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May 21, 2023

33 Pet

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 you're definitely *not* trying to make your life harder.

BuzzFeed Staff

Promising review: "Love this carrier. It fits our 12-pound maltipoo comfortably. She loves her bag and jumps into it on her own when she knows we’re going somewhere. We originally purchased it for a long flight. Our dog did well in it. It was a little snug under foot on the flight but it fit. We bought this in 2016 and still use it very regularly and frequently. It's very durable and breathable. The only con I can think of is I wish the straps were padded as it quickly becomes uncomfortable on our shoulder. We also purchased a little cushioned pad for comfort as it only comes with a little strip of material on the inside. Overall great bag." —L&BR

Get it from Amazon for $27.99+ (available in three sizes).

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 $20.97+ (available in five formulas).

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 $13.45+ (available in two sizes and six animal designs).

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: "I put on my dog after cleaning her paws from her walks outside she loves it. Waits for me to apply after cleaning her paws." —G.

Get it from Amazon for $9.99.

Promising review: "I have five dogs, three of them being German shepherds who are constant shedders. I have tried a number of brushes and lint rollers and none of them can keep up with my ChomChom. It picks up fur super well, is easy to clean out, and the best part...no messing with old sticky lint roller paper that gets full after a few sweeps and no refills! 100% human recommended and 10 paws up 🐾 🐾" —Tessa Brown

Get it from Amazon for $24.99 (clip the $5 off coupon for this price!).

By the way, some reviewers say this elevated bed is great for cats, too!

Promising review: "I am so happy that I bought this for my pup!! We hang out together outside and I don't worry about bugs/ants from the ground getting to him, he loves to lay on the hammock as I call it and he looks like a king! The other great part was it took NO TOOLS and I had it together under 15 minutes (and I'm not the savviest)." —Mary

Get it from Amazon for $54.95+ (available in two sizes, nine colors, and with or without a canopy).

Meowy Janes is a wonderfully named small business based in Allentown, 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 a pack of 7–9 sticks from Amazon for $10.21 and Meowy Janes on Etsy for $11.85.

It also comes with three replacement filters and a mat.

Promising review: "Totally worth it! This fountain is wonderful, especially if you have a cat who you are worried isn't hydrating enough. As desert creatures, cats don't always drink enough water, so if you don't give yours wet food, at least give them a flowing water source so they will be more interested in drinking. It's good for their kidney health. Both of my cats favor this fountain over their water bowls. It's easy to take apart, change the filter, clean, and reassemble. If you overfill it, the babbling brook sound can be distracting, but if you use just the right amount of water, it runs very quietly. The only thing I would change is the power cord; it'd be nice if it were a light blue that matched the rest of the fountain." —Amazon Customer

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

Promising review: "I don't know who enjoys this toy more, me or my dog lol. It takes so much pressure off of me not being able to throw the ball far for my little Energizer Bunny. I take it to the dog park and all the dogs love how far the ball can go. 10 out of 10!" —Ashley Williams

Get it from Amazon for $9.88+ (available in a variety of sizes and styles).

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: "We have a senior tuxedo kitty with excessive dandruff. We added several humidifiers in the house and tried using the dander wipes, but it really didn't have much of an effect, even if we tried wiping his back in the opposite direction so it would get under his fur. We also tried adding salmon oil to his diet, which also didn't seem to make a difference. This spray really did the trick though! I'm amazed and wish I had tried it sooner! Even after one use we could see a major difference. We just spray it all over his back and brush it through, twice daily, and the dandruff is pretty much gone! He loves to get brushed and will actually turn his back toward us now when he sees us holding the Burt's Bees bottle, as if he knows it's time to get brushed haha. Highly recommend trying this if you have a cat with excessive dandruff." —CRYSTAL

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

It also comes with catnip. These boards from Amazon are a cheaper alternative if your kitty loves scratching cardboard.

Promising review: "Maine Coon approved. My cat destroys small scratch pads. I wanted something she could get really aggressive with so that she would get bored with the carpet. She loves it. She even sleeps on it some nights. Holds up very well to my fairly large girl's claws." —Malcolm

Get it from Amazon for $98.30.

Promising review: "My cat loved scratching my couch instead of her cat scratcher. I assumed it was because the couch is a lot sturdier than the post, so I stumbled across this and knew it would be perfect. She loves this because she can press into something sturdy while scratching and knows to use this rather than my poor couch. Installation on dry wall can be tricky since getting the inserts in require a bigger hole, so be prepared to use a power drill. Otherwise, the installation was so worth it!" —Brittney Koehler

Get it from Amazon for $39.99.

