Pet cooling mats to keep your companions cool

Cooling mats to suit every pet owner's budget.

A cat on a pet cooling mat

by Jade Moscrop |
Updated on

Keeping our beloved pets cool in summer actually takes up quite a lot of time, but a simple way to ensure they're able to cool off of their own accord, though, is to invest in pet cooling mats. You can still do all the usual things like putting the fan in the perfect place for them, installing sprinklers, stocking up on cat or dog cooling products, and routinely spraying them with the hosepipe, but a cooling mat will offer somewhere cool for your pet to relax when they're in need of some downtime.

Usually made up of a gel interior or breathable fabric, pet cooling mats are a great addition to any household, giving your pet some much-needed respite from the warm weather whenever they need it. They're great for us humans to use on hot summer days, too. You can actually use a cooling mat to combat any swelling or discomfort, so they're ideal for recharging after a long walk!

Best pet cooling mats at a glance:

• Best overall: Pecute Dog Cooling Mat – view on Amazon
• Best elevated cooling pet bed: PawHut Portable Elevated Pet Bed – view on Amazon
• Best cooling mat bed: Scruffs Cool Bed – view on Amazon
• Best cooling mat for puppies and kittens: RSW Smart Choice Pet Cooling Mat – view on Amazon

Pet cooling mats can be used in a variety of situations to keep your pet cool, whether you're at home or travelling with your companion. They can be used in crates or cages, laid on the back seat of your car, inserted into their beds, and draped on your sofas to keep them cool and comfortable. As well as simply laid on any floor indoors or outdoors to provide them with another layer between them and wherever your pooch or kitty chooses to flop. You can also use them in combination with a cat or dog cooling vest or a bandana to really keep them cool.

To help you decide what cooling mat you should get for your furry friend, we did some searching to find the very best-rated pet cooling mats available, All you need to do is measure your pet to find out what size you'd need.

Best overall

This Pecute Dog Cooling Mat comes in the biggest size we've found so far, so it's ideal for larger dogs. It's easily folded, so can be stored away tidily and the material means it can be wiped clean of mucky paw prints. It's thick, waterproof, scratch-resistant, non-toxic, and wear-resistant and promises no gel leaks. It works on body heat, activating once your pet uses it.

Customer review: "Bought this for my pooch as she is always looking for something cool to lay on and our last one perished due to general wear and tear (not from this seller or make), was looking for another especially for the summer and very hot weather already arriving and it’s the perfect size for her, I recommend an XL for bigger dogs like huskies, German shepherds, golden retrievers etc as there’s plenty of space for her to lay and cool all of her. Certainly does the trick and she’s so much more settled now we have one!! Great item, 100% recommend."

Pros

  • Hardwearing
  • Wide range of sizes

Cons

  • Some reviewers have mentioned it gets dirty easily
Sizes available:XS (40x30cm, S (50x40cm), M (65x50cm), L (90x50cm), XL (120x75cm), XXL (140x90cm)

Best elevated cooling pet bed

If you'd rather steer clear of the gel-based cooling mats, this PawHut Portable Elevated Pet Bed will do the trick. This raised cooling pet bed increases the airflow around your pet, cooling them down as they snooze. It's lightweight and foldable, so you can easily take it away with you on days out to the park or beach and staycations.

Customer review: "Sturdy can easy hold my bulldog male who absolutely loves his bed. He kicks the bedding off most nights as he prefers to lay on it as it comes 😃"

Pros

  • Keeps pets elevated from hot floors and surfaces
  • Plenty of room for air to flow around them

Cons

  • Not designed to support the weight of particularly heavy pets
Sizes available:M (75x18x10cm), L (76x61x18cm)

Best cooling mat bed

If your pet prefers a bed over a mat, this cooling dog bed from Scruffs will tick all the boxes. The Scruffs Cool Bed has all the pros of a gel bed - non-toxic and hard-wearing, but it gives your pet extra comfort and support. To reset the mat, leave it for an hour unattended.

Customer review: "We have one in the car and one in the house. Lilly is only a tiny dog Cavalier, but loves to lay full length this is the perfect bed. Also, the gel pad is great for the summer, you can take it out which is also great. Love it and I know Lilly does ."

