45 Products Determined To Make Life Easier For Pet Owners

Jan 29, 2024

We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed collects a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.

Because no, every surface of your home does *not* need to be covered in a thin layer of pet fur.

BuzzFeed Staff

Promising review: "My cat Gambino Bambino would let you brush him bald!!! He loves to be groomed and comes running whenever the brush comes out. Though we love to accommodate, I know he wanted more. He was constantly rubbing his cheeks and ears on the corner of our walls to get even more scratching. I finally came across this product and knew he would love it! It took a little convincing but once he got a hang of it he's been loving it! We have one in the living room, one in the kitchen, one at the top of the stairs and one in the guest room! He is having a great time!!! Very easy to put together and place on the wall." —T. Mangiaracina

Get it from Amazon for $4.99.

Promising review: "Absolutely the best product. It saved my itchy goldendoodle! We tried changing food, Benadryl, medicated shampoo, fish oil, everything you can imagine... nothing worked long-term. He was itching his face so badly he would make himself bleed. Had sores and scabs all over his face and neck. I bought these because they had good reviews and I was desperate. It changed his life! He no longer scratches AT ALL! His coat looks great and all of his sores are healed. He's the happiest he's been which makes me a very happy momma. He is also very picky and never eats treats... he eats these every time so that's an added bonus!" —Darcie Nation

Get 90 chews from Amazon for $29.97.

Promising review: "Where has this been all my cat-loving life? Sticky rollers work fine for clothes, but this is the only product that has ever COMPLETELY removed all the cat hair from my bed. I have a long-haired 20-pound tabby and if you run your hands up his back a few times and fling the hair everywhere, it looks like it's snowing — he never stops shedding no matter what I do. After using the ChomChom, I can put on a black dress and roll around on my bed and not get a single hair on me. It's absolutely amazing. Everyone is getting one for Christmas, even if they don't have a pet. I don't care, it's THAT good." —Stephanie

Get it from Amazon for $29.99.

Promising review: "I bought this broom based on the tons of great reviews and I am not disappointed. I love this broom! It is lightweight but sturdy. I have used it on tile floors and carpet and it does a great job of getting the pet hair, lint, and dirt. I like this so much better than our traditional push broom. It is very easy to clean after use just using my hand, unlike our old broom. It also has a telescoping handle so that you can adjust it to whatever height you need. There is also a squeegee for doing the house windows and the car windows. I highly recommend it." —Joyce V

Get it from Amazon for $16.99.

Check out my colleague's FURemover Evriholder broom review for more deets and some very satisfying photos of the globs of hair she removed from her carpet.

Promising review: "I have a whole room filled with cat toys that my cat is not interested in. It's funny how the least expensive cat toy I have makes him go crazy. He plays with this until he's panting like a dog and I have never seen him jump so high. I'm certain this toy will help him lose his belly. He loves it! I highly recommend it!" —Kwoo

Get it from Amazon for $3.53.

Promising review: "One of my puppers is a super athlete who lives to go for walks and on runs. She is about 9 now and the vet gave her a stellar bill of health save one thing: her pads were getting really rough and worn from paved trails and city walks, and this may be uncomfortable, especially as summer comes and pavement heats up. I was skeptical about any kind of balm as I figured that it would leave a mess on my floors or one/both dogs would just lick it off their feet. No problems whatsoever, and after a single application, both dogs' pads are really soft and supple. Hopefully the dogs can feel the difference. I can surely see it and feel it. Also, the balm smells like oatmeal cookies, so bonus for that." —Todd Snyder

Get it from Amazon for $9.99.

Promising review: "I have lacrosse players and dogs and this stuff is amazing. My yard looked like an abandoned lot before this and it literally 'grew anywhere' just like it said. The bag I planted last year actually came back strong this year so I put more down and it is working like a dream!" —chchmom

Get it from Amazon for $16.44+ (available in five sizes).

Meowy Janes is a wonderfully named small business based in New Egypt, New Jersey. It specializes in catnip and catnip alternatives.

BuzzFeed editor Chelsea Stuart loves these...or...her cats do!

