37 Things That Just Want To Make Life Easier For Pet Owners - BuzzFeed

Posted: 11 May 2020 12:00 AM PDT

Having a pet is great, but not always easy.

We hope you love the products we recommend! All of them were independently selected by our editors. Just so you know, BuzzFeed may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page if you decide to shop from them. Oh, and FYI — prices are accurate and items in stock as of time of publication.

1. A pet brush with thin, long teeth capable of getting to the undercoat. A good brushing means a silkier coat — and best of all, less shedding.

amazon.com

Promising review: "Great product! I have a 5-month-old lab who would scream when I brushed her. With this brush she relaxes and I get five times as much hair off. I didn't know she had that much loose hair! Buying another for my brother!" —Katie Boone

Get it from Amazon for $14.97.

2. A snout soother to help moisturize your dog's crusty nose. You hate chapped lips, so your dog definitely hates having a chapped nose.

amazon.com, Amazon

Promising review: "Well, I have never before been so shocked at the effectiveness of a product. Our 5-year-old Frenchie, Carol, had a nose that was so crusty it was sprouting these long strands of more crust. There was literally crust on crust on crust. The nose had strings of crust. This nose was so crusty and repulsive it was almost beautiful. Her nose might have resembled the rarest, most exotic geode to be mined from the rarest mine in Guatemala. A friend recommended Snout Soother for Carol's repulsive nose. I was worried she would just lick it all off and it wouldn't work. We never imagined she could have a regular, soft, moist nose again. Honestly this product is some black magic stuff! Unbelievable results in three to five days. No one paid me to write this." —Brittany

Get it from Amazon for $5.95.

3. A nail grinder that's a little easier and gentler than the traditional clipper. Gone are the days of having to use both hands to clip and praying you didn't cut too short.

amazon.com

Promising review: "My older dog (15) has been suffering with long nails for some time. It's affected her ability to walk, and she's always falling. I've taken her to the groomer, tried to clip them myself, taken her walking and none of that helped. I even took her to the vet and had them put her under anesthesia to clip her nails. That didn't do much at all and they recommended I not do that often because of her age. So I got this and hoped for the best. I am beyond impressed and thankful! In one session this has made a huge difference. My dog didn't move or jerk around like she normally does. She just laid there and let me take care of her nails. I could not believe it When we were done and she got up to walk, I could no longer hear the loud tapping on the floors. She is gonna have to get used to walking normally again." —georgiadiva2k

Get it from Amazon for $29.99 (also available as a kit with six sanding bands).

4. A mini comb that'll detangle and gently remove any eye boogers getting in the way of your pet's gorgeous peepers. The comb does the hard work so you don't have to touch any gross goo with your bare hands.

amazon.com

Promising review: "My cockapoo had tear staining as a pup but as an adult he just gets that goop in the corner of his inner eyes. Sometimes I don't catch the goop fast enough and it hardens in his muzzle. Even when I do, the goop is slimy and difficult to remove even with dog wipes. This tool is a miracle! Small, light weight and a good value for the price. Just one comb through and I got the sticky wet goop. A few more comb throughs and I found eye gunk that was buried in his muzzle. Most importantly, this comb removed the debris without causing any discomfort to my pooch. In fact, he seemed to enjoy it! Just look at the pictures." —Joanna

Get it from Amazon for $5.95.

5. A medicated dog shampoo to manage dandruff, mange, and fungal/bacterial infections. This paraben-, dye-, and soap-free solution will help soothe your pet's itchy bod.

amazon.com

Promising review: "Naturally, because of the ingredients, it has a strong smell. However, it does seem to leave my dog's skin feeling dry and provides good relief for her poor itchy skin. My dog Molly is a 9-pound mini dachshund whose little chest makes contact with the grass all the time so her skin gets itchy and irritated. I've been bathing her regularly with this shampoo and it is giving her some relief. No more greasy, flaky skin. Her skin and fur is now dry and soft." —Climbyourarms

Get it from Amazon for $8.38 (available in two sizes and styles).

6. A dog paw cleaning device so Fido doesn't mess up your clean home every time they come back inside.

Amazon

Promising review: "Best. Thing. Ever. This product works like a charm. It gets the sand from between their pads, and is gentle enough that even my most stubborn pup tolerates it! I have a terrier/schnauzer that likes to dig, a mini golden doodle that is prissy about her paws and a standard labradoodle puppy that is still very fuzzy. We have a farm where it is extremely sandy and we stay in a travel trailer. The amount of sand they were tracking in to the camper was ridiculous. It takes me three minutes to clean and dry off all of their paws. Seriously the best purchase I have made!" —Rachel

Get it from Amazon for $12+ (available in three sizes and six colors).

