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    29 Products To Help Handle All The Ruff-Est Parts Of Pet Parenting

    So you can spend more time enjoying those sweet, sweet snuggles and less time cleaning the litter box.

    1. A double layer cat litter-trapping mat if you're tired of constantly getting litter stuck to your feet. The water-resistant mat features a honeycomb design that traps litter between layers, so you can dump it back into your bin later. 

    Promising review: "This litter mat is a lifesaver. I was facing a real issue with my two new kittens tracking litter EVERYWHERE so much so that I was considering switching from the litter that I love to something non-tracking because there were no good alternatives. Much research later, I come across this mat. I will say it was bigger and more square than I thought, but I think that is a good thing! It is so large and covers the area well. Now the litter tracking is 99% contained! Best litter mat I have ever had!" —Rachel Ray

    Get it from Amazon for $14.99+ (available in two sizes and in three colors). 

    2. A TikTok-famous Little Green upholstery cleaner for effortlessly sucking up messes and returning carpets, furniture, and even car interior's that have been sullied by your pet back to their former glory. 

    Promising review: "This thing is legit. My dog had a few accidents last week. I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to clean it since this would take a few day to come in...but it did the job perfectly! It’s like the stains were never there! There was even a stain on my white rug and I had no hope that I’d be able to clean it, but this thing did it. I’m extremely pleased with this. Seriously don’t even doubt it, just buy it!" —Janessa

    Get it from Amazon for $123.59.

    3. Plus, a machine cleaner-compatible carpet shampoo solution to get floors and rugs back to their original, pre-pet color without any toxic chemicals.

    A vacuum using the cleaner and the carpet is drastically cleaner where the vacuum just cleaned
    A person's carpet looking progressively cleaner

    Sunny & Honey Store is a family-run small biz that makes cleaning solutions with your kids, pets, and the planet in mind. Their products are made in the USA and they donate 10% of all profits to animal shelters and rescue groups.

    Promising review: "This product is excellent! I have been using Carpet Miracle for years. I tried other carpet cleaners, and they did not compare. When you have a cat that gets hairballs this is a must. It gets out stains and odor. Once I went for a walk and didn’t realize I stepped in dog doo-doo and got some on my shoes, went inside my house, and got some on the carpet. Carpet Miracle to the rescue! A must if you own pets." —S Trent

    Get it from Amazon for $18.99+ (available in two sizes).

    4. A cruelty-free pet ear cleanser that'll gently (but effectively) flush out built-up dirt to keep your furry friend's ears happy and healthy without a trip to the groomer. It'll be a nice change of pace when your dog's ears flip inside out and don't elicit gasps of horror.

    Promising review: "My dog has been dealing with ear infections off and on for the last couple of months. Other over-the-counter stuff only made it worse. As a last resort before heading to vets, I decided to give this a try after reading about it. Within two hours I noticed he wasn't scratching his ears any longer...Now on day two it's 100% better...Still can't believe it! This product just saved me several hundred dollars in vet bills. A must-have in my house now!" —Wishfulthinking

    Get it from Amazon for $12.99.

    5. A motion-activated pet spray deterrent because your cat can't stop won't stop poking around where they don't belong. This harmless, odorless spray should give them the spook they need to get the hint. 

    a reviewer photo of the spray pet deterrent
    a gif of a cat approaching the spray bottle and running away after it sprays

    To work, the motion activator requires four AAA batteries (not included). 

    Promising review: "One of our cats use to scratch at our bedroom all night. We have been using this can outside of our door for over a year and the problem has completely stopped. We are just now on our second bottle and it has been worth every penny!" —Rochelle

    Get it from Amazon for $49.90

    6. A bag of Pill Pockets so when your dog inevitably picks around the medication you oh so sneakily stuck in their food, you have an even more delicious (and sneaky) backup plan to ensure they actually take their pills. Don't feel bad for tricking them; it's for their own good. 