"I recently tried some of these out with my cats and they were a hit! TBH they've never really been super into catnip — they'll play with it but they don't go wild — so I was excited to see they were into these. They bat them around, rub their faces all over them, and ultimately, when they're done, hide them under a chair or in their cat condo so they can come back to them later."

Promising review: "The second I put a stick down our kitty was obsessed! Our cat loves 'chewing' so these are a great fit for him. All natural, great packaging, and quick shipping! Thank you." —kr323

Get it from Amazon for $10.21 and Meowy Janes on Etsy for $11.85.

Promising review: "Works like a charm! I recently found myself a cat mama of an abandoned week-old kitten. I bought this knowing she needed just something to cuddle up to in her bed. Turns out it basically hypnotizes her to sleep. She crawls to it, kneads it, and eventually her meows turn to silence. I wish the purring lasted longer but for $10 it is a lifesaver. She's pooped on it a couple times so I've had to throw it in the washer and dryer minus the battery pack. It's held up great." —S Leytem

Get it from Amazon for $16.01.

Promising review: "We are first-time cat owners and our very skittish and easily spooked 1.5-year-old cat had just come from a foster home where she wasn't thriving. First day in our home and she used this litter box (she had been using a traditional, completely open low box). We opted for the large size since we knew she might grow a bit still. I'm glad we did, because even though she's a small cat, the large size gives her plenty of room. We wanted a covered one because our only place for a litter box was right next to our claw foot tub and we didn't want a bunch of water splashing in and wasting litter. Can't say enough about how stoked we are about this litter box! Not hideous, super easy to clean, and our sweet (and no longer skittish) cat loves it!" —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $39.99+ (available in three colors).

Some reviewers recommend adding a waterproof liner underneath the litter box to prevent liquids from absorbing into the paperboard.

Promising review: "Looks really good and was easy to build. It can blend in with furniture; you can't tell it's a litter box enclosure, so it's great for people who are looking for that. Also if you have small children, it can be really useful." —Joyce

Get it from Wayfair for $64.99+ (originally $129.99; available in five colors).

Promising review: "Love this litter! Finally a litter with no odor! We have two cats; they're sisters. We have two litter boxes in a 2,500-square-foot, 150-year-old house. Before switching to Dr Elsey's litter I could smell those litter boxes no matter where I was in the house, no matter what brand the litter was, and we tried at least a dozen of the top name brand litters! Dr Elsey's litter clumps well and is lightweight. My one kitty is very particular/fussy about her litter. We changed just one litter box, to this litter at first, because we still had some of the previously purchased litter left. The fussy kitty would no longer use the litter box with the old litter in it. Dr Elsey's litter is very clean and not dusty. And the price for this litter is very competitive. I would easily give this litter a 10-star rating." —Diane Zillich

Get a 40-pound bag from Amazon for $20.55.

Promising review: "With three dogs, two small and one large, scooping the yard is a never-ending job. But with the Arm & Hammer swivel bin and rake, there is no more bending to pick up the doggy droppings. I am able to easily use the rake to push the droppings into the bag covered bin. When I am done cleaning up the yard, I just simply remove the plastic bag from the scoop, tie it off, and dispose. I do spray the rake off with the hose sprayer and then clip the rake onto the scooper for easy storage. I really like this handy scooper. It makes a very icky job much easier to handle." —Kelly Eldred

Get it from Amazon for $19.99.

Rocco & Roxie is a family-owned small business named after the Magleby family's pets Rocco, a Labradoodle, and Roxie, a former shelter tabby cat. They make a variety of pet supplies, including cleaners, treats, grooming tools, accessories, and toys.

Promising review: "I have six elderly cats, and a few of them oftentimes leave smelly pee puddles to register their disdain at whatever cats get 'peed off' about. It's not a litter box problem and, although I've caught one or two of them doing it, I can't blame them all. This product works great on fresh messes as well as dried ones. After blotting up fresh pee pods, I saturate the area with Rocco & Roxie's odor remover and let dry. For dried stinky stuff, I just saturate the area and let it dry. It has a pleasant odor and completely eliminates the ammonia odor. Believe me, I've tried all kinds of products, and this one works the best. I buy gallons now just to have on hand. It's better than smelling that awful pee!" —mona mia

Get it from Amazon for $19.97 (or Subscribe & Save for $18.97/month).