7. A pack of stain-removing pads to obliterate all the unwanted pet-related stains in your home. You can also use it for non-pet stains as well!

amazon.com

Promising review: "Our poor older pup started having some incontinence issues and had several accidents in the house. I was really frustrated until I found these. They work amazingly well. They're small, so if the area was larger I had to use two or three, but they pulled up stains and saved the house from being smelly. I even used one on an older stain (that I'm pretty sure wasn't pet related) and it came up after leaving it on for about 24 hours. I make sure to keep a supply of these in the house at all times now." —MC

Get a pack of 20 from Amazon for $24.99.

8. A betta fish leaf hammock so your fishy friend can kick back and relax.

amazon.com

This leaf comes with a little wire inside, so make sure you remove it before giving it to your delicate fish.

Promising review: "I had a problem with my betta sleeping near the filter and getting stuck on it. These leaves are his new bed. He's always resting on them. Great way to provide as a resting spot for your betta!" —Rose Moon

Get two from Amazon for $6.89.

9. An antibacterial toothpaste that's safe to swallow and doesn't smell weirdly meaty (it's vanilla mint!). It's important to keep those chompers fresh and clean.

amazon.com

Promising review: "I write this for Pabu, a Shih Tzu. The vanilla mint flavor disappeared for a long time and Pabu would refuse all other flavors. This arrived yesterday and he went right for the first link. Happy breath and dental care again. Woo-hoo!" —Mikah

Get it from Amazon for $9.25.

10. An LED collar to keep your dog safe on night walks and to give yourself a free light show.

11. A cat scratcher with a rolling ball to keep your little recluse entertained while you're busy.

Chewy

Promising review: "From the minute I brought this out, my two kittens haven't stopped playing with it! I was pulling my hair out trying to get them to stop running around early in the morning and this has distracted them long enough to keep them from being crazy all morning. They even fell asleep playing with it. Highly recommend." —shell

Get it from Chewy for $8.42.

12. A pet hair remover that'll pull all the fur off your belongings. It turns out that white fur coat you own is actually a black denim jacket???

amazon.com, amazon.com

Promising review: "Holy cow this is magic. I have a 230-pound Mastiff. I have purchased any and everything claiming to get dog hair off car carpet. I have used at least three different vacuums and attachments. Lately I have been using a microfiber towel because it had some grip. Then this piece of magic arrived. It gets every single hair no matter how embedded. There were hairs I had a hard time removing with my fingers. The Fur-Zoff pulled them right out. This has cut my hair removal time in half! Thank you for this savior of a tool." —David R.

Get it from Amazon for $10.99.

13. Duvet Pierce's Nu-Stock Ointment, a miracle elixir that pet owners swear by for soothing red mange, ringworm, ear mites, and small scrapes.

amazon.com

Promising review: "After multiple trips to the vet and hundreds of dollars wasted on meds that actually made my puppy sick, I bought this out of desperation. I'm so glad I got this and would recommend it to anyone who has a pet with mange. This stuff is strong (will stain clothes and linger in the air for days) with my experience I saw results within days, first the sores scabbed and healed and within two weeks his hair started to come back." —miranda wallace

Get it from Amazon for $16.99.

14. A Cat Dancer toy you can waggle in front of your feline whenever you wanna give them a proper workout.

amazon.com

Promising review: "I have a whole room filled with cat toys that my cat is not interested in. It's funny how the least expensive cat toy I have makes him go crazy. He plays with this until he's panting like a dog and I have never seen him jump so high. I'm certain this toy will help him lose his belly. He loves it! I highly recommend it!" —Kwoo

Get it from Amazon for $2.09.

15. A Pet House Candle that completely eliminates odors from your beloved — but stinky — furry friends, leaving you with a refreshing smell like bamboo watermint or evergreen forest.

amazon.com

Read our review of this candle here.

Promising review: "I have multiple dogs in the house and am always concerned that it smells like that to visitors, even cleaning every day. I have used other candles and melts that add a pleasant smell to the underlying odor, but this candle is the best. I have been able to leave the house for hours and when I first open the door, on my return, I don't smell dog. We recently had a house full of people (many of them pet parents) over for Christmas dinner and one person actually commented, 'Your house smells really nice. How do you keep the dog smell out?' I laughed and told them I was just wondering if the candles were working. I guess I got the best answer." —LLL Texas

Get it from Amazon for $21.95 (available in eight scents).

