The 10 Best Snuffle Mats

Editor's Notes

October 06, 2020:

Unlike feeding mats, which are primarily concerned with keeping mess to a minimum during mealtimes, snuffle mats are more akin to activity mats or even educational toys, as they introduce an element of mental stimulation, forcing your pet to sniff out, hunt, and forage for their treats. Feeding your pets in this way is beneficial in myriad ways, from slowing down their eating pace and promoting good digestion, to reducing stress from boredom or pent-up energy, and even keeping disabled or mobility-impaired dogs active and stimulated if they can't be taken on walks.

Some manufacturers have tried to include as many different hiding places as they can, to keep your pet foraging for as long as possible. The Slowton Blanket, the Petvins Blanket, and the Stellaire Chern Activity all have a plethora of hidey-holes such as felt flaps, fabric waves, soft pots, and little criss-crossing strips to bury bits under. The Sniffiz Smelly Matty even has extra games that can be rolled up and slotted into position around its edge to give your dog even more challenges.

A couple of these mats, like the Pyogo Training Toy and the Awoof Pet, have a drawstring mechanism that has the added benefit of raising the edges to form a slow-feeding bowl shape for greedy pets that eat a little too fast. It also increases the difficulty by creating a much narrower entry, so smart cats and dogs will really have to nuzzle deep inside.

Models like the the Jmxu's Nosework, and the Paw5 Wooly only utilize shaggy strands of imitation grass in neutral brown or gray colors, making them look more like a regular rug than a play area, which can be useful for owners who want their mats to tie-in with the room.