27 Clever Products From Amazon That’ll Prevent Pet-Related Problems Before They Even Happen
Because it's easier to prevent problems than treat them.
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1. A silicone cat bowl mat, because messes are inevitable when dinnertime rolls around. This will keep your floors food-free, and will also protect them from water damage if your cat is the type to splash their water bowl before drinking.
Promising review: "My kitten is a VERY messy eater and always digs and scratches everywhere around her bowl, so, food scatters all over the floor. This mat is great! The bowl isn’t able to slide or knock over and it is water-resistant, so it’s 100% easy to clean. It doesn’t roll up around the corners like some mats I've had, meaning food won’t get stuck underneath it." –Em
Price: $8.99 (available in six colors)
2. A Kong chew toy to keep your dog preoccupied as they dream of chewing up other things in your home, like the legs of chairs, or your favorite pair of sneakers.
Promising review: "My pup loves her kong. I give her breakfast with her kong by soaking her kibble in water for a minute then filling her kong up with the food and freezing it overnight. In the morning I put a dollop of peanut butter over the hole and she enjoys the challenge of getting to her food. I love being able to use this toy to entertain my dog and keep her healthy!" —Kris3294
Price: $10.99 (available in six sizes)
3. A Catit grass planter that'll keep your cats from eating the plants around your home. This is extremely important to have as a cat owner since some house plants are actually toxic to cats.
Promising review: "I poured about a quart of water with Miracle-Gro in it over the seeds, and it drained immediately into the drip tray which filled up. I figured it would just suck up the water out of the tray as needed. Then I left it alone for five days while on a business trip. When I came home, the grass was 8 to 10 inches high and very thick and fluffy. My cats loved it!" –Laura Byrd
Price: $9.99
4. A Petmate litter pan for those of you who have dogs, too. Your dog will not be able to reach inside of this box to dig, and your cat's paws will remain dust-free thanks to the litter trap at the top of this box.
Promising review: "Bought this because my two small dogs would dig into my cat's litter box. My cat is 6 years old, ~12 lbs and doesn't like small enclosed spaces. He didn't want to use it for a week till I decided to remove the lid. I gave him time to use it without the lid (with an laundry basket next to it so he can jump in easily) and then replaced the lid a week later. He now uses it regularly and I've noticed a lower amount of litter outside the box." –T. Francisco
Price: $21.95
5. An orthopedic pet bed that'll support your dog's lazy bones as they snooze away, dreaming of biscuits and Frisbees.
Promising review: "My little guy is truly a pampered pup now that he has this bed. We love it as it gives him a space to lounge around close to us without having to go into his crate. Nowadays when I notice he's been oddly quiet for a while, I find him snuggled on this bed content as can be. My dog is a chewer and digs, and digs, and digs, his beds until he settles down. For most beds I've bought, I'll see damage almost immediately from his biting/digging. However, this bed shows no damage from this." –Eddy the Pup
Price: $119.95 (available in sizes small-jumbo, and in three colors)
6. A Greenies pill pocket for cats that's like a spoonful of sugar to help the medicine go down. Simply hide the pill inside the treat, press the treat to mold it around the pill, and watch your cat enjoy.
Promising review: "These Pill Pockets make life so much easier! Saves a twice-a-day fight! It only takes a second to place the pills inside and pinch shut. My cat loves the treat!" –Melissa
Price: $6.48 (available in two flavors, or Subscribe & Save for $6.16/month)
7. An air purifier to rid the air in your home of pet hair, pet dander, and anything else that might be floating around you.
Promising review: "We have had this purifier for six months now and haven’t changed the filter until today. (I know, definitely should have sooner). But I wanted to show how well it really does work. On the left is of course the used and the right is the brand new filter I received today. This unit WORKS!" —Lindsey
Price: $89.99
8. A grooming rake with rotating metal teeth because whether your long-haired cat or furry dog deals with matted hair, you will want to groom them before their tresses ever become an issue.
Promising review: "I wish I could give this thing 7 stars, but 5 will have to do. I was able to pull entire sheets of undercoat out of our husky without disturbing the topcoat. I've never had anything work so well. It's even easier to keep the fur pile together. The fur stays clumped, instead of getting spread out and floating around like with the blade-style FURminator. This thing really digs the loose stuff out so much faster and easier." —pvfjr
Price: $10.70
9. A no-tug harness that'll make morning strolls pain-free. Harnesses are always the answer when looking for a pair to your leash because collars are a bit rough around dogs' necks (especially when it comes to our elderly community).