    Promising review: "I tried everything. Nothing could get past my doodle's nose. I tried hot dogs, treats, berries, peanut butter...bait and switch, had to feed with a syringe which she absolutely hated as did I! The pill pocket was so easy and she had no idea! Didn’t eat it and spit out the pill either like previously with other methods. Thank you for inventing this!!! Worth every penny!!!" —Lisa F. 

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

    7. A patented pet hair remover if relentless shedding is taking over your home and you're tired of spending money on disposable lint rollers. This uses bristles, not sticky tape, to catch lint meaning you can clean and reuse it over and over and over again.

    a reviewer photo of a the ChomChom sitting on a black hoodie with the left covered in hair and the right free of hair
    a gif of a reviewer using the lint roller to pick up hair

    ChomChom Roller is a Massachusetts-based small biz creating an eco-friendly, reusable alternative to sticky lint rollers. 

    Promising reviews: "TikTok made me buy this and it is money well spent!! I’m convinced that my beagle sheds a full coat of hair and regrows it daily! I use this on my bed every single day and it blows my mind how well it works. Before this I was going through four to five disposable sticky rollers a month and spending three times longer to remove dog hair. I am buying these for everyone in my family as Christmas gifts this year! ❤️" —tiff4short

    Get it from Amazon for $25.45

    8. A hecka durable duck chew toy for stepping off the endless hamster wheel that is trying to find a toy that can keep up with your adorable-but-destructive doggo for more than five minutes. RIP to all the toys that came before.

    buzzfeed editor's dog next to three torn-apart toys captioned
    buzzfeed editor's french bulldog chewing the duck
    AnaMaria Glavan / BuzzFeed

    Promising review: "My dog destroys every stuffed animal he can get his teeth on within five minutes of contact. I never buy stuffed toys anymore so I don't have to constantly clean up the stuffing around my house. I bought this on a whim based on the reviews, but certainly didn't expect it to last. For some reason this duck is different — I'm not sure if its the longer 'fur' or something else, but he has not even put a hole in it after a couple of weeks. I wouldn't say it's his new companion; he does greet me at the door squeaking it in his mouth, and attempts to get us to chase him to try to retrieve it, but he has not tried to rip it open to remove the squeaker, as is his norm. I'm interested to see how long it will be around!" —charrob

    For more doggone details, check out our in-depth Multipet Duckworth dog toy review.

    Get it from Amazon for $6.72.

    9. A leakproof dog water bottle to keep your active puppo hydrated when you're on the go without having to share your water bottle. The one-button locking mechanism allows you to release water into the trough and re-capture what's leftover so nothing goes to waste or spills in your bag. 

    aa reviewer photo of the water bottle with a button on the front and a blue spout-bowl hybrid
    a reviewer photo of someone using the bowl bottle to give water to a dog out on a walk

    The water bottle also includes a sling rope and carabiner for clipping onto a bag or belt loop.

    Promising review: "I love this item. Especially nice when I take my dog to the dog park. For some reason he doesn’t like drinking out of the communal dog bowl. The water flows into the cup area and back into the reservoir if the dog doesn’t drink it all...with a button to lock in the water. Perfect product." —J. Chevalier

    Get it from Amazon for $11.99+ (available in two sizes and in three colors).

    10. A pet stain and odor eliminator that'll pull off the ultimate magic trick and eliminate old and new stains (and stank) on any surface with just a quick spritz and a rinse.

    a reviewer photo of a tan couch with a dark stain on the seat and text reading
    a reviewer photo of the same couch with the stain removed

    Rocco & Roxie Supply Co. is a family-owned small biz creating top-notch treats, toys, cleaning solutions, grooming supplies, and more for pets and their humans. The company is named after the founders' family pets — a Labradoodle named Rocco and a tabby cat named Roxie.

    Promising review: "This product is great and works well. I have had a long-standing pet urine smell in the 1930s wood floors from a prior occupant. After several applications, the smell is gone. The product has a mild pleasing smell that dissipates over time, which I really appreciate given my sensitivity to smells. Highly recommended." —Roberto 

    Get it from Amazon for $19.97+ (available in two sizes).

