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Jun 25, 2025

The Best Cooling Pet Beds, Mats, Bottles, and Other Accessories to Get Your Dogs and Cats Through Summer | Reviews by Wirecutter

By Mel Plaut Mel Plaut is a writer covering pets. They have tested hundreds of products for our best animal friends, including dog beds and pet fountains. Plenty of pets love to sunbathe. My dog Dave

By Mel Plaut

Mel Plaut is a writer covering pets. They have tested hundreds of products for our best animal friends, including dog beds and pet fountains.

Plenty of pets love to sunbathe. My dog Dave spends hours working on his tan, no matter that he’s covered with a thin layer of black fur. Most animals regulate their heat on a warm day by moving to the shade, drinking water, or splaying out on the cool tiles of the bathroom floor. But sometimes our animal friends need a little extra help to keep from overheating and risking heatstroke.

“The general rule of thumb is if it's too hot for people, it's too hot for animals to be outside for any extended period of time as well,” said Jerry Klein, chief veterinarian for the American Kennel Club. The best thing you can do is tune in to your pet’s behavior and try to prevent heatstroke altogether. Give them access to water and a space to cool off, and you can fan them or wet them down to help them regulate their temperature. You can also immerse them in water, said Emily Hall, a veterinarian and lecturer at the Royal Veterinary College UK, whose research has focused on heatstroke in pets.

If you’ve taken these steps and still see signs that they might be overheating — panting excessively, acting lethargic, vomiting, or they just seem off — they might need medical care. A good rule of thumb is “wet, then vet,” said Hall. “You want to start cooling them before you start transporting them,” she said. Klein seconded this. He also added that, “if a dog overheats and it looks like heatstroke, and you think you’ve got it under control, always get them seen by a vet. Because sometimes there can be internal changes that can occur hours later.”

That said, some dogs and cats are better acclimated to heat than others — owing to variables like size, age, breed, and type of fur — and a daily walk or afternoon outing on a summer day doesn’t usually require a follow up emergency visit. Some products can even help you ensure they stay cool and comfortable. We tried several to see how well they worked, and found some beds, mats, water bottles, harnesses, and cots that can help a pet stay a little cooler in the heat.

There are a variety of beds, cots, and mats that might help your dog or cat get less hot while they snooze the day away, in addition to the fans and ACs that you may already be running to keep yourself cool.

There are loads of pet beds that are made with “cooling gel foam,” but they don’t actually reduce your pet’s body temperature — they simply don’t get quite as hot as some beds might without the gel. “Synthetic foam (memory foam, polyfoam) retains more heat than more breathable materials (latex, cotton, etc.) do. So the ‘cooling gel’ is typically added to offset the extra heat retention of the foam, rather than being objectively cooler than a material with better breathability,” said deputy director Courtney Schley, who has overseen coverage of sleep products for Wirecutter.

Of the beds we tested, a couple did the job as advertised — they warmed up less than our control bed made from regular non-gel foam. The FurHaven Velvet Waves Perfect Comfort Cooling Gel Bolster Cat & Dog Bed, the “cooling” version of our main dog bed pick, performed the best. The surface temperature of the bed rose an average of nine degrees Fahrenheit after laying on it for 5 minutes, versus an 11 degree increase on the standard bed. This is in line with FurHaven’s claims that the foam “reduces sleeping surface temperature by 1-2 degrees.” While it’s not the most dramatic result, if you want to take a little bit of an edge off of the heat in your pet’s bed, this model is a good option.

This bed is soft and supportive, and with the cooling gel layer, it can help keep a pet a few degrees cooler than a regular bed might.

We also tested the Barker 4" Orthopedic Crate Bed with the BarkerChill+ optional upgrade added on top. It did about as well as the FurHaven, with its surface temp rising about 10 °F after five minutes of use, but it’s roughly $100 more expensive than the FurHaven (for a size medium). Barker also sells 7” foam beds that you can add the cooling option to, so if your pet needs extra cushioning underneath them, the Barker is still a great, albeit pricey, option.

This crate mat provides some extra cushioning while the optional BarkerChill+ upgrade can keep pets a little bit cooler as they snooze.

If your dog prefers a breathable, elevated bed, the K&H Original Pet Cot and the Kuranda Chew Proof Aluminum Dog Bed, are great options for both indoors and out. The Kuranda is more expensive but its thick aluminum frame makes it more durable and resistant to chewing.

This cot keeps your dog elevated and promotes airflow to help regulate their temperature.

This durable cot comes with a choice of four fabrics. The Outdoor Mesh option has an open weave that allows air to pass through, making it a great option for hot dogs.

