Dog feeding mats and trays
A dog feeding mat or tray, such as the Tarhong Pet Feeding Tray, sits underneath the bowl at mealtimes to catch water splashes and dropped kibble and to stop the bowl skating across a hard floor while your dog eats. It's a simple accessory, but a genuinely useful one for a messy eater or a smooth floor.
What a feeding mat actually solves
Enthusiastic drinkers and eaters splash water and knock kibble outside the bowl more than most owners expect, and on a hard floor that mess spreads with every paw print through it afterwards. A raised-edge tray like the Tarhong Pet Feeding Tray contains most of that within a defined area, which makes cleaning up afterwards a wipe rather than a mop.
It also stops a lightweight bowl sliding across laminate, tile or vinyl as a dog pushes it around while eating, which is as much about a calmer mealtime as it is about mess.
Choosing the right size and material
Size the mat to your dog's bowl or bowls rather than buying the largest one available — too small and it doesn't catch the mess it's meant to, too large and it becomes another surface to keep clean. A raised lip around the edge helps contain splashes better than a completely flat mat.
A wipeable material such as silicone or a moulded plastic tray is easier to keep hygienic day to day than a fabric or absorbent one, particularly for a dog who drinks messily.
Keeping it clean and in place
Wipe or rinse the mat after each meal rather than letting spilled water and food sit, since it attracts the same grime a dirty bowl does. A textured or slightly weighted mat is less likely to slide around on its own once your dog's bowl is on it.
If your dog tends to drag the whole mat around while eating, a non-slip backing or one designed to sit under both a food and water bowl together keeps things more settled at mealtimes.
In this section
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Pressure-Activated Pet Cooling Mat
Press down, feel the cool — this pressure-activated mat absorbs body heat and stays up to 10°C cooler than the room, with no freezing required.
From£34.99
Padded Pet Crate Mat with Corner Ties
A padded crate mat with corner ties that stays put inside a cage or carrier.
From£8.99
Machine Washable Self-Heating Plush Dog Mat, Six Colours, Two Sizes
A plush self-heating mat that actually goes in the washing machine, which most reflective mats do not, offered in six colours and a choice of small or large.
From£19.99
Chenille Muddy-Paws Absorbent Door Mat
A thick chenille door mat that soaks up mud and moisture from paws to protect your floors. The non-slip backing keeps it in place and it's machine washable and quick-drying for easy upkeep.
From£13.99
Tartan Sherpa Fleece Pet Mat
A reversible tartan sherpa fleece mat handmade in the UK — hypoallergenic, non-slip, machine washable, and sized to fit standard crates.
From£17.99
Wahl Distract 'N' Groom Lick Mat
Wahl Distract 'N' Groom Lick Mat: a SGL grooming lick mat for holding a spread or treat during grooming
£7.99
Padded Roll-Up Pet Travel Mat
A quilted, water-resistant travel mat that gives your dog a comfy resting spot anywhere. Folds and rolls up with the attached strap to carry like a tote, ideal for car boots, picnics and trips away.
From£26.99
Silicone Slow Feeder Dog Bowl With Mat
A silicone slow-feeder bowl set into a spill-catching tray mat. The ridged centre slows fast eaters and aids digestion, while the raised mat keeps food and water mess off the floor. Soft, non-slip and easy to wipe clean.
From£13.99
Ancol Ergo Mat Splitter
Ancol Ergo Mat Splitter: a SGL mat splitter for working through mats and tangles
£6.29
Reversible Warming & Cooling Pet Mat
A reversible pet mat with a soft warming fleece side and a cool check-fabric side, so pets stay comfortable through every season. Works on the floor, in a crate or on a windowsill.
From£19.99
Plush Strawberry Snuffle Mat
An interactive foraging mat with removable plush strawberries that hide treats and kibble. Encourages natural snuffling and slows feeding, providing mental enrichment for dogs, rabbits and guinea pigs alike.
From£13.99
Diamond Sherpa Fleece Pet Mat
A reversible diamond-patterned sherpa mat handmade in the UK — non-slip, hypoallergenic, machine washable, sized to fit standard crates.
From£17.99
Common questions
- Do I really need a feeding mat under my dog's bowl?
- It's not essential, but if your dog splashes water, drops kibble outside the bowl, or pushes a lightweight bowl around a hard floor, a mat makes a genuine difference to mess and cleanup. For a tidy eater on carpet, it matters far less.
- What material is easiest to keep clean for a dog feeding mat?
- A wipeable material like silicone or moulded plastic is easier to keep hygienic than fabric, since spilled water and food don't soak in the same way. A quick wipe after each meal keeps it from building up grime.
- How do I stop my dog from dragging the feeding mat around?
- Look for one with a non-slip or weighted base, which resists being pushed or dragged the way a lightweight flat mat can. Sizing it close to the bowl or bowls rather than much larger also helps it stay put.
Related
Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.