Estimated read time: 5 minutes
The short answer
A regular bowl is a dish with no walls, so anything a dog paws, gulps or pushes, or a cat scoops with a paw, goes straight over the edge. A splash guard adds a raised silicone wall inside the rim, so food and water drop back into the bowl instead of onto the floor. The MessMate Splash Guard Attachment Only fits round dog and cat bowls 7"–9" across the top opening, so you can keep the bowl you already own.
In this article: Why bowls spill · Dogs · Cats · How a guard fixes it · Will it fit? · Putting it on and cleaning it · What it won't do · FAQ
Why your pet's bowl keeps spilling
You fill the bowl, turn your back, and by the time you look again there is a puddle on the floor and a scatter of kibble across the kitchen. It feels like a training problem. Mostly it is a design problem: an ordinary bowl has a rim a couple of inches high and nothing else between your pet's enthusiasm and your floor.
Splashes and flung food follow the same physics every time. Something pushes water or food up the side of the bowl, and with no wall to stop it, it keeps going. Fix the wall and you fix most of the mess, without changing how your pet eats.
The three ways dogs make a mess
1. The dunker and pawer
Some dogs paw at their water, dunk their whole muzzle, or lap so hard that the surface sloshes over the rim. The water lands on the floor, and if the bowl sits against a wall it lands on your paint and baseboards too. (We cover that in how to protect the wall behind your dog's water bowl.)
2. The big drinker
A long, deep drink means a dripping chin. Every time your dog lifts their head, water falls from their jaws, usually just outside the bowl, which is exactly where the floor is.
3. The kibble bulldozer
Many dogs eat nose-first with the mouth open and push forward. The food ahead of the muzzle has nowhere to go but up and over the far side. If that sounds like your dog, why dogs push food out of the bowl goes through the causes.
What cats do differently
Cats are tidier eaters overall, but a few habits cause the same floor mess:
- Kibble fishing. Plenty of cats hook food out with a paw and eat it off the floor.
- Dabbling in water. Some cats tap or paw the surface before they drink, and the splash lands outside the bowl.
- Bowl-shoving. A cat who pushes the bowl as they eat sends food out on one side.
Cats also have preferences about bowl shape. Some like wider, shallower bowls, and we can't promise any particular level of whisker comfort from a MessMate bowl, so if your cat is fussy it's worth watching how they eat. A guard works with the bowl you've already found they like, and it's designed for large cats whose bowls fall in the 7"–9" range.
How a splash guard fixes it
The guard is one piece of food-grade, BPA-free silicone. It adds a raised wall around the bowl's opening, so water and food that would have left the bowl hit the wall and fall back in. It works the same for dry food, wet food and water, and on stainless steel, ceramic and plastic bowls.
Customer before-and-after photos
Will it fit your bowl?
The guard fits round bowls 7 to 9 inches across the top opening. Measure straight across, where the inside walls meet the rim. Don't measure the base (most bowls taper) or the outside of a thick lip.
| Across the opening | Fit |
|---|---|
| Under 7" | Too small. The guard won't seat securely. |
| 7"–9" | Perfect fit |
| Over 9" | Too big. The guard won't reach the rim. |
That range matches medium to extra-large dogs and large cats. MessMate isn't designed for small dogs, toy breeds or kittens, and we'd rather say so up front. Not sure about your bowl, or it isn't quite round? The Bowl + Splash Guard Set arrives with a bowl matched to the guard, so the fit is guaranteed. The full walk-through is in our fit guide.
One thing to know: the guard on its own is sold as Splash Guard Attachment Only. It does not come with a bowl.
Putting it on and cleaning it
- Measure across the top opening of your bowl.
- Seat the guard. Flex it, seat it inside the rim and press the edge down. It holds by fit alone, with no adhesive.
- Serve as normal. Fill the bowl with food or water.
To clean it, lift it out in one motion and put it on the top rack of the dishwasher. It's reusable, so there's nothing to replace.
What a splash guard won't do
- It won't stop a dog who deliberately carries food to another spot. That's instinct, not spillage.
- It isn't a chew toy, so keep an eye on pets who like to chew.
- It stops mess at the bowl. For drips that still land on the floor, add a waterproof feeding mat, or choose the Complete Mealtime Set, which includes both.
Frequently asked questions
Does a splash guard work for water bowls as well as food bowls?
Yes. The raised wall works for dry food, wet food and water, including dogs who paw at their water.
Will it fit a ceramic or plastic bowl?
Yes, as long as the bowl is round and 7"–9" across the top opening. The guard works with stainless steel, ceramic and plastic.
Is a splash guard good for cats?
It's designed for large cats whose bowls are 7"–9" across. It isn't designed for kittens.
Is it dishwasher safe?
Yes, on the top rack.
What if it doesn't fit?
Unused items in their original packaging can be returned within 30 days of delivery. See shipping and returns.
Already have a round 7"–9" bowl?
Add a wall to it and keep the floor dry. Free U.S. shipping, 30-day returns.
A portion of every MessMate sale goes to dog rescue organizations, in memory of Spud.