Any thoughts on cooling mats for cats ?

[allamberedover]

Are they a good idea ? Or just another way to spend money?
And if they are a nice thing for a cat to have, recommendations please ?

Mine uses hers sometimes. But she’s not a huge fan, she’d prefer to be outdoors when the weather is hot.

I should point out that although one cat is on the cooling mat, the other one spent the morning sleeping on a roof of a black car in the sun and has just headed off to sleep under the tarpaulin on top of the compost.

one spent the morning sleeping on a roof of a black car in the sun and has just headed off to sleep under the tarpaulin on top of the compost.
wow !!

Well ,you've all made me laugh .
And saved me some money .
But what's this about cats being contrary ??

My cat currently ’using’ his 🙄
Normally he just lies beside it so this is progress I guess!

My cat loves his! He does throw it about at times, but when it’s hot and sunny he can lie on it for ages. We just got an inexpensive one from eBay to try, so glad we did!

Like most pp my cat ignored the cooling mat, but I love it and have been using it at night during the current heat🤣

Mine ignored the one I bought until they wanted to scratch it.

I chucked it as I wasn't sure what was in it to keep it 'cool' and was worried they would expose it

Cats are generally good at taking themselves off to a cool or shady area when they are hot so a cooling mat shouldn't be needed, if your cat is anything like mine it wouldn't use it even if you did buy one.

Mine would ignore. It’s been 35+ the last 2 weeks where we live. It’s lovely and cool inside house.

He chooses to spend the whole day outside where possible. He finds shade underneath bushes, roof over hangs, other shady areas if needed. But inside he pops in for 5 mins to eat or say hi then is back out all summer

In winter he plays in the snow.

So he basically doesn’t care

I had a fabric one and my one cat loves it. Lies on it in front of a fan. Other cat wont go near it!

To be fair to my late , they did use the heat mat I brought them at great expense. I think they found it a bit hot though. They absolutely adored my heated throw. That always got sat on. Penelope won’t go anywhere ear it. But it turns out that she doesn’t like the texture of fleece.

My cat is currently laid across the sunny spots on the carpet and I've got my feet on his cool mat. I'm a huge fan. Considering putting it under my pillowcase

I use a flat plastic ice block the type for picnic bags I wrap it a pillow case. Probably cheaper than ones made for cats.

Like this

DH bought two for our 2 dogs. They don't use them but my 2 cats do. I tell DH my cats are smarter than his dog's.

@Iloveeverycat excellent idea ,thank you .

Didn't want to buy one in case the cat didn't use it so out a wet tea towel on the floor instead, under the dining table where she likes to sleep, had a sniff and completely ignored so. So I'm glad I didn't buy one 😆

My dog has one but my cat now shares it with her!
I definitely recommend them. My dog in particular wouldn't cope at night without the mat.

We got one a few weeks ago, cat ignored it and repeatedly sat next to it but has been using it occasionally since last weekend's heatwave. Coincided with a friend asking me if he could borrow it to try with his cats....

Don’t bother but I loved it

cat only took notice when I sat on it then we shared

My cat would only sit next to the mat and look at it with complete disdain. He liked the box it came in though 🙄

If you have a cooling mat that your cat is treating with the contempt they think it deserves, take a newspaper open at the crossword page and put it on top of the cooling mat.

Worth a try. 😂

So out of 48 posts, there is only one cat that uses one. 🤣🤣

Scrap that 3 are using them. Penelope prefers the bathroom windowsill. There is a Penelope shaped hole in the ducks.