Promising review: "My havanese mix is about 16 lbs and fit a small harness perfectly. It’s super padded and adjustable around the neck and behind their legs. Generous cut outs around legs prevent rubbing or restricting movement. It’s a little crooked in one of my pictures, but it fits snug and even when adjusted correctly. Great harness!" –J
Price: $21.99 (available in sizes S-XL and in ten colors)
10. A Catit flower water fountain, since some cats prefer running water to water that sits still in a bowl. This fountain filters water to ensure that your cat has a crisp and clean drink every time, without worrying that your cat won't drink water if it's not from a running tap.
11. An LED dog collar that is ideal for dogs who prefer midnight runs in dimly-lit towns.
12. An water additive to help you care for your pet's teeth. Dental care has never been simpler: Just add a capful of this to your cat's or dog's water, and they will have fresh breath and healthy gums in no time.
Promising review: "As a veterinary assistant I am constantly looking out for the best products to help aid clients and patients with common problems, and bad breath and poor dental health is very common amongst animal. Oxyfresh is a phenomenal product to protect your pets teeth as well as aide in fresher breath. It is very easy to administer, you just put it in your pets water dish and since it has no odor or flavor they don't even notice it's there." –Katie
Price: $15.45
13. A Gorilla Grips litter box mat so that you'll never have to worry about stepping on litter ever again. This mat traps litter and dust from your cat's paws, and is washable, too.
Promising review: "I hate stepping on stray cat litter! We have a cat it jumbo hooded box, which controls odor and most litter for our two adolescent male cats. I also recommend what another reviewer posted. Turn the box away so your cats have more chance to wipe their paws before hitting the linoleum." –Karyn
Price: $16.99 (available in four sizes and in eight colors)
14. A hangable scratch pad, because your cat needs something other than your brand-new rug to file their nails on.
Promising review: "This is no ordinary cat scratcher! It's sleek, well made, and takes up minimal space, which makes a big difference in our smaller home. Our cat has been a complete terror lately, moving on from shredding our couch to literally tearing the paint off our walls. This seemed like the perfect fix, as it attaches to the wall. I rubbed some cat nip on it and set it down flat to get our cat used to it and then hung it on the wall a few hours later. So far so good, he seemed to take to it really quickly!" —Bearash
Price: $38.99
15. A Burt's Bees dander reducing spray for cats who need a bit of help with grooming. This formula contains colloidal oat to promote skin health, and aloe vera to add hydration to their coats.
Promising review: "My cat is 10 years old and fluctuates with his weight. He has trouble cleaning himself and I think this is why he gets dandruff on his back. His dandruff was extremely bad and his skin was super sensitive to the point where he didn’t like to be brushed anymore. After literally one day of use it has cleared up... at least 80% better... his coat is softer and he loves to be brushed again!" –Amazon Customer
Price: $6.49
16. A Milk-Bone good morning healthy joint vitamin treat to help keep your senior dog running around the yard for hours, pain-free.
17. A pheromone calming spray for cats who seem to have the Sunday scaries during other days of the week, too. This spray is great for calming anxious cats, and for taming the rambunctious cats in your life before they knock over another potted plant again.
Promising review: "I bought this spray because I was moving and needed to take my cat on a long car ride. I sprayed her carrier with this product and it took about 30 minutes for her to really calm down. It is DEFINITELY worth the money and I would 100% buy again and highly recommend it to anyone with a pet who gets anxiety and stressed-out in different situations!" –Truyen Nguyen
Price: $16.45
18. A pack of Greenies treats, because the dental health of our furry companions is just as important as our dental health. As dogs age, things like plague, gums, and breath become more and more difficult to maintain, but these'll help the process.
Promising review: "I used to give my GSD greenies rarely, just when she had dog breath from eating god knows what on her walk. As she got older, her teeth became stained, and she really hates it when I brush her teeth. So, last year, I started giving her one greenie every day, and the stains have mostly disappeared from her teeth. An older dog's quality of life can be very much affected by tooth decay, so I am glad to have found that Greenies work so well to clean her teeth." –mvd
Price: $36.46
19. A Vet's Best flea and tick home spray for some sweet relief from scratching, because ticks and fleas can hurt a ton, and your wise partner in crime has enough things to worry about.
Promising review: "WATCHING THIS PRODUCT WORK IS UNBELIEVABLE. My neighbors behind my house like to go hunting for wild boars and that brought LOTS of fleas to my dog. I felt so sad for him! His coat is not near as nice as it used to be. I originally got this for inside the house because I feel like I just get eaten alive! I used it on my dog first and you can see it WORKING INSTANTLY! All of the fleas were coming up to the surface and dead! It was so impressive!" –Liz S.