Promising review: "My dog's molars were turning black and he had a ton of build up on his canines. In the photo (above), just imagine everywhere you see slight yellow, instead covered in black and brown gunk and hard plaque. His gums were beginning to look inflamed. And, of course, his breath could kill a horse. After one week of constant use (a cap full for every bowl of water) you could see an obvious difference in tooth color. I was blown away. (Why can't human mouthwash do such a good job on our teeth?) After three weeks, his molars were almost completely clean. After a couple months of use, the plaque on his canines was soft enough to brush some of it off, which was totally impossible before. Plaque covered the canine approximately 70%. Obviously that's no longer the case. Idk what insane solvent this is made of, but it keeps his gross mouth clean as a whistle. Now I don't have to worry about my picky princess mutt losing his teeth because he can't be bothered to chew anything." —BaconPancakes

Get it from Amazon for $9.59+ (available in three sizes and three styles).

Promising review: "My smaller dog unfortunately has pretty bad breath (not your typical dog breath, much worse). Brushing her teeth regularly helps somewhat alleviate the problem, as do dental foams and rinses, but nothing has worked as noticeably as this powder. She has no issues eating it (although, she'd eat anything) and it lasts a while considering that she only goes through one teaspoon a day. I would definitely recommend giving it a try if nothing else is working and medical reasons have been ruled out." —DG

Get it from Amazon for $20.91.

ScratchPad for Dogs is a small biz based in Atlanta.

Promising review: "Love this scratch pad! We adopted our dog almost a year ago and he's been terrified of clippers and grinders since day one. We've never been able to maintain his nails due to his super reactive anxiety around nail care. That's all changed since we got the Scratch Pad a few weeks ago! He took to it right away and his nails have shown significant improvement in just a few sessions!" —Kira Armajani

Get it from ScratchPad for Dogs on Etsy for $46.95+ (available in four styles and three grit levels).

Promising review: "My cockapoo had tear staining as a pup but as an adult he just gets that goop in the corner of his inner eyes. Sometimes I don't catch the goop fast enough and it hardens in his muzzle. Even when I do, the goop is slimy and difficult to remove even with dog wipes. This tool is a miracle! Small, light weight and a good value for the price. Just one comb through and I got the sticky wet goop. A few more comb throughs and I found eye gunk that was buried in his muzzle. Most importantly, this comb removed the debris without causing any discomfort to my pooch. In fact, he seemed to enjoy it! Just look at the pictures." —Joanna

Get them from Amazon for $5.75.

Promising review: "AMAZING!!! My baby has wrinkles on top of wrinkles. This product has saved him! He was rubbing his face so hard on things to scratch in between his wrinkles that his whole face would break out and get irritated and his tail pocket gets so yeasty, red, and irritated. I put this product in every little crevice he has. It is soooo amazing!! We don't ever travel without it! I will forever buy this product. Lifesaver!" —Heather Erin

Get it from Amazon for $18.70.

Promising review: "This product is great. My puppy is a digger and we have red clay type dirt. It gets her paws clean fast and easily. So much better than having to get a bath every time she digs." —Mandi Bultman

Get it from Amazon for $12.98+ (available in three sizes and six colors).

Promising review: "We have an overweight cat that has trouble grooming her back. She was so full of dandruff and greasy fur that I hated petting her. We took her to the vet, and he thought it was allergies. We tried prednisone for a while, and it was clear she was less itchy, but the dandruff remained. The vet suggested different food, so we switched to a different flavor (different ingredients) in the same line, and there was no change. Our poor girl looked miserable. We decided to try a bath, but she's 13 years old so we knew she wouldn't enjoy it. While looking for a shampoo for her, I came across this product and decided to try it before torturing her with a bath. After the first application there was a huge difference! After the second application, her dandruff is GONE. We spray her down and then brush her. She is so soft and shiny! She finally looks healthy, and feels good to pet." —Amber Steele

Get it from Amazon for $6.99 (or Subscribe & Save for $6.64/month).

Promising review: "I have an auditory processing disorder and that makes squeak toys very difficult for me. I always had to be very careful as to what toys my good girl could have. This has solved all the problems! The only sound I can hear is the air being pushed out and she goes nuts for it! Best of both worlds! If only all dog toys were like this!" —V. F.

