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Lick mats may have originated in the dog world, but in recent years, they’ve taken cat homes by storm. Their rubbery textured surfaces can make a challenge of wet food, spreadable treats, and tasty pastes—which is why they’re some of our favorite tools for entertaining and enriching mealtimes, slowing down speed eaters, and distracting a kitty in times of stress.
We’ve rounded up the best cat lick mats for kitties of all ages and temperaments, from cats who eat too fast to rambunctious kittens ready to burn off excess energy.
- Best Overall: Hyper Pet IQ Treat Mat
- Best for Canned Food: LickiMat Classic Playdate Slow Feeder Mat
- Best for Bulky Foods: Petstages Fishie Fun Cat Feed Mat
- Best for Enrichment: Pet Dream House PAW Mini 2-in-1 Slow Feeder & Lick Pad
- Best for Messy Eaters: LickiMat Wobble Slow Feeder Bowl
- Best Elevated: Neater Pets Neat-LIK Pad
- Best for Distraction: Aquapaw Slow Treater Lick Pad
- Best for Anxious Cats: LickiMat Classic Soother Slow Feeder Mat
- Best for Freezing: Lickimat Fish-Shaped Slow Feed Mats
Best Overall: Hyper Pet IQ Treat Mat (Verified Review)
Sold in a two-pack, the Hyper Pet IQ Treat Mat is affordably priced and easy to use. The green mat is covered in rounded nubs and works best for spreadable treats, while our testers found the orange mat’s X-shaped ridges effective with chunkier wet cat foods.
Both mats are made in the USA from non-toxic, FDA-grade thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), which holds up well against sharp little cat teeth. Best of all, it’s freezer-friendly and dishwasher-safe—a huge boon at cleanup time.
Key Takeaways:
- Sold in a set of two with different textures
- Made from FDA-grade TPE materials
- Freezer-friendly and dishwasher-safe
- Works with both wetter and drier pates
Best for Canned Food: LickiMat Classic Playdate Slow Feeder Mat
Made from 100% natural rubber, this square lick mat is an ideal choice for wet cat food and chunkier pates, including raw and fresh foods. The grid-style design makes it easy to spread out your cat’s meal, and the border helps to keep the food contained for messy eaters. We’ve found it suitable for cats of all ages and sizes.
Key Takeaways:
- Grid-style design makes spreading food easy
- Natural rubber materials are non-slip
- Suitable for cats of all sizes and ages
- Durable and dishwasher-safe
Best for Bulky Foods: Petstages Fishie Fun Cat Feed Mat
While canned food is easy to spread, bulkier foods like raw cat food, homemade cat food, and even dry food are a little more difficult to contain. This cat feeder mat from Petstages comes in a fish-shaped design with compartments deep enough for the chunkiest of chunky cat foods.
Because the mat is divided into eleven different sections, it functions effectively as a slow-feeder bowl to prolong mealtime. It isn’t recommended for the dishwasher—but luckily, it’s relatively easy to scrub clean with just soap and water.
Key Takeaways:
- Good for raw, homemade, and dry food
- Fun fish shape
- Easy to clean but not dishwasher safe
Best for Enrichment: Pet Dream House PAW Mini 2-in-1 Slow Feeder & Lick Pad
If you’re looking for a way to spice up mealtime for your cat, this 2-in-1 slow feeder and lick pad offers variety. The paw-shaped design creates four separate bowls for dry food or treats, with a wet-food-friendly textured lick mat at the base—which means you can offer up meals in a range of textures and styles.
The feeder is made from BPA- and PVC-free materials, with an elevated base for comfort and shallow sides designed not to bother a cat’s whiskers.
Key Takeaways:
- Slow-feed bowl and removable lick pad
- Shallow plate to prevent whisker fatigue
- Anti-skid bottom
- Top-rack dishwasher safe
Best for Messy Eaters: LickiMat Wobble Slow Feeder Bowl
This cat lick-mat bowl is ideal for messy eaters. The sloping sides keep food contained better than flat alternatives, and a suction cup on the bottom ensures that batters and pawers won’t have much luck flipping dinner upside down.