Price: $10.43
20. An oatmeal paw butter that works to soothe cracked paws on your feline friends, and your pups, too. This is especially helpful during those dry transitional months from winter to spring.
Promising review: "I've been using this on her paws for two weeks now. I do it every day when I get home from work. My cat's paws look so much better. You can't even tell they're cracked! Worth the buy for sure." —lilbeth0303
Price: $7.99 (or Subscribe & Save for $7.59/month)
21. A battery-powered nail buffer for the animal in your life with extra-sharp claws. This tool works great after a claw trimming session to buff out any sharp edges that might cause some unnecessary nicking down the line.
Promising review: "I have to say I’m satisfied with my purchase! The tool has a nice weight to it, feels sturdy and like it’s good quality. Fits perfectly in my hand, too - not too big, not too small, and there’s a nice soft rubber or silicone grip that makes it very easy to handle." –Sophia Landa
Price: $19.99 (available in two designs)
22. A fur-collecting broom, because there is no telling how much fur you have hiding in your carpets until you purchase one of these brooms. I have this broom and use it regularly on my area rugs. I'm always shocked (and grossed out) by the amount of hair that accumulates from my two lovely cats.
Promising review: "I just received the broom today and it's already a hit. My two area rugs accumulate cat hair that doesn't get completely removed by vacuuming. I tried this broom dry first and it didn't have as much effect as expected, but when I wet the bristles and used a raking action (short strokes towards me with pressure) a horrifying amount of fur came popping out." —WingutNYC
Price: $12.44
23. A cord protector for your kitty who thinks that all your charging cords are chew toys. This product provides that one-two punch of protecting your cats from chewing on dangerous wires while streamlining a corner of a room that may be riddled with cords.
Promising review: "My cat like chewing electrical cords. In the past two years, I have tried several products to cover cords. But nothing seems can stop my kitten chewing them. What I most worried is that my kitten will get an electric shock when chewing cords. A few days ago I found this product. My cord is flexible after I install the protector. At the beginning my cat tried to chew, but she can not chew through the cord protector. She had to give up. Seems like my cat lost interest in chewing my cords. Wow, I win." —Amazon Customer
Price: $16.99
24. A dental kit, because taking care of your pet's oral hygiene can help decrease the risk of disease down the line. Plus, it gives them fresh breath, which is always welcome during cuddle sessions with your furbaby.
Promising review: "After just two days of brushing his gum inflammation went down. My cat is not a fan of the toothbrush but he tolerates it. The bottom pic is before and the top is after (cat is 2.5 years old and had never had his teeth cleaned)." —Levi Karhoff
Price: $6.49
25. An allergy supplement by Zesty Paws that's said to boost the immune system of pups who tend to spend their free time itching and scratching themselves.
Promising review: "I have a Bichon who has lots of allergies. We tried a lot of treatments such as allergy testing, changes to her diet, allergy shampoo, Benadryl, shots, and a bunch of other stuff without any huge improvement. After all of these she would still be up all night licking and scratching until she would bleed. After we got these her scratching to excess as all but stopped and her licking her paws has too. After a while she stopped eating the peanut butter ones so we ordered the others. These work so well we cut them up and sprinkle on her food just to keep her on them. This is honestly the only thing we found that works for our girl." —Sonya
Price: $25.96 (or Subscribe & Save for $24.66/month)
26. A dog-feeding reminder, because when you are feeding yourself, a family, and a dog all before logging into your daily string of Zoom meetings, sometimes things slip your mind. This'll make sure you never have to worry about your loyal friend missing a meal again.
Promising review: "Awesome product! There are four of us that were working together to feed the dogs. It simplified everything because I no longer have to text to see if anyone had fed them every morning. Now I just to see if it's green and if not I feed them and indicate it, we all love it so much!" —Toni Deegan
Price: $8.27 (available in four styles)
27. And, of course, a pack of wee-wee pads for those dogs who sometimes don't know how to properly voice their need to use the WC. Consider these to save your rug from some unnecessary damage down the line.
Promising review: "I have tried several brands that claim to be “extra absorbent” only to drip everywhere when I’m cleaning up a pad. These literally are a god send. They are wide, and very durable. There has been absolutely no dripping, no leaks, and I’m thoroughly impressed. I bought these on subscription and I’m very happy about this purchase." —jmatthews
Price: $22.92 (or Subscribe & Save for $21.77/month)
The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.