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1. A self-grooming toy if your baby needs 24/7 scritches and scratches and they just don't get the fact that you can't do that while you sleep/eat/use the bathroom.
Promising review: "If you have a cat, BUY THIS NOW! My kitty boy is IN LOVE with this product! He immediately started rubbing on it when I set it up, and once he got in the groove of it, he was going nonstop for like five minutes! The bristles are firm, but not so much that a cat can unintentionally hurt themself on it. It's also great for brushing off shedding fur on the head area, and it catches a lot of it, although some ends up in a clump on my boy's neck (which I think is hilarious). Overall, this was a $5 product that I would pay $10+ for, and I'm over the moon with it!" —Emily Boyles
Get it from Amazon for $5.50.
2. A snout-soothing stick that helps with all sorts of nose woes from run-of-the-mill dryness and cracks to overgrowths and hyperkeratosis. The all-natural formula — with hemp seed oil, chamomile, jojoba oil, rosemary, and vitamin E — also includes SPF so it'll protect their snoot from the sun, too.
Promising review: "Buy this now! I have a boxer who has had a puffy nose that looked like extra skin growth for years. I tried coconut oil, aloe, other creams with no impact. The vet said it could be a skin growth, and we had given up hope. I saw an ad for this on Facebook and decided to give it a try. Within three days, his nose is back to normal. I cannot stress enough how appreciative I am of this product!!!!" —Shelby Morales
Get it from Amazon for $5.65.
3. A slow feeding bowl if your pup is known for scarfing down their dinner and then promptly throwing it back up ~completely~ unchewed.
Promising review: "These dog bowls are amazing! I got three different shapes so I could switch them out to keep eating a challenge, which is good mental stimulation for dogs. This completely solved the eating-too-fast problem. Both dogs adapted easily to using them. These were well worth the money. These bowls do make them drool more when eating, but I just throw them in the dishwasher regularly, and that takes care of the cleaning." –Rachel
Get it from Amazon for $7.56+ (available in three sizes and 12 colors and designs).
4. A cat dancing toy that literally costs less than $2 (it's just a steel wire with some rolled cardboard on the end) but proves IRRESISTIBLE to kitty babies the world over.
Promising review: "This is the best $ I've ever spent on a cat toy. She goes WILD! Even GLADLY flew into a TV once cause she was flying after it. No harm, she just grabbed it in her mouth, trotted to the kitchen, and continued to chase! I don't know if it looks like a bug to them or what, but I'm getting one for every cat owner I know. It's such a surprisingly great buy. I think even Big Cats would like this. Buy it now! It's only a few bucks. :)" —ShawnaO Reviews
Get it from Amazon for $1.73.
5. A trusty lick mat you can slather in wet food, lactose-free yogurt, or peanut butter. Your pup will think they won the lottery, *and* you'll get a few minutes to yourself while they scrounge for every last drop of food.
Promising review: "Puppy owners — buy this now! My puppy loves these! Only complaint is the orange one is way harder to clean." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $7.99+ (available in three styles and colors).
6. A bag of Pill Pockets if your pup has outsmarted your "hide it in a piece of cheese" ruse and is now refusing to take their meds.
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 them 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 $7.58+ (available in three sizes and other flavors).
7. A tub of paw butter that soothes dry and cracked tootsies (and even noses) with a pH-balanced blend of shea butter, oatmeal, mango, vitamins E and F, coconut and olive oils, and aloe vera.
Promising review: "The smell was amazing! Even my pickiest didn’t mind having this on his paws, and he hates a lot of smells. It melts in quickly and leaves the paws soft and smooth. It does leave grease tracks on the floor, so I wouldn’t use this on my carpet — I try to keep them to the tile until the paw butter absorbs into their paw. The product works well and smells good." —Jayme M
Get it from Amazon for $7.48.
8. A trusty box of Greenies in oven-roasted chicken flavor, because if there's one thing your cat loves more than endless pets, it's the sweet, sweet sound of a shaken treat container.