Get it from Amazon for $14.94+ (available in six styles).

This automatic feeder can hold up to 12 meals depending on the size of each portion (you can choose from 1/8 cup to 4 cups).

Promising reviews: "We purchased this feeder for our rescued cat Simon, who is an overeater. When found, he was close to starvation and has never adjusted to a normal eating pattern. We found programming the feeder a bit difficult and called the 800 number for help. They were extremely patient, and took us step by step through the process. We have had this for a month, and it is a godsend! Simon often naps on a chair next to his feeder. He knows the sound of his kibble landing in the metal bowl, and makes a mad dash for his meal if he is somewhere else in the house. He receives seven small meals a day between 5:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. He is less frantic about food now, and we are freed up from feeding multiple times a day." —BMoney

Get it from Amazon for $89.95.

Promising review: "I don't usually bother to review but this was so much nicer than I expected! Larger, well made, WOW! I hate to admit senility. I love my dog. Imagine forgetting if I fed her or not? I don't want her overfed or overweight. This is the best thing! I stuck it to the top of her food storage. Now no question. A++++ Seriously such better quality and size than I expected!!!" —Suzy

Get it from Amazon for $11.95 (also available in a cat version).

It also comes with three replacement filters and a mat.

Promising review: "My cat likes to drink out of the toilet. I bought her a $60 stainless-steel teardrop fountain which she never used (not to mention how loud it is). I tried closing the toilet to force her to drink out of it, but then she resorted to meowing next to the sink. So I asked my sister, who is a vet, what I should do. She suggested a flower fountain since cats are more inclined to drink out of them. This thing is amazing. It is DEAD silent with the flower cap on, and without it it has a nice waterfall sound. My cat, even with the toilet bowl open, consistently chooses to drink from this. It's been a lifesaver. I honestly do not have a single bad thing to say about this." —Minno Durkin

Get it from Amazon for $25.99 (available in two colors).

Promising review: "I have an American Staffordshire/Huskey mix and he's about 65 pounds and almost two years old. He is very strong and fast and sometimes needs to get some of his excess energy out with some chewing. I don't get regular or ground up and reformed rawhide just because he eats this too easily and I'm worried about him getting an intestinal blockage. This, though, is great because he can chew like mad but it wears down so much more slowly. Because the manufacturer recommends replacing after a certain amount of wear, I've gone to Subscribe and Save so I can get these monthly." —Kathy Jacobs

Get it from Amazon for $10.88+ (available in four sizes and three flavors).

Promising review: "Exceeded expectations in my 4Runner. Very satisfied customer. Bought this to protect the doors and especially the padded portions on the upper part of the rear doors on my 2006 4Runner. My 65-pound Golden Retriever puppy likes to put his paws on the door to look out, and his claws were creating permanent dents in the soft-touch plastic. Received in good condition, and the fabric is heavy duty. Secondarily, they match well in the gray interior. I was skeptical they would stay in place because the tabs that go in the window channels slid in easily and don't seem to 'lock' in the window channel. In use they work perfectly and don't move at all, even now that he is 65+ pounds. I am 100% happy with these after about a month of use, and they are holding up great with no signs of wear. Would buy again." —old john

Get it from Amazon for $21.95+ (available in three colors).

Each kit comes with a diffuser and refill. This diffuser emits pheromones, which triggers a cat's endocrine system to release calming chemicals. Cats naturally produce these same pheromones, so you don't have to worry about your cat getting into potentially toxic ingredients.

Promising review: "I can't believe how well this worked! We have a malamute puppy, very high energy, and he doesn't like it when my husband leaves the house. He calmed right down. I'm so amazed. I'm ordering refills now. P.S. it smells really good too!!!" —Jeana

Get it from Amazon for $15.90.

Promising review: "We have two Great Dane puppies that get a burst of energy every day around 6 p.m. They run full speed through the house. We send them outside to play but it still doesn't make them tired. We bought the calming treats and started giving them to the puppies around 6 p.m. and by 6:30 they were laying on the couch sleeping." —Smokey

Get it from Amazon for $21.97+.