“I have a part of my house which has a stone floor. And when it's hot, that's where the cats lie. They starfish out on the stone floor and cool themselves down,” said Hall.

If you don’t have stone or tile flooring, a cooling mat might be your next best option. These flat, thin pads got less hot than the cooling beds in our testing. Instead of foam, they’re made with a pressure-activated gel that absorbs some of the heat from your pet’s body.

All the mats we tested cooled better than any of the beds we tried. The Arf Pets Self-Cooling Solid Gel Pad and The Green Pet Shop Cool Pet Pad both got only about four degrees warmer after five minutes of using them indoors (versus the FurHaven cooling bed’s nine degree increase under the same conditions).

This mat’s cooling effect is activated by the pressure of your pet’s body, and can keep cooler than many foam pet beds.

This mat is also pressure-activated and a cinch to use, cooling better than many foam-filled beds and it folds up for easy storage.

These mats are more portable than many beds, but since they’re filled with gel, they can get heavy depending on the size. And their cooling effects can fade quickly in direct sunlight or on extremely hot days.

Both manufacturers claim their mats are non-toxic, but you still shouldn’t let your pet chew on the materials, and always make sure you’re monitoring your animal when using one of these.

While both of these mats felt chilly and refreshing on my back after coming home all sweaty from a walk, my dog Dave, their intended customer, wasn’t so into them. He’s generally not into slick or slippery surfaces, and he’ll rarely lay on an uncarpeted floor if there’s a softer option available. So Dave often parked himself nearby on the Pelsbarn Cooling Mat. Even though this model is called a “mat,” it feels more like a blanket. It’s not filled with pressure-activated gel, but instead is made of something called “Ice Silk” fabric, which has hollow fibers that can absorb body heat, and a breathable layer on the bottom.

Despite being called a mat, this fabric model feels more like a blanket, but it cools just as well as the gel-filled versions. It’s also light enough to carry on outings with your pet.

Given its differences, I was genuinely surprised that the Pelsbarn performed just as well as the gel-filled mats at keeping the heat in check, increasing by only about four degrees after five minutes of use. It also cooled far better than the PetFusion Premium Cat & Dog Cooling Blanket, which is soft and light, but warmed up more than even the foam beds had. The Pelsbarn mat is also lighter than the gel mats, so you can easily pack it for a picnic, and it’s machine washable.

Keep an eye on the weather report. If it’s going to be very hot out, “exercise your dogs in the early morning or late in the evening,” said Klein. Tyra Davis, a veterinarian based in Hammond, Louisiana, has a handy rule she always tells her clients: No play in the heat of the day.

If your pup needs a bathroom break during the warmest part of a hot day, keep it short and try to stay in shady, grassy areas

If it’s safe to go outside and not excessively hot, a harness, vest, or gaiter that uses evaporative cooling can help extend the time your pup can spend with you outdoors. Evaporation in general “is your best help in trying to cool a dog down,” said Klein. It’s similar to how people sweat: as the moisture evaporates from our skin, it makes us feel cooler. (You can also pour or spray water directly onto your pet, or get them into a pool, lake, or other body of water, said Hall.)

Evaporative cooling garments can be helpful but they won’t work as well in high humidity, since the moisture is less likely to evaporate. You also need to keep tabs on them and make sure they stay wet, otherwise they can become another insulation layer making your pet even hotter.

If you’re using any of these products, Klein emphasized that “you should use common sense and take breaks, offer the dog plenty of water, and periodically check to see if there's no chafing or rubbing,” especially on the elbows or groin. Also, consider your dog’s health, sensitivities, and coat to make sure it’s right for them. “Some of the cooling vests might be too cold for dogs that are older or have arthritic joints. A breed like a whippet has very thin skin versus a dog like a golden retriever, which is double coated. It might be more beneficial for that golden and it might be uncomfortable for that whippet,” said Klein. “I think we have to treat each dog very individually and assess the dog, the climate, and the product,” he added. If you’re ever in doubt, check with your vet.

The Swamp Cooler Dog Harness from Ruffwear, which has been making a version of this harness since 2008, uses three layers that work together to pull moisture and heat away from the dog.

This durable, well-built harness uses evaporative cooling to pull moisture and heat away from your dog. It has six adjustment points and a thick padded handle on the back for emergency lifts.

This harness uses a specialized fabric to help with wick, transport, and evaporate moisture and heat. It has six points of adjustment and a handle strap on the back.

