Pale mats look lovely for about a week. Water marks dry as rings, gravy leaves a shadow, and a light surface in a feeding area shows every one of them between cleans. A saturated teal with a broken ikat weave pattern does the opposite, absorbing the visual noise of daily use so the feeding corner still looks cared for on the days you have not got round to wiping it.

Paw print accents run through the design, and the construction matches the rest of the Tarhong range: a BPA-free PVC printed face bonded to an EVA backing, 2mm overall. The backing is what keeps the mat still, and that matters more with an enthusiastic eater. A dog that pushes its bowl around the room while eating will drag a slippery mat along with it, which rather defeats the point of laying one down.

• Teal ikat pattern with paw print details
• 29.2 x 48.3 x 0.2cm, 60g
• 100% BPA-free PVC and EVA
• Wipe clean between meals
• Non-slip surface stays put under active eaters
• Suits dogs and cats alike

A mat is not a bowl fix. If your dog shoves the bowl across the room, this will help but the real answer is a heavier bowl or a raised stand. A non-slip backing holds the mat to the floor, not the bowl to the mat. Worth knowing before you ask too much of a 60g sheet of printed PVC.

Who it's for: Owners of lively eaters who want a colourful mat that still looks presentable after a fortnight in use.