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Our Final Verdict
We give the Messy Cats Interactive Slow Feeder a rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars.
Quality: 4.9/5
Effectiveness: 4.8/5
Durability: 4.8/5
Value: 5/5
If you have a tubby tabby or a food-obsessed Felix, you’ve probably considered using a slow feeder. But finding an effective, quality slow feeder that works for cats can be tricky. I know, I’ve been searching for one for my hungry house cat for months.
Thanks to Messy Mutts, I think I’ve finally found it.
The Messy Cats Interactive Slow Feeder is the perfect size for cat-sized meals and is made for the short snouts of felines. It is dishwasher safe and works just as well for canned food as it does for kibble. Most importantly, it’s durable and made to slow feeding without causing frustration.
Find out what I love about this product, how my cat feels about it, and more in my full Messy Mutts Messy Cats Interactive Slow Feeder review, below.
About Messy Mutts
Messy Mutts started with a simple vision: Create functional and fabulous-looking pet products that help reduce the mess while blending seamlessly into home decor. This vision grew from dog-centered grooming and feeding supplies to include an entire line of cat products.
This “Messy Cats” line includes cat feeders, litter box accessories, and food prep products.
Where Are Messy Mutt Products Produced?
Messy Mutts, which is owned by Jascor Housewares Inc., is operated out of Toronto, Canada. Most of their products are made in China using food-safe silicone, BPA-free plastic, and stainless steel.
Which Type of Cat Is the Messy Cat Interactive Slow Feeder Best Suited For?
The Messy Cat Interactive Slow Feeder is a great choice for cats who tend to snarf down their food so fast that they think they’re still hungry after. The bowl’s unique design forces cats to eat slower without causing frustration or confusion.
This isn’t a puzzle feeder that forces your cat to actively solve problems to get to their food. Rather, the high ridges prevent your cat from taking full bites, effectively prolonging the eating process. This helps cats avoid regurgitation and feel more satiated once they finish their meal.
Overview
Here is an overview of the Messy Cats Interactive Slow Feeder by Messy Mutts. We’ll look at the materials it’s made of, how it works, care instructions, and the technical specs.
Materials
The Messy Cat Interactive Slow Feeder bowl is made from food-safe silicone and BPA-free plastic.
The central portion, which is dark gray, is made of plastic and features ridges of various heights. This material is chew-resistant and hard enough to hold its shape, making your cat work to get to their food.
The light gray outer ring and base of this slow feeder bowl are made of silicone. This softer material around the feeder means there are no hard or sharp edges to worry about. Built into the bottom of this silicon shell are nine suction cups to help hold the feeder in place while it’s in use.
How It Works
This slow feeder bowl uses the same principles as most dog slow feeders. The raised ridges in the middle prevent cats from taking big bites of food. Instead, they must use their tongue and muzzle to move pieces until they can grab them, effectively slowing the eating process.
Unlike dog slow feeders, which tend to have deep ridges and narrow gaps to force dogs to use their long tongues, this feeder features shallower, wider areas. Since cats have shorter, less dexterous tongues and short muzzles, this feeder works much better for them than those made for canines.
This feeder can be used with both kibble, canned food, and raw food.
Care
Caring for this slow feeder bowl is easy. It’s dishwasher safe, which means you can pop it on the top rack whenever it gets dirty. The curved ridges don’t hold food like other puzzle feeders, making it easy enough to rinse off in between deeper cleanings.
You will occasionally need to rinse the bottom suction cups, as well. This is especially true if you feed kibble that leaves behind dust and grease.
The Messy Cats Interactive Slow Feeder is made to hold its shape and retain its color for years.
Specifications
This feeder is six inches in diameter, making it fairly small and compact. It can easily hold ¼ cup of dry food or about one 3-ounce can of wet food.
It is only available in one color, cool gray.
Like most other Messy Mutts products, this one comes with a one-year manufacturer warranty.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Easy to use
- Dishwasher safe
- Small and compact
- Durable yet lightweight
- Works for all kinds of food
Cons
- Suction cups don’t stick long
- Only one color available
- Limited holding capacity
Key Features
Built For Cats
This slow feeder was made for the anatomical proportions of a cat. The ridges are relatively shallow and the areas between them are wider than most dog slow feeders. This allows cats to extract kibbles and tonguefuls of wet food without frustration while still significantly slowing their eating.
The small size and gripping suction cups are also tailored to the needs of cats and their owners.
Easy to Use and Care For
This slow feeder is super easy to use, even for novice kitties and their owners. It’s not a puzzle feeder, which means your cat doesn’t have to struggle to get their food out. Rather, they can approach eating the same way they normally would, but it will take them much longer to get the bowl clean.
