Dogs and cats shed heat by panting and through their paws, and neither works well once the air itself is warm. A surface cooler than they are gives them a third option, which is why a flat pad in a shaded spot is often the first place a panting dog heads on a close afternoon rather than the bed they use all winter.

The mat works by conduction rather than refrigeration. It draws warmth out of whatever is lying on it and spreads that heat across its own surface, which is why it feels cool without being plugged in, frozen or filled with anything first. The breathable top keeps air moving under the coat instead of trapping it, and the whole thing is light enough to lift one-handed and lay flat over a bed, a crate base, a car seat or bare floor.

• Cooling fabric that draws heat away on contact
• Breathable surface rather than a sealed plastic sheet
• Lightweight and easy to move room to room
• Lies flat over beds, floors or a crate base
• Two colours, beige and blue
• Four sizes, S through to XL
• Suits dogs and cats

On sizing, and on what cooling really means. A contact mat is not air conditioning. It re-warms while your pet lies on it and needs a few minutes clear to reset, and it does far less in a hot room than shade and moving air.

What the options mean. Sizes run from S to XL — £11.99 for the smallest, £21.99 for the largest.

Who it's for: Owners of dogs or cats who suffer in summer heat and want a simple, unpowered cool spot they can move around the house.