Your cat’s food bowl should be washed at least once a day to prevent the accumulation of biofilm and the growth of bacteria. Washing a slow feed bowl can be tricky if the ridges inside the bowl are deep or irregularly shaped. Many slow feed bowls are dishwasher safe, but others need to be washed by hand. When hand washing a slow feed bowl, it helps to use a long-bristled dishwashing brush to get into all the crevices – a bottle brush might work as well.
You can soak the bowl in hot soapy water first to loosen any dried-on food and, as an added degree of caution, you can sanitize your cat’s bowl after washing. Soak the bowl in a solution of 2 teaspoons bleach in one gallon of water for 10 minutes then rinse well and air dry completely before using again.