• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Blog
  • About
  • Contact
  • FAQ
  • Sponsor

see kate sew

sewing, crafts, tutorials, DIY

  • Patterns
    • Free Patterns
    • Pattern of the Month
  • Tutorials
    • Accessories
    • Bags and Pouches
    • Clothing
    • Costumes
    • Crafts
    • Cricut Projects
    • Holiday
    • Household
    • Kids
    • Maternity
    • Quilting
  • Topics
    • Baby
    • Boy
    • Christmas
    • dog
    • Dolls
    • Easter
    • Girl
    • Halloween
    • Lookbook
    • Party
    • pet
    • Printables
    • Training
    • women
  • No Sew
  • Sewing 101
  • Sew4Good
  • Pet
  • Sewing Room
    • DreamBox
  • Reviews
Home
  • Patterns
    • Free Patterns
    • Pattern of the Month
  • Tutorials
    • Accessories
    • Bags and Pouches
    • Clothing
    • Costumes
    • Crafts
    • Cricut Projects
    • Holiday
    • Household
    • Kids
    • Maternity
    • Quilting
  • Topics
    • Baby
    • Boy
    • Christmas
    • dog
    • Dolls
    • Easter
    • Girl
    • Halloween
    • Lookbook
    • Party
    • pet
    • Printables
    • Training
    • women
  • No Sew
  • Sewing 101
  • Sew4Good
  • Pet
  • Sewing Room
    • DreamBox
  • Reviews

10.06

DIY Snuffle Mat for Dogs or Cats

Welcome to See Kate Sew! If you’re new here, sign up for my email newsletter for access to free patterns, tutorials and all the latest sewing news! Tour my sewing room HERE!

A DIY Snuffle mat is a fun feeding accessory to encourage slow eating for your animals. These mats hide food to create a game out of eating. Snuffle mats also helps your dog not scarf down their food. In this post I’ll show you how to make snuffle mats for your pet with both a sewing tutorial and a no-sew version.

This project can also be called a foraging mat because the dog has to forage for his food. It’s also a great sniffing game that will keep your dog occupied for a while – perfect for a rainy day!

A homemade snuffle mat is extra fun because you can use your favorite colors or create different patterns for the base. I’ve included a few different shapes and variations for the strips of fabric so you can get the look you want. The fleece strips will hide a piece of food so your pooch will have to search!

Dog Snuffle Feeding Mat

To use this sniff mat, sprinkle dog treats or kibble throughout the fleece rows. Your pup will have an enrichment game for mental stimulation at the same time as her meal!

Dog Snuffle Feeding Mat

Snuffle Mat DIY Materials

For a no-sew version, see the modified supply list with the no-sew instructions near the end of the post.

  • Fleece fabric in a few colors, you’ll need about 1/2 yard for each mat
    • This is a great way to recycle an old fleece blanket
    • Use green fleece to look like grass
  • 1/2 yard canvas fabric for base
    • Use canvas, duck cloth, denim or similar heavyweight fabric
  • 1/2 yard fusible interfacing
  • Sharp scissors
  • Fabric marker
  • Rotary cutter, mat and acrylic ruler
  • Sewing machine

DIY Snuffle Mat Pattern

This pattern comes in a few variations:

  • Circle Mat
  • Cat Shaped Foraging Mat

There are also 3 different techniques for attaching the fleece – each will give you a different look and will change difficulty level of the feeding mat.

Print the pattern by clicking on the link below. Sign up for the newsletter to get access to this sniffle mat pattern.

Trim the edges of the pattern paper and tape together as shown below:

Snuffle Mat DIY Instructions

Use a 3/8″ seam allowance. Scroll down for no sew instructions.

Start by cutting out 2 layers of the main shape with your canvas fabric. Cut 1 layer from fusible interfacing. Fuse interfacing to the back of one of the canvas pieces.

Dog Foraging Mat

Lay piece right sides together, then sew around the shape edge leaving a 2-3″ opening. Trim seam allowance and clip edges. Turn right side out and press well, especially along the opening edge. Topstitch around the mat 1/8″ from the edge.

Cut the fleece

Cut strips of fleece 4.5″ wide.

DIY Snuffle Mat

Fold the fleece in half and pin the fold to the outside of the mat. Sew the fleece onto the mat in a spiral pattern.

DIY Snuffle Mat

When you get back to where you started, continue sewing the fleece on in a spiral pattern with about 1 inch between the layers.

DIY Snuffle Mat

When you run out, just start another strip. I did about two rows of each color, but this is where you can get creative!

