Best Lick Mats for Dogs and Cats

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A lick mat is a textured rubber or silicone mat that you spread a little soft food on. Your pet has to lick it out of the grooves, which turns a spoonful into several minutes of work. Owners use them at bath time, during nail trims, as a distraction during fireworks, or just to keep a pet busy. This page compares three lick mats from our catalog, what each is good for, and the safety rule a vet says matters more than any brand: never leave your pet alone with one.

How we wrote this: we did not test these mats ourselves. Specs come from each brand’s current product page, and each pick is backed by an independent review (Canine Journal, Vetstreet, Whole Dog Journal). General advice comes from the American Kennel Club, a practicing veterinarian at Walkerville Vet and the ASPCA, linked where used. We do not list prices or star ratings, because they change; check the current listing.

Pick	Best for	Material	Care (per brand)
LickiMat Classic Buddy	Dogs and cats, everyday use	Food grade TPR	Hand wash; freezer safe
Mighty Paw Dog Lick Pad	Bath time and grooming (suction cups)	BPA-free, food-grade silicone	Dishwasher safe
LickiMat Wobble	Wet or frozen food, longer sessions	Food grade natural rubber	Dishwasher safe; freezer safe

The best lick mats

LickiMat Classic Buddy

Best for: a simple flat mat for dogs and cats.

The Buddy is an 8 x 8 inch mat with a cross-maze pattern, made of food grade TPR with no BPA, PVC, silicone or phthalates, according to LickiMat. It is freezer safe and hand washable. Canine Journal named it its best overall lick mat: in its trials, plain peanut butter kept dogs busy for about 17 minutes, and frozen about 25. It liked that the pattern held interest without frustrating dogs, but said to hand wash it rather than use the dishwasher, to avoid warping.

Keep in mind: the Classic is not chew resistant. LickiMat says to supervise your pet and to choose its Tuff version or a Keeper holder for chewers. It lies flat, so it will not stick to a wall at bath time.

Mighty Paw Dog Lick Pad

Best for: baths, grooming and nail trims, because it sticks to the wall.

Mighty Paw says the pad has 41 suction cups to attach it to floors, walls and shower enclosures, four textured sections with different levels of difficulty, and is made of BPA-free, food-grade silicone that is dishwasher safe. Vetstreet named it its best lick mat with suction cups, because the cups keep the pad in place so a dog cannot drag it around the house. Vetstreet lists the size as 9 by 5 inches.

Keep in mind: Vetstreet notes that strong dogs may still pull it loose. Mighty Paw’s page does not give a chewing warning, so treat it like any lick mat and supervise.

LickiMat Wobble

Best for: wet food, liquids and frozen fillings that would run off a flat mat.

The Wobble is a bowl with a textured inside and a rounded base, about 6.5 x 6.5 x 3.1 inches. LickiMat says it is made of food grade natural rubber, is freezer safe, microwave friendly and dishwasher safe (turned upside down), and is reversible. Whole Dog Journal, in a test by trainer Jae Thomas, CPDT-KA, named it its best dog lick bowl: it holds about 4 cups of dry kibble, and with frozen fillings the tester’s dogs took nearly an hour to finish.

Keep in mind: Whole Dog Journal found the wobbly base awkward when filling and freezing, so the tester set it inside a slightly bigger bowl. LickiMat says to supervise your dog the first few times until you are sure it will not chew the bowl. It is made for dogs.

What lick mats are good for

The AKC and the Walkerville Vet article agree on the practical uses:

• Bath time, grooming and nail trims. A mat stuck to the tub or wall gives your pet something to focus on. The AKC suggests a spread on a suction mat can make trimming fur or cleaning ears easier. The vet adds that this works only if your pet is food-motivated.
• Short stressful moments. The AKC says a mat with frozen broth can soothe an anxious dog during fireworks or thunderstorms, and the vet agrees lick mats are useful in temporary situations like these.
• Crate training and car trips. Both mention lick mats as a way to build a good association with the crate. See our crate training guide.
• Slowing down fast eaters. Some lick mats double as slow feeders (AKC). For the bowl option, see our page on slow feeders vs regular bowls.

