Ikea's $7.99 Kids' Place Mat Doubles as a Pet Feeding Essential
Quinn Howard
For anyone sharing a home with a pet, meals can quickly become a messy affair. Kibble scatters, water splashes, and the floor needs wiping down more often than you'd like. If that scene feels familiar, there's a simple fix tucked away in the children's section of Ikea.
The Guldvävare Place Mat, originally made for kids, has quietly become a go-to pick among pet owners. Priced at $7.99, this cat-shaped mat is now being used as a practical solution under food and water bowls. Once you see the reasons, you might want to pick up one—or a couple—on your next trip to the store.
Constructed from waterproof silicone, the mat is built to grip the surface beneath it, which is exactly what you need under pet dishes. Unlike fabric mats that can shift or soak up spills, this one stays put and forms a barrier between your floor and whatever mess your pet creates. Cleaning is quick: a rinse, a wipe, or even a run through the dishwasher when things get particularly dirty.
Guldvävare Place Mat, Green, $7.99 at Ikea
Ikea
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Pet owners point to the easy cleanup as the standout feature. One reviewer said, “I have several of these in both green and pink. I really love them! They are easy to clean, durable, and stay in place! I actually use them as pet food mats for my cat and dog.”
If your pet is a messy eater—like my cat Zeke, who somehow sends water flying across my apartment daily—you'll notice how much simpler cleanup becomes. Instead of scrubbing floors or washing large mats, you just pick it up, rinse it, and get on with your day.
The design is also charming. A subtle cat face and small ears add character without looking like a kids' product, so it fits nicely in a pet feeding area. It folds up easily, too, making it convenient to roll and pack if you travel with your pet or feed them in different spots.
Even though it isn't marketed for pets, that's part of its appeal. This Ikea place mat shows that sometimes the most useful pet products aren't labeled as such.