Promising review: "My dogs love this pool, and it has given us hours of entertainment so far. My two smallish terriers are not the most gentle of creatures and so far it is holding up to their abuse: crashing over the sides, digging at their toys on the bottom, stepping on it so water spills out, general roughhouse play. The vinyl appears heavy duty and the boards inside are quite thick. Very happy with it so far...it's definitely going to be a big hit this COVID-19/social distancing summer with the entire family!" —MLA

Get it from Amazon for $26.99+ (available in five sizes).

Promising review: "Effective and my dog loves it. My pug is really vulnerable to buildup and infection in his wrinkles even when we clean them out regularly. Using the wrinkle paste helps sort of like lip balm. It definitely keeps the moisture out and he even enjoys licking up the excess. I will say that when it says to make sure the paste is applied directly to skin (not just added to the wrinkle) they really mean it. It's significantly more effective when it's REALLY in there. Overall really great product that I would definitely recommend." —Yaya

Get it from Amazon for $18.70 (also available as wipes!)

Promising review: "So glad I decided to buy this! I fill it with a portion of my puppy's meal and seal the top with either pumpkin, peanut butter or plain Greek yogurt. My puppy loves it and it keeps her busy for a little while! Usually tired her out after, too. It's also super durable, which is a huge plus for my chewer! Worth every penny!" —Cara Giannetto

Get it from Amazon for $15.16+ (available in two sizes and three colors).

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 $11.37.

This slicker brush retracts so the fur comes off the bristles cleanly and in one easy-to-toss chunk.

Promising review: "My cat has short hair but a thick undercoat. I have tried other types of brushes and they don't get much hair at all. Now, I KNOW this cat sheds cause when I go to pet him, it's like a puff of hair in the air. I was on Amazon and found this one and thought I'd give it a try and I am SO glad I did! I brush him two to three times a day and I always find a good amount on the brush. I didn't think I would care that it was self cleaning, but it is seriously the best feature about this brush. So easy! He loves how it feels and I love how it works. I do have another cat who doesn't care for it, but she is picky about everything, so oh well! Haha! It is worth a try, cat owners!" —Adam&Darylyn

Get it from Amazon for $16.99+ (available in two sizes and three styles).

Promising review: "I have tried every kind of brush on the market to reduce the huge fur bunnies in my house. This one is IT. My German shepherd sheds year round. HUGE HANDFULS of fur. I dare not wear dark clothing ever. I committed to brushing her daily and went on a search for a brush that both worked well AND she would tolerate. The wire brushes hurt her sensitive skin. Bristle brushes are too hard to clean. THIS thing she LOVES! Even on her tail which has always been a sore spot. The middle section has teeth closer together and does pull a bit more, but she doesn't mind it at all. IT REMOVES LOOSE FUR! If I could do a dance video with the FURminator, I would! Trudy and I both are so happy!" —debbie lincoln

Get it from Amazon for $12.99.

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 $35.99+ (available in three colors).

Promising reviews: "My dog loves it. She actually asks for this to be put into her ears and if she were a cat you could hear her purr." —Carol

"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.

For a catnip recharge, pop the balls back in the tin so they soak up more of the catnip smell (from the capsules in the tin) and your cat will be ready to play with them all over again.

Simply B Vermont is a small business located in Vermont. They make all kinds of adorable pet accessories and toys for cats AND dogs.

Promising review: "Fast shipping, seller was super thoughtful and attentive, and most important of all our kitties are obsessed with these balls! Even my shyer one is running around with these having an absolute blast even without my tossing them around. It's also wearing her out which is quite hard to do. Highly recommend!" —Ketti Schulenberg

Get a set from Simply B Vermont on Etsy for $15 (available in three colors).

Promising review: "One thing I always struggle with is finding a puzzle-type toy for my dog to use that doesn't get solved in 10 seconds and is durable enough to withstand a 55-pound shepherd mix. This definitely works! It's marketed for diggers but it's also great for sniffers!" —LL

Get it from Amazon for $79.99 (available in two styles).

Promising review: "Our dog loves getting his peanut butter, yogurt, etc. on these mats. They’re great frozen as well for prolonged enjoyment. They clean up easy too with hot water; add some soap and a scrub brush. Definitely recommend!!" —Susan

Get it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in three styles and in packs of two).

