Question for the hivemind pet people. How often do you wash your cat/dog bowls?

The cats get clean (ceramic) plates for their gooshyfood probably every 3-4 days. Their water bowl (plastic) gets cleaned and refilled every 2-4 days (it just varies based on the temperature outside and how much fur is in the bowl [I suspect they swim laps in the bowl some days]).

The dogs' food bowls (ceramic) don't get cleaned often enough, I shamefacedly admit. The cat plates get swapped for clean because they leave bits of food on them, and so we notice it. The dogs lick their bowls clean, and so "dirty!" doesn't register as often as it should.

I should probably wash the dog bowls at least as often as I wash the dishes, huh? (Which is certainly not every day. t edit I'd guess I wash the dog food bowls every 3-4 weeks.

The dog water dish (a big metal dealie) gets rinsed and wiped out pretty often, because they manage to get crud (and sometimes kibble) in there all the time.

Water bowls (and, okay, cups and glasses) get washed daily. Bowls with any wet food get washed every couple of days. Bowls with only dry food ... slightly more randomly.

smonster, I see the photos and, god help me, I'm in love with that Frankie-boy. He's a looka!

And, might I add, you've got great walking technique in that one photo. A perfect J on the leash, and nice position. I'm offering my third annual walk workshop in two weeks and only wish people who have been walking their dogs for years were that good.

I have found that a little chicken broth will encourage an animal to drink. Is the water supposed to be okay to drink boiled?

Yes. This. VW, have you tried taking some boiled water, put it in a shallow dish in the freezer, and letting it cool down to almost freezing, and giving it?

I think the broth might help, but boiled and cooled might not be so repugnant as plastic water.

Also, Andi, what type bowls do you use? (plastic, metal, ceramic, etc.)

For some reason I had been thinking the question only applied to water dishes. For a long time I had a nice big stainless steel water dish, but that got a rust spot ?!? so it has been replaced by a nice stout glass casserole dish. Their food dishes are small stainless steel dishes. Those I rinse in hot water before every meal, and wash with actual soap every few days, whenever I realize I can't remember the last time it happened.

Who just pan-fried some sole? I just pan-fried some sole! I totally didn't bother buying eggs and just dipped the fish in milk before battering it with seasoned flour and tossing it in the frying pan, in which I probably had too much olive oil. But it worked! It was cooked and a little crispy and sort of seasoned-y tasty!

It was cooked and a little crispy and sort of seasoned-y tasty!

YUM! Go you with the pan frying.

I think I'm crushing on Jamie Oliver. I watched his "Family Christmas" series today and can't wait to roast a turkey and make his roasted veg. His passion for food is contagious.

Hi, all! I returned from and survived my first trip as an official wife, with multiple sets off in-laws, and a nephew's birthday party, and everything.

I have to post a picture of my nephew soon, as he is OMG cute and has a wee curly mohawk (he turned 2 today, and was delightful and cute and polite.)

I got to sign a birthday card "Aunt Erin!" How cool is that?!

I use an assortment of plastic, glass and metal bowls for the 3 stations of pet food and water. I clean out water bowls whenever I refill them, which is more in the summer, but since the animals get dry food (wet food makes the dog hurl, and kitties get tuna about once a month, and THOSE plates are picked up and popped in the dishwasher as soon as the cats devour it), but the food bowls really get washed whenever they look grotty, or when I think of it.

Cat BOXES get scoured with biodegradable citrus cleaner once a month in the driveway, and sprinkled with baking soda every change.

Thanks for the pet dish data...keep it coming if you've got it.

Pet dishes -- Super rinsed the wet food everytime -- wash every few days. Dry - when it gets cloudy looking I wash it. Water dish -- rinsed well, washed when cloudy.

dishes rotate -- glass or ceramic.