Icat Dri Cat Underwater Case for iPhone
Waterproof case coating unspecified; PFAS risk unclear without material details.
Underwater phone cases typically use waterproof coatings that may contain PFAS, but CAT provides no material or chemical disclosure. Contact the brand for transparency on coating composition.
The safe swap
Apple
Apple iPhone 17 Pro TechWoven Case with MagSafe
85/100 safety
Same rubric that flunked this product. The swap earned Excellent.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
Plastic (polycarbonate or TPU) with waterproof coating
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
What’s concerning
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS.
Category baseline
other is a category where PFAS exposure is more common.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement about PFAS in this product.
PFAS
Waterproof coatings often include plasticizers, resins, and hydrophobic polymers beyond PFAS; without disclosed formulation, migration of these additives into hands, phone screen, or water during submersion cannot be ruled out.
Source: ATSDR ↗Coating degradation and microplastic shedding
Repeated thermal cycling, UV exposure, and abrasion will eventually degrade the waterproof layer; peeling or flaking coating fragments pose a minor ingestion risk if handled carelessly, particularly for children.
Contact dermatitis from coating or adhesives
Some users report skin irritation from prolonged contact with phone-case coatings, likely due to residual solvents or latex in the waterproof layer; risk varies by skin sensitivity and individual exposure.
What’s reassuring
Polycarbonate or TPU base material leaching under stress
Polycarbonate can release trace BPA if scratched or aged in acidic environments; TPU is chemically stable. Neither hazard is reported for this product at normal use temperatures, but data on this specific case's material quality is absent.
Phthalates
No recalls or testing reports for lead, cadmium, or phthalates in CAT phone cases are on record; however, absence of third-party certification means baseline safety claims are unverified.
Source: ATSDR ↗The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
This case uses polycarbonate or TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) as the base material, both common, stable plastics for protective phone cases. The waterproofing comes from an unspecified coating, likely fluorochemical-based given the poor PFAS safety rating, which is where chemical leaching risk concentrates. Neither polycarbonate nor TPU degrades into microplastics at normal phone-case temperatures, but the waterproof layer's composition and durability under sunlight and heat remain undisclosed by the brand.
The brand's record and disclosure
CAT (the brand, associated with Caterpillar Inc. rugged equipment lines) has not publicly disclosed material sourcing, testing protocols, or waterproof coating chemistry for this product. No independent safety certifications (ISO, BPA-free, PFAS-free claims) appear on marketing materials. The brand's silence on PFAS and coating ingredients is typical of the phone-case category but leaves end-users unable to assess long-term coating stability or chemical migration risk.
How it compares in its category
Underwater phone cases occupy a niche where waterproofing almost always relies on fluorochemical coatings to achieve seal integrity; this product is no exception. Most competitors in this category also withhold coating details and carry unknown PFAS exposure. Cases using non-fluorinated waterproof membranes (silicone gaskets, mechanical seals) exist but are less common and typically cost more; CAT's silent stance places it midfield, neither transparently safer nor unusually risky for the segment.
If you buy it
Keep the case out of direct sunlight for extended periods and avoid prolonged exposure to heat above 60 degrees Celsius (140 Fahrenheit), as this can degrade the waterproof coating and increase leaching risk. Inspect the seal and coating quarterly for cracks, peeling, or discoloration; discard and replace if compromised. Rinse with fresh water after saltwater or chlorine exposure to slow coating degradation. Do not bite, chew, or allow children to mouth the case, as coating flaking could pose ingestion risk.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 35% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- CAT has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
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More waterproof phone cases grades
How we score: every product runs through the same public 0–100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.