Pet Bowls Guide

Silicone Pet Bowls

We believe the products our dogs and cats use every day should be chosen with care. Our bowls are made from food-grade silicone, the same material trusted for baby feeding products, in a growing range of colors designed for home, outdoors, or life on the road. They are durable, won’t break, and each is named after a rescue or foster who inspired the design. From tall dogs and wobbly seniors to dogs who needed a bowl that stayed put and cats with sensitive whiskers. Real pets, real needs, and a lot of love behind every bowl.

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Dog eating from a Houndstone silicone pet bowl

Safety Details Compare Materials Why Silicone Helpful Answers

Safety

Are Silicone Pet Bowls Safe?

Life with dogs and cats teaches you quickly that the smallest everyday choices matter. After years of feeding our own rescues and the many fosters who have shared our home, we came to trust food-grade silicone for its safety, simplicity, and ease of care. This guide shares what we have learned, from the benefits of silicone pet bowls to cleaning, daily use, and what to look for when choosing a dog bowl or cat bowl for the pets who are family.

Heat Safe Certified Food-Safe Composition Non-porous

BPA, BPS & Phthalates

Houndstone silicone pet bowls are free from BPA, BPS, and phthalates. We chose food-grade silicone because what touches our pets' food and water every day matters just as much as what goes into their bowls.

Clean By Design

The smooth, non-porous surface is easy to wash and does not readily absorb odors, food residue, or moisture that can lead to bacteria buildup. This makes silicone well suited to all kinds of feeding routines, from kibble and freeze-dried food to fresh meals, dog food toppers, and raw diets.

The material

What Are Houndstone Pet Bowls Made Of?

Houndstone silicone pet bowls are made from high-quality, food-grade silicone, the same type of material trusted for baby feeding products. Our bowls are free from BPA, BPS, and phthalates and do not readily absorb food residue, moisture, or odors. We chose this material after years of feeding our own rescue dogs and cats and the many fosters who have shared our home. From kibble and freeze-dried food to fresh meals and raw diets, we wanted a bowl that could move easily through real feeding routines while meeting the standard of care we want for the animals who are family.

Food-Grade Silicone

Made from food-grade silicone intended for repeated contact with food and water. It is a material we chose with the same attention we bring to everything our own dogs and cats eat from each day.

Made for Everyday Feeding

Unbreakable, durable, easy to clean, and comfortable to handle, silicone works across the many ways dogs and cats are fed today, from simple kibble meals to fresh food, toppers, hydration, and special feeding routines.

The comparison

Silicone vs. Stainless Steel vs. Ceramic vs. Plastic Pet Bowls

Every material has its place. Here is how Houndstone’s silicone pet bowls stand up to traditional dog and cat bowl materials, so you can choose what works best for your pet and your routine.

Criteria	Silicone	Stainless Steel	Ceramic	Plastic
Food-Contact Safety	Excellent, as they are made from high-quality, food-grade silicone	Excellent when made from appropriate food-grade stainless steel	Depends on whether a lead-based glaze finish is applied	Depends on the type and grade of plastic
Durability	Highly durable and unbreakable. Monitor pets who like to chew their bowls	Highly durable, although it may dent over time	Can chip, crack, or break	Can scratch or discolor, causing bacteria build-up
Portability	Excellent for home, travel, and outdoor use	Good for home, travel, and outdoor use	Heavier and less practical for travel	Lightweight and portable
Stability	Houndstone bowls may use weighted bases, heavier construction, or a textured base for added grip	Yes, if paired with a rubber or silicone base	Often stable due to its weight	Depends on the bowl design
Dishwasher Safe	Yes	Generally, yes	Depends on whether a lead-based glaze finish is applied	Not recommended
Microwave Safe	Yes	No	Depends on whether a lead-based glaze finish is applied	Not recommended

Silicone

Food-Contact Safety: Excellent, as they are made from high-quality, food-grade silicone
Durability: Highly durable and unbreakable. Monitor pets who like to chew their bowls
Portability: Excellent for home, travel, and outdoor use
Stability: Houndstone bowls may use weighted bases, heavier construction, or a textured base for added grip
Dishwasher Safe: Yes
Microwave Safe: Yes

Stainless Steel

Food-Contact Safety: Excellent when made from appropriate food-grade stainless steel
Durability: Highly durable, although it may dent over time
Portability: Good for home, travel, and outdoor use
Stability: Yes, if paired with a rubber or silicone base
Dishwasher Safe: Generally, yes
Microwave Safe: No

Ceramic

Food-Contact Safety: Depends on whether a lead-based glaze finish is applied
Durability: Can chip, crack, or break
Portability: Heavier and less practical for travel
Stability: Often stable due to its weight
Dishwasher Safe: Depends on whether a lead-based glaze finish is applied
Microwave Safe: Depends on whether a lead-based glaze finish is applied

Plastic

Food-Contact Safety: Depends on the type and grade of plastic
Durability: Can scratch or discolor, causing bacteria build-up
Portability: Lightweight and portable
Stability: Depends on the bowl design
Dishwasher Safe: Not recommended
Microwave Safe: Not recommended

Why We Choose Silicone

At Houndstone, we choose high-quality, food-grade silicone based on real life with our own rescue dogs and cats and the many fosters who become family along the way. We need bowls that can keep up with busy kitchens, different diets, senior pets, travel days, and all the everyday feeding routines in between.