Promising review: "We have three cats in our household. One is a picky eater that, for the most part, won't eat any treats... He just doesn't like them. Our little fat guy likes to snuggle up and purr right in our face. He opens his mouth and purrs, and it's really loud — and this exposes his atrocious breath! He's so loving, but his breath makes me gag. I bought these treats hoping to improve his breath, and the day we got them, all of our cats devoured them (I gave them about six treats each). In fact, after I put them away, our Maine Coon got on the kitchen counter and was trying to knock the treat container down to open it up. He definitely wanted more. The very next morning, our little fat guy did not have bad breath! It was that quick for him! It's almost unbelievable. His breath was so bad — I can't even describe it. Now I smell nothing. And they all LOVE the treats. I have never seen these cats go for any treat with as much enthusiasm. Buy these now — your cats will be sooooo happy." —Sheila B.
Get them from Amazon for $2.34+ (available in six sizes).
9. A Jolly Ball that owners of German Shepherds, Border Collies, Boxers, Pit Bulls, and mutts of all shapes and sizes say is nearly indestructible! One pet parent also says it's a great way to release pent-up "squirrel aggression" LOL.
Promising review: We have a high-energy, 50-pound Kelpie-Collie (Australian Kelpie and Border Collie mix) who is ball-bonkers and were looking for something new for her to race after. As a puppy, she had a tug-rope that she loved to chase, and the Jolly Ball fit the bill for a replacement. She is absolutely NUTS about this toy and immediately picked up how to play with it. So far, the Jolly Ball has held up to fetch, tug-of-war, and rigorous head-tossing without issue. The rope is woven cotton, and the ball is a thin but durable-seeming rubber. My only surprise was how large the ball actually was, as I had expected it to be along the same lines of a tennis ball. We got the small size and, honestly, I think it works perfectly for our medium-size dog. Overall, very satisfied!" —AJ
Get it from Amazon for $9.50+ (available in three sizes and six colors).
10. An adjustable lizard leash you can use to take your bearded dragon on a walk around the block if you want to feel like the Khaleesi of your neighborhood.
11. A Gumby plushie if your pup LOVES a toy with a squeaker and won't know peace until they've found a way to rip it out.
Promising review: "My mini golden doodle loves this toy; we have purchased three already...one for my 'dog nephew' and two for my dog (one for now one for later). You can’t beat the price…my local store sells it for way more. Buy it; you won’t regret it! My dog isn’t a destroyer so it’s still in one piece and staying strong!" —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $2.79.
12. Or a Lambchop plushie for millennial pet parents who buy their baby toys based on their own nostalgia. (Guilty 🙋♀️)
Promising review: "Lambchop is the only toy my Maltipoo loves, and loves to tear apart. Within 30 minutes, Sugar has silenced the lamb by gnawing off the face. I just shove the stuffing back in it, sew it up, and the lamb is ready for another attack. I buy them in bulk because killer reduces them to pulp within a month. That's OK. Being a dog can be boring. Sacrificing these lambs is her greatest enjoyment in life, after belly rubs. Warning: There are five plastic squeakers inside the lamb, which are easily removed by my 8-pound mass murderer. I wouldn't leave her unattended when she's playing with Lambchop." —Dee
Get it from Amazon for $5.
13. A catnip-filled carrot your fur child can bunny kick as hard as it wants. That way, your arm (or other cat) can catch a break.
I've had this toy for ~two years now and even though the catnip has long warn off, it's still my cat Salty's favorite toy. She chases it up and down the hall (it has great weight, so it's easily toss-able), and she likes to lick and groom the feathers as if they were another cat, and I just find that SO freaking cute.
Promising review: "Buy this NOW! You won't be disappointed! My cats are in LOVE with this thing! I've never purchased a cat toy before that ALL of my cats play with, and it's hilarious watching them interact with the carrot. GREAT PRODUCT!!!" —amber lenz
Get it from Amazon for $3.95.
14. A set of seagrass and rattan balls if you're looking to enrich the life of your chinchilla, guinea pig, rat, rabbit, hamster, or gerbil. Who says cats and dogs get to have all the fun??
Promising review: "I have ordered these a few times now. I have a pet bunny, and he absolutely loves to chew these up. Since bunnies' teeth don't stop growing and constantly need to chew on things, I found these to be absolutely perfect for him. Will keep ordering more." –Karisa Orner
Get it from Amazon for $7.99+ (available in a pack of three or four).
