If you’ve ever watched your Smooshy faced cat try to eat from a regular bowl, you’ve seen the struggle:
The whisker twitches ✅
The head tilt ✅
The why have you forsaken me stare ✅
The disaster zone of kibble surrounding the bowl from the desperate attempts to shovel food into their abnormally small Muppet mouths ✅
Maybe a dramatic or cinematic walk-away ✅
It’s not attitude (okay, maybe a little). It’s anatomy.
Flat-faced cats like Persians, Himalayans, and Exotic Shorthairs can’t comfortably reach their food in deep or narrow bowls. Their adorable smooshy faces weren’t built for that , and if you’re using the wrong dish, mealtime becomes a mess.
So let’s fix that.
Why Flat-Faced Cats Need Special Bowls
Here’s the deal with brachycephalic cats and food:
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Short muzzles = can’t reach food in deep bowls
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Wide cheeks = can’t fit their whole face inside narrow dishes
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Low noses = bump into the side of the bowl before the food
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Whisker sensitivity = hate anything that touches their whiskers too much
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Judgmental personalities = if it’s annoying, they just won’t eat
Signs Your Cat Hates Their Bowl (But Hasn’t Sent an Email to the Manager...Yet)
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Pawing food out onto the floor
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Staring at the bowl, then walking away
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Eating sideways or at weird angles
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Leaving behind lots of food
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Vomiting or regurgitating from air gulping
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Using the “floor buffet” technique to scoop and dine
Top 3 Bowls for Flat-Faced Cats (Tested by Smooshy Faces... Seriously we have been testing bowls for 25 years)
1. Smooshy Floofs Elevated Pawprint Ceramic Bowl
This is the holy grail for Flat Faces. It’s elevated, wide, shallow, and dishwasher safe.
Why it rocks:
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No whisker stress
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No neck strain
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Bonus points for cuteness
2. Smooshy Floofs Deep Dish Cat Bowl
This high back deep bowl with a dip in the front is ideal to reduce mess - good for wet or dry food. Plus it looks like a work of art!
Why it rocks:
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Stable base
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Easy to clean
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Sits at a comfortable height
3. Smooshy Floofs Adorable Elevated "Cat" Food Bowl
Perfect for dry kibble lovers but also works well for wet food and water. Did we also mention its adorable?! Its a CAT-Cat Food bowl, what's not to love?
Why it rocks:
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Non-skid bottom
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Shallow enough for smoosh faces
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Sits at a comfortable height
Pro Tips for Smooshy-Friendly Mealtimes
1. Choose wet food or mousse textures
It’s easier to lap than crunch. But don't forget to brush!
2. Elevated bowls
Reduces neck strain and improves digestion , win-win.
3. Watch their body language
If they walk away mid-meal or make weird noises, it may be the bowl, not the food.
4. Avoid plastic bowls
Bacteria central - especially for cats prone to tear stains or acne.
5. Keep the area tidy
Use a silicone mat or tray to catch dribbles (because royal cats don't clean up after themselves).
Bonus: What If Your Persian Still Hates Eating?
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Try warming the food slightly
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Switch to a different texture (pâté, mousse, broth toppers)
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Add a little tuna juice or bone broth to entice
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Rule out dental issues or acid reflux (yep, that’s a thing , ask your vet!)
This post is not a substitute for veterinary advice. Always consult your vet for medical feeding issues or signs of discomfort or illness during meals.