The inner and outermost layers are made from a bluesign-approved polyester mesh, while the middle layer is kind of like a felt, according to Peter Kearns, head of product at Ruffwear. This middle layer “holds a significant amount of water,” said Kearns, so it acts as a sort of a sponge or reservoir. “And that action of having the water pulled away from that reservoir through that outer layer, that's what's cooling the dog down, lowering the total surface temperature,” Kearns explained.

The Canada Pooch Max Chill Cooling Harness works similarly to the Ruffwear. It uses three layers of fabric from Coolcore, which makes performance apparel for humans. These layers work together to wick, transport, and, finally, evaporate moisture (and with it, heat) away from the surface of a dog’s body, according to Tara Hoth, director of product and innovation at Canada Pooch.

These harnesses performed equally well in my testing, both remaining wet and cooler than the air even after two hours in direct sunlight on a 76 degree day. Only the Ruffwear can be machine-washed (Canada Pooch says the Max Chill Harness should be spot-cleaned only, but I ran it through the machine a few times, along with the Ruffwear, and it came out fine). Neither harness can be tumble dried. And the Ruffwear required a little extra cleaning as it trapped a few small bits of dirt and debris in between the top two layers. Kearns suggested using a brush to dislodge these bits and then flushing them out with water.

The buckles on the Canada Pooch are bulkier than on the Ruffwear so they may be easier to grasp, but we found them slightly more difficult to snap in place.

If you think your dog might benefit from something with more coverage, a cooling vest may be a better option. These vests look like little capes. Since they touch more surface area of the dog’s body, they might help to cool them down a bit more. But they might take some getting used to — unlike with the harnesses, Dave seemed a little confused when he tried on the vests for the first time.

The Ruffwear Swamp Cooler Cooling Dog Vest and Canada Pooch Max Chill Cooling Vest are both made with the same evaporative cooling layers as their harness counterparts — the vests just have more material.

This cooling vest covers more of a dog’s body than a harness, giving it more surface area to work with.

Using the same Coolcore fabric as the harness version, this vest drapes nicely across a dog’s body, helping to maximize its cooling effect.

The Canada Pooch vest is made from a more flexible material than the Ruffwear, so it drapes a bit better over a dog’s body, and it features rear leg straps that can help keep it in place. Because the Ruffwear vest is slightly stiffer, it can stick up a bit near a dog’s rear when they bend down to sniff something.

If you want something that’s simple to pop on your dog, a gaiter or snood is lower profile, lower cost, and lower effort to use than a vest or a harness, but it likely won’t cool as much either.

The Ruffwear Swamp Cooler Neck Gaiter and the Canada Pooch Max Chill Cooling Snood both performed the best out of those we tested. They each stayed wet and cool for about two hours in direct sunlight on a warm day. The Frisco Summer Cooling Pullover Dog Gaitor is about a third of the price of the Ruffwear and Canada Pooch options, but it dried up the fastest.

This gaiter stayed wet for hours in our testing and comes in six sizes.

May be out of stock

This snood covers your dog’s neck and upper shoulders. It comes in three sizes and features an adjustable toggle to help get a good fit.

The Canada Pooch comes in fewer sizes than the Ruffwear but it has a cinch toggle around the neck so you can adjust the fit. The Ruffwear comes in six sizes, but they’re not adjustable. No matter which you choose, be prepared for your dog to look like a scarf-wearing hipster in the summer.

Since the ground can often be hotter than the air above it, a breathable pair of boots may help protect your dog’s paw pads from getting scalded (good luck getting shoes on a cat’s feet). “Artificial grass, black tarmac, all those things are going to absorb the radiant heat from the sun,” said Hall. These surfaces can reach up to 140 °F in the sun, Hall warned. And even with outside temperatures as low as 77 °F, the pavement can reach 125 °F, according to the Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine.

You can test the ground by touching the back of your hand to it, said Hall, not your palm, which will be slightly more calloused and less sensitive. “If you can't keep your hand in contact with the ground, it's not safe to be walking your dog without protective booties on,” she said. Natural grass, shady areas, and paler surfaces will be cooler, so try to stick to those.

Hot weather boots should be breathable while also protecting their paw pads from getting scalded. We like the Wagwear WagWellies Mojave, which look like Crocs. They’re dotted with holes that make them breathable, and also allow water to drain out if you get caught in a summer storm.

These boots are ideal for summertime and hot climates, to protect paws from burns and scrapes, but they won’t stand up to lots of abuse.

The Ruffwear Grip Trex boots have a thick, durable sole and a breathable woven mesh upper that make them great for longer hikes over rough terrain. They don't have big holes like the Mojaves, so if you’re on a hike, these can help keep dirt and large debris from getting inside the shoe.

