Five Below's Vibrant Pet Cooling Mat Is Paw-fect for Summertime
Summer can be tough on pets. While many dogs and cats love spending time outdoors, rising temperatures can quickly turn a fun afternoon into an uncomfortable one. Pet parents often find themselves looking for simple ways to help their furry companions stay cool, especially during heat waves when shady spots and cold floors become prime real estate.
The challenge is that many cooling products come with hefty price tags. Cooling beds, elevated cots and specialty mats can easily cost $20, $30 or even more. That's not always practical when you're trying to outfit multiple pets or create cool resting spots throughout the house. Thankfully, affordable options do exist, and one colorful find from Five Below is proving that helping pets beat the heat doesn't have to break the budget.
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Printed Pet Cooling Mat, $8 at Five Below
If you're looking for a budget-friendly way to keep pets comfortable this summer, Five Below's Printed Pet Cooling Mat deserves a spot on your shopping list.
Priced at just $8, the mat features a bright, tropical-inspired print filled with colorful fruit slices and summer-themed shapes. It's cheerful enough to fit right in with warm-weather decor while also serving a practical purpose. The mat contains cooling gel designed to provide a cooler surface for pets to relax on during hot days.
According to the product listing, the mat measures 25.5 inches by 19.5 inches and supports pets weighing up to 110 pounds. That makes it suitable for a wide variety of dogs while also providing plenty of room for cats who enjoy stretching out for afternoon naps.
One thing I appreciate about this design is that it doesn't scream "pet product." Many cooling mats are plain blue rectangles that prioritize function over appearance. This one manages to feel playful and seasonal while still helping pets stay comfortable.
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Cooling mats can be especially helpful for pets that naturally run warm or those who enjoy lounging in sunny rooms. Placing one near a favorite window, in a home office or beside a pet bed gives them another option when temperatures climb.
Of course, this isn't the only affordable cooling solution pet parents have discovered this year. Target recently released a collection of cooling mats and beds that shoppers have been snapping up for summer, including several options designed to coordinate with existing pet furniture.
Likewise, Aldi shoppers may remember the retailer's popular rectangle cooling mat that quickly became a seasonal favorite thanks to its combination of affordability and practicality. The Five Below version offers a similar budget-friendly approach with a brighter, more playful design.
At just $8, this feels like one of those easy impulse buys that could end up getting a surprising amount of use. Whether you keep it in the living room, bring it onto a covered patio or toss it in the car for summer road trips, it gives pets a comfortable place to cool down without requiring a major investment.
And honestly, if a cooling mat can help your dog avoid sprawling dramatically across every inch of the kitchen tile floor this summer, it may end up being money well spent.
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This story was originally published June 17, 2026 at 4:40 PM.