15. And a grooming glove so you can give your pet all the love they desire while covertly brushing away mats and tangles, too. Use it on wet or dry fur (it's great in the bath) and on your feline friends as well.
Promising review: "Fantastic dog grooming aid! Our older rescue dog isn't too keen on the routine dog brushing stuff, but her thick coat really needs the grooming — this dog grooming glove is the exact right answer. Put the glove on, pet the dog, and all that loose hair comes away, leaving her coat feeling so much smoother and softer, without causing her to be nervous or upset over a brushing. Highly recommend, and yes I'm going to be ordering as gifts for a couple of other dog owners I know!" —DSP
Get it from Amazon for $7.99+ (available in three colors).
16. A twist-to-lock bird bath with just enough room for your lovebirds, canaries, finches, parakeets, and cockatiels to take a refreshing lil' dip.
Promising review: "I've owned my budgies for a little over two years, and they have never seen them show ANY interest in bathing, and I always thought that was so weird. I’d offer different ways, but nothing worked. I got this bird bath and hooked it into their cage, and they used it within five minutes of it being there. I was floored! It's the perfect size for them, and I am very pleased with my purchase. Highly recommend!" —Sara
Get it from Chewy for $7.97.
17. A pack of all-natural matabi chew sticks — a catnip alternative that's somehow even more tantalizing than anything they've tried before.
Meowy Janes is a New Jersey–based small business that specializes in catnip alternatives. They work with sustainable, family-owned farms to source their natural products.
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: "I have two cats, one special needs almost blind kitty, and one very lovey-dovey, very vocal kitty. The special needs kitty has not warmed up to these yet, but she usually needs extra time with new things. But my talkative kitty just loves them! I scraped off some bark as instructed, and she gnawed, tossed, chased, and altogether enjoyed them." —Grace Cook
Get them from Amazon for $9.97 or spend just a bit more and get them directly from Meowy Janes on Etsy for $10.97.
18. Some doggie-friendly "Sniffingtons" bubbles — in enticing flavors like pumpkin pie, root beer float, and toasty marshmallow — they can chase, pop, and even catch on their tongue like a lil' snowflake if they happen to be the most delicate dog in the world. (My dog could never.)
BTW — Sniffingtons is a small Greenville, South Carolina–based shop specializing in enrichment products for dogs and cats!
Promising review: "My pup, Toby, is a 2.5-year-old cavalier who loves bubbles. After catching them, he’d often give us an 'ewww' look, as they tasted like soap. Until these. He LOVES these bubbles and seems to love the taste of them, too! I will gladly buy these again and continue letting him feed his bubble-obsession in a tasty way! In addition, when I needed help with my order, Ash was so kind and gave me the help I needed! Highly recommend this shop!" —Elizabeth
Get it from Sniffingtons on Etsy for $8.50 (available in 15 scents).
19. A $4 piece of string on a stick that will make your cat happier than any expensive electronic toy or even the box said toy comes in!
This is inexplicably my cat Clementine's favorite thing in the whole wide world. Whenever I think of Linus from Peanuts, I think of his blanket, and whenever I think of Clemmy, I think of her string on a stick.
Promising review: "My husband says, 'It’s just a strip of cloth on a stick!' Yet our two boys know the cloth has just the right pattern, strength, and floatiness to make it fascinating to cat brains! When the strip is shaken rapidly in mid-air over their heads, the pattern appears to strobe, and they go wacky! Good jumping exercise!" —dc99
Get it from Chewy for $4.14.
20. A ChuckIt! ball launcher for pups who are *always* game to make fetch happen. Plus, this way, you don't have to pick up slobbery balls. It's a win-win.
Promising review: "My pup loves playing ball. ChuckIt! makes my life so much easier as I don’t throw my arm out and can play for a longer period of time with her. Great investment!!" —CK67
Get it from Chewy for $8.74 (originally $12.99) or Amazon for $7.48+ (available in three sizes and six lengths).
21. A box of Lil' Soups so when you order a three-course takeout meal, your cats can also partake in appetizers of their own.
My cats go WILD for these. So much so that I now give it to them like once a month because they will hunger strike for them if they know they're in the house. So far, we've tried the sockeye salmon, shrimp in chicken broth, and chicken and butternut squash, which is, surprisingly, their favorite.