16. A Thundershirt to provide your nervous pup a little comfort when loud noises are upsetting them.

amazon.com

Promising review: "I rarely write reviews, but felt compelled to do so after seeing how effective this shirt has been on our dog. We have a 30-pound rescue who's about 6 years old. She's the sweetest girl, and very 'dog-like' with my husband and I. However, whenever there's company (regardless of how many times she's met them before), she freezes up, gets tense, and hides out in a comfortable area. Long story short, we thought we'd give the Thundershirt a try. I really didn't have any expectations considering her level of anxiety. We brought her to my aunt's house for Christmas where there were 17 people (many of which were kids under 9). She was a new dog. She was walking up to people, letting them pet her, and tail up the entire time. Everyone was commenting on how social she was, and how tolerant she was of the five kids who were completely smothering her with love! I will be using this for all future social gatherings. I don't want my dog feeling anxiety, and this shirt clearly brought her significant comfort." —laurenmickelsen

Get it from Amazon for $44.95+ (available in XS–2XL and four colors).

Ferretlady / Chewy, Anastasia / Chewy

Promising review: "This is perfect for my ferret, Loki. I couldn't find engaging ferret toys at the big box stores, but at Chewy, there is a huge selection at a great price. I can't wait to see my boy bouncing through the balls!" —LokisKeeper

Get it from Chewy for $16.24.

18. A wall suction that you can fill with peanut butter so your dog will have something to distract themselves with from the unimaginable horror of bath time.

Amazon

Freeze before use so it takes Fido longer to lick up all the peanut-y goodness. And get the cool hand-washer shown in the picture here!

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 $10.95.

19. A subscription to Barkbox, a service that does the shopping for you and mails your dogs lots of goodies each month.

Amazon / BarkBox

Each box comes with at least two toys, two bags of all-natural treats, and a chew.

Get it from BarkBox for $22+/month or buy a single box from Amazon for $31.86+ (available in three dog sizes).

Read about all the different dog subscription services.

20. A handy device that keeps track of whether or not the dog has been fed. Those hungry puppy dog eyes aren't fooling anyone now, Fido!

amazon.com

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

Get it from Amazon for $9.94.

21. An automatic water fountain in case your picky cat needs some motivation to stay hydrated. Cats instinctually know that running water is safer than still water so this flower fountain helps create a more alluring drink.

amazon.com, amazon.com

It also comes with three replacement filters and a mat.

Promising review: "My cat likes to drink out of the toilet. I bought her a $60 stainless steel teardrop fountain which she never used (not to mention how loud it is). I tried closing the toilet to force her to drink out of it, but then she resorted to meowing next to the sink. So I asked my sister, who is a vet, what I should do. She suggested a flower fountain since cats are more inclined to drink out of them. This thing is amazing. It is DEAD silent with the flower cap on, and without it it has a nice waterfall sound. My cat, even with the toilet bowl open, consistently chooses to drink from this. It's been a lifesaver. I honestly do not have a single bad thing to say about this." —Minno Durkin

Get it from Amazon for $26.99 (available in two colors).

22. A wood polish that'll spirit away any unwanted scratches left behind by your pet. One day Spots will learn how to use the door handle, but until then, we have polish.

amazon.com

Promising review: "I honestly can't believe how well this stuff works. Like magic it restored pet claw- AND pet water bowl-damaged wood all over my house. I am amazed at the results. Thank you! (This is NOT a paid review.)" —Nicole Thomas

Get it from Amazon for $8.47.

23. A wall-mounted play place with bridges and a ladder for your little explorer. Sadly, you're not invited on this adventure.

Amazon

Promising review: "I was pleasantly surprised when I saw how well built this was! I initially had to use treats to get my cats to go up in it, now it's my oldest feline's favorite perch! He's 14 pounds and it holds him well! The brackets are spaced just right to fit into studs. It took two of us due to its size, but it only took us about five minutes total to install! My feline babies and I are very happy with this purchase!" —Kristi G.

Get it from Amazon for $176 (available in three colors).

24. A Tile Mate you can keep track of on your phone. It's made for keys and other small items, but you can also hang it from your often-missing-pet's collar.

amazon.com, amazon.com

This device connects to an app on your phone. You can see where it is on a map or make it start making noise so you can find it if you're nearby.