    11. A liquid tartar remover because your dog won't let you get within a foot of their mouth with a toothbrush in hand. Add this to their water for sneaky oral hygiene benefits, less plaque buildup, and a swoon-inducing smile.

    Reviewer photo of their dog with yellow canine teeth
    The same dog's teeth looking bright and white

    Promising review: " A must-have for pet owners. I add this to my pet's water daily. I found on Amazon and have a small bottle shipped every three weeks. My pet's breath smells minty and this helps keep their teeth clean." —Kelly Schmitt

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

    12. A plug-in multi-cat calming diffuser kit so you can restore harmony to your once peaceful feline domain. If you've recently welcomed a new cat to the household, or a life change has caused recent behavior changes, this drug-free solution mimics a mother cat’s natural nursing pheromones to help calm tensions and stimulate social contact. 

    the feliway diffuser plugged into a wall
    a pair of cats lounging back to back on a bed

    This starter kit gets you the diffuser head and one vial of Feliway; refills are also available on Amazon. Keep in mind that this shouldn't replace standard protocol for new cat introductions like keeping them separate for a while, doing smell introductions first, etc. 

    Promising review: "I can’t express enough how much this has changed mine and my cats' lives. Merging two households wasn’t easy on the cats. One male cat had a hard time moving into a new house with new pets. He had terrible behavior problems and would cause us and the other cats a lot of stress...We tried everything the vet suggested to reduce theses incidences, but getting Feliway was the only thing that worked. He is a completely different cat now. He is calm and his outbursts rarely happen. He has become a couch cat and has turned into the sweetest boy. The other cats aren’t stressed anymore and neither are we...It definitely has more of an affect on the male cats than the female. If you aren’t noticing a difference with one diffuser I would suggest getting a second. We couldn’t believe that this one product could fix everything, but it did...If your cats are having any behavior problems or stress please try this!" —Kristine Spencer

    Get it from Amazon for $24.73

    13. A swivel bin pooper scooper and rake if your goal is to stay as far away from your dog's business as humanly possible. This long-handled bin can fit a whole yard's worth of poo and includes a rake that makes cleanup a contactless, near-effortless affair. 

    a model using the swivel bin and rake pooper scooper
    Amazon

    Promising review: "I have three dogs: a small, a large, and a giant breed. With work, I only get around to scooping the yard once a week. I previously had a claw grabber–style scoop. When it broke, I got this one. I just used it for the first time and picked up a week's worth of poop from three dogs in about one quarter of the the time it took me to do the yard with the claw-style scoop. The bin is big enough to hold a LOT of poop so I make way fewer trips across the yard to empty it out. The absolute only downside is that the handle unscrews easily. I’m just going to put some glue in the joints and screw it into place and that problem will be solved. I never thought I’d be so stoked about a pooper scooper, but here I am." —Amy Bernadette

    Get it from Amazon for $19.99

    14. A concentrated allergen spray for a quick and easy way to make your home a bit more hospitable for those with dander allergies by reducing the presence of airborne and surface allergens from pets, mites, and more. 

    Allergy Asthma Cleaning Store is a family-owned business making safe cleaning goods for the whole family. If you suffer from pet allergies, it's recommended you spray this daily. For dust mite allergies, try three times a week.

    Promising review: "I have horrible allergies. Dust, certain dogs, all cats, pollen, etc. We have a vacation house that is used by many family members and their pets. Nothing has worked. I tried this and it’s amazing. No smell, no residue. I spray it on everything when I arrive and I’m not bothered by any dander at all. No more scratching my eyeballs raw or itchy throats. Just buy it already. Worth it!" —scoop

    Get it from Amazon for $19.99

    15. A pet nail file board to tame the claws of your dramatic doggo who won't even let you near them with clippers. This works just like an emery board to file down any sharp edges but can be made into a "game" your dog actually won't hate. 

    on the left, a dog paw with long nails labeled
    a gif of a dog scratching the file board
    ScratchPad for Dogs / Etsy

    ScratchPad for Dogs is an Atlanta, Georgia-based Etsy shop specializing in their genius paw maintenance invention. 