Promising review: "OK, my cat is absurdly spoiled. I tell him regularly that he’s a brat and that there are starving cats who will eat pate, but he doesn’t care. He’s almost 10 and recently he really only eats the gravy/liquid from his wet foods. I tried Friskies gravy sensations, had to give them away. Same with Fancy Feast gravy lovers and Fancy Feast broths. He would look at me, disgusted, like I’d offended him by even bringing the bowl by him, and then ignore the food until I threw it out. Sometimes, he would lick the top a few times and leave the shreds of meat. He eats these 'soups' like a Hoover vacuum. I’ve actually timed it, and he can eat one in less than a minute. The vet says there’s nothing wrong; he’s just a pig. He’s never even competed for food; we’ve had him since he was 6 weeks old. I’d post a pic of the food, but I can’t open one without being bombarded by cat yells. They look kind of like gritty cream sauce (ew) and smell like all canned cat food, vaguely fishy." —Cat
Get a pack of eight from Amazon for $8.36+ (available in six flavors).
22. A hide-and-seek hedgehog puzzle with three squeaky plushies your pal can dig, dig, dig at until freeing them (or forcing them...really) from their den.
Promising review: "This has become the new favorite for my 3-year-old chihuahua. This is our first experience with a puzzle, so I was not sure what to expect. Not only did he immediately figure out how to pull the animals out of the den, and love it, but he also loves to play with the soft squeaky animals separately. The price and quality are great. Just one recommendation: Order extra hedgehogs if you have a killer like mine." —Finn
Get it from Chewy for $8.99 (originally $15).
23. A set of raised bowls that are not only super cute (the pastels!), but also ergonomically designed so your cat can eat in a comfortable position and avoid whisker fatigue.
When my cats were itty bitty kittens, they used to eat out of ramekin-style bowls, but as they got bigger, it was apparent they didn't like this setup anymore. With these bowls, they don't have to hunch, and since they're wide and shallow, their whiskers don't rub against the sides of their bowls as they eat.
Promising review: "I realized our cats would both occasionally stop eating and have a bit of a wheezing cough for a few minutes that looked and sounded very dramatic. We had to calm them until it was over, and it was stressful. It occurred to me they were having to eat pretty much at the floor level, and I had read somewhere that they should be eating up a bit higher off the floor. I got these to see if the cough would stop if they were eating a bit higher. I'm thrilled to say that did the trick. Neither of them have had the cough again while eating since we started with these bowls about a month ago. Not even once! I originally thought of just propping their normal bowls up higher, but one of them constantly tries to bury the bowl when she doesn't eat all of her dinner. She would knock the bowl over, making a mess. Super glad we tried these out. I bought one set, and when it was successful I bought two more so I could rotate them. We clean them using the dishwasher, just not every day. We also use them for their dry food and their water now as well. GREAT product! Sturdy and I think they're going to last us a long long time." —PBV
Get two from Amazon for $7.71+ (available in three styles and with or without a mat).
24. A carton of maple bacon doggie ice cream to reward them after the traumatic experience that was you barely grazing their toenail when getting off the couch.
The ice cream comes powdered, so you don't have to worry about it melting before it makes it to your house. Just mix the lactose-free whole milk, evaporated cane juice, gelatin, natural maple bacon flavor, and salt with a bit of water, place it in the freezer, and it's ready to go in a couple of hours.
Promising review: "The packaging is absolutely genius! You mix the powdered content with water and then freeze it to get ice cream for your pup. My dog goes absolutely wild for this; it might be his most favorite treat of all! He’s 23 pounds, so I give him about a tablespoon at a time, and he starts freezing after about a quarter of that amount, but he’ll lick it all up and look for more regardless. Some reviewers criticized the product for not being healthy and the nutritional facts not being disclosed well enough, but since this is meant to be an occasional treat and not a staple part of dogster’s diet, I’m not worried about the nutritional value, just about the enjoyment it brings him. We will definitely get more in the future; he’s a very spoiled pooch." —readalot
Get it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in five flavors).
25. A 12-piece set of spiral springs if your cat is ~basic~ and will play with just about anything. (PS: That isn't a dig — I'm simply jealous because my picky cats would never.)
