A dog who empties a bowl in nine seconds is swallowing air along with the food, and the usual result is an uncomfortable animal and a mess on the carpet an hour later. Spreading that same wet food thinly across a textured surface turns nine seconds into several minutes of steady licking. The mechanism is simple, and it is why lick mats still work on dogs who have already defeated a slow-feeder bowl.

This one is a 19.8cm square of food-grade silicone, one centimetre thick, with suction cups moulded into the back. Those cups are what make it usable at bath time: press it against the tiles or the side of the tub and it stays there while your dog works at it, rather than being carried off to the hall. Licking is a self-soothing behaviour, which is why the mat also helps during grooming, nail trims and fireworks.

• 19.8cm x 19.8cm x 1cm food-grade silicone
• Suction cups moulded into the base
• Grips smooth floors, walls, tiles and crates
• Textured surface slows eating to a steady lick
• Four colours: blue, green, orange and grey
• Dishwasher safe
• Weighs 185g

Two things worth knowing. Suction only holds on a genuinely smooth, clean, slightly damp surface; it will not grip grout, textured vinyl or a rough crate tray, and a determined dog can still peel it away. It is a slow-feeder rather than a chew toy, so take it up once the food is gone and replace it if the silicone gets punctured.

Who it's for: Fast eaters, anxious dogs at bath time, and cats who need something to do with a pouch of wet food.