Should Cats Have Separate Food and Water Bowls? Behaviourists Explain Why

Behaviourists and vets agree: cats are healthier and happier when their food and water are kept apart. Giving your cat separate bowls for eating and drinking isn’t just about instinct… it helps reduce stress, encourages better hydration, and supports overall wellbeing. A smart bowl set-up doesn’t just look stylish in your home – it makes a real difference to your cat’s daily health.

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Why Separate Food and Water?

In the wild, cats avoid drinking water near their food. Instinct tells them that food close to water could mean contamination. That behaviour hasn’t disappeared in our house cats. Many will happily eat but ignore a water bowl placed next to their food… or drink less than they should. Keeping food and water apart makes them more likely to stay hydrated.

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The Trouble With Paired Bowl Stands

Side-by-side paired stands may look neat to us, but they often create problems for cats:

Food crumbs in the water make it less appealing

Stress at mealtimes when cats feel forced to eat and drink in one spot

Lower hydration – already a common problem for felines

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The Healthiest Set-Up: Three Bowls

Here’s the golden rule we recommend:

One raised bowl for water – placed separately

Two raised bowls for food – one for wet, one for dry

That makes three bowls per cat the sweet spot for most homes. It’s healthier for your cat, easier for you, and gives them a routine that respects their instincts.

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Elevated Dining for Cats

A practical set-up doesn’t have to look plain. Our ceramic raised bowls are designed as collections, so you can build a set that feels as stylish as the rest of your home.

If you’ve got multiple cats, you can easily expand the set-up. Some people prefer to unify the look by choosing the same collection for all their cats… others enjoy mixing ranges so each cat has their own style, yet the bowls complement each other beautifully for a cohesive, luxurious look in the home.

Unified Dining Look – choose multiple of the same collection (SeaBowl, FishBowl, MogBowl, or WaterColourBowl) to create a consistent dining set

Mix & Match – combine different collections, like we do at home, for a stylish set-up that reflects your personality

Pop of Colour – add WaterColourBowl shades to brighten your feeding space

At home, we’ve got a mixture ourselves of the bowls… and it really works for us. Our cats Blue, Storm, and Red all happily eat from them.

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Practical Benefits That Last

Raised design – supports posture and digestion

Whisker-friendly shape – stress-free eating

Stain-resistant ceramic – no lingering marks or odours

Durable & scratch-resistant – built to last

Easy to clean – dishwasher safe or quick hand wash

Still look brand new – even after years of daily use

Stable and sturdy – reduces mess and spills

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The Takeaway

One bowl is never enough. By giving your cat a raised water bowl in a separate location and two raised bowls for food, you’re creating the healthiest, happiest mealtime routine. And with our collections – SeaBowl, FishBowl, MogBowl, and WaterColourBowl – you can build a feeding set-up that’s luxurious, practical, and perfectly in tune with your home.