Unbreakable, quiet, durable, and easy to clean, silicone is a material we trust in our own home. That experience shapes the silicone dog bowls, cat bowls, feeding mats, and other essentials we make today.

Why silicone

Four Reasons Pet Parents Choose Silicone

Steady, Quiet Mealtimes

Textured or weighted base keeps the bowl steady, creating a calmer feeding area with less movement, less mess, and no sharp clinking during mealtime.

Made for Home, Travel, and Everyday Life

Unbreakable, durable, and easy to pack for life at home, weekends away, boarding, road trips, outdoor meals, and all the places our fur family come along with us.

Dishwasher and Microwave Safe

Easy to clean after every meal, and microwave safe for pets who prefer their food gently warmed before serving.

Gentle Where It Matters

Soft, smooth silicone offers a quieter, softer contact point than hard materials. For puppies, kittens, senior pets, sensitive eaters, and everyday feeding, it is one more small way to bring comfort into a routine they experience every day.

Care & maintenance

How to Clean and Maintain a Silicone Pet Bowl

Daily care is simple. Wash your silicone dog bowl or cat bowl with hot, soapy water, place it in the dishwasher, or let it soak briefly to loosen dried food before rinsing. Skip abrasive pads and harsh scrubbing, which can wear the smooth silicone surface over time. A gentle clean after meals helps keep your pet's bowl fresh, clean, and ready for the next feeding.

Questions, answered

Silicone Pet Bowls: Frequently Asked Questions

A few of the questions we hear most often from pet parents choosing bowls for the dogs and cats that are family.

Why are silicone pet bowls safe for dogs and cats?

Houndstone silicone dog bowls and cat bowls are made from high-quality, food-grade silicone chosen for repeated contact with food and water. Our silicone is free from BPA, BPS, and phthalates. We chose this material with the same care we bring to feeding our own rescue dogs, cats, and fosters because what our pets eat and drink from everyday matters.

What’s the difference between food-grade and regular silicone?

Food-grade silicone is made for repeated contact with food and water, and for us, that distinction matters. A silicone dog bowl or cat bowl should not simply look good or be convenient. It should be made from a material that is safe for feeding, easy to care for, and suited to everyday use. That is why we choose the same type of food-grade silicone commonly used in baby products. We believe pets are family and deserve that same level of care.

Do silicone bowls contain BPA or phthalates?

Houndstone silicone dog and cat bowls are free from BPA, BPS, and phthalates. We use high-quality, food-grade silicone so families can feel confident about the material that comes into contact with their pets' food and water each day.

Can Your silicone pet bowls go in the dishwasher?

Yes. Our silicone dog bowls and cat bowls are dishwasher safe, which makes everyday cleanup easy. You can also wash them by hand with hot, soapy water.

Are Houndstone silicone dog and cat bowls microwave safe?

Yes. Houndstone silicone pet bowls are microwave safe, which can be especially helpful for gently warming fresh food or meals before serving. Many senior dogs and cats enjoy food served slightly warm, and a little warmth can make mealtime more inviting. Always check the temperature before serving.

Are silicone bowls better than stainless steel for pets?

The best bowl depends on your pet and their routine. We chose silicone for its softer, quieter feel and easy cleanup. Silicone dog food bowls and cat bowls do not create the same hard clatter as metal and dried-on food is easier to loosen and rinse away. Silicone is also easy to carry, pack, and use at home or away. Stainless steel can be a good choice for pets who may chew their bowls.

Are Houndstone silicone dog and cat bowls non-slip?

Our dog food bowls, dog water bowls, and cat bowls are designed with stability in mind. Depending on the style, that may include a heavier or weighted base or textured base that help provide added grip. Pairing the bowl with a Houndstone silicone dog bowl mat or pet feeding mat can add even more stability and help keep the feeding area tidier.

The verdict

The Bottom Line

“We chose high-quality, food-grade silicone because it’s the same type of material used in baby feeding products, and that standard made sense to us for the dogs and cats in our own home. Our bowls were shaped by years of feeding our own rescues and fosters, with a focus on materials that are safe, durable, and make life a little easier. The pets who share our homes are family, and we believe every dog and cat deserves to eat and drink from something made with their well-being in mind.”

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