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1. A hanging, portable, multi-level cat condo for homes where a cat tree will just take up too much space. This condo can easily be put away when needed, easily packed when moving, and just frees up so much floor space!
Promising reviews: "I purchased this because we live in a small home and our cat tree was taking up too much space in the living room. I am super happy with my purchase. I have three cats and they all go in it! In the photo [on the right] on the top is our 16 lb cat and it is holding him good! I was a bit worried when I saw how high it was off the ground but they jump into it easily! I love how much space it has saved me and how easy it was to assemble, it took me like three minutes. Really great material too. I think it is thicker than the canopy for my gazebo haha." —Ariel
"I originally bought this 1.5 years ago because I wanted to give my kitty more space in our micro apartment and create a sort of ladder to the loft. It has since traveled around the country with the kitty and myself. It packs well during a move, is very simple to set up, and provides a nice, high, cozy place for her to watch the apartment from. I feel that this was the best thing I've gotten for her. I bought the small version because my kitty is small. At one point we lived with another, very large (16 lbs) cat who had trouble fitting into the kitty condo and could only fit in the bottom floor." —Rae-O
Get it from Amazon $68.17+ (available in 3- and 5-story sizes, and in colors tan and gray).
2. A collapsible pet bed ottoman that'll fit a cat or a small-sized pup! You'll be able to kick your feet up knowing they're relaxing right below.
P.S. reviewers LOVE the larger size too!
Promising reviews: "I needed to purchase an ottoman for my bedroom and also replace my dogs little dog house. This product is literally perfect! I have a small Maltese who weighs 10 pounds and she absolutely loves it." —Melissa
"The perfect cat bed for my Maine Coons. They got in it immediately. It's large, sturdy, and looks great in my living room. Room for one inside and one on top." —khakitag
Get it from Amazon for $24.99 (available in two sizes and 13 colors/patterns).
3. A multi-tasking dog feeder with bowls, built-in food storage, and a water dispenser so you have everything in one place. The bowl's height is adjustable to fit your pet, it can hold up to 15 pounds of food in the lower section, and to auto-dispense water simply place an upside down water bottle in the designated hole. Mind. Blown. 🤯
Promising review: "We have used this raised feeder for our old dogs for probably 15+ years. You can deploy the top only and get a six inch height in addition to the bottom. They are easy to clean and have held up for many years. Still look like new. The plastic bowl opening fits all our dog dishes (ceramic, metal, and round corning-ware). It is not a cut out like some dog feeders so you can place any type of bowl in the plastic bowl opening...They are nicely visible so you don't trip over them. They don't take up much space and are very stable. Never had one over turned. Keeps our splasher from jumping in the water bowl. We now have 2 old dogs so I was really happy to see them still available." —Colorado
Get it from Amazon for $39.95 (available in three sizes).
4. A wall-mounted scratching post made for cats who like scratching on vertical surfaces (couches, doors, etc.) and sturdy enough for even our chonky fur babies to use without worry of it wobbling around. This design takes up WAY less space than the average scratching post and it's pretty cute too!
This is made of sisal wood, which is stronger and sturdier than cheap cardboard (the common material for scratching posts).
Promising review: "The average cat scratching post is a hideous blend of string and beige carpet that sucks the soul from any room in which it is placed. Not this one. This scratching post is sleek, well made and unassuming, blending easily into any room. It arrived well packaged and was easy to install with the hardware provided. Furthermore, it is robustly constructed and stands up to constant use by my cat." —D James
Get it from Amazon for $39.99.
5. A wood kennel cover so you can maximize space in your small apartment. This will turn that ugly kennel in the corner into a gorge functional piece of furniture.
My Farmhouse Essential is a small business based in Gainesville, Georgia. They create tons of handmade wood work home decor!
Promising review: "Fits the crate perfectly, doesn’t slide around but easy to move when needed. It changes the entire dynamic of the room. Previously I had a metal crate sticking out like a sore thumb. Now I have a beautiful piece of furniture at a very small cost. It also arrived quickly. Very pleased with it and I’ve ordered a second one for a smaller crate." —Alicia Staton
"Buy this if you want to create additional storage or surface area for a studio apartment if you have a dog! High quality and a lot of options to choose from." —Elena
Get it from My Farmhouse Essential on Etsy for $33.14+ (available in six sizes and 11 wood finishes).
