The Pros and Cons of Using LickiMat for Your Pets
Calmer pets, slower eating, and the risks to watch
LickiMat is a textured mat that pet owners spread food or treats on, giving dogs and cats something to lick at during meals or when they need to settle down. Plenty of owners swear by it. Others worry about safety, hygiene, and whether pets come to depend on it.
Below are the main points on both sides, so you can judge whether a LickiMat suits your own pet.
Pros
Most of the benefits come down to keeping a pet occupied and slowing it down.
Mental stimulation
LickiMat gives your pet's brain something to do. Spread a favorite treat over the textured surface and the animal has to work to get it out of the grooves, which can keep it occupied for quite a while. That kind of mental exercise is probably most useful for pets that spend long hours alone or get little physical activity.
Anxiety relief
Plenty of pets get anxious, and being left alone is a common trigger. Licking is a repetitive action, and for many animals that repetition seems to have a calming effect. A loaded mat can take the edge off stress and give a nervous pet some comfort.
Slow feeding
Food spread thinly over a textured mat can't be gulped down. Eating slows, which helps digestion and lowers the risk of bloating or vomiting. Pets that wolf their food and pets with sensitive stomachs usually gain the most from feeding this way.
Possible dental benefits
As your pet licks food out of the mat, the textured surface may help clean its teeth and gums. In principle that means less plaque and tartar buildup over time, though how much it actually does for a pet's teeth will vary.
Easy to use and clean
There isn't much to learn. You spread the food, put the mat down, and wash it afterward. It's dishwasher safe and can be reused many times, so it slips into a daily routine without much hassle for the owner.
Something to do when alone
Pets left on their own often have nothing to occupy them. Given a mat, they have a soothing activity that keeps them engaged and may reduce separation anxiety. That matters most for dogs that get visibly distressed when their owners leave the house and spend the time alone restless or upset.
May help with hydration
Some owners use the mat to get more water into their pets, on the idea that licking encourages them to take in more fluid. For animals that don't drink enough during the day, that could help, and good hydration supports general health. How big the effect is probably depends on the pet and on what you put on the mat.
Works with different foods
Wet food, dry food, and raw food can all go on a LickiMat. That means you can adjust what you serve to your pet's tastes and to any specific dietary needs it has, and vary it from day to day if you like.
Less destructive behavior
A bored pet tends to find its own entertainment, and that often means chewing furniture or barking far more than anyone would like. Giving it a mat to focus on may cut down on both. Don't expect miracles, though. The mat redirects attention and relieves boredom, and better behavior can follow from that.
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Cons
Several of the drawbacks have to do with safety, and a few overlap.
Overeating
Some pets get so keen on what's on the mat that they end up eating too much. That can upset their digestion and push up their daily calorie intake, especially when the spread is a rich, high-calorie treat. If your pet is prone to gaining weight, the portion on the mat deserves some thought.
Supervision required
A LickiMat isn't something to hand over and forget about. Some animals try to chew the mat or swallow parts of it, which brings a risk of choking or an intestinal blockage. Supervision matters most in the first few sessions, before you know how your pet treats it.
Cleaning takes effort
The mat is fairly easy to clean. Still, if you use it daily, washing it daily gets tedious. Skipping that step isn't a real option, because a mat that isn't cleaned regularly can become contaminated with bacteria.
Not every pet takes to it
Some pets show little interest in the mat at all. Others get frustrated when the food doesn't come off easily and give up or lose patience with it. It's worth thinking about your pet's personality and preferences before you introduce one, since there's no guarantee it will be a hit.
Allergies or sensitivities
Some pets may be allergic or sensitive to the materials the mat is made from. Watch for adverse reactions when you first start using it, and stop if you notice signs of an allergy or sensitivity.
Swallowing non-food items
Things other than food can end up stuck to or embedded in the mat, and a pet licking enthusiastically may swallow them along with the treat. That can lead to choking or digestive problems. Keeping an eye on your pet while it uses the mat is the main way to stop it from eating whatever has become lodged in the surface.
Becoming hooked on the activity
Some pets come to rely on the mat for gratification, to the point where it starts to resemble an addiction. They may turn anxious or demanding when it isn't available, and their natural eating and drinking habits can be affected too. Using it in moderation, and watching how your pet behaves around it, should help keep this from developing.
Relying on it for calm
A related risk concerns stimulation and anxiety. If the mat becomes a pet's main source of mental activity and comfort, the animal may show signs of distress whenever it isn't using it. Left unaddressed, that can turn into behavioral problems.
Small pieces from worn mats
Mats don't last forever. Once one is worn down or damaged, small pieces can break off, and a pet could choke on them. Inspect the mat regularly and replace it as soon as it starts to show real wear.
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Conclusion
Whether a LickiMat is worth buying depends mostly on your pet. A fast eater, or a dog that frets when left alone, is the kind of animal it seems to help most. If your pet tends to chew and swallow whatever it gets hold of, start with short sessions while you watch, and check the mat for wear before every use.
What do you think?
Do you think the pros outweigh the cons?
