If you haven't tried a lick mat yet, the concept sounds almost too simple to work: a textured silicone mat, something tasty smeared into the grooves, and a dog or cat who is suddenly, blissfully occupied for twenty minutes. But the simplicity is exactly the point — and it's why our SodaPup Emat collection has quietly become one of the most-asked-about categories in the store.
What a lick mat actually does
Licking is a naturally calming behavior for dogs and cats — it releases endorphins and lowers heart rate, which is why you'll see trainers and vets recommend lick mats for anxious pets, post-surgery recovery, nail trims, baths, thunderstorms, or just a high-energy dog who needs to downshift before a car ride. An Emat turns that instinct into a slow, structured activity instead of a few seconds of inhaling food, which also happens to make mealtime last a lot longer for dogs who eat too fast.
Why suction cups change everything
The detail that separates a good lick mat from a frustrating one is whether it stays put. Every Emat in our lineup is built with strong suction cups on the underside, so it locks onto a bowl, a bathtub wall, glass shower door, or any smooth tile floor and stays there even with enthusiastic licking. Pair one with our Hold 'Em Suction Cup Holder for an extra-stable setup, especially useful if your dog tends to flip lighter mats over halfway through.
Picking a design that fits the moment
The designs aren't just decoration — the groove depth and pattern density actually change how long a mat takes to finish. Deeper, denser patterns slow a dog down more, which is what you want for genuine anxiety relief or distraction during something stressful. A few of our favorites for different situations:
- Bath time distraction: the Duckies Emat sticks right to the tub wall and keeps a squirmy dog occupied through a full wash and rinse
- Vet visits or grooming appointments: the Zombie Emat or Bones Emat have dense, deep grooves built specifically for anxiety relief
- Everyday slow feeding: the Surfs Up Emat is sized well for daily wet food or yogurt servings
- Seasonal enrichment: we rotate in designs like the Autumn Emat and Peace Christmas Tree Emat for a little extra fun around the holidays
What to actually put on it
Plain yogurt, pumpkin puree, peanut butter, bone broth, and wet food are all popular choices. A few things to keep in mind:
- Peanut butter: always check the label before using. Xylitol — an artificial sweetener found in some peanut butter brands — is highly toxic to dogs and must be avoided. Standard plain peanut butter without xylitol is generally fine in small amounts.
- Yogurt for dogs: plain, unsweetened yogurt works well. Avoid flavored yogurts, which often contain added sugars or artificial sweeteners. Some dogs are lactose intolerant, so if your dog hasn't had dairy before, start with a small amount and watch for any digestive upset.
- Yogurt for cats: small amounts of plain, unsweetened yogurt are generally tolerated, but most adult cats are lactose intolerant to some degree. If you're using a lick mat for your cat, pureed wet food or a meat-based broth is a safer and more species-appropriate choice.
- Foods to always avoid: chocolate, grapes, raisins, onions, garlic, macadamia nuts, avocado, and anything containing xylitol are all toxic to dogs and should never go on a lick mat. For cats, onions, garlic, grapes, raisins, and chocolate are also toxic. When in doubt, stick to plain single-ingredient foods your pet already eats safely.
Consistency matters more than variety — something closer to a paste or puree holds best in the grooves. Thin, watery liquids tend to pool rather than stick to the texture.
Supervise the first few sessions
Most dogs and cats take to lick mats immediately and use them exactly as intended. But some dogs — especially strong chewers or dogs who get frustrated easily — may try to chew or scrape at the mat itself rather than just licking the surface. For the first few sessions, keep an eye on your pet to make sure they're engaging with the mat the right way. If your dog is biting chunks of silicone rather than licking, the mat isn't the right enrichment tool for them unsupervised, and you'd want to use it only with you present or explore a more chew-resistant option instead.
Freezing for longer sessions
This is the move if you want a lick mat to buy you real time — working from home, a grooming session, or just a quiet hour. Spread your filling into the grooves, pop the whole mat in the freezer for an hour or two, and you've turned a five-minute snack into a slow-melting twenty-minute project. Our Garden of Eatin' Tipsy Bowl is a fun one to freeze since the wobble base adds a little extra challenge once the filling starts to soften.
Cleaning and care
Every Emat is dishwasher safe (top rack) or can be hand-washed with warm soapy water — just make sure to get into the grooves with a brush or sponge, since residue left behind can attract bacteria over time. We'd recommend a full clean after every use, not just a rinse, especially with protein-based fillings like meat or bone broth.
Browse the full Emat lineup to find the design and groove depth that fits your dog or cat's particular brand of chaos.