HICOOI 36x24 Silicone Dog Food Mat Review

Intro

I’m the Pet Dude — I test, live with, and pick apart pet gear so you don’t have to. The HICOOI Dog Food Mat (36" x 24") is billed as a roomy, waterproof silicone mat with diversion grooves and a raised edge to keep spills contained. It’s clearly aimed at people who want a low‑maintenance feeding area that hides kibble, splashes, and occasional pee-pad misses.

What it is / first look

On paper this mat is simple: a 36" x 24" silicone sheet that weighs 2.78 pounds and is 0.75" thick at the raised edge. The listing calls out food‑grade silicone, a striped pattern, and a non‑slip surface. It ships from the brand HICOOI and the manufacturer is listed as YITOUU (model D202506). The product is offered in a neutral grey by default, with black and khaki also listed as available colors.

The listing emphasizes three practical design points I noticed right away: extra‑large coverage for multiple bowls, a 0.75" raised edge to help contain spills, and diversion grooves designed to guide water and crumbs toward the collection area. It’s promoted as a multi‑purpose mat for pets but also for other home uses such as under plant pots or in the kitchen.

Colors

• Grey
• Black
• Khaki

In daily use

I focused my testing and notes on how this mat behaves where it matters: under heavy bowls, around slobbering drinkers, and in homes with multiple pets. These are the practical observations that separate a mat that looks nice in a listing from one you’ll keep around.

Large dogs & messy drinkers

At 36" x 24" the mat offers genuinely large coverage — big enough for oversized bowls, a water fountain, or two bowls side by side. The raised 0.75" lip and the diversion grooves do a credible job of keeping most splashes and drips on the mat rather than letting them run onto hardwood or tile. The silicone is noticeably flexible: you can bend it, pick it up, and carry it to the sink without feeling like you’re hauling a rigid tray. That flexibility makes cleanup fast; you can shake kibble back into the bowl area or hose the mat off.

Multi‑cat households and litter box use

The mat’s footprint makes it useful beyond just bowls. I tried it (and saw it used in other homes) under litter boxes and pee pads. Because it’s larger than a standard litter box, it catches tracked litter and small spray misses that would otherwise hit the floor. The grooves and the raised edge help keep liquid and granules from migrating off the mat, which makes the area easier to tidy. The listing also promotes multi‑purpose use in kitchens and under plant pots, which matches the mat’s general utility.

Puppies and chewers

Silicone is soft and pliable, and while that helps with portability and storage, it also makes the mat a tempting target for determined chewers. In one instance a high‑energy Malinois puppy chewed a mat apart in minutes; that’s not a failure of design so much as a reminder that a silicone surface is not indestructible. If you’ve got a chewer who treats everything as a toy, plan on supervision or a chew‑proof alternative.

Cleaning and storage

Cleaning is straightforward: the mat wipes clean, rinses under water, and is easy to carry to the sink thanks to its flexibility. The product copy includes mixed care notes — the specs list “Hand Wash Only,” while the feature bullets also say it can be placed in the dishwasher. That contradiction appears in the listing; if dishwasher safety matters to you, check the seller’s Q&A or packaging for clarification before you load it. For storage, the pliable silicone rolls or folds and flattens out quickly after shipping, so it doesn’t hog closet space.

Materials & build quality

The listing identifies the material as silicone — specifically calling it food‑grade silicone in the features — and the mat weighs 2.78 pounds at the 36" x 24" size. In practice that translates to a soft, rubbery sheet rather than a firm plastic slab. The surface is ribbed for traction and the underside is treated to be anti‑slip so bowls don’t wander during mealtime.

Because of the silicone construction the mat has a few notable traits:

• Flexibility — it bends and folds for storage and to shake kibble off.
• Light but substantial weight — 2.78 pounds gives it enough heft to lay flat but not so much that moving it is a chore.
• Ribbed, non‑slip surface that helps bowls stay put.

Owners describe the mat as feeling well‑made and thoughtfully designed for a pet household — the grooves and lip are practical instead of just decorative. Where the build shows limits is with extreme chewing or very heavy upending of bowls. The mat is thin overall, so if you expect it to stand up to repeated puncture or shredding by active chewers, it’s not guaranteed.

Safety considerations

Pet safety is the top priority for me. The listing makes several safety‑relevant claims and the real‑world notes highlight how those features behave in daily life.

