Beyond the Bowl: Accessorizing

by Courtney Mroch | More from this Blogger

18 Dec 2006 07:58 AM

What happens when something like a simple drinking bowl evolves beyond function into fashion? It invites accessorization, of course! After all, once you've got the perfect drinking bowl (and, naturally, accompanying food bowl), you'll want to show it off.

First and foremost, let's assume you've picked out the perfect bowl set. What are you going to place it on? That's right, a placemat!

Some dog bowl sets come with coordinating placemats. Most are made of easy-to-clean vinyl, but there are other options. Maybe you have regular people placemats just sitting in a drawer somewhere that never get used. Why not pull them out and put them to use for your pet's bowls? Also, check the selection at your local dollar store. Fun choices abound around holidays. (Sometimes they have pet specific placemats, but for $1 it's cheap to stock up so you'll have a festive mat no matter the season.)

But maybe your pet's table manners are, ahem, a bit messy. Never fear! You can remain stylish while protecting your floors from the inevitable spill. The Drymate Placemat, the Water Trapper Pet Placemat by Orvis, and the Van Ness Dinner Mat are all examples of mats that not only absorb spills, but are also backed with soak-thru preventing material.

Okay, you've got the mat. Now you have to decide if you want to leave your pet's dishes on the floor (in the case of cats and dogs), or elevate them. No, I'm not suggesting you set a place for them at your dinner table. Rather, I'm talking about a new trend in feeding: the elevated or raised feeders. (Some propose that not straining to bend over promotes better body alignment and thus aids in digestion. Also, raised feeders make it more comfortable for older or arthritic pets to eat.)

If you go with a raised feeder, you can choose from wooden, wrought iron, or glass holders. Some come in shapes (like bones for dogs or fish for cats), some wooden ones also include built-in storage, and the wrought iron and glass variety can get quite decorative and look more like works of art than feeding stations. Also, bowls and mat combinations can run from $10 to $100, but many raised feeders (especially the more elaborate) can quickly skyrocket up to the hundreds of dollars.

Buyer beware with raised feeders: not all bowls are created equal. Many raised feeders come with bowls designed to fit them specifically. If it's made out of ceramic and it breaks, finding an exact replacement can be difficult. (Not impossible, though.)

Oh yes, if you want to posh up your pet's plate, you can. But don't be disappointed if your pet doesn't appreciate your fashion sensibilities. After all, they know it's not what's on the outside of the bowl that counts, but what's on the inside.

Fun sites to "window shop" from the comfort of your home: (I'm relegated to window shopping only, as the price tags on a lot of the merchandise exceed my budget.)

A Charmed Life Gifts In the Company of Dogs Cat'sPlay.com The Cat Connection Pampered Puppy The Ritzy Rover

Related articles: Feeding Tips

Learn more about Courtney Mroch

Courtney Mroch is a wife, a proud pet parent, and a writer. She's been with her husband, high school sweetheart Wayne Pryor, over 20 years, married 11 of those. She's "mom" to Mr. Meow, a.k.

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