If you’ve been following along with my chunky tortie, Beans, you’ll already know that she has one major weakness—food. She absolutely loves mealtime, but there’s just one tiny problem… she eats so fast that she sometimes ends up with an upset tummy or throws her food right back up.
After hearing so many pet parents rave about LickiMats, I finally decided it was time to let Beans give one a try. I only wish I had introduced one sooner!
First Impressions
The moment I spread her favourite wet food onto the LickiMat and placed it in front of her, Beans immediately got to work. Instead of inhaling her meal in seconds like she normally does, she carefully licked every little groove and pattern to get every last bite.
Watching her slow down was honestly amazing. She seemed more relaxed, more focused, and far less frantic than her usual “vacuum cleaner” eating style.
Even better? She looked like she was genuinely enjoying the challenge.
Why Slow Feeding Matters
Many cats (especially food lovers like Beans!) gulp down their meals much too quickly. This can lead to:
- Vomiting shortly after eating
- Indigestion
- Upset stomachs
- Excess swallowed air
- Poor digestion
Using a LickiMat naturally slows eating by making your pet work a little harder for every bite. Instead of finishing dinner in under a minute, Beans spent several enjoyable minutes licking every nook and cranny clean.
The slower pace can help improve digestion while making mealtime much more enriching.
What Makes LickiMat Different?
They are the original "Lick Mat" - they invented this entire category of products.
There are lots of slow feeders available, but LickiMats stand out because they aren’t simply bowls with raised obstacles.
Instead, they feature specially designed textured surfaces with unique patterns that encourage repetitive licking. This licking action can have a naturally calming effect for many pets while turning an ordinary meal into a fun enrichment activity.
Some of the things I love include:
- Durable food-grade materials - Rubber only
- Different texture patterns for varying challenge levels
- Great for wet food, soft treats, yogurt, pumpkin, or even frozen snacks
- Easy to clean
- Non-slip designs that stay put during enthusiastic licking sessions
- Suitable for both cats and dogs
- The cheap knockoff competitors make their mats out of silicone, they use RUBBER for all of our mats
- Silicone can turn hard in the stomach if swallowed and lead to blockages
- Rubber is inert and stays soft and pliable if chewed and swallow, making it much easier to naturally pass through the animals system if swallowed
- Silicone is designed to have food NOT stick to it - think silicone spatulas you use in the kitchen to cook
- Rubber allows food to stick to it, creating a slower treat / feeding process
So Many Fun Designs and Colours
One of my favourite things about LickiMats is how fun they are!
They come in an incredible variety of textures, shapes, and vibrant colours. Whether you prefer bright, cheerful colours or something more neutral, there’s a design to suit every home.
You can choose from different pattern styles depending on whether your pet is just starting out or needs a little more of a challenge. There are classic square mats, larger mats, bowls with textured interiors, and even designs made specifically for freezing treats on hot summer days.
It’s nice to have a pet product that’s both functional and attractive.
Beans’ Final Verdict
Beans officially gives her new LickiMat two paws up!
Not only did it slow her eating dramatically, but she also seemed calmer and more satisfied after finishing her meal. Instead of scarfing everything down in record time, she enjoyed every single bite.
As someone who’s constantly worried about her eating too quickly and upsetting her stomach, I’m thrilled to have found such a simple solution.
We’ll definitely be using the LickiMat every day from now on.
If you have a cat or dog that races through meals, suffers from indigestion, or regularly throws up after eating too fast, I highly recommend giving a LickiMat a try. It turns mealtime into an enriching activity while helping encourage healthier eating habits—and that’s a win for both pets and their humans.
Have you tried a LickiMat with your pet? I’d love to hear how it worked for you! Let me know in the comments below.