As far as care goes, this slow feeder is super simple to maintain. It is easy to clean by hand thanks to the wide gaps and curved ridges. Or it can be tossed in the dishwasher for a thorough cleaning without the effort.
Works with All Kinds of Food
Whether you feed dry food, canned food, or something in between, this feeder is a great choice.
It can hold up to ¼ cup of dry, freeze-dried, or air-dried food or a small can of wet. For the latter, simply use a rubber spatula to push the wet food into the crevices. You can also use this feeder with raw diets, just be sure to wash it between each use.
Is the Messy Cats Interactive Slow Feeder a Good Value?
Yes, at just $10, this slow feeder is a great value. Most comparable feeders cost much more than this. And those that cost less tend to be made only of silicone, which is not nearly as durable as the plastic-silicone combination used for this bowl.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is this bowl easy to keep clean?
Yes. Unlike many slow feeders and puzzle feeders, there are no areas where kibble and wet food can get stuck in this feeder, making it easier to keep clean. It is super easy to rinse off and dishwasher safe.
Is this bowl a good choice for my cat who eats silicone?
The ridges and main bowl of this feeder are made of hard plastic while only the outer edge and bottom are made of silicone. My cat, who loves to eat silicone, has been using it without issue. However, I would recommend putting the bowl away between feedings.
Do the suction cups work on all surfaces?
You will need to use this bowl on a clean, smooth surface in order to engage the suction cups. It will work on smooth plastic or vinyl feeding mats but not the textured kind. It works best on granite, finished wood, and tile.
Our Experience With the Messy Cats Interactive Slow Feeder
I have been looking for a slow feeder for my hungry cat, Makoa, for ages. He is a big foodie and loves to gobble up his food as fast as possible and then claim that he’s still hungry.
This is an extra problem since he also has pica, which means he likes to eat non-food items as well. Because of this, it’s even more important that he feel full after he eats.
A slow feeder is the perfect solution for his issues because it prolongs the eating process (giving him a healthy activity to engage in) while helping him feel fuller once he has finished eating. The problem is, not only does Makoa eat silicone, which most cat slow feeders are made of, but he also can’t smell very well.
I have tried a variety of specialty feeder options for him. The puzzle feeders don’t work because he can’t smell the food well enough to seek it out. And the silicone ones just end up becoming food themselves.
Luckily, the Messy Cats Interactive Slow Feeder has the perfect combination of features to work for my special little guy.
While this feeder does have some silicone on the sides, the food contact points are made of hard plastic that not even Makoa can chew. And unlike plastic feeder bowls made for dogs, the ridges on this one are shallow, which means even my nose-blind kitty can get all the kibbles out with relative ease.
While this bowl doesn’t cause any frustration, it still does a great job of slowing him down. He used to finish a bowl of kibble in about three minutes. Now it takes him at least ten. And often, he’ll take breaks in between.
This helps stretch meals out for up to an hour. Not only does this help entertain him, but it also seems to help him feel more satiated by the time he finishes.
I’ve noticed a significant decrease in his food seeking behavior since he got this slow feeder.
On my end, I love that this thing is dishwasher-safe and super easy to rinse off between washings. All the ridges are smooth, so there are no corners for food to get stuck in. There isn’t even a gap between the plastic and silicone edge, which means food can’t accumulate there, either.
The size of this bowl is about perfect for the amount of food Makoa gets each meal. However, if he got any more, things would get messy fast.
Even with just feeding ¼ cup of dry food for dinner, a few kibbles end up on the counter around the feeder. This doesn’t bother me too much since it only adds to the time it takes him to eat everything, but owners trying to keep a cleaner home might see this as a downside.
But my biggest complaint about this dish has to do with the suction cups.
These cups are super strong and do a great job of keeping the bowl in place during feeding. This is especially true if you’re using it on a hard, smooth surface like granite or tile. But this suction doesn’t last long on any surface.
After about ten minutes, the suction cups release. This isn’t a huge deal since they also act as an effective anti-slip device. But for smart cats, it wouldn’t take much to lift the entire bowl up and dump the food out.
For me personally, not having the suction cups stay engaged means I have to be careful to put this bowl away between feedings so Makoa doesn’t carry it off and use it as a chew toy.
But overall, this slow feeder has been a big win for my household. I have been and will continue to use it for Makoa at every meal. He seems to enjoy the challenge of getting all the food out and I love that it gives him some quality enrichment while helping him feel fuller.
Conclusion
If your kitty needs some help slowing down at meal times, I highly recommend checking out the Messy Cats Interactive Slow Feeder from Messy Mutts.
This slow feeder was designed specifically for cats to help them eat slower so they can feel fuller while getting some much-needed enrichment. The design is perfect for those short muzzles and makes cleaning the feeder a breeze. Plus, this slow feeder is durable, affordable, and dishwasher-safe.
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