    Promising review: "I bought the scratchpad as a last-ditch effort to trim my dog's very long nails. He won't let anyone touch his feet, and my vet suggested putting him under sedation to get the job done. He figured out this 'game' in 15 minutes and his nails look great! I couldn't be happier! Thank you so much for creating an easy and fun alternative to clippers!" —astacy051

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

    16. A wood polish that conditions and protects wood with a combination of beeswax and orange oil. In other words, it'll help hide all those pet-induced scratches so you can turn back the clock on worn-out furniture.

    Promising review: "I have original paneled doors in my home and they are in excellent condition except for the fact that they were seriously dried out and had deep scratching from pets. I had no idea I needed this in my life. Easy application with a microfiber towel and then a quick wipe down an hour later to remove any residue. This brought my interior and exterior doors back to life. If you have deep scratches in your wood, this is a must-have! Very pleased." —Victoria 

    Get it from Amazon for $6.89+ (available in four sizes).

    17. An immunity-boosting allergy supplement because your dog's endless scratching could be seasonal allergies. Fortunately, these soft chews not only help with itchy allergic reactions and skin sensitivity, but also deliver a dose of probiotics and other nutrients to help support immune function, digestion, and promote healthy skin.

    Before photo of a dog with a red, irritated belly
    Same reviewer's dog after taking the allergy supplements, which calmed the dog's skin and made it less red

    Promising review: "What a great product! I have a small pooch and he’s been scratching himself around the nose and neck it seems due to allergies, leaving red bloody marks 😞. I bought this product and BAM within two days he stopped scratching and his marks are healing. And he really likes the taste. Thanks!" —Harold Koslowski

    Get 90 chews from Amazon for $23.18.

    18. A mounted self-grooming brush so your cat can give themselves those oh-so-satisfying scritches instead of pestering you during work hours. Just mount it to a corner with the included adhesive strips and watch your feline friend enjoy the good life.

    Reviewer photo of their cat happily rubbing its face on the brush
    Reviewer holding a chunk of cat fur showing how effective the brush is at loosening fur

    Promising review: "Might need more of these! My cat loves to rub on it and the catnip is a perk! It was easy to attach to the corner and hasn’t moved since I put it on. I like that I can snap it off to clean and change out the catnip. Definitely, a must-have!" —Someone

    Get it from Amazon for $4.99.

    19. real grass pee pad if you spend long hours out of the house fretting if Fido will have an accident or soak through their disposable pee pads. With this customizable subscription service your dog will always have access to an indoor potty option that, because it's real grass, neutralizes odors better than any pad or fake lawn ever could.

    a reviewer photo of a dog standing on the grass pad
    Danielle Healy / BuzzFeed

    Doggie Lawn is a small biz founded by dog lovers looking for a convenient and eco-friendly alternative to other indoor potties. 

    I live on the sixth floor of an NYC walk-up, so when my partner and I made the decision to get a dog we knew the bathroom situation was something we had to consider carefully. We settled on Doggie Lawn as the best balance of convenience and price, without the environmental concerns I had with relying on disposable pee pads. Our dog took to it immediately, but you can purchase a training spray to help attract more skeptical dogs. It is a live plant, so by the time our next shipment is due to arrive the grass is matted and browning (surprise, surprise, it doesn't stay cute forever), but we've had zero issues with bugs or weird smells. I have asked every human who walks into my apartment if I've gone nose blind to the scent, and they assure me they don't smell a thing. And when we're done, the grass is taken to our nearest compost drop-off — something you could never do with the synthetic lawns. Doggie Lawn has been such a lifesaver for us and we'll be regular customers for the foreseeable future. 

    Get it from Doggie Lawn for $32.20+ (available in four sizes). 

