We all know cats are really good at keeping themselves clean but when it comes to eating, they can be very messy.
If you often find kibbles spread all over the floor and want a quick and easy solution, a cat food mat might be just the thing you’re looking for.
They help keep the food bowl in place and do a good job of catching any food that falls out of the bowl.
Let’s take a closer look at the best cat food mats below!
What Is A Cat Food Mat
A cat food mat or feeding mat will help protect your floor from any spilled cat food or water.
They’re designed to be placed under your cat’s favorite feeding and drinking bowls. By doing so, they will stay in place and stop your cat from pushing them around.
They will also catch any food that falls out of the bowl and stops it from being tracked through your home.
Cat food mats come in all shapes, sizes, and materials but the most common among pet owners is Silicone.
No matter how large the mat or how secure manufacturers try to make them, it seems that some pets will still find a way to spill their food or tip bowls over.
When buying a mat you should know it’s not a 100% guarantee that you’ll have no more messy feeding times. Look at it as a layer of protection added to feeding time.
Silicone Cat Food Mat
Made from material that is both lightweight and versatile, silicone mats are easy to clean and move to your preferred location.
Dishwasher safe and affordable, they’re the most popular mat among cat owners.
Fabric Cat Feeding Mat
Fabric mats do look nicer but, they are much harder to keep clean and could need replacing more often than their silicone counterparts.
Most are machine washable and can be put through a gentle cycle in your washing machine. They have been known to deteriorate over a period of time which means you might need to replace them more often.
Which Material Is Best?
Most cat owners would agree that silicone mats are much easier to maintain and clean. They don’t absorb water as they’re waterproof and provide a clean eating surface.
They seem to last longer than the fabric mats and are just as affordable. It’s really a personal preference as both materials will do their intended job of keeping your floors clean.
Benefits Of A Cat Food Mat
Floor Protection
Feeding your pet on hardwood floors can cause damage to your floors over time if wet food or spilled water gets on them. A food mat will help eliminate this.
Easy Cleaning
With silicone mats, any cat food spilled can be easily wiped right off. Fabric mats can be placed right into the washing machine.
Food Bowls Stay In Place
Bowls can’t be slid around on top of the mat. Often our pets will push the bowl into the corner of the room leaving a mess on both the walls and floor.
The Best Cat Food Mat
There are numerous cat food mats available on the market, but we’ve picked six different models to compare.
Take a look at all of their advantages and disadvantages to determine which is your best choice.
Gorilla Grip Silicone Cat Feeding Mat
- Less Mess: designed to keep your pet’s...
- 100 Percent Waterproof for Ultimate...
- Keep Bowls in Place: slip resistant...
Gorilla grip was founded in 2014 by Jen and Marissa who are both working moms and multi pet owners.
Their goal was to supply simple yet effective products that help with everyday life and they have done just that with their silicone food mat.
Their dishwasher safe, easy to clean silicone mat is 100% waterproof with a textured topside helping to keep those bowls in place. Underneath it’s flat allowing it to grip to tiles or wooden floors with ease.
They come in three different sizes, 18.5″ x 11.5″ perfect for one dog or cat, 23″ x 15″ suitable for two cats or 32″ x 24″ for the multi pet family home. All mats feature a raised edge of .125 inches, this should allow most doors to pass over the top while stopping any spills from getting onto your floor.
One of the downsides to silicone mats is they seem to collect pet hair or dust easily. Unfortunately, some pet owners have experienced this with this mat as well as some reported cases of their dogs chewing and tearing the mat.
Keep in mind silicone isn’t indestructible, so while it is possible most pets won’t chew through them.
Pro’s
- Dishwasher Safe
- Available in 3 sizes
- Choice of colors
- High grip level
- Food grade Silicone
Con’s
- Collects dust and Pet hair
- No set bowl surrounds
Hubulk Pet Cat Food Mat With Stainless Bowls
- Full Dinner Set - Set of 2 Dog Bowls...
- Non-Skidding & Flipping - The...
- No-Spill Silicone Mat- The raised...
The Hubulk features two stainless steel bowls and a unique BPA-free silicone feeding mat rolled into one package.
The stainless steel bowls are dishwasher safe and can be easily removed from the silicone mat. They don’t mention if the silicone is dishwasher safe however, from experience it should be fine to go in the dishwasher along with the bowls.
They come in a range of sizes listed below:
Small
Bowl:（1.22″ height, 3.93″ diameter)
Capacity: （6.9 OZ for each bowl）
Silicone Mat:（14.3” length, 8.2” width）
Medium
Bowl:（1.68″ height, 5.68″ diameter）
Capacity: （13.9 OZ for each bowl)
Silicone Mat:（17.92” length, 10.45” width）
Large
Bowl:（2.82″ height, 5.96″ diameter）
Capacity: （29.8 OZ for each bowl）
Silicone Mat:（19.98” length, 11.24” width）
There is a little lip along the edge of the silicon mat stand, which contributes to no splashed water or dropped food on your floor.
