Designed to prevent spills of food and water from making a mess on your floor, the best cat feeding mats are food-safe, easy to clean, and made of durable materials. In our search for the best food mat for our own kittens, we’ve tested more than two dozen models — and are happy to share our results with you in these reviews.
In this article
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2025
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Best Overall
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CatGuru Cat Food Mat |
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Best Value
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Guardians Cat Food Mat |
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Premium Choice
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PetFusion ToughGrip Cat Food Mat |
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CHECK PRICE |
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BarksBar Original Silicone Pet Feeding Mat |
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AmazonBasics Waterproof Anti-Slip Food Mat |
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The 8 Best Cat Feeding Mats
1. CatGuru Cat Food Mat – Best Overall
To score our top recommendation as the best cat feeding mat overall, a product must pass stringent quality requirements. From the durability of its materials and construction to appropriate sizing and design, to remarkably easy cleanup, the CatGuru Food Mat has satisfied all our requirements and more.
Made of 100% food-grade silicone, the CatGuru Cat Food Mat is completely non-toxic and hypoallergenic, making it safe for any cat to use.
This material also makes it naturally non-slip which, combined with its high edges, means you’ll never end up cleaning your cat’s mealtime mess off the floor again.
Available in two sizes and three colors — all at a reasonable price that puts it within reach of cat owners everywhere — there’s a CatGuru food mat to suit every cat and every owner.
- Made of 100% food-grade silicone
- Completely non-slip
- Tall lip keeps food and water from spilling onto the floor
- Easy to clean with just soap and water
- Shaped to allow your cat easy access to their food
- Multiple size and color options
- Lighter colors are prone to discoloration and cracking if exposed to sun
2. Guardians Cat Food Mat – Best Value
Extremely affordable yet still well-made and thoughtfully designed, the Guardians Cat Food Mat may just be the best cat food mat for the money. Thanks to its food-grade and heat-resistant silicone, this durable mat is sure to become a mealtime staple for pet owners on tight budgets.
In addition to providing long-lasting performance, the silicone construction of this mat makes it naturally non-slip. Its raised edge is a little bit shallower than we’d prefer, but this is a small flaw and certainly not a dealbreaker.
The Guardian Cat Food Mat is one of the only mats we tested that also offers a wide range of colors and designs, including a slow feeder mat. Overall, it’s an excellent mat that would still be a bargain at twice the price.
- Made of non-slip, food-grade silicone
- Excellent price for the performance
- Available in a wide range of colors
- Optional slow-feeding mat available
- Sides are shallower than we’d like
3. PetFusion ToughGrip Cat Food Mat – Premium Choice
As the largest mat in our reviews, PetFusion’s ToughGrip Cat Food Mat offers an all-in-one solution for preventing messes while feeding multiple cats. Made of FDA-grade silicone, it’s an anti-microbial, waterproof, stain-resistant, non-toxic, and hypoallergenic product that’s suitable for cats of all shapes and sizes.
Amazingly, the PetFusion ToughGrip food mat is dishwasher safe, too, making it one of the easiest mats to clean on this whole list. Its silicone construction is naturally non-slip, and dimpled grooves combine with a raised lip to prevent nearly 100% of spills and accidents.
While it may be one of the most expensive options on our list, the ToughGrip also measures in at a huge 27.5 x 17.5 inches — easily enough space to accommodate multiple food bowls.
- FDA-grade silicone construction
- Non-slip
- Antimicrobial
- Hypoallergenic
- Huge surface area
- Dishwasher safe for easy cleanup
- Quite expensive
4. BarksBar Original Silicone Pet Feeding Mat
Small, compact, and well-designed, the BarksBar Original Silicone Pet Feeding Mat is a great option for anyone with limited space to designate for feeding their cat. Its BPA-free, non-toxic, and hypoallergenic silicone construction makes it naturally non-slip, and a “gripper dot” pattern on the upward-facing side keeps bowls from slipping and sliding during use.
Stain-resistant and antimicrobial, the BarksBar feeding mat is low maintenance and easy to clean. We wish the raised edge was a bit higher as it’s just short enough that curious cats can push their food over the edges without much trouble.
- Non-slip silicone construction
- Easy to clean with just soap and water
- Compact size is great for small homes
- Raised edge could be taller
- On the expensive side
5. AmazonBasics Waterproof Anti-Slip Silicone Pet Food Mat
The everyday brand owned by Amazon, AmazonBasics, is a standby for simple household products. And for good reason: everything they produce is modeled after successful products from other manufacturers and comes with a limited one-year warranty.
For this Waterproof Anti-Slip Silicone Pet Food Mat, AmazonBasics has mimicked the design of our top picks in this category with a non-slip silicone construction and raised spill-stopping edge. Available in two sizes and three colors, it’s a versatile and affordable, no-frills option for furnishing your cat’s meal area.
- Non-slip silicone construction
- Choice of two sizes and three colors
- Waterproof and easy to clean
- An additional one-year warranty is a nice protection for your investment
- Somewhat pricey
- Not the most attractive option
6. Bone Dry Lattice Paw Print Cat Food Mat
Looking to add a bit of color to your kitchen while protecting your floors from your cat’s messes? The Bone Dry Lattice Paw Print Cat Food Mat may be the right answer for you.