What the claims leave out

Some lick mat marketing goes further than the evidence. The Walkerville Vet article, by Dr Andrew Spanner, a vet of close to 30 years, is skeptical on two points:

• Teeth. He says the claim that licking cleans teeth and gums lacks a basis in fact, and that sticky treats could make dental disease worse, not better. (The AKC is more positive, but says a lick mat is not a substitute for tooth brushing.) For real dental care, see our guide on how to brush a dog’s teeth.
• Anxiety. The ASPCA says puzzle toys and chew items encourage chewing and licking, which have been shown to have a calming effect on dogs. Dr Spanner agrees mats can help in temporary stressful moments, but says there is no evidence they treat anxiety that is already present: keeping a pet busy is not the same thing. If your pet is anxious often, talk to your vet.

Lick mat safety

• Do not leave your pet alone with one. Dr Spanner describes a dog that chewed up and swallowed a lick mat in a moment alone, and a cat that swallowed a piece and needed surgery to remove an intestinal blockage. His view: no dog should be left alone with a lick mat. The AKC also says lick mats are best used with supervision.
• Check for wear. The AKC says to throw out mats with eroding material, punctures or jagged ridges.
• Choose food-grade materials. The AKC warns that non-food-grade mats can leach dyes and chemicals into food. All three picks above are described as food grade by their brands.
• Clean after every use. Even if it looks clean, wash it with warm soapy water to prevent mold and bacteria (AKC). Dishwasher-safe mats make this easier, the vet notes, especially if you use raw food. Follow each brand’s care label: the Classic Buddy is hand wash only.
• Check spreads for xylitol. The AKC notes that some peanut butter contains xylitol, which is toxic to dogs. Ask your vet which foods suit your pet.
• Chewers need a different setup. For dogs that chew rather than lick, LickiMat offers Tuff versions and Keeper holders, but the vet notes a determined dog can destroy even tough rubber toys. Supervise regardless.

How to choose a lick mat

• Where you will use it: suction cups for the bath or wall, a flat mat for the floor, a bowl for runny or frozen food.
• Your pet: cats and small dogs do well with a flat mat; dogs that push a mat around may do better with suction cups or a bowl.
• Cleaning: if you will use it daily, a dishwasher-safe mat saves time.
• Chewing: if your pet chews rubber toys, a lick mat may not be a good fit at all. A sturdy stuffable toy such as the KONG Classic is another way to make food last, though the same supervision rules apply.

For bowls, feeders and fountains, see our bowls and feeders buying guide.

FAQ

Are lick mats safe for dogs and cats?

They can be, with supervision. A vet at Walkerville Vet reports a dog and a cat that swallowed pieces of lick mats, one needing surgery, and advises never leaving a pet alone with one. Take the mat away when your pet finishes or starts chewing, and replace it once it shows wear.

Can cats use lick mats?

Yes. The LickiMat Classic Buddy is sold for dogs and cats. The same rule applies: supervise, because the vet’s cat case shows cats can swallow pieces too, especially of softer silicone mats.

Do lick mats calm dogs?

They can help in short stressful moments, like fireworks or a bath, and the ASPCA says licking has been shown to have a calming effect. A vet cautions there is no evidence they treat ongoing anxiety. If your dog is anxious when left alone, read our page on separation anxiety and crates and talk to your vet.

Do lick mats clean teeth?

Do not count on it. The AKC says they are not a substitute for tooth brushing, and a vet says the dental claims lack a basis in fact.

Are lick mats dishwasher safe?

Some are. Mighty Paw and the LickiMat Wobble are listed as dishwasher safe by their brands; the LickiMat Classic Buddy is hand wash only. Check the care label for your mat.