Plastic Feeding Bolws Are Bad For Pusscats.

[Bazsmum]

Them drinkwell things are plastic also! 

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

they are not bad for cats but can cause some cats a problem.

the plastic gets little scratches in from cleaning and some cats apparently can suffer from acne due to this and by changing to a porcelain or metal dish, the problem does away.

[CC & The Pussycat Guys & Dolls]

I have always used plastic bowls and my eldest is nearly 7, never had any problems with them.

[mervyn7451]

I've just gotten this brilliant book from the library "Whole Health For Happy Cats by Sandy Arora".

I have that book too! Are you a member of the Holisticat forum? I've been a member for a few years now, Sandy who runs the forum signed my copy of her book.

My cats all eat off enamel plates - the type that you get in camping stores and old fashioned ironmongers - white with a blue rim.

My Lucy used to get feline acne years ago, but she doesnt seem to get it anymore, think she grew out of it!

Hi,
No I'm not a member.I just found it on the shelf at my local library & decided to rent it.Good book & as Daisy has had some health problems (sneezing ect) I want to make sure she gets the best.I also have her feed bowls raised up about 4 inches off the floor as I've read that's a better posture for them to eat at.
Regards,
Merv

[Gillian Harvey]

I've just gotten this brilliant book from the library "Whole Health For Happy Cats by Sandy Arora".

I have that book too! Are you a member of the Holisticat forum? I've been a member for a few years now, Sandy who runs the forum signed my copy of her book.

My cats all eat off enamel plates - the type that you get in camping stores and old fashioned ironmongers - white with a blue rim.

My Lucy used to get feline acne years ago, but she doesnt seem to get it anymore, think she grew out of it!

[Bazsmum]

Only metal bowls here for water, 15 cats and not one suffering from acne! 

They do have some food bowls which are plastic though!

[Feline Costumier]

I'd thought the problem with plastic bowls was the smell and that it put some cats off drinking from them? Doesn't matter for me anyway, only had ceramic bowls for years and have recently abandoned bowls altogether for water as it gets ignored, we now have a glass of water next to the sink which they both seem happy with for the moment!

[Dawn F]

I have heard this before, I don't use plastic, more because it reminds me tainted drinks on pinics when I was little than anything else!!

[clarenmax]

Max had plastic bowls for all the years he was with me with no problems, and Poot, well he'd probably eat out of anything.

I'd heard the plastic can degrade?

[Den]

I don't believe this. My boy suffers a lot from recurring acne and it doesn't matter what he's fed from. I've switched his bowls to all different types, even brand new plastic bowls. All get washed thoroughly in boiling hot water and washing up liquid and he still gets acne. It is safe to say his acne has nothing to do with what he eats from.

Water is always in metal bowls. I find ceramic ones begin to leak after a while.

[woodlandcats]

I've always had plastic and no cat ever had any problem

[clarenmax]

I have heard this before as well.

I used to use metal bowls for water, but he never used to drink from them, think they tasted odd, so water is always in ceramic bowls now 

[blackcat]

Fascinating. I can relax though. My lot have metal bowls. And Bob, my ancient old man used to get acne anyway, regardless ...

[mervyn7451]

I've just gotten this brilliant book from the library "Whole Health For Happy Cats by Sandy Arora". One of the chapters deals with feeding bowls & states that plastic bowls are very bad for a cats health;

Avoid plastic bowls as cats can develop allergy & skin problems from regular exposure to them.The most common problem plastic dishes cause is feline acne,which appears as black specks on a cats chin.Some cats also develop contact dermatitis,which gets worse from continued exposure to plastic.Plastic also is easy to scratch,and all those nicks & scratches can harbor germs & bacteria,which can contribute to feline acne.

So I gather that this is'nt widely known due to the amount of plastic bowls sold in pet stores. I did'nt know this & have binned Daisy's plastic bowls in favor of ceramic.
Merv