DIY Snuffle Mat

Continue until you get all the way to the middle. Then clip the fleece every inch or so to fan out the layers. Clip most of the way down to the bottom of the mat, leaving about 1/4″ unclipped at the bottom.

When you’re done, check for any “bald” spots and fill them in by laying a fleece strip open and stitching into the spot. Trim the strip and clip into 1″ segments.

Snuffle Mat for Dogs

Looped Mat Variation

To make this activity a little more challenging, create loops with the fleece. Kibble and treats can get caught inside the loops making it a great mat option for high energy pups!

The looped mat is made almost the same way. Instead of sewing the fleece on at the fold, match the raw edges together and sew. The fleece will create a tube that you will clip into loops.

See the video in this post for more detailed instructions for the looped mat.

DIY Snuffle Mat for Feeding

Tied Cat Slow Feeding Mat

The cat shaped mat has tied fleece. To make this mat, follow the instructions above for finishing the base of the mat.

Cut strips of fleece 6″ wide. Place the fleece onto the base without folding. Draw a line through the center using a fabric marker. Sew over line to attach fleece to mat.

Fold the fleece up and out of the way. Trim the fleece at the edge of the mat.

Lay another strip about 3/4″-1″ from the first one and repeat. When you get to the ears, repeat the same process, trimming the fleece at the edges of the ears.

Slow Feeding Mat for Cats

Clip the fleece into strips about 1″. Clip only until 1/4″ from the stitching. Then tie both sides of the strips together to create a knot. Continue until your mat is completely tied.

Trim the fleece that overhangs over the mat to get the perfect cat shape.

To add a little bow, cut a strip of fleece 1.5″ by 7. Sew it on near the ear. Then tie into a bow.

No Sew Snuffle Mat

  • Rubber sink mat or floor drainage mat
  • Fleece

Want to make a snuffle mat without the sewing? You’ll just need the fleece fabric and a rubber sink mat. This version won’t be easily machine washable but you can simply hand wash. The no-sew snuffle feeding mat is a great project for kids to practice their knots!

If your rubber mat is too big, use a box cutter to cut it down to the size or shape you want. The mat I used is a clear sink mats with squares cut out from the Dollar Tree.

Cut strips 6″ by 1″ wide. Thread through the squares and tie.

Continue tying ties until your mat has the amount of fullness you want!

More Pet Sewing Patterns and Crafts

  • 9 Dog Sewing Projects
  • DIY Dog/Cat Leash Pattern
  • Dog/Cat Bed Pattern
  • Easy Dog Bandana Pattern
  • The Kitty Committee Cat Quilt
DIY Foraging Mat - Slow Feeding

Leave a Comment | Free Patterns, No Sew, Pet

Exclusive Free PatternRuffled Apron

Sign up for my email newsletter and receive my ruffled apron pattern totally FREE!

We take your privacy seriously. See our privacy policy here. Unsubscribe at any time.

You may also like these posts...

9 Dog Sewing PatternsDog Sewing PatternsDog Collar DIYhow to make a dog collar free sewing pattern!DIY Dog Leash Sewing PatternHow to Sew Hand Tied Hair Bowshow to make hand tied fabric bows

Primary Sidebar

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Email

Exclusive Free PatternRuffled Apron

Sign up for my email newsletter and receive my ruffled apron pattern totally FREE!

We take your privacy seriously. See our privacy policy here. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Don’t miss these popular posts!

easy baby dress pattern for the summertime

easy baby dress pattern for the summertime

modern ombre + b/w triangle quilt tutorial + pattern

modern ombre + b/w triangle quilt tutorial + pattern

Fabric

Quilted Cosmetic Case Kiss Me KateKiss Me, Kate FabricOne Hour Granny Square Quilt Tutorial | See Kate SewModern Granny Square Quilt Whole Cloth

Pattern Hacks

Easy Baby Summer Dressthe EMMA pattern | See Kate SewThe EMMA Dress

Footer

Hello friends!

My name is Kate, a twenty something fashion lover and mother of two. When I’m not chasing kids you can find me at my sewing table or daydreaming up new designs. You can read more about me here. Thank you for visiting!

8a918f8da8e0e69102dc0f33a718de85a99c31a57283e0e3e2

FOLLOW ME HERE

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Email
  • Blog
  • About
  • Contact
  • FAQ
  • Sponsor

Copyright © 2023 See Kate Sew  •  All Rights Reserved  •  Privacy Policy  •  Site Design by Emily White Designs