These boots have great ventilation and sturdy soles, to protect paws from rough or hot ground, but they take some getting used to.

The Mountain Ridge Tough Boots with Grip are less expensive than the Ruffwear and Mojave boots, and are easy to put on. They’re sold in singles, so you can buy spares, but they’re not as breathable, and they provide a thinner barrier between your dog’s paws and the ground.

These boots go on easy and do a great job of protecting dog paws from icy, hot, or rough terrain.

Whether your dog is wearing boots or not, check their paws frequently to make sure they’re in good shape.

If you have the space for it and your dog enjoys getting wet, a kiddie pool can be a fun way to help cool them off. The Funsicle QuickFun Wading Doggy Pool is a good option, but we haven’t tested it, mostly because Dave thinks water is the enemy. The Frisco Outdoor Dog Swimming Pool is more expensive, since it has a convenient drain hole and folds up for easy storage.

Steer clear of inflatable pools since it only takes one sharp dog claw to leave you with a flat piece of wet plastic. And always use caution: since brachycephalic dogs can drown easily, Hall warned against dunking these flat-faced breeds in water where that might be a possibility. Always supervise your dog when they’re in the water, whatever their breed.

It’s critical to keep a dog or cat hydrated in the hot weather, so no matter where you are, you want to make sure your pet has easy access to fresh water. Dogs and cats both pant when they’re hot because it helps them cool down, but dogs rely on it more than cats. “Panting uses up a heck of a lot of moisture,” said Hall, because it’s evaporating the water in their respiratory tract. “So if you're a dehydrated dog, you're not able to cool as effectively through panting. You will get hotter quicker and it will take longer for you to cool down after,” she said.

Your pet’s regular water bowl or fountain should be clean and full, so they can drink whenever they want. Unfortunately not all pets are big drinkers. Some will even happily eat a rotting animal carcass just to turn around and act like a bowl of fresh water offends their refined palates. For these stubborn beasts, you might need to resort to a little trickery: try mixing water into their regular kibble, feeding them more canned wet food, or adding some flavoring to their water bowl.

These fountains might make a pet more excited to stay hydrated.

You may already have a water bottle that you love, but if you don’t relish the idea of sharing your Stanley Tumbler or Owala FreeSip with your dog, there’s no shortage of pet-specific options.

The Petkit Dog Water Bottle is inexpensive and works well for smaller dogs. It has a hard plastic mini bowl attached to it that you can release water into from the 14-ounce bottle. There are tons of bottles on the market that look just like this one, but in my testing, it was far more difficult to accidentally knock the Petkit’s lock open than it was on some of the nearly identical options I tried.

The Springer Flip Portable Dog Water Bottle has, as the name implies, a flip-up food-grade silicone bowl integrated into the top that you squeeze water into from the bottle beneath. It holds 20 ounces of liquid and comes in a bunch of pleasing colors.

The SÄKER Slurpy Sack 2.0 is unique in that the entire thing can collapse down to a small, lightweight bundle that packs away easily when it’s empty. It comes in three sizes, 350 ml (~12 oz), 550 ml (~18 oz), and 750 (~25 oz). It works similar to the Springer Flip, but here you unfold the leaf-shaped cup, unlock the opening, and squeeze water out. When your dog’s done drinking, you squeeze again to suck the remaining water back in.

If you only want to carry one bottle for both you and the dog, the Springer Dog and Me Insulated Water Bottle and the ThermoFlask Pet Bottle each have detachable bowls integrated into their bottoms. The Springer holds 24 ounces and has a flexible silicone cup that slides over the bottle, while the 32 ounce ThermoFlask features an eight ounce stainless steel-lined bowl that screws on and off.

None of these five bottles leaked in our testing, even when shaken vigorously, which is more than we can say for some of the others we tried out. And they were all fairly easy to clean.

There are also collapsible water bowls that are lightweight and can be stored nearly flat so they don’t take up a ton of space in a bag. We like the Comsun Collapsible Dog Bowl, made of BPA-free food-grade silicone. It flattens in an accordion-like way into a thin disc.

These staff-favorite silicone, BPA-free bowls flatten down into portable discs, so they’re easy to use on the go.

We also like the Ruffwear Quencher Packable Bowl, made of flexible polyester ripstop and nylon taffeta. The Quencher can be folded down to about the size of a thick handkerchief that fits into a back pocket.

This lightweight bowl folds up small enough to fit in a bag without taking up much space, or even in the back pocket of your shorts.

Additional reporting by Haley Sprankle. This article was edited by Harry Sawyers.

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