6. A couch cover to protect the furniture your pets love laying on. To be fair, lounging options are slim (small space, remember?), and this will make everyone happy!
Promising review: "These are really nice! I wasn't expecting much in the way of quality at this price point but was pleasantly surprised when I opened the package. The fabric is really durable and the construction of the covers is excellent. I bought two of these, the regular-sized couch cover and the oversized chair cover. Both fit perfectly....The fabric on the covers is a microfiber that is very soft while still being tough enough to handle abuse from my four cats. I ordered the green color for my sage green furniture and found the reverse side with the lighter green to be a pretty close match. I haven't used the straps and probably won't. My furniture is made of a micro suede fabric and the covers haven't slipped at all, so there's really no need to strap them down. All in all, very pleased with this purchase. An excellent value!" —Kathy V.
Get it from Amazon for $29.99+ (available in five sizes and 20 colors/patterns).
7. An artificial grass mat for when grass is nowhere close to your apartment and you'd prefer something other than ugly potty pads. It's a great way to train puppies, or just give your adult pup a place to do their business (especially when you don't feel like going outside).
If you've got a balcony or patio, I highly recommend putting the lawn mat there!
Promising review: "This is the greatest thing on earth! OMG. This is so useful for our patio. We are still potty training our puppy and sometimes we let her potty every hour and having this little patch of grass in our patio works wonders. I read on one of the reviews that you can put a puppy pad in between the layers to absorb the pee... We did that and every couple of days we change the pads and once a week we clean the grass and the 2 other plastic layers under it with soap and water, let it air dry. We spray each individual parts with a lemon scented pet deodorizer and a few hours later, it's good as new. It sounds like a lot of work, but if you maintain it - it could last a long time. The grass is pretty good quality (considering our pup only pees on the grass, not poop). Our pup is 13 lbs so far and she's still good with this little patch of grass. If you take care of it and use it with puppy pads, this could last you a long time. Really good purchase in my eyes." —Kym
Get it from Amazon for $17.05+ (available in two sizes).
8. A litter box enclosure disguised as furniture — perhaps one of the most genius inventions for pet parents. With its extra large size, it's big enough to house the litter box, the litter bag, treats, and more. Some reviewers say it's perfect for bunnies too!
Promising reviews: "Very easy to assemble and looks and feels great. The extra storage on the top allows you to put your items on to make it much more discreet! It took me a couple of days to decide whether or not to buy it, but I wish I would’ve bought it sooner. Great addition to my room and overall aesthetic." —Edriane Alvaro
"I agonized over which cat furniture to choose to hide my cat's litter box when moving to a smaller apartment space...I am happy I went with this one, which looks really nice. The instructions were surprisingly good and easy to follow; putting it together was simple. You can put the door on either side, and you can also leave out the middle part to fit a larger box." —Wynne
Get it from Amazon for $159.99 (available in three colors).
9. Or a discreet faux plant litter box if you'd rather fill the space with some greenery. No one will even notice it's where the cat bathroom is!
Promising review: "After four different styles of litter boxes, this one is the winner! More space than most standard boxes and super easy to take apart and clean. The plant is realistic and the pebbles it comes with weigh down the top fairly well. You really don’t need to purchase liner or the feeding trays you see on here, I purchased one and it was too small for the litter box but if you’re good about keeping your litter box clean, this is fairly easy to take outside and wash down. My only complaint is the tabs inside lid meet the box itself, they can come undone if you move the box which will cause urine to accumulate in the lip of the lid/box. As long as the lid is properly attached and aligned, it’s pee-free and bye-bye ugly litter boxes. Great find, great price." —Tyler Cutro
Get it from Amazon for $99.95 (available in gray and white).
10. A small handheld vacuum that's incredibly effective in cleaning up pet hair and is the perfect size for storing in small space/apartment. The special rubber nozzle picks up fur with ease, especially on hard-to-vacuum areas like stairs.
