Stylish and Functional Dog Food and Water Bowl Mats: Keep Mealtime Tidy

Looking for our top recommendations on dog food and water bowl mats? Read on.

There are some dogs that seem to have taken some etiquette training and can eat their food and drink their water delicately, keeping messes at a minimum.

However, most pups tend to get extra excited during mealtimes and will dive into food bowls, making a mess every time they eat.

The beauty of a problem is finding the solution, so if your dog is consistently making a mess on your floor, a dog bowl mat will help make your life tons easier.

Whether you are dealing with wet food drips, dry kibble crumbles, or water splashes, you can cut down your clean up time by placing a pet feeding mat down to capture those spills.

There are several components to consider when choosing the best feeding mats, including material, size, ease of cleaning, raised edges, and waterproofing. 

In addition to raised bumps or ridges on the surface of a placemat, most dog food bowl mats will also offer a non-slip bottom. This will prevent your dog from dragging the mat across the floor during an enthusiastic mealtime. (More on this further down the article.)

With this guide, you will be supplied with these important aspects to consider, along with some top recommendations on water and food mats that are not only quality but budget friendly as well.

Our Top Dog Food and Water Bowl Mats

 

1. Leash Boss Splash Tall Lip Food Mat

Rating: 4.5/5

This silicone pet feeding mat by the Leash Boss brand is made to keep your flooring clear of food and water messes during your pet’s mealtime.

It has a non-slip diamond pattern on the silicone that prevents a food bowl from sliding and spilling over. The mat is non-toxic, made with a safe material, and it's BPA-free, which makes it safe for your household.

This waterproof, silicone mat is designed with raised edges to keep spills in check. It works perfectly with both small and large food bowls, gravity water dispensers, fountains and elevated feeders (sold separately).

Built to be durable and thermal-resistant, this versatile mat can even double as a car mat to prevent messes during travel and outdoor adventures.

It comes in four sizes — small, medium, large and extra large — to keep messes contained no matter how big your dog and his dog food bowl is. You also have a choice of 4 colors for the mat — grey, black, navy and beige. And since it is silicone and dishwasher-safe, cleaning up is a breeze.

Key Features:

• Made with non-toxic silicone
• Hypoallergenic and BPA free product
• Easy cleaning
• Raised outer lip
• Non-slip mat pattern strongly grips bowls 

---

2. PetRageous Designs Pet Paws Placemat

Rating: 4.5/5

This pet feeding mat keeps your ravenous pet’s meals contained and protect your beautiful carpeted or hardwood floors at the same time. It is black and white with paw prints that can fit with any décor.

Designed to stay still while your pet chomps into his favorite dinner, the dog food mat is also great for capturing splashes when your pet is looking to quench his thirst.

Whether your pet is into wet food or dry food, kibble and wet food spillage will be captured by this feeding mat. It has a surface that is easy to wipe clean – or you can run the food mat under the sink for a quick rinse-off.

There are two size options — regular and jumbo — so you can not only fit two food bowls of varying sizes but also capture messy eater spillage perfectly.

One of the best things about this pet feeding mat is its affordable price. At less than $10, it is easy on the budget of most pet parents.

Key Features:

• Surface of mat is easy to wipe clean
• Keeps water and splashes off your floor
• Neutral black and white design

---

3. Frisco Silicone Pet Feeding Mat

Rating: 4/5

Your furry friend can munch and drink to his heart’s content without spilling his dog food onto your floor with BarksBar’s pet feeding mat. It has a raised outer lip to keep all spillage contained and a gripper dot pattern that keeps food bowls in place.

There’s enough room in the food mat to hold two bowls. Available in two sizes (small and large), it’s perfect for containing dishes for small dogs to big ones.

The silicone mat is non-toxic, BPA-free, hypoallergenic, and best of all, FDA-grade. If you need to clean it. It’s as easy as wiping or rinsing it off. And since the food mat is offered in many colors, it can complement most home décor.

---

4. Mr. Peanut's Pet Food Mat

Rating: 4/5

This placemat by Frisco is an idyllic solution for catch any dog food mess and keep it off your flooring. It was designed with keeping the eating area in your house clean with raised edges.

The mat is made with a food grade silicone and wavy line pattern design to keep things in place which makes it versatile so purchasing multiples could serve different purposes. (If you have cats, you can also place it under their litter boxes to collect stray litter.)

Because the silicone feeding mat is flexible, it can simply be rolled when not in use. Unfortunately, it only comes in 1 color-blue, however, it comes in two size options (medium and large) so you can get precisely the size you need regardless of the breed of your dog.

---

5. Bungalow Flooring Waterhog Wave Dinner Mat

Rating: 4/5

This ultra-durable dog bowl mat features a unique bi-level construction and a raised border designed to contain up to a gallon of water, keeping spills off your floor.

Made from tough pet fibers and reinforced with commercial-grade rubber, it’s built to last and provide a secure, non-slip grip.

The real rubber backing keeps the mat firmly in place, while its rugged design makes it easy to shake out, vacuum or rinse clean.

Versatile and sturdy, this wave dinner mat also works great as a doormat for your garage, workshop, patio, or any area where your pup tracks in dirt, rain, snow, or mud.

Ideal for bowls up to 7 inches in diameter. Please note, the finished mat size may vary by up to 3%.

---

6. Pet Parade Non-Skid Dog Bowl Tray

Rating: 3.75/5

Keeping messes off your clean flooring is made easy with this non-skid tray by Pet Parade. It has a raised outer lip that keeps all water and food drips contained. Unlike traditional dog food mats, this dog food tray has a high protective wall at the back and a deep water trench around it. 