Promising review: "I do cat foster care and have 18 cats in my house right now (I KNOW!). They all love these ridiculous little springs. I don't get it. Because they roll and bounce, they have just enough movement for everyone to be running after them. BE PREPARED. They will be found under every appliance, door, and piece of furniture you own. Do yourself a favor. They are cheap — order two packs right away." —Mixed Blessings
Get the 12-piece set from Amazon for $6.59.
26. A pair of polarized doggie goggles should your pup's *absolute* favorite activity be sticking their head out of a car window while going 60 mph. The lenses offer UV protection, and side air holes prevent them from fogging up so your bebe will have an optimal view.
Paw 2 Paws is a small business that specializes in stylish and affordable pet gear. These goggles have an adjustable elastic chin strap and headband that ensures a tight, secure fit.
Promising review: "The sun glasses fit my Newfoundland dog. Spud let me put them on and tolerated them well. We will be using them this summer when camping in the desert, and it should keep the sun exposure down. Thank you." —Colette Taylor
Get it from Paw 2 Paws on Etsy for $9.99 (available in six colors).
27. A glow-in-the-dark ball for babies that insist on late-night romps around the backyard. It remains lit for 20 to 30 minutes after just ~5~ minutes of light exposure so you can fit in a good game of fetch before it loses its magic.
Promising review: "I initially ordered these because my dog loves to play fetch, especially to get her energy out, but by the time I got home from work it is dark outside. I bought these hoping that we could still play fetch in the dark. Sure enough it was the answer I was hoping for! They are very bright and can be seen in the dark. In order for them to be brightly illuminated and glowing, you have to hold them up to a light for a minute or so, but totally worth it. My dog just likes to just chew on them as well. She is an avid chewer, and the ball has not been damaged yet, and she has been playing with them for over a month. Highly recommend!" —Bruce Hathaway
Get it from Amazon for $6.95+ (available in sizes S–XL).
28. A pack of long-lasting cheese-flavored chews that'll keep your hamster/ gerbil/mouse/rat's teeth in tip-top shape while also giving them a fun new toy to explore.
29. An all-natural itch relief shampoo bar made for fur babies with sensitive skin, hot spots, and/or seasonal allergies. The pet-safe formula includes olive, coconut, castor, and lavender oils as well as apple cider vinegar, which soothes irritated skin.
Simple Sage Dog Treats is a small business based in Norcross, Georgia, that specializes in all-natural paw balms and soaps for dogs with allergies or skin conditions.
Promising review: "Great product! Very helpful! AMAZING! My dog doesn’t itch anymore, and surprisingly it’s soothing for her. Usually after the bath she sleeps or lays down for hours. Just great." —T. French
Get it from Simply Sage Dog Treats on Etsy for $7.64 (originally $8.99).
30. A magnetic algae scraper you can use between deep cleans of your aquarium when you want to clear out stubborn stains and fish goo.
Promising review: "Love this handy little gadget! Great magnetic gadget that cleans the tank very well! It does take a couple of passes, but our tank is sparkly clear now! I bought the smaller size, and it works perfectly for our 150-gallon tank. I turned the job over to my teenage daughter, and she pulled up a chair and went to work! She really looked like she was enjoying herself!" –Veronica Hatton
Get it from Amazon for $7.55+ (available in three sizes).
31. A lightweight flying disc that's easy on your dog's chompers and — maybe more importantly — their skull if they're not the brightest bulb and often run *directly* into their airborne toys.
Promising review: "My shollie puppy LOVES this. She is very high energy, and destructive when bored. This toy keeps her happily busy for hours (and gives me exercise!), and has survived for three months now. To put it in perspective, this is the ONLY toy that has survived that long." —ADKhiker
Get it from Amazon for $9.02 (available in five colors).
32. And a bacon-flavored wishbone chew toy for aggressive chewers who *will* resort to gnawing on your brand-new Converse or the leg of your coffee table if no other options are present.
Promising review: "I have an American Staffordshire/Huskey mix, and he's about 65 pounds and almost 2 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 $9.65+ (available in four sizes and three flavors).
Your dog on day 27 of being tricked into taking their medication with a Pill Pocket:
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