The microfiber material of this food mat from Bone Dry is slightly messier than an all-silicone model but also has the benefit of absorbing more water when your cat spills. It’s machine washable for easy cleaning and also equipped with a non-slip bottom to keep the mat in place while your cat eats.
Overall, this Lattice Paw Print food mat is an excellent option for anyone who’s been disappointed with the lack of color and designs in other silicone mats.
- Stylish and attractive microfiber design
- Machine washable for easy cleanup
- Great absorbency
- Three colors to choose from
- Harder to clean than a silicone mat
- Prone to staining and developing odors
7. ORE Pet Recycled Rubber Black Cat Mat
Small, inexpensive, and shaped like a cat’s face, the ORE Pet Recycled Rubber Black Cat Mat may appear to be a fine option for your cat’s mealtime. Made from recycled rubber, it’s also an eco-friendly option — but that’s about where its good qualities end.
Unfortunately, the ORE cat mat fails on two main points: it’s not all that comfortable for your cat to stand on, and it lacks a lip to prevent spills from moving to the floor. Unless you’re in love with the appearance of this mat, we recommend choosing a different one from our list.
- Made from eco-friendly recycled rubber
- Non-slip bottom
- Cute cat-shaped design
- Not a comfortable material for your cat to stand on
- No lip to prevent spills
- Quite small
8. JW Pet Stay in Place Mat
With perhaps the strangest appearance of any mat we’ve tested, the JW Pet Stay in Place Mat rounds out our list at the very bottom. While it’s raised edges and non-slip corners may seem to make it a good option for your pet, the plastic surface both lets food bowls slide too easily and is prone to warping. Not highly recommended for any purpose.
- Fairly inexpensive for the size
- Plastic material lets food and water bowls slide around
- Prone to warping, discoloring, and cracking
Buyer’s Guide: Finding the Best Cat Food Mats
To help you choose the best food mat for you and your feline friend, consider the following topics before deciding on a purchase:
Should Every Cat Have a Cat Food Mat?
From kittens to adults to older cats, just about every feline loves playing with their food. It seems to be a part of every cat breed’s DNA to bat, push around, and otherwise toy with their food.
That’s why we recommend a cat food mat as one of the first purchases for new cat owners — it will save you tons of clean-up time in the long run. And since they’re so affordable, there’s no reason that any cat owner should go without one.
What to Look for in a Cat Food Mat
All of the best cat food mats have the following attributes in common:
- Non-slip materials like silicone keep your cat from pushing their mat around and causing an even larger mess. Don’t settle for any cat food mat that doesn’t have a non-slip base.
- Easy-to-clean mats are made of materials that can be rinsed with soap and water in the sink, then left to air dry and promptly returned to your cat’s feeding spot.
- Choosing an appropriately sized cat food mat has more to do with the age, breed, and size of your cat. Smaller cat? Get a smaller mat.
- High edges prevent your cat from pushing their food off the side of the mat and help trap water and keep it off your floors.
Types of Cat Food Mats
Most cat food mats are made of silicone for good reason: it’s naturally non-slip, does not easily absorb odors or stains, and cleans easily with just soap and water. All our favorite cat food mats are made of silicone.
Other options for food mats include rubber, which can be somewhat uncomfortable on your cat’s feet; plastic, which tends to warp over time; and fabric, which is the most difficult to clean.
How We Selected Our List of Cat Feeding Mats
Catster has an experienced, expert team of writers, editors, and veterinarians who carefully consider a wide range of parameters when choosing the cat feeding mats. This includes but is not limited to customer reviews, brand reputation, veterinary experience, hands-on testing, and of course, our cats have a say in the process too! We aim to select and review only the best products available, to help you make the best possible choice and most informed decision for your and your cat’s needs.
Why Trust Catster?
A trusted online brand since 2001, Catster has a lot of experience with cat feeding mats. Our team of cat-loving writers, editors, and veterinarians is dedicated to helping you make the best decision for your precious cats. Our aim is to provide the best information available for cat owners to help cats live their best life possible. To do this, we scour reviews from the most trusted sources available and this, combined with our veterinary team’s experience and expertise, helps us gather the best options available to readers. Our team is deeply invested in the health and welfare of cats the world over, and believes that expert knowledge and veterinary guidance will help you make the right choices—for you and your cats!
Final Verdict
As far as food mats go, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better one than the CatGuru Cat Food Mat. It’s a completely reasonably priced option that’s available in three colors and two sizes, built out of slip-resistant silicone with an extra high lip to prevent spills. In short, there’s nothing we don’t like about this wonderful cat food mat.
For the least expensive option with the most color choices, however, you’ll have to go with the Guardians Cat Food Mat. Of all the food mats in our reviews, only this one from Guardians managed to combine customizable options with a rock-bottom price that’s perfect for anyone on a tight budget.
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Featured Image Credit: Veera, Shutterstock