Promising review: "I have tried sooooo many different types of handheld vacuums to get pet hair out. I’ve wasted so much money. UNTIL NOW! I am absolutely mind blown by how well this vacuum works!!! THIS IS A MUST HAVE IF YOU HAVE PETS. It was so easy to use and I love the silicone top because it makes it easy to get into the little cracks of the stairs. I have carpet for the stairs so I didn’t have the issue that others had with the air blowing things to the side. My main goal for this vacuum was to get the hairs that are stuck in the carpet out. Others must be using the vacuum for crumbs. I was so excited by how my stairs turned out, I also used it on my couch to get the little feathers from my pillows out. Worked great. Highly recommend!! —Franchesca Nguyen
Get it from Amazon for $30.99.
11. Or a robot vacuum you can let loose to clean your home without any effort needed on your end. This will help keep every nook and cranny of your home pet hair-free (especially the tiny crevices you can't reach without moving around all the furniture). If you run it a few hours everyday, that'll cut down tons of cleaning time for you later.
This vacuum is self-charging and comes with a charging base, as well as a remote control (batteries included), four side brushes, an AC power adapter, and a cleaning tool.
Promising review: "After running Eufy for nearly two months now, I can confidently say I absolutely LOVE it! It is amazing on my hardwood floors. It picks up sooo much fine dust brought in by my two German Shepards! They shed year-round! And it’s super effective with pet hair! Wow! I use Eufy once a day for a little more than hour, emptying and cleaning the brushes out about three to four times during use. It seriously has been life-changing, keeping my floors cleaner than sweeping! Great purchase and I would highly recommend!!" —Jacqueline M
Get it from Amazon for $159.99 (also available in white).
12. A pop-up pet door that you can easily install in a sliding glass door or window for the cat who loves coming in and out (and back in again). If you've got an enclosed balcony or patio, it works great for when small dogs have to use the bathroom, too!
Pop-Up Pet Door is a Carlsbad, California-based small business specializing in pet doors.
Promising review: "I hunted all over the internet for a dog door that would fit our sliding patio door. Finally stumbled across the Pop-Up Pet Door. After some back and forth with the owner I was able to identify which size was right for our home and about a week after ordering we had our door. Took two minutes to install. It looks GREAT and like it would have cost much more... Overall this is a great purchase and I highly recommend!" —Terri Petti
Get it from Pop-Up Pet Door on Etsy for $59.99 (available in two sizes or customized for your window). A transparent flap is available separately for $17.
13. A coffee table with a pet bed area right below! Throw in your pet's favorite blanket or fluffy bed and you'll find them hanging out there all day long (and not taking up space elsewhere).
14. A roll of double-sided deterrent tape because ruined furniture is way more noticeable in a smaller space. If your fur baby is anything like my cat, the couch corners are fair game. This tape is transparent, so it won't ruin the look of your furniture either.
And yes, it's non-toxic!
Promising reviews: "I used it for my bunny who loved to chew on the baseboards. Whenever he liked to chew i just used this and now he just smells it and won’t chew anymore. Loooove it!! —Cesi Delgado
"It's very sticky and very easy to separate from the backing, and easy to apply to a surface. It's also very easy to cut to size. At first my cats could care less and were still going on the window sill and chewing the blinds. But after a few days they stopped. So it really does work to deter them." —Avid reader
Get it from Amazon for $18.99.
15. And an anti-chew spray for the same very-hard-to-hide-the-damage reason as above. And the best part? Because it's nontoxic and safe for your pet, many dog owners also use this spray to discourage fur biting and hair chewing along with using as a furniture deterrent.
Grannick's is a family-owned small business that focuses on one safe and effective products: the Bitter Apple Taste Deterrent. The formula was created by pharmacist Irv Grannick in the '60s after realizing there was no deterring product that actually worked.
Promising reviews: "My five month old Golden Retriever was not happy being baby-gated into our kitchen, he was tearing everything up! So we used the Bitter Apple on the furniture in the living room so he could roam while we are at work. He hasn't chewed on anything! And we all know how puppy Goldens love to chew!" —MurphyPascal
"I bought this the beginning of last week because my puppy has started teething. She was chewing on all of my furniture (kitchen cabinets, hutch, table, chairs, rug, etc). She would also try to bite my feet. I sprayed this on everything she was chewing (including my socks), twice daily. Within four days, she stopped chewing on everything and now only chews on her toys! A must have for anyone with a puppy! —Regina13
16. A waterproof (and urine-proof) double-layered litter trapping mat to catch any leftover litter before your cat makes the entire home dusty and litter-filled — which can smell especially bad in a small space. When your cat steps out of the litter box, it'll collect the litter with it's honeycomb design, and keep it there until you clean it out!