Promising review: "My little dog loves this dog puzzle! He has very high energy and even with two 30-minute walks every day he can play for hours. We got several different types of dog puzzles and this one is definitely one of the favorites. I hide several small treats in the mat to engage him for 10+ minutes. Out of all the puzzle this was the easiest for him to pick up on but has yet to get bored of it. He knows when I bring it out it means treats!" —Jessica

Get it from Amazon for $15.99.

Promising review: "So I rescued a feral cat after months of befriending her. She is the sweetest and so grateful. One thing though, she has not forgot her times of hunger. She will literally tear bags of cat food open when she has a full bowl just to eat a few pieces. Shreds of paper and random cat food pieces no more! Thank you for this mobile fortress for feline food. It's purrrrfect." —Christa Franklin

Get it from Amazon for $29.96+ (available in 10 colors).

Promising review: "If I could give this a 20-star review I would!!! I have eight dogs and all of them are a major pain to give pills to. I have a rescue bulldog who is on regular medication for life and giving her her daily pills has been a pain in the butt. I have to open her mouth and shove the pills down her throat, which is terrible for me and for her. The only other way I've ever tried is wrapping it in cheese or putting it in a piece of hot dog. And 90% of the time they chew through it and spit the pill out and then I'm resorting back to shoving it down their throat. I saw these as a suggestion on Amazon and I thought I'd give him a try. I will never be without them ever again. Recently I had my bulldog spayed and she came home with kennel cough and gave it to all my dogs, who now all need medication. Not one of my dogs has chewed through it and spit the pills out; they all swallow it instantly. Seriously the best product ever made!!!!!!" —Rachel

Get 30 pockets from Amazon for $9.98 (available in two sizes and other flavors).

Promising review: "When we first got our rescue dog he had extreme separation anxiety. The one time we tried to leave him alone behind a doggy gate, he broke through the gate and chewed a hole through our front door. He's only 26 pounds Needless to say we never felt comfortable leaving him out of his crate setup whenever we had to leave home without him again. We would try for even a few minutes at a time and he would start scratching at the door. Two years later and I had been able to keep gradually increasing his alone time out of the crate bit by bit, but I never felt comfortable going past the lawn for more than 15 minutes. I felt like he had the potential to go longer, but I was too afraid to try it out. A friend recommended this device to me and I am so, so glad I finally decided to give it a try. I was able to leave my home with my dog out of crate FOR OVER AN HOUR. I actually went to the market a few blocks away and got a soda just for the heck of it. Whenever my dog started appearing to look nervous I could talk to him through the camera saying 'good boy, good waiting' and he would calm down. I don't even care about the subscription price, $6 a month is worth it for this. My door is intact. I have peace of mind. I know that now when it's just me and our dog alone, I can leave him at home out of crate to go run an errand or whatever. It might not seem like a big deal to most people but honestly this just amazing for my partner and I (and of course our dog!)" —Twin

Get it from Amazon for $34.99.

Promising review: "I have bought so many pet beds in the last 35 years for all my rescued cats and dogs. I like to be able to wash the beds regularly and give them back to my pet thoroughly dry by the end of the day. So many beds fall apart in the washer, despite gentle cycle and laundry bag, and the stuffing turns into awful weird lumps making bed not very comfy. I washed this bed as soon as it arrived, because of manufacturer chemicals on any pet bed. It held up well in the washer and I was even able to run it through the dryer on gentle cycle in the laundry bag and this is the first pet bed not made with that crappy paper bottom that scorches and tears up with a little dryer heat. My dog loves the bed; it's puffy and comfy and didn't get weird lumps after wash and dry. I'll be buying more of these in the future for my cats. One of the best made and comfy small pet beds I've found in three decades!!! :D" —J. Hyde

Get it from Amazon for $19.74+ (available in a variety of sizes and styles).

Promising review: "We rescued a week-old kitten back in April. Got this heat pad, since kittens cannot generate their own heat at that age. It works well, provided a great amount of heat, and got warm quickly. It has a timer so you just need to set a reminder to adjust once the times runs out (if you need it the pad to provide heat for more time). And the cord was great and sturdy; so I didn't have to worry about her chewing on it has she got older and more curious/playful with her surroundings. It was a smart purchase and I’m thankful we got it." —Cristina

Get it from Amazon for $22.99+ (available in five sizes).

