Frequently asked questions
Everything about photos, previews, the mats and delivery. You see your finished mat before you pay, so try it with your own pet.

Ordering and preview
How does Mats & Paws work?
Choose a colorful or coir mat design, add the words, and upload a photo of your pet. You review the finished mat before paying, then we print it and ship it to your door.
Do I see the design before I pay?
Always. You only check out after seeing your pet's finished artwork on the mat you chose. You can change the words or the photo, or ask for another drawing, before paying.
Is a personalized pet mat a good gift?
It is one of the most personal gifts you can give a pet owner. Upload their pet's photo, add their family name or a greeting, and preview the finished mat before you pay. Enter the recipient's address at checkout and it ships to them free within the US.
Can I change the words on the mat?
You can choose a greeting like "Welcome Home" or "Wipe Your Paws", personalize it as "The [Your Name] Family", or choose no writing. You can change this at any point before checkout without redrawing the art.
Photos and pets
What kind of photo works best?
A clear, bright photo taken from the front, with your pet's face easy to see and only one pet in the frame. Phone photos are perfect. If a photo won't work well, we'll tell you right away and you can try another.
Cats too? What about my chinchilla?
Any pet at all. Dogs and cats are the usual suspects, but rabbits, chinchillas, guinea pigs, ferrets, birds, lizards and horses all draw beautifully. Upload the photo and we'll draw whoever is in it.
Can I try all my pets?
Yes. We support up to three pets on one mat. Upload a photo with everyone in it, or one photo per pet, and we draw them together.
What if the mat doesn't look like my pet?
Try another photo. The drawing follows the photo closely, so a sharp, well-lit shot from the front with the whole face visible usually fixes it. Previews are free, so try as many photos as you like before you pay.
The mats
What's the difference between the coir and colorful mat?
The coir mat is natural coir with thick PVC backing and a permanent layered UV-cured print. The colorful mat has a felt-like polyester top, a non-slip rubber base, and a full-color dye-sublimation print, made for inside the home.
Which mat goes where?
The colorful mat goes anywhere inside with a hard floor: the kitchen, a hallway, the bathroom, a mudroom or by the back door. It is about a fifth of an inch thick with a non-slip rubber base, and it spot cleans with a damp cloth. The coir mat is natural coir, about two thirds of an inch thick, for a covered porch, doorstep or hallway. Shake or brush it clean and keep it out of prolonged rain.
Shipping and delivery
How long until it arrives?
Every mat is made to order. All mats arrive in 5-12 business days, with free shipping.
Care and returns
What if something is wrong with my mat?
If your mat arrives damaged or with a print defect, we'll reprint it free or refund you. See our return policy for the details.