Promising review: "The Benebone wishbone is awesome. My dog is an aggressive chewer. If you have a dog like this you know what I mean. You give them a bone that's supposed to last a while, and 20 minutes later there are only bits left, and that's if your lucky. Our dog loves this bone, and it has really lasted! We could hardly believe it!!! Now that's a durable bone!" —Sarah G.

Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in four sizes and three flavors).

Promising review: "My cat loves to hunt so he uses it to hide in the tunnels and then jump out at us and try to scare us. Lol! He plays with it every day. He has his claws and there are no holes in the tunnel and we have had it for months. The only complaint is it weighs nothing so it's always blowing around. Guess that's just the life of a cat owner." —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $12.99+ (available in four colors and patterns).

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: "Our puppy loves this! We used it to lure her into her crate and be comfortable spending time in there. The licking is self-soothing, and it is great having something cold for her sore mouth while she is teething. She hasn't been biting or chewing on it, but having something cold has stopped her from chewing up other items! We are also in a humid climate where the average temperatures have been in the high 90s and low 100s so having something cold to cool her off really helps. We purchased other similar items (like lick mats) but they have not worked nearly as well, and they don't have a cover! The cover is key to being able to freeze this and keep it clean between uses." —LadyTodd

Get it from Amazon for $34 (available in six colors).

Promising review: "My dog Hazel LOVES this duck! She has had it for nine months now, and it's still intact! It somehow made it through her teething as a puppy. She rips and tears apart all of her toys, but this one still looks decent!" —Emily A

Get it from Amazon for $7.90.

Check out my coworker's Multipet Duckworth duck toy review for more deets!

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 $3.99.

Promising review: "We have an 8-month-old corgi pup, and she loves this thing. We play together in the back yard a game like soccer. I kick the ball, she chases it, and then tries to roll it behind me. She barks at it, tries to mimic the noises it makes, and just has a grand time. We’ve played with it for at least a half hour a day and she does not get bored. Usually, she wears me out and I have to pack it in; I’m not so puppy. Great toy for price. Winnie gives it 5 paws." —marcia weaver

Get it from Amazon for $13.04+ (available in three styles).

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

Promising review: She loves her bag and jumps into it on her own when she knows we’re going somewhere. Promising review: once he got a hang of it he's been loving it Very easy to put together and place on the wall. Promising review: We tried changing food, Benadryl, medicated shampoo, fish oil, everything you can imagine... nothing worked long-term 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. Promising review: she goes nuts for it Promising review: It was easy to sprout and had a really nice amount of grass within a week. Cat loves this and eats some every morning. My other cat is indifferent. If your cat shows interest in greenery then this will probably satisfy her/him. Promising review: Promising review: none of them can keep up with my ChomChom 100% human recommended and 10 paws up Promising review: Promising review: Promising review: This fountain is wonderful, especially if you have a cat who you are worried isn't hydrating enough. Both of my cats favor this fountain over their water bowls. Promising review: I don't know who enjoys this toy more, me or my dog lol. Promising review: He took to it right away and his nails have shown significant improvement in just a few sessions! Promising review: This spray really did the trick though! I'm amazed and wish I had tried it sooner! He loves to get brushed and will actually turn his back toward us now when he sees us holding the Burt's Bees bottle Promising review: Promising review: Promising review: it has given us hours of entertainment so far it is holding up to their abuse it's definitely going to be a big hit this COVID-19/social distancing summer with the entire family! Promising review: It definitely keeps the moisture out and he even enjoys licking up the excess. Promising review: Promising review: Turns out it basically hypnotizes her to sleep. She crawls to it, kneads it, and eventually her meows turn to silence. Promising review: I didn't think I would care that it was self cleaning, but it is seriously the best feature about this brush. So easy! Promising review: THIS thing she LOVES! Promising review: 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! Promising reviews: She actually asks for this to be put into her ears and if she were a cat you could hear her purr. 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! Promising review: Even my shyer one is running around with these having an absolute blast even without my tossing them around. Promising review: This definitely works! It's marketed for diggers but it's also great for sniffers! Promising review: Promising review: Our dog loves this bone, and it has really lasted! Promising review: Promising review: The glove is super comfortable and using it couldn't be more foolproof: 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. TL;DR: this is one of those inexpensive add-ons that any pet owner should have on hand. Promising review: Promising review: She has had it for nine months now, and it's still intact! She rips and tears apart all of her toys, but this one still looks decent! Promising review: He plays with this until he's panting like a dog and I have never seen him jump so high. He loves it! I highly recommend it! Promising review: she loves this thing We’ve played with it for at least a half hour a day and she does not get bored. Great toy for price. Winnie gives it 5 paws.
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