Instructions & care

How to fit your MessMate splash guard, what to expect in the first few meals, and how to clean and care for the guard, bowl and mat.

Everything that comes with a MessMate set, how it goes on, and how to keep it in good shape. It takes about a minute to fit and there is nothing to assemble.

What is in the box

Depending on what you ordered:

• Splash guard — one piece of food-grade, BPA-free silicone: a three-inch wall on an adjustable strap, with three snap buttons and a row of adjustment holes.
• Stainless steel bowl — with a non-slip base.
• Feeding mat — waterproof silicone with a raised edge, 21.7 × 15 inches.

There are no tools, screws, adhesives or spare parts. Nothing in the set is consumable.

Before you start: measure the bowl

If you bought the guard on its own, check it will fit before the first meal. Lay a tape measure straight across the top of the bowl, from the inside of the rim to the inside of the rim — not across the base, and not over the outside of a thick lip. If the bowl is not perfectly round, measure its narrowest direction.

Anything from 7 to 9 inches works. Under 7 inches the strap has nothing to grip; 9.5 inches and wider will not close. If you bought a set, the bowl and guard already fit each other and you can skip this.

Fitting the splash guard

1. Open the strap. Unsnap the buttons so the strap hangs loose.
2. Sit the guard over the bowl. The wall goes on the outside of the bowl, with the open section facing the way your pet approaches it. The strap should sit around the bowl just below the rim, where the sides start to narrow — that is what stops it riding up.
3. Pull the strap snug and snap it. Choose whichever of the three positions pulls the strap firm against the bowl without deforming it. Snug, not strangled. On a 9-inch bowl you will use the loosest hole; on a 7-inch bowl, the tightest.
4. Check it. Lift gently on the wall. The guard should stay put and the bowl should stay level. If the guard lifts away, move to the next tighter snap position.

If you have a mat, put it down first and stand the bowl on it, roughly centred, with a hand's width behind the bowl for the drips that come off your pet's muzzle.

The first few meals

Most dogs and cats ignore the change completely. Some notice the wall on the first meal and approach more slowly — that is normal and usually passes within two or three meals.

If your pet hesitates, put the bowl down with the open section facing them, stay nearby for the first meal, and do not move the bowl while they eat. Do not take the guard on and off between meals while they are getting used to it; consistency settles it faster.

Cleaning and care

• Guard: unsnap the strap, lift it off and put it on the top rack of the dishwasher. It can also be washed by hand with ordinary dish soap and warm water.
• Stainless steel bowl: dishwasher safe.
• Mat: dishwasher safe on the top rack, or wipe it down and rinse it in the sink.

Let the silicone dry fully before snapping the guard back on — a wet strap is more likely to slip. Silicone sometimes picks up a faint film after a lot of wet food; a wash with warm soapy water and a soft brush clears it.

Avoid bleach, oven cleaner, scouring pads and anything abrasive. Do not put the guard in a microwave, an oven or over a flame, and do not leave it in direct sun for long periods.

If something is not right

Safety

• The splash guard is feeding equipment, not a chew toy. If your pet chews or tries to carry it, take it away and tell us.
• Check the silicone every few weeks. Replace it if you find a tear, a split at a snap hole, or a piece missing.
• Supervise the first few meals with a pet who is curious about new objects.
• Not designed for small dogs, toy breeds, puppies or kittens — their bowls fall below the 7-inch fit range.

Still need a hand?

Send us a photo of your bowl with a tape measure across it and we will tell you straight whether MessMate fits. We read and answer every message ourselves.

Last updated November 4, 2026.