The silicon mat stand comes out from the bowls, and there is a small lip along the edge, which provides a strong grip.
You’re getting great value here with 2 x stainless steel bowls, 1 x silicone matt, and a free pet food scoop.
Pro’s
- BPA Free, Food grade silicone
- 2 x Stainless steel bowls
- Free food scoop
- Easy to clean
- Secure food and water bowl
Con’s
- Food mat doesn’t provide large coverage area
- No mention of Silicone being dishwasher safe
Kitchen Basics Microfiber Cat Bowl Feeding Mat
- 10 X 20 inch in size
- Helps protect floors from splashes and...
- Highly absorbent with anti skid backing...
The Kitchen Basics microfiber pet bowl feeding mat features, anti-skid, and absorbent microfibre technology.
This is a no frills microfibre pet food mat that is up to the task. With its absorbent microfibre layering, it’ll be able to soak up any mess your cat might leave behind.
The anti skid backing should stop your cat from pushing the mat all over the room along with its food and water.
It comes in one size only of 10 x 20 inches and will comfortably fit a bowl of 5 – 7 inches in diameter.
Finally, the cute design will brighten up your room. Cleaning is a breeze, simply pop it into the washing machine like you would any towel and you’re done.
This mat stands out just for the price alone and represents great value. Build quality is decent and overall it’s a good solid food mat.
Pro’s
- Very affordable
- Great Anti-skid design
- Quick Drying
Con’s
- Water might pool underneath with a HEAVY spill
- Collects dirt and dust in the microfibre cloth
Coomazy Cat Feeding Mat
- 🐶【Anti-Messy Design】: Upgrade...
- 🐶【Food Grade Material】: Premium...
- 🐶【Easy To Use & Clean】: This dog...
The Coomazy cat feeding mat is made from BPA free waterproof food grade silicone. This nonslip placemat is designed well and able to hold 2 or 3 food bowls.
Available in two size options, medium ( 18.9” x 11.8” ) and large ( 23.6” x 15.8” ). The large will be best suited for a multi pet home.
The edge surrounding the mat is measured at 0.4 inches high helping to contain any spills. The topside of the mate features a nice paw print aesthetic, while the underside is plain.
The mat is very easy to clean, just pop it on the top shelf of the dishwasher. If you’re traveling you can simply roll it up for easy storage.
They offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee giving you peace of mind when buying. Overall a good quality silicone food mat that does the job needed.
Pro’s
- Large Mat
- Price
- BPA Free
- Dishwasher Safe
Con’s
- No Small size available
- Collects fur
Drymate Pet Placemat Cat Food Mat
- PROTECTS FLOORS FROM SPILLS & KEEPS THEM...
- ABSORBENT POLYESTER FABRIC, WITH...
- DURABLE & LIGHTWEIGHT MATERIAL: Our mats...
The Drymate Pet Placemat cat food mat is made from BPA free recycled fibers.
The mat is 100% machine washable so when the time comes to clean it just pop it into the washer and hang to dry.
It can stop a decent amount of water soaking through ( up to 5 times its weight or approximately 14 oz ).
Like all mats, there is a non slip backing helping keep everything where it should be.
It’s a durable mat that is stain resistant and should last a long time given good care.
Pro’s
- Price
- Machine Washable
- BPA free
- Stain Resistant
Con’s
- Quality not as good as others on the list
- Potential for large spills to seep through the mat
Senmipy Silicone Cat Food Mat
- DURABLE AND WATERPROOF: Senmipy dog bowl...
- SAFE AND NON-TOXIC: Dog mat for food and...
- DOTS TEXTURE TOPSIDE: Our dog food mats...
The Senmipy silicone cat food mat is a favorite among pet owners.
What makes it stand out from the rest is its superior silicone quality. It’s made from BPA free nontoxic silicone. It’s hypoallergenic and 100% waterproof.
Durability and waterproof abilities are what most people look for in a mat. The raised edges ensure spilled food and water stays on the mat.
The raised dots on the top side are used to prevent the bowls from sliding around while the smooth underside keeps them in place on the floor.
You can clean the mat by simply rinsing it under the tap or putting it on the top shelf of your dishwasher.
Pro’s
- BPA Free
- Hypoallergenic
- Raised edges
- Great Value
Con’s
- Mat color may differ slightly from picture ( blue can look purple )
- Reports of slipping on polished wooden floors
The Winner
There are so many types of cat food mats available from different manufacturers, each offering a different design.
You can choose to spend a little and get a decent quality mat or you could spend a lot and get the best mat for your money. It is really a matter of personal preference.
Of the five products reviewed, the general consensus was that the Gorilla grip based on quality, price, and design was the best over all.
Overall the reviews were a huge majority of positive feedback. Aside from a few things out of our control such as kitty teething on the mats or fur getting stuck to them there really was little to fault.
Last update on 2023-04-01 at 12:56 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