And in case you're wondering, it is *very* easy to clean. You can open it up (like the photo on the right) and dump leftover litter back in the box, wash it under a sink, or suck up any leftover litter with a vacuum!
Promising review: "Going from no litter mat for this box to using this new mat there is a noticeable decrease in litter strewn across the floor, which is what I wanted. The cats certainly don't mind the texture so they have no problems with it either. Would recommend." —Kelliar
"I was pleased to find that [the litter mat] works very well. The litter falls down the holes and is not seen so it looks clean all the time. Very few granules are being tracked off the mat and I see the litter falling down through to the lower layer to be poured out later." —LyricMama
Get it from Amazon for $15.99+ (available in two sizes and three colors).
17. An odor-eliminating candle because when you're around your pet 24/7, especially in a tiny apartment, you may not even notice the smell taking over your home (trust me, it's there). This candle will make your home smell deliciously clean with scents like apple cider, fresh citrus, vanilla sandalwood, and TONS more.
Each candle is made with 100% soy wax and can burn for up to 60 hours. Feline parents also swear by this product for eliminating odors around the house!
Promising reviews: "These are the best candles for homes with dogs. We have five dogs (yup, five) ranging from a 6-pound Chihuahua to a 95-pound lab. All are rescues and two are seniors. Senior dogs tend to be a little more stinky. These candles are amazing. Even when not lit with the lid off they make the house smell like fresh cut flowers. Light just one and the whole upstairs smells like lilacs. It’s magic. There’s no chemical scent, it really smells like fresh flowers. I’m not a fan of labels on candles, and this one peels off really easily and leaves no sticky residue. You’re left with a beautiful, clean looking, fresh smelling, dog funk eliminating, long and even-burning candle." —Laurel
"I have tried so many candles to kill the odors that I 'think' I smell in my home. I have eight cats and though I know that my house doesn't smell of kitties, I also know that if I 'THINK' it does I have to do everything possible to make me feel better about any kind of odor. These are the best candles out there, I can't say enough about them. I ordered two and have one in my family room in the basement and one upstairs, my WHOLE HOUSE smells incredible. And you can't smell anything. It also takes away cooking odors so it not just for pets." —Kim Judy
BuzzFeed editor Elizabeth Lilly also finds this candle helpful and said:
"Cleo clocks in hours luxuriating on the couch on the reg. So I light this bad boy to make the joint smell nice and eliminate any dog smells. Sure, regular candles help some. But this candle acts fast and I don't have to keep it lit for long, which is safe/good because I'm terribly forgetful. It comes in so many ~regular~ candle smells like Fresh Citrus and Pumpkin Spice — not just the de rigueur odor-neutralizing Clean Laundry or Fresh Air. And in case you're wondering, Mango Peach smells divine."
Get it from Amazon for $22.99+ (available in multiple scents and 2-packs).
18. A small silicone-bristled paw washer that gets the (very important) job done without taking up storage space. With this you can clean muddy or dusty paws quickly and easily.
Promising review: "This works great! Quality is great and it comes apart easily to rinse off every few uses. My 75 lb lab always has dirty feet after a stroll in the winter/spring/fall in the Midwest, and living in an apartment with no garage space or mudroom to clean him up is not ideal! The paw washer is easy to use and after dunking each foot a few times, we just wipe his feet off with a towel to get any remaining (sometimes dirty) water off of his paws without having to give him a full bath. I ordered the Large but we could have probably done better with the medium." —Haley Albright
Get it from Amazon for $12.99+ (available in three sizes and six colors)
19. A tiny but mighty scraper tool you can use to get all of the mountains of fur from your area rugs and carpets. It's so small, it'll barely take up any space in a drawer!
