’’ (3.8cm) height. It holds up to 2 cups of food or water.

These bowls don’t have a non-slip rubber bottom, so if you want to make it more comfortable for your cat to eat, as well as to protect your floors, you might want to consider Americat’s elevated stainless steel bowl stand. It raises bowls 3’’ (8cm) off the floor.

Basis Pet

Some of the characteristics of their bowls:

· 100% made in the USA from U.S. only sourced stainless steel

· Independently tested for lead, mercury, and cadmium

· Screened for radioactivity

· It’s food-grade, non-toxic, BPA-free, phthalate-free

· Dishwasher safe and easy to clean by hand

· They use 304 series (also known as 18/8) stainless steel for their cat bowls.

· It’s also Heavy weight – same 22 Gauge as Americat.

Basis Pet has an adorable non-slip cover for their bowls to prevent sliding and floor damage. Good things about it:

· Made in the USA from U.S. sourced silicone rubber,

· It’s food contact safe, non-toxic, BPA-free, phthalate-free

· Adds weight and traction to minimize bowl movement

· Reduces bowl clanging, bowl scratches, and protects floors

1st Place – Glass

Glass is my #1 choice for sure!

· It’s non-porous and generally non-toxic

· It’s safe for raw feeding

· It can be sterilized

· Easy to clean and dishwasher safe

Some of the cons:

· It’s more fragile than stainless steel

· Can still have lead as well as other heavy metals and toxic compounds if made in countries with lower quality standards and lack of regulations

If we compare stainless steel and glass, I’d personally prefer glass just because my logic and knowledge suggest that it’s a cleaner material. Especially when I think about water bowls for cats where water just stays in the bowl 24 hours a day – somehow, I just feel more comfortable with the glass bowl vs stainless steel bowl, but that’s just my opinion.

There are a few glass options you can get for your furbabies. My personal favorites are Duralex and Anchor Hocking.

Duralex

· All products are made with tempered glass that is 2.5 times stronger than ordinary glass

· It’s hygienic and nonporous

· Dishwasher safe

· 100% recyclable

· Made of soda-lime glass created from sand, soda ash and limestone

· Completely lead and cadmium free

· All of Duralex components are purchased close to their factory to reduce their carbon footprint in terms of transportation.

· They also make efforts to reduce energy consumption and recycle their own glass and integrate it into their "house composition"

· All of their products are manufactured in France

There are a few cat-size options I found:

Shallow dishes: Le Gigogne® Saucer, 5.25" (13.3cm) in diameter and Lys Dinnerware Club Plate, 5.375" (13.5cm) in diameter.

Bowls: Lys Clear Bowl 5.5" (14cm), it can hold up to 2 cups and I think it’s great for water!

For our kitties, I use Lys Dinnerware Club Plates and Lys Clear bowl.

Anchor Hocking

I couldn’t find cat-size dishes or bowls but there are many great options for storage. For example, they have perfectly sized containers to keep your cat’s leftover wet food or goat milk. I never leave uneaten wet food in the can because most cans are not BPA free and toxins can leach into the food once it’s open (due to oxidation process). If I open a can and my cats don’t finish it all up at once, I put leftovers in a glass container and store it in a fridge for 24 hours or so.

Some of the facts about Anchor Hocking:

· All products are made from tempered soda-lime silicate glass that is 100% recyclable, stronger and more durable

· All their products are lead, cadmium, and heavy metal free and also CA Prop 65 compliant

Anchor Hocking products I use: Round TrueSeal Glass Food Storage for 1 cup and 2 cups and 16 oz. Glass Milk Bottle.

This is all my friends, I hope this information was helpful to you! Feel free to share this article with your friends, and let’s keep our furbabies happy and healthy!

~ Vani 🐚

References:

Pets and Heavy Metals in Water https://www.health-metric.com/blogs/water-quality-blog/pets-and-heavy-metals

Heavy Metal toxicity in Pets https://www.authenticapets.com/en/blog/heavy-metal-toxicity-in-pets

Petco’s voluntarily recall https://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/dog-food-news/petco-food-bowl-recall/

Benefits of Duralex Glass https://www.duralexusa.com/pages/duralex-glassware

Safest Dishes To Use at Home – How to Avoid Toxic Dinnerware https://thegoodlifedesigns.com/safest-dishes-to-use/

Safest Dishes to Use at Home — Non-Toxic Dinnerware Guide 2022 https://www.mamavation.com/product-investigations/safest-dishes-non-toxic-dinnerware-guide.html#California_Prop_65_Warning_on_Dishware

Chin Acne in Cats https://www.thesprucepets.com/feline-chin-acne-possible-causes-signs-treatment-3384889