As cats get older, their joints, muscles, and spine become less flexible, and movements that were once effortless can start to cause discomfort or even pain. One simple way to make mealtime easier is to raise their food bowl about 8 cm above the floor and tilt it roughly 15 degrees toward the cat. This small adjustment allows them to eat without having to bend their neck too far or hunch their shoulders, which means they can keep their spine in a more natural, nearly straight position while eating.
This posture significantly reduces strain on the neck, back, and joints, making mealtime more comfortable — especially for senior cats who may suffer from arthritis, muscle stiffness, or age-related mobility issues. It also helps with digestion, as the food moves more smoothly down the esophagus when the cat is eating in a natural, upright position. Overall, an elevated and slightly angled bowl is a simple yet highly effective way to support the health, comfort, and quality of life of aging cats.
This model is the second version of the feeding bowl stand. The first version may look nicer, but this second one is easier to print with an FFF/FDM printer since it doesn’t require any supports. After printing, apply strong adhesive to the interlocking parts of the two separate pieces, then press them firmly together. Once the glue has set, anti-slip rubber pads should be glued into the round holes on the base.
You can print it from any solid, glueable, waterproof, and washable material. Only the two flat parts (a and b) need to be printed. The third STL file shows the complete assembly with the bowl — it’s included only so you can view the full design in 3D. This design was made to fit the most common ceramic cat bowls. I’d really love for it to reach as many people as possible who have elderly cats, so I’m also sharing the original design file, which was created in AutoCAD. You can modify this design as needed to fit bowls of different sizes.
The required STL/DWG files can be downloaded here: https://www.printables.com/model/1453487-ergonomic-bowl-stand-for-elderly-cats
Use it in good health, and may your cat be happy!