Promising review: "This little miracle tool loosens every little follicle of Gretchen fuzz with ease. I no longer have to worry about getting out of my truck in my favorite corduroy pants looking like I just rode a lama cross-country. All in all, I would highly recommend this product." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $12.
20. A no-rinse waterless dog shampoo because unfortunately, sometimes having a small apartment means you don't have a bathtub (I'm in this boat and it's SO hard!). It's also great for pups that absolutely hate the idea of bath time. It smells amazing (like coconut lime) and a main ingredient is oatmeal, which helps soothe itchy, sensitive, or dry skin.
Promising review: "Smells amazing and doesn’t irritate my dog’s skin. It actually aids in making sure my puppy smells great and lasts for multiple days!" —Sherry K, Target Customer
Get it from Target for $6.19 or from Amazon for $15.
FYI, there's also a waterless cat shampoo version, too!
21. A convertible cat scratching pad that can be used as a side table and a cat toy. It can rotate 90 degrees, hold up to 19 pounds, and can be moved in three different positions!
22. An air purifier to suck up all the pet dander and cleanse the air because it can get a little stuffy in a small space! Reviewers say it also does a great job getting rid of funky animal smells, too.
Promising reviews: "This product is amazing. We do cat rescue...so I'll just leave it at that. It immediately changed the smell in our home. No more smell, unless it's immediately after someone uses a box. Air just smells cleaner, more fresh. We started with one and bought two more!" —M. Otto
"I originally bought this product because of my family's pet allergies. The purifier is compact and extremely quiet (compared to my previous experiences with other purifiers). So far so good! No one in my home has any pet allergic reactions and it really helps the smell. This device really helps regulate the air and I basically use this 24/7. The nightlight comes in handy and my pup sleeps next to the purifier 75% of the time. I really recommend this product to anyone with allergies, pets, or stuffy houses." —Lien Nguyen
Get it from Amazon for $89.99 (available in black and white).
23. A cozy window hammock so your cat has a comfy spot at their favorite place: the window! If you can't find them, they're probably soaking up the sun while laying on this guy.
This hammock is pretty sturdy and can hold up up to 40 lbs! And to fold (in case you want to close your blinds) simply take the two bottom poles out of the suction cups and the hammock will hang vertically.
Promising review: "I used to have a dresser against the window and my cat would hang out on it to sightsee. But when I moved the dresser away, I knew I needed to get a cat perch. This product is an absolute winner. Really well-made in my opinion. The mesh mat is very sturdy and the extra flannel is a bonus. I like that you can tie the flannel down so it won’t move around. The frame, though plastic, is lightweight (doesn’t add to weight) yet sturdy and the suction cups and wires are very sturdy too. It only came crashing down once BUT that was my error - I didn’t wipe off the window to clean. But when I did, I DAMPENED THE WINDOW where I attached the suction cups and since then it never came down." —Jennifer
Get it from Amazon for $22.99.
24. A calming diffuser kit for anxious pets, because sometimes a small space and no place to run can be a little stressful. This diffuser releases pheromones with a lavender aroma that helps cats (and even dogs, according to reviewers) relax. It also works great if your pet is having trouble adjusting to new surroundings or has separation anxiety.
Cats naturally produce the same pheromones in the diffuser (minus the lavender scent), so you don't have to worry about your cat getting into potentially toxic ingredients.
Promising reviews: "I was hesitant to purchase this because I have tried everything to help my small dog with anxiety and chewing when I’m not around. I could tell a difference in his reduced chewing and lack of pacing in front of the door. Does not have a bad smell and works for my whole living area. Great product!" —Sam
"Bought this on recommendation of my vet for my cat, but what I really noticed was my dog, who was chewing on everything in my house; started only chewing on his dog toys." —Kimberly LaRose
"Our cat chews on random things, we got this and she stopped. It ran out and she started chewing again, so it must be helping her!" —Jodi
Get it from Amazon for $19.40.
25. A stylish accent table/cat bed hybrid that'll be the perfect home for your record player, plants, and little fur baby. Aside from the two include drawers, it also has four lower shelves complete with a cat bed, a play shelf, and a hanging ball for extra entertainment.
Get it from Wayfair for $219.99 (originally $349.99).
Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.
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