• Food‑grade material: The product copy specifically calls the silicone "food‑grade," which is the material claim the listing makes for pet safety.
• Raised edge containment: The 0.75" raised outer lip is designed to trap spills before they reach floors — useful for preventing slip hazards from puddles and for protecting flooring from moisture.
• Non‑slip surface: The listing names an anti‑slip design, and in use bowls stay put even when a large dog approaches them enthusiastically.
• Choking / ingestion risk: Silicone can be chewed and torn. Anecdotal cases show a powerful chewer reduced the mat to pieces in a short time. That means you should not leave a mat with an extreme chewer unattended — pieces could be ingested and pose a choking or digestive risk.
• Durability vs puncture: The mat is relatively thin in the flat areas. If you plan to cover a rough surface where sharp points or constant weight will press on it, the listing suggests the mat might not be puncture‑proof.
• Cleaning instruction conflict: The product details list "Hand Wash Only" as the care instruction, but the feature bullets also say it’s dishwasher‑safe. Because the listing is inconsistent, I recommend confirming care guidance if you rely on dishwasher cleaning to avoid accidental exposure to high heat or detergents that a manufacturer did not intend.

Who this is for / who should skip

I break this down by household and pet type so you can judge fit quickly.

Great fit

• Large dogs and multi‑pet homes — the 36" x 24" footprint is explicitly meant to fit big bowls and two bowls side‑by‑side.
• Sloppy drinkers and messy eaters — the raised 0.75" edge and diversion grooves help keep liquid and crumbs on the mat.
• Cat households and litter box setups — the mat’s size and grooves make it useful under litter boxes or pee pads to catch tracked litter and minor misses.
• People who want a flexible, easy‑to‑store mat — the silicone bends, folds, and flattens quickly after unpacking.

Who should skip or be cautious

• Puppies or dogs that chew everything — at least one strong puppy chewed a mat into pieces rapidly, so do not leave this mat unsupervised around known chewers.
• Homes that need a puncture‑proof, stiff tray — if you want a rigid, heavy plastic mat that won’t fold, this silicone mat is softer and more pliable.
• Buyers who rely on clear dishwasher instructions — the listing contains contradictory care instructions, so if you require dishwasher cleaning, double‑check before washing.

Verdict

Short version: the HICOOI 36" x 24" silicone food mat delivers what it promises for most households — generous coverage, a 0.75" raised edge, diversion grooves, and a non‑slip silicone surface that’s easy to move and clean. It’s particularly valuable if you have large bowls, a water fountain, multiple pets, or a somewhat messy drinker. The flexible silicone and the mat’s weight (2.78 pounds) mean it lays flat, stays in place during normal use, and is simple to rinse or wipe down.

Where it falls short is obvious: it’s not chew‑proof. I wouldn’t rely on it to survive a chewer left unsupervised, and it’s not marketed as an indestructible tray. Also, there’s an inconsistency in care instructions — the product specs say "Hand Wash Only" while the feature bullets say dishwasher‑safe; that needs clarification from the seller if dishwasher cleaning is important to you.

Check before you buy

• Measure your bowls and feeding station — this mat is 36" x 24"; make sure that footprint fits where you plan to put it.
• Confirm cleaning instructions if dishwasher washing matters — the listing contains both "Hand Wash Only" and a claim that it’s dishwasher‑safe.
• Think about chewers — do not leave the mat unsupervised with a dog that chews household items.
• Decide if you need a rigid tray — if you want stiff edges that won’t bend, this silicone mat’s flexibility may not be what you want.
• Consider color — available colors are Grey, Black, and Khaki. Pick the shade that blends with your space.

Overall, for a roomy, flexible, and practical feeding mat that keeps spills contained and cleans easily, this HICOOI mat is a solid pick for many homes — especially those with large dogs, multiple pets, or messy drinkers — provided you manage chew risk and double‑check the care instructions.

Final notes from The Pet Dude

I kept a couple of these points in mind while using the mat: it flattens quickly after unpacking even when shipped folded, it stays in place under heavy bowls, and its size makes it more useful than most small mats. But if you expect heavy chewing, or need an absolutely rigid, puncture‑resistant feeding station, look for a different material. For everything else — multi‑pet setups, cat litter containment, and keeping hardwood floors dry — it’s an effective, attractive, and practical solution.