It does, however, wobble a bit when force is applied—which adds interest to mealtime without making a mess. We also like it for especially wet foods, since the bowl design prevents leaks from enthusiastic eating.
Key Takeaways:
- Bowl shape helps keep food contained
- Made from non-toxic, natural rubber
- Dishwasher safe for easy cleanup
- Some cats may not like the wobble motion
Best Elevated: Neater Pets Neat-LIK Pad
If your cat dislikes the motion of the LickiMat Wobble Bowl or you need a little extra protection against splashes and spills, this elevated lick mat feeder is a good solution. With an anti-slip bottom, this bowl stays where you put it, and the feet raise the tray slightly off the ground. Elevated food bowls are often more comfortable for older cats and cats with limited mobility.
The lick mat inside the tray features a spiderweb design with cells of various sizes. The mat is made from recyclable TPE, which is non-toxic and dishwasher-safe.
Key Takeaways:
- Tray keeps food neatly contained
- Elevated design may be more comfortable for some cats
- Non-slip feet keep the bowl from sliding
- Dishwasher-safe for easy cleaning
Best for Distraction: Aquapaw Slow Treater Lick Pad
If you’re giving your cat a wipe down or trimming their nails, a little bit of distraction can be helpful. Unlike a traditional puzzle toy, this lick pad suctions to the wall or floor, so you can place it right where you need it. Filled with a tasty treat, the lick pad will keep your cat occupied while you do what you need to do.
When you’re done, just throw the FDA-grade silicone pad in the dishwasher to make cleanup easy. It’s also freezer-safe, which makes it a nice option for keeping your cat cool during summer grooming sessions.
Key Takeaways:
- Made from 100% FDA-grade silicone
- Suctions directly to the wall or floor
- Dishwasher- and freezer-safe
- Great for distraction during grooming
Best for Anxious Cats: LickiMat Classic Soother Slow Feeder Mat
While the Aquapaw Slow Treater is good for situations where your cat might need a distraction, cats that suffer from anxiety may appreciate the LickiMat Classic Soother. Some experts have hypothesized that lick mats may have calming properties—or at least a powerful ability to distract a pet from pressing stressors. LickiMat has taken the idea a step further with a soothing, close-textured design meant to release endorphins when licked.
The close nibs make the LickiMat Classic Soother best for wetter foods and spreadable treats. It’s made from BPA-free thermoplastic rubber and is both dishwasher- and freezer-safe.
Key Takeaways:
- Licking the nubs may soothe your cat
- Works best with wet food and spreadable treats
- Dishwasher- and freezer-safe
- Materials are naturally non-slip
Best for Freezing: Lickimat Fish-Shaped Slow Feed Mats
Even sun-loving cats can find hot weather too hot. When the temperature climbs, frozen treats can help. These fish-shaped Lickimats are made from food-grade rubber, so they’re both durable and freezer-safe. We especially like their varied textures for freezing, since they offer a range of styles and difficulty levels for a range of freezable spreads.
This set comes with two slow-feed mats. Casper, the orange fish, has scale-like ridges, while Felix, the green fish, has a more complex design.
Key Takeaways:
- Comes with a set of two lick mats
- Made from food-grade rubber for safe freezer use
- Good for freezing spreadable treats and wet food
How We Chose
We selected the cat lick mats featured here based on a combination of our own hands-on testing and a comprehensive look at customer reviews across a wide variety of retail platforms. When making our selections, we prioritized cat lick mats made from durable, easy-to-clean materials. We included a variety of shapes, sizes, and textures for different needs. We’re also guided by the experience of living and playing alongside our own much-loved and strongly opinionated cats, who are never stingy with their feedback.
Further Reading