    20. Or an enclosed self-cleaning litter box for handling your cat's business without all the time and energy spent scooping. Simply roll the litter box over and an internal sifting mechanism separates clean litter and deposits the waste in the pull out tray for contactless clean-up. 

    a reviewer photo of their cat standing inside the litter box
    a reviewer photo of the litter box tray pulled out filled with clumps of litter

    Any sort of clumping cat litter will do, but reviewers LOVE this low-tracking, 99.9% dust-free Dr. Elsey’s Premium Clumping Cat Litter

    Promising reviews: "Busy mom with two kids and two cats…This makes cleaning litter so much easier for me and my kids. Trust me, worth the money!" —Janie 

    "We weren’t sure what to expect from this new type of manual cat box. The innovation is so logical and simple while cost effective. We bought this for our teenage cat. He used it right away. All we do is tilt and roll the entire cat box to the right until you hear a THUMP indicating the clumps land in a built in pull out scoop. Then roll the cat box back to the left so the remaining good litter settles back into the bottom. Then back to center. The scoop is easy to empty. We love it." —Suzanne Edwards

    Get it from Amazon for $57.60

    21. A Hear Doggy alligator toy to spare your ears from incessant high-pitched speaking. This toy is equipped with an ultrasonic squeaker only dogs can hear, so they don't miss out on an ounce of fun and you don't lose your cool. 

    Reviewer pic of a puppy with the green toy between their paws
    A different reviewer showing up close the alligator toy with their puppy snuggling with it

    Promising review: "When you squeeze this toy, the sound is just a faint air puff. Apparently, it sounds different to a dog. We can squeeze it when our puppy is in another room, and she will come running to inspect. She likes to tug at the felt pieces on the toy and incessantly bite the 'squeaker.' It's so nice to have a toy like this because I don't like the noisy ones." —tee

    Get it from Amazon for $14.94 (available in five other styles).

    22. A poop bag dispenser that attaches right to your dog's leash because you never want to be caught out and about with a mess you can't handle. Bonus: It has a built-in flashlight to make it easy to find your doggy's doo-doos in the dark.

    Reviewer photo of a hand holding the blue and gray poop bag dispenser filled with bags
    The same reviewer clicking the yellow button on the dispenser to illuminate the flashlight at the bottom part of the dispenser

    This dispenser also comes with a 15-count roll of lavender-scented waste bags, a metal carabiner, and a webbing loop fastener for hooking onto your dog's leash or harness!

    Promising review: "I needed a poop bag holder that I could attach to my leash. While there are plenty of cheap-quality plastic options out there, I went with this option because it had the added feature of a flashlight. I'm not always home in time to walk my puppy before the sun goes down, so having the light attached to the holder is perfect (especially when I forget my phone on the way out of my house). I highly recommend if you'll be trying to scoop the poop in the dark." —Nikki

    Get it from Amazon for $6.99+ (available in five colors).

    23. Plus, some leakproof poop bags so you're not left gagging every time your pup takes a dump. These are much thicker than your standard bags and contain odors like a champ.

    Promising review: "The quality of the bag is exactly what I was looking for. It's thick enough that once it's tied closed you can not smell what's inside it. The strength and quality of the bag was the most important aspect for me and these bags meet all of them. The bag doesn't rip easily, which is ideal for someone with long nails. The quantity you receive for the price is perfect and I like that they are biodegradable. Will definitely be buying all of my poop bags from them moving forward." —Amazon Customer

    Get a 120 bags from Amazon for $7.99 (available in scented and unscented).

    24. A dog shammy because it's wayyyy more absorbent than regular cotton towels if your fur baby has a habit of leaving the park a lot dirtier and wetter than when you arrived.

    a model using the microfiber towel on a wet dog
    Amazon

    Promising review: "This product is everything advertised and more. I recommend to all dog owners. You can easily clean your pup's muddy feet or dry them off after being out in the rain or after a bath. And the dogs love it." —mtaittsr

    Get it from Amazon for $16.99 (available in three colors).

