I have always used ceramic for all of my cats. I used them because they were heavier and easier to clean.

For tidbits like turkey, I have a few small "lotus" bowls that I use and they are stacked with my regular dishes. Sometimes, guests take one to use for serving something small and I always say - "no, not those, they are for the cats." I have to laugh, because they always put them back like they had poison in them.

Pam, Logan, shhhh, don't tell anyone, but my cat dishes go right into the dishwasher too. Aren't they sanitized along with regular dishes? Rascal has dry food available all of the time, so I only change that every couple of days.

I also put ice cubes in his water dish every day after cleaning it. He seems to love it - just like we like a cool glass of water.