Cats

Lick mats for cats: how to use one and what to spread on it

Cat-safe fills, freezing tips and the best moments to bring out a lick mat for your cat.

By 5 min read
FreezPaw cat lick pad spread with wet food mousse

Lick mats have been a dog-owner favourite for years, but cats may love them even more. A cat lick mat takes a small spoonful of food and turns it into a slow, quiet licking session that keeps your cat calm and busy. This guide explains how a lick mat for cats works, which cat-safe foods to spread on it, and how to use one at home, whether you live in Cork, Lyon or Milan.

A cat lick mat is a textured pad you spread with soft food, such as plain wet cat food or blended plain cooked chicken. Your cat licks the food out of the grooves slowly, which keeps them busy and calm. Spread a thin layer, freeze it for a longer session, serve it on the floor in a quiet spot and wash it after every use.

What is a lick mat for cats?

A lick mat for cats is a small, flat pad covered in grooves and ridges that hold soft food. Instead of eating from a bowl in a few bites, your cat has to lick each groove clean, which takes much longer.

Our version is the FreezPaw Cat Relax Lick Pad. It is shaped like a paw, measures 95 mm wide and is sized for kittens and highly active cats as well as adults. Its paw-shaped grooves and textures give your cat a little puzzle to work through with each lick. It is non-toxic, biodegradable and dishwasher-safe, and you can freeze it with food for a longer, cooler session.

Why do cats enjoy licking food off a textured surface?

Licking comes naturally to cats, and a lick mat gives that habit a useful job. A cat's tongue is covered in tiny backward-facing spines, which is why it feels rough. Those spines are good at pulling soft food out of narrow grooves.

Slow, repetitive licking is a calm activity, so many owners use a lick mat to help a cat settle. It is handy at moments when your cat needs to stay still or be distracted:

  • while you brush them or trim their claws
  • when guests arrive or there is building work next door
  • during noisy evenings, such as New Year's Eve fireworks in Vienna or Halloween fireworks in Ireland
  • when you head out and want to leave them with something to do

What can I put on a cat lick mat?

Use soft, plain foods made for cats or plain cooked meat and fish with nothing added. Cats are meat eaters, so their best fills are meat-based. Keep anything seasoned, sweet or made for humans off the mat.

Cat-safe fills

  • Your cat's usual wet food, especially smooth pâtĂ©
  • Wet food thinned with a little water, so it spreads easily
  • Plain cooked chicken or turkey, blended with water
  • Plain cooked white fish, boneless and unseasoned
  • Lickable treats made for cats
  • A few pieces of your cat's dry food pressed into a wet layer

Keep off the mat

  • Onion, garlic, chives and leeks, including in sauces, stock cubes and gravy
  • Chocolate
  • Grapes and raisins
  • Alcohol
  • Salted, spiced or seasoned human food
  • Cooked bones or anything with small sharp pieces
  • Treats or food made for dogs

If you are not sure whether a food is safe for your cat, leave it out and ask your vet. For more fill ideas, see our Freezbone recipe videos, and always choose the cat-safe options.

How do you use a lick mat with a cat?

Spread a thin layer, decide whether to freeze it, and put it down somewhere your cat feels relaxed. Most cats work it out within a session or two.

1. Spread thin

  • Use a spoon or a small spatula to push food into the grooves.
  • A thin layer lasts longer than a thick one and is easier to clean.

2. Freeze for longer

  • Put the filled pad flat in the freezer for a slower, cooler session.
  • For a first try, serve it unfrozen so your cat gets an easy reward.

3. Serve somewhere calm

  • Place it on the floor or a low mat away from busy doorways.
  • Stay nearby the first few times to watch how your cat uses it.

4. Wash after use

  • Rinse off leftovers and put it in the dishwasher.
  • Do not leave food on the pad for hours, especially in warm weather.

When is a lick mat most useful?

A lick mat helps most at the moments your cat is stressed, bored or eating too fast. This table shows a few common situations.

SituationHow to use the lick matFill idea
Fast eaterSpread part of the normal meal on the padUsual wet food
Grooming or claw trimsHold or place the pad while you workLickable cat treat
Summer heatwaveFreeze it for a cool session in the afternoonThinned wet food
Leaving for workGive it frozen as you go outBlended plain chicken
New kittenShort unfrozen sessions while they learnSmooth kitten pâté

If your cat gulps their food and brings it back up, a lick pad is one part of the answer. Our guide to slow feeding for cats covers the full routine.

How often can a cat use a lick mat?

A cat can use a lick mat every day, as long as the food on it counts towards their daily ration. The easiest way is to spread part of their normal wet food on the pad, rather than adding extra treats on top. Treats should stay a small part of what your cat eats in a day, so if your cat starts gaining weight, reduce their bowl portion or use less on the mat.

Is it safe to leave a lick mat with my cat?

Supervise your cat the first few times. Most cats only lick and paw, but some like to chew. Check the pad for bite marks or loose pieces after each use, and take it away if your cat is chewing it rather than licking it. Once you know how your cat behaves with it, you can give it while you are nearby but busy with other things.

Freezbone tip

If your cat pushes the pad around the floor, place it on a damp tea towel or a rubber bath mat so it stays put.

Once your cat has mastered the lick mat, a fillable toy is the next step up. Our guide to fillable cat toys and how to get your cat interested shows how to move on, and our ideas for indoor cat enrichment in a small flat show where lick mats fit into a full day. You can browse the whole range in our FreezPaw collection for cats.

A lick mat is one of the simplest things you can give a cat. A spoonful of the right food, a few minutes in the freezer, and your cat has a calm, satisfying job to do.

General information, not veterinary advice. If you're worried about your cat, talk to your vet.

Frequently asked questions

  • Yes, a lick mat can be a good enrichment tool for most cats. It slows down eating, gives your cat a calm activity and can help distract them during grooming. Use cat-safe fills, supervise at first and wash the mat after each use.

  • Yes, kittens can use a lick mat with soft kitten food spread thinly. The FreezPaw Cat Relax Lick Pad is 95 mm wide, which suits kittens as well as adult cats. Start with unfrozen food so the first sessions are easy and rewarding.

  • Plain tuna can be an occasional treat, but it should not be a regular fill. Choose tuna in spring water with no added salt or oil, and use only a small amount. Your cat's usual wet food is a better everyday choice.

  • It depends on your cat, the fill and how long the mat was frozen. A frozen fill lasts longer than a fresh one because your cat has to lick it as it softens. Thin layers spread across all the grooves usually last longest.

  • Rinse off any leftover food straight after use, then wash the mat in the dishwasher. The FreezPaw Cat Relax Lick Pad is dishwasher-safe. Let it dry fully before you fill it again.

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Written by Freezbone Team

We design freezable, refillable natural-rubber chew toys and test every fill and routine on our own dogs before we write about it. Freezbone Limited ships across the European Union from Ireland.

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