Licking is a self-soothing behaviour in dogs and cats, and the repetitive action settles them the way pacing settles some people. Smear something soft across a textured surface and a pet who would otherwise be climbing the walls during a bath, a nail trim or a fireworks night has somewhere to put that energy for ten or fifteen minutes. The flower shape holds a deep central well for the bulk of it and textured petals to spread the rest thin.

It is one piece of food-grade silicone rated from minus 40C up to 230C, which is a longer way of saying you can fill it, freeze it solid for a treat that lasts three times as long, and then put it through the dishwasher. At 15cm across and 1.2cm thick it is a small mat, sized for a portion rather than a meal. A single 1.5cm suction cup on the back grips smooth tile, glass or the base of a bath.

• 15cm across, 1.2cm thick, 76g
• Food-grade silicone rated minus 40C to 230C, freezer and dishwasher safe
• 1.5cm suction cup on the reverse for smooth surfaces
• Deep central well plus textured petals
• Choice of pink, blue, red, purple or grey
• Suits cats and dogs

On the suction, and on what goes on it. One 1.5cm cup will hold on clean tile, glass or an enamel bath, and it will not hold on grout lines, wood or a textured floor. A determined dog will shift it regardless. Stick to safe fillings such as plain yoghurt, wet food or pumpkin, and check any peanut butter for xylitol, which is toxic to dogs and turns up in reduced-sugar brands.

Who it's for: Owners who need ten quiet minutes during grooming, bath time or fireworks, and fast eaters who need slowing down.