Pros

  • Keeps pets cool as well as comfortable
  • Design includes breathable mesh

Cons

  • Some paw-rents may not like that it takes an hour to reset in between uses
Sizes available:M (75x53x11cm), L (90x60x12cm), XL (100x75x12.5cm)

Best cooling mat for puppies and kittens

A purse-friendly option, this mat is only available in one small size, but it's perfect for puppies and kittens and any miniature breed dogs and cats. Designed to be used at home, as well as cars, crates and kennels, it's well-designed and robust, as well as water-resistant and easy to clean. No need for fridges or freezers, it'll cool down your pet quickly.

Customer review: "It's been a bit hot for my dog lately and he already has a cool mat so ordered another for outside use. He uses it and it's great for outside use in the shade. Great price. Not over big but just big enough for my small poodle."

Pros

  • Will help stop smaller animals getting too hot and overheating
  • Great for use at home as well as when you're out and about

Cons

  • Not designed for larger pets
Sizes available:S (40x50cm)

Best-looking pet cooling mat

Ideal for your pet's bed, this stylish Volwco Dog Cooling Mat Pad is a little easier on the eyes than some of the gel ones. As it's made of fabric, some pet owners might feel more comfortable as it's harder to destroy than some other materials, although naturally, it will get dirtier more quickly than the wipe clean ones.

Customer review: "Saved us really during the hot hot summer here. Cats and dogs just love it"

Pros

  • Can be used inside beds, crates, cages and more
  • Soft and lightweight

Cons

  • Isn't a choice of sizes compared to others
Sizes available:XL (100x70cm)

Best tough cooling mat

The Scruffs Cool Dog Mat is designed to provide cool relief for your pet during hot summer days. Filled with a non-toxic gel, the self-cooling mat will be typically 5-10 degrees cooler than room temperature. According to reviews, this mat is tougher than some others on the market and it folds away neatly.

Customer review: "Big enough for two corgi sized dogs - they love it so much this is a second one so we have spare ready for hot weather"

Pros

  • Choice of sizes
  • Made from a strong, durable material

Cons

  • You'll need to leave it unused for an hour to reset the cooling process
Sizes available:S (40x50cm), M (76.2x62.2cm), L (91.4x68.5cm), XL (119.3x74.93cm)

Best budget cooling mat

For a budget-friendly option (in case your pet is stubborn and doesn't take well to new things!), this Mega_Jumble Self Cooling Gel Mat will do the trick. It's activated by weight or pressure, and although it isn't as high-quality as some of the more expensive versions, it's a good tester mat if you're not sure if your pet will like it.

Customer review:  "Ideal for my cats during the heatwave. They actually work!"

Pros

  • Automatically reactivates itself
  • Value for money

Cons

  • Could be better quality

FAQs

How do pet cooling mats work?

When your pet lies on a surface that's cooler than it is, the heat is drawn out from its body and it's able to cool down. Pet cooling mats are usually filled with gel or water that is activated by body weight or pressure. It's similar to the gel packs you'll find in a first aid kit.

Eventually, the mat will reach the same temperature as your pet's body. It will then need to be 'recharged' to become cool again by being left unattended for a little while. By this time, though, your pet should have cooled down enough to feel content.

Do dogs and cats sweat?

Dogs and cats do sweat but not in the same way that we do. They sweat through their paws and they also pant to cool themselves down. This becomes difficult to do when we experience high temperatures, which is why they easily overheat. Big breeds, overweight animals, dogs and cats with thick coats and those with flat noses particularly struggle to do this when it's hot. For this reason, you'll want to keep them inside and as cool as possible. If your animal doesn't like to stray away from you too much, consider getting them a cat or dog sun shade. That way, they've always got somewhere shady to sit wherever you are in the garden.

Jade Moscrop is the Commercial Content Editor for Yours, specialising in lifestyle topics. When she’s not writing about chic homeware, pet products and beauty buys, she can usually be found wandering the countryside, buying houseplants or listening to female-fronted rock bands.

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