Promising review: "So we rescued a new dog and she had a few accidents in the house and this has been a lifesaver to say the least. It has removed every stain and cleaned every spot where she had the accident or spilled anything. It worked amazingly. I highly recommend this to everyone! A must have for every house with pets and kids." —Jyllian Long

Get it from Amazon for $123.59.

Promising review: "Our cats love their new sunbeds! Perfect for snoozing, spying on the neighbors, and squirrel-watching! Easy to assemble, sturdy, and attractive." —26.2 Mama

Get it from Amazon for $24.99+ (available in two colors).

Promising review: "I honestly can't believe how well this stuff works. Like magic it restored pet claw- AND pet water bowl-damaged wood all over my house. I am amazed at the results. Thank you!" —Nicole Thomas

Get it from Amazon for $9.98+.

Promising review: "My 2-year-old cat was endlessly chewing on my houseplants in winter so I purchased and tried this kit. It was easy to sprout and had a really nice amount of grass within a week. Cat loves this and eats some every morning. After about a month, I've now started a new round of grass and she really enjoys this. My other cat is indifferent. If your cat shows interest in greenery then this will probably satisfy her/him. Very happy with the purchase and also the refill pack." —Julie B

Get it from Amazon for $19.90.

Promising review: "Our cat was destroying the corner of our brand new sectional, so I was excited to try these out. I didn't want to try sprays or anything with pins that puncture the couches. I was a little worried about the quality of the adhesive, but the screen has been holding up and my cat no longer scratches that corner. There are plenty of screens in the package to add more if she finds a new spot." —NKakanis

Get a pack of 10 from Amazon for $18.99.

Promising review: "I got this for my rescue cat who needs to have some attention nearly constantly and does not like the front-loading carriers. This was super easy to clean and perfect for easing his nervousness as he could see everything going on around him." —Samamtha

Get it from Amazon for $27.71+ (available in three sizes).

Promising review: "I love the Door Buddy! I found another use for it. The Door Buddy is also good for introducing a new cat into the household. I adopted a new kitten and my adult cat was outraged! I separated the kitten by putting him in the guest room. After a couple of days I used the Door Buddy to just crack the door open so my adult cat could safely sniff the new kitten. Every two days I adjusted the DB to allow the door to open a little more. In a week my adult cat was trying to play with the kitten through the door! This is a great product and so easy to set up and use. Thanks!" —A. Hill

Get it from Amazon for $16.94.

Promising review: "My dog has had chronic ear infections for years now. Every other month or so she’d get an infection and $200 later we’d have meds from the vet who confirmed what we already knew. I finally decided to give an unprescribed treatment a try and it worked AMAZINGLY. Followed the instructions for a week, and her ear is completely healed! Much easier to pay $20 as opposed to $200 when you get the same results! I highly recommend." —Fromal16

Get it from Amazon for $23.79.

Promising review: "The glove is super comfortable and using it couldn't be more foolproof: just put it on and run your hands through your pet's fur. That's it! The silicone grooves pick up so much fur with ease. Like, my dog looks close to hairless. HOW is he shedding so much!?!? After a few runs, I found that I would have to remove fur from the glove before continuing (you can pick up the fur with your other hand or run the glove under some water — either works) but it's no biggie. The silicone actually makes it really easy to keep this clean. We got Rockie when he was 5 and he’d been riddled with skin issues and allergies, so I was pretty nervous to use anything that could potentially aggravate his conditions. However! Not only does this *not* bother his skin, but he…loves this. A lot. He starts snoring after exactly two run-throughs on his back. Also, his coat looks SO shiny after each use! TL;DR: this is one of those inexpensive add-ons that any pet owner should have on hand." —AnaMaria Glavan

Get it from Amazon for $8.99.

Promising review: "WE FOUND IT! A play ball that can stand up to our 14-week-old part black Lab, part shark. We have tried several toys that would stand up to the extremely sharp teeth. Nothing has worked for over 15 minutes of intensive play time. We heard about this ball from a fellow puppy owner and ordered immediately. Added bonus: She is exhausted after chasing this thing around, so naptime comes quickly." —james Bennett

Get it from Amazon for $14.88+ (available in three styles).

The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.