Plus, the mat has a non-skid bottom that keeps it from moving all over the floor while your favorite pet devours his meals from his food bowl or laps up his water from the drinking bowl.

Not only does this product have an outer raised lip, it also has an outer trench that can be filled with water to keep pesky bugs from reaching your pet’s food.

When it’s time to clean this tray, you can just pop it into the dishwasher! The solid plastic make of this tray makes it easy to carry for dumping all spilled contents out. 

---

7. Bone Dry Lattice Paw Print Food Mat

Rating: 4/5

This lightweight mat by the Bone Dry brand takes an inventive approach to keeping pet spillage from affecting your flooring. It is made with microfiber that is super absorbent to keep food and water spills absorbed and from spreading outward and onto your polished floors.

It has a non-slip bottom to prevent your dog from pushing it around while he eats. And because spillage is inevitable, simply pop the dog food mat in a washing machine to keep it clean.

The food mat comes in a pretty lattice design with paw prints all over, and you can choose between grey and aqua blue. Best of all, it’s an affordable mat with a price under $6.

---

8. Omega Paw Hungry Pet Bone Mat for Dogs & Cats

Rating: 4/5

Pet mealtimes get messy. Omega Paw knows this. That is why it created this uniquely designed bone-shaped mat that not only has a raised outer edge to contain any spillage but also looks good while doing so.

This waterproof mat will help you keep your flooring clean day in and day out, whether your pet or pets are enjoying a meal or just lapping up water to stay hydrated. The material is non-slip and will keep your pet from repositioning his feeding area.

The bowl mat is easy to clean, whether you want to wipe it down or just run it under water in your sink. This design is meant to make your life just a little easier. 

---

 

5 Key Components to Consider before Buying

Material – Food and water mats are made from different materials. The most popular are waterproof and include rubber, plastic, and silicone. Any of these mats is a great option, all dependent upon your specific needs.

Although the materials may differ, mats are all designed to keep your floors clean and your headaches at bay! Each of these materials is easy to clean – mats are designed in different ways so while you may have a preferred material, the functional aspect of the mat is likely to win you over.

Size – Your pet’s size will affect whether or not you are going to use a small or large mat. Some small breed dogs will be a lot more dainty with their eating habits. However, larger, ravenous pups will want to devour their meals enthusiastically, creating lots of messes. (If you are a big dog parent, you know exactly what that looks like!)

The ideal dog bowl mat will be large enough to hold your dog’s food and water bowls and give way for spills along the way. Consider your pet’s needs and move forward with a mat that will be enough to cover all spillage.

Ease of Cleaning – Some of the best food mats have ridges or bumps on their surface to keep bowls from moving around. This is a great feature not only because of its ability to keep bowls from shifting but also because those ridges or bumps can trap food and keep water from reaching the floor.

However, this mat design can also make wiping a little bit more difficult. If you are looking for convenience and ease, choose an option that is dishwasher-safe and machine-safe. Otherwise, a good rinse under water in the sink or a wipe of your mat will suffice!

Raised Edge – Most quality mats are designed with a raised edge. This offers extra protection, containing any and all spills created by your dog during mealtimes. Without a raised edge, extra heavy spills by your dog will eventually leak onto the floors you are so keen on protecting.

If your dog does not generally create a large mess and you are just looking for a mat to hold food and water bowls, you may find that a raised edge is not necessary. However, if your dog is well known as a messy eater, this is an important consideration when selecting the right mat.

Choosing a mat with a raised edge offers that extra protection you may be looking for.

Waterproof – This is a crucial aspect of a good mat. If the mat you are considering is not waterproof, try for another option that is. Keep in mind that water-resistant is not the same as waterproof. If a mat is only water-resistant, it will be able to handle a few splashes but not full spills.

A waterproof mat will keep moisture and food residue from reaching the floors you want to keep clean. With a waterproof mat, your floors are safe from water damage or mold buildup.

Durable – Different pets have different personalities. Dogs, particularly puppies, have a tendency to chew through stuff and that includes dog food mats. Choose from the store a durable mat that can withstand a pup’s best chewing efforts.

Also remember that other mats are made from materials that can easily break or crack. It’s best to choose a mat for your pets that is not too heavy nor too flimsy. Non-slip – A non-slip feature keeps mats in place instead of moving around your house and flooring while your pet eats. A good bowl mat will also have a grippy top surface that will keep your pet’s bowl from slipping or upending.

How Mats for Your Dog Bowls Can Be a Big Help

Dogs are easy to love – they wag their tails in excitement at the sight of your presence, love and comfort you endlessly no matter what your days bring, and provide you with a sense of safety and companionship. Not everything pets do is favorable, however, and messy eaters can leave pet parents a bit frustrated.

Dogs eat at least twice a day (and drink many times) and that means twice the cleanup on top of your other responsibilities. And if you give them snacks or treats in between, heaven help you. But it doesn’t have to be so hard! Water and food mats are meant to take that extra stress off your plate and save you some time from cleaning.

A durable build means your dog will have a great product to eat from and it also means you do not have to keep investing in cleaning products for extra messes. Some placemats will have a raised edge and those are perfect for larger pups that require extra room to do their devouring.

If your dog is a small breed, the extra space or raised edges may not be required unless they are extremely excitable when eating. Moisture can be very damaging, especially for wood flooring, and having a dog mat to place down will help to protect your floors. A product that is dishwasher-safe makes it ultra-simple to maintain cleanliness.

There are many options for dog food mats available on the market, and the ones listed above are all tried, true, and tested. We hope you find the right match for you, no matter your needs or décor, because the options listed above can cover them all!