Eating position - bowl raised vs. floor?

I tried to search for some opinions but could figure out effective search terms, so I started a thread. Sorry to clog the boards, as I'm sure it's been addressed, I just couldn't find the info.

Most pictures I've seen show kitties crouched in front of their bowls on the floor. Is this just tradition or is it really the most instinctive and comfortable position for cats to eat?

I ask, because we have one Regurgitator , and I am applying an "interdisciplinary" approach to help her. Wet food has helped a lot, occasional combing (semi-feral, so I can't say regular, but sometimes she allows it), golf ball in food bowl, and now I am thinking of raising her food bowl so she will stand and her neck won't have to bend down to the food.
Golf ball in food bowl made her look at us with that long-suffering expression of "why u do dis 2 me?" that made us howl with laughter, so the tactic didn't last but the experiment was worth it for the lulz.

I saw a raised setup like that yesterday for my pet food store owner's store cat, and it was clear that he had rigged up as a permanent thing. That made me wonder whether this is something I should also consider as a permanent arrangement, and maybe also for our other cat, who doesn't have horking issues.

I tried it this morning and the Subject was perfectly comfortable, but I don't know which is the more natural way for her species to eat, crouched or standing.

BTW, I had one of those kitchen cabinet "helper" shelves lying around that you can get at Target or the Container Store for a few bucks, and it fits the bill brilliantly and looks decent.

I would use it. I think it facilitates easier swallowing. I have seen my cats heads kind of "bob" like they are trying to get the food to the back of their throats. Of I noticed that more when I fed dry.

I'd go for it!

We have our cats bowls elevated. Stimpy was a scarf-n-barfer before we elevated the bowls. I have 2 older cats (12 yrs and 9 yrs), and all 3 are pretty big cats. The guys are tall and Lola is either Maine Coon or mostly M.C. 'cause she's huge for a female cat. I have elevated feeders, but when we first started I used phone books to try it out. I've found the ones like this: >>link<< are the right height for my cats -- about 5 1/2" tall.

Elevated is good, IMO. I don't do it but I probably should. I have a scarf-n-barf, too. He has been puke-free (knock on wood) for weeks since I switched him to a speed bump bowl and all of them to a grain free dry (Taste of the Wild.)

I think it just agrees with them better.

This is the bowl that I got at a discount pet supply place in the dog bowl section....

http://www.strictlypetsupplies.com/_...owl-Pink-Small

Only Tex's bowl is BLUE!

Originally Posted by AddieBee

Elevated is good, IMO. I don't do it but I probably should. I have a scarf-n-barf, too. He has been puke-free (knock on wood) for weeks since I switched him to a speed bump bowl and all of them to a grain free dry (Taste of the Wild.)

I think it just agrees with them better.

This is the bowl that I got at a discount pet supply place in the dog bowl section....

http://www.strictlypetsupplies.com/_...owl-Pink-Small

Only Tex's bowl is BLUE!

Click to expand...

that is a cool looking bowl... how is it to clean?

Originally Posted by sharky

that is a cool looking bowl... how is it to clean?

Click to expand...

Not a problem. It cleans up just fine with hot water and dish soap. It is very heavy weight hard plastic - probably melamine - I know.. dirty word. I think I paid like $3.50 for it at a discount place. Same place that has terrific prices on TOTW.

I thought about that too. But I have difficulty picking up the right height. And also my kittens are 5 months old, and how do I know if they will need a higher one later? Another note is that those raised bowls are very expensive.

Originally Posted by littleraven7726

Stimpy was a scarf-n-barfer before we elevated the bowls.

Click to expand...

I your terminology. "scarf-n-barfer"...

The other thing you can look into for your puker is kibble size if you're still feeding dry. Larger kibble that they have to crunch to swallow slows them down. Those mini pellets like SD has tend to get inhaled mostly whole!

Originally Posted by koobe

I thought about that too. But I have difficulty picking up the right height. And also my kittens are 5 months old, and how do I know if they will need a higher one later? Another note is that those raised bowls are very expensive.

Click to expand...

You don't need to buy anything... put it on top of a couple of books or something... a piece of scrap wood....a flipped over small/shallow box... something they can't climb onto...

Neko's bowl is slightly raised. She ends up taking the kibble out of her bowl and onto the kitchen floor, then eats it the low crouch position. So that obviously slows down eating, a messier kitchen floor, but slow eating.