    25. A suction licking pad you load up with a lick-able treat (peanut butter, yogurt, wet food, etc.) so your dog remains adequately distracted through bath times, nail trimming, unexpected firework displays, or even that important work call. 

    reviewer photo showing their dog looking at the Slow Treater with excitement
    reviewer photo showing their dog licking peanut butter out of the Slow Treater while in the shower

    Many reviewers suggest freezing this with the peanut butter on it first so that your pup has to really work at getting all that deliciousness out — which'll keep them occupied for a little longer so you can do what you need to do!

    Promising review: "Tried this with our lab puppy when I needed to sweep and vacuum the floors. This kept her busy for a while so I could clean in peace! I filled it with peanut butter and placed it on the refrigerator door. She loves it! Also used this when we had company to keep her busy so she wouldn't be such a pest." —Amazon Customer

    Get it from Amazon for $9.30.

    26. An adorable automatic water fountain if your favorite feline prefers running water to get their daily dose of hydration (many do). It's equipped with a large-capacity water tank so you're not constantly refilling it *and* it's whisper quiet. 

    Promising review: "We had been putting out multiple bowls of water, letting her drink out of the sink, etc. It was really an issue trying to get her to drink water — she mostly just dug through her dishes and made a huge mess. But she absolutely loves this thing, I see her drinking from it all the time.  And there’s no mess from her digging through water bowls and splashing it everywhere. Definitely recommend this, especially if you have multiple cats." —Sunshine 

    Get it from Amazon for $22.13 (available in two colors).

    27. A self-contained elevated pet food bowl for preventing your messy eater's messes before they even happen. This feeder collects stray kibble in the top tray and spilled water in the bottom basin so you can say "buh-bye" to post mealtime cleanup. 

    Promising review: "This dish is perfect. My dog is a messy eater so this dish catches all his bits he drops. And when I put water in his bowel I usually spill some but this dish is designed to help prevent the water from ending up all over the floor. Perfect size for him ❤️" —Crystal Starnes

    Get it from Amazon for $23.99+ (available in three styles and four colors).

    28. An all-in-one vacuum pet grooming kit that combines a mix of de-shedding and grooming attachments with vacuum suction so you can easily manage your pet's coat at home without the usual (hairy) mess. 

    a reviewer photo of a german shepherd dog laying next to the vacuum groomer
    a gif of a reviewer pressing a button on the vacuum head and pet hair stuck in the bristles bring sucked into the inner chamber

    The kit includes five attachments: a grooming brush, de-shedding brush, electric clipper with four comb attachments (6mm/12mm/18mm/24mm), a nozzle head, and cleaning brush for collecting any fallen pet hair.  

    Promising reviews: "I have two cats (that I found I’m allergic to) and two dogs. They need frequent brushing to ensure that I’m not going into an allergy fit due to the insurmountable hair everywhere. This thing is a beast and has helped so much when it comes to keeping up with some of the shedding that goes around here." —Messer

    Get it from Amazon for $127.49

    29. An airline-approved pet carrier with a cozy fleece lining, leash tether, luggage strap, and so many more functional details because traveling can be stressful for your furry flight companion, so they deserve the absolute best travel digs.

    a reviewer photo of a cat in the open gray pet carrier
    a reviewer holding the pet carrier using the crossbody strap and a small dog's head popping out of a front zip window in the carrier
    www.amazon.com, Danielle Healy / BuzzFeed

    Mr. Peanut's is a small biz creating high-quality and safe pet care products that simultaneously gives back to at-risk animals and donates supplies to shelters across the USA. 

    After my parents loved a similar carrier by the same brand, I picked one up for my dog, Pinto, before our first flight with him and I couldn't be happier with it. It looks great, the quality feels amazing, and it's really thoughtfully designed for both car and flight travel. The front zip window is the detail I never knew I needed. Not only was it nice to have easy access to Pinto for some reassuring pets, but we also found that Pinto loved sticking his head out to look around while we navigated the airport. We had zero issues with airport security and the carrier fit comfortably under the seat as promised. 

    Get it from Amazon for $89 (available in five colors). 

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