Promising review: "I use it for my cat when we let her in the backyard. Sometimes she wanders off into the neighbor's yard but she has learned that when her collar starts singing that I'm looking for her. Keep in mind though that if you're using this for an animal, you have to be in range of the tile to find it (which I've noticed is about 20 feet or so)." —Ctesta

Get it from Amazon for $16.

25. An immunity-boosting allergy supplement so your itchy dog can finally find some relief. These soft chews deliver a dose of probiotics and other nutrients to help improve immune function, aide digestion, and promote healthy skin. Bonus: They add a nice shine to your dog's coat.

amazon.com, amazon.com

Promising review: "Absolutely the best product. It saved my itchy goldendoodle! We tried changing food, Benadryl, medicated shampoo, fish oil, everything you can imagine... nothing worked long-term. He was itching his face so badly he would make himself bleed. Had sores and scabs all over his face and neck. I bought these because they had good reviews and I was desperate. It changed his life! He no longer scratches AT ALL! His coat looks great and all of his sores are healed. He's the happiest he's been which makes me a very happy momma. He is also very picky and never eats treats... he eats these every time so that's an added bonus!" —Darcie Nation

Get them from Amazon for $25.97.

26. A suction cup cat hammock for lounging by the window and getting some sun. More window gazing = less meowing at you.

amazon.com

Read BuzzFeed's write-up on this cat hammock.

Promising review: "We've had this for a week and it's our cat's favorite place to hang out. When we get home from work, we usually find them lounging on top of it. Make sure the surface is very clean before you apply the suction cups so it adheres properly. When we were trying to decide where to hang the seat, we noticed that the suction cups don't stick completely if there is any dust." —joe

Get it from Amazon for $19.97.

27. A cleansing wrinkle cream that'll wipe away your squishy-faced dog's tear stains with ease.

amazon.com

Promising review: "AMAZING!!! My baby has wrinkles on top of wrinkles. This product has saved him! He was rubbing his face so hard on things to scratch in between his wrinkles that his whole face would break out and get irritated and his tail pocket gets so yeasty, red, and irritated. I put this product in every little crevice he has. It is soooo amazing!! We don't ever travel without it! I will forever buy this product. Lifesaver!" —Heather Erin

Get it from Amazon for $20.72.

28. A plush, hollow log filled with squeaker chipmunks that your pet can pull out and chomp away at. Seems like a great stress reliever!

Amazon

Promising review: "Charlie (the beagle) has been playing with his squirrel log non-stop since it arrived. We are pretty pleased, considering he usually destroys a new toy within 5-10 minutes. The only down side is that the little critters inside the log aren't very sturdy; he destroyed one in about 60 seconds when I looked away. I tried hiding other toys in the log, but he really prefers the included critters, to the point where he will dig around the old toys to get to one of the squirrels! He has chewed a small hole in the log as well, but as long as I keep putting the squirrels back in the log, they seem to keep his attention. We are already waiting for our first critter refill to arrive!" —Ali

Get it from Amazon for $18.99.

29. A bearded dragon harness with wings so your lil' lizard can pretend to be a fire-breathing dragon.

amazon.com

Promising review: "It took some finesse to get it on him at first since he kept pulling his legs out but once I got it on, it worked like a charm. This was a first for my beardie so it took him some getting used to before he moved on his own. It's pretty cute too." —Chrisp

Get it from Amazon for $7.99.

30. An electric pet shaver that'll make trimming so easy, you'll feel like a professional dog groomer. Reviewers say it's quiet so it won't spook your nervous pet.

amazon.com

Promising review: "These grooming clippers are amazing! I have a small yorkie who use to be a pound puppy and was always scared when she got groomed because of the sound. But after purchasing these clippers my dog is extremely calm. They are indeed quiet, not extremely loud like most pet clippers. Makes giving her a haircut very easy. Beautiful set and comes with everything included. When I ordered it , it was really fast delivery and I am extremely happy with this order. If ever we need this product in the future I would buy it again." —MinimalArt

Get it from Amazon for $51.99+ (available in three colors).

31. A slow feeder cat mat to keep your lil' glutton from wolfing down their food in one bite.

amazon.com

There's also a version for dogs.

Promising review: "It sticks to the vinyl floor and my 14-pound cat can't flip it over. My fat boy eats so fast that he doesn't chew, which makes him sick. With the Lickimat, he's forced to slow down, which gives the other cats time to finish without being harassed by the fat one! Works best with paté food." —P. Terry

Get it from Amazon for $7.95.

32. A pack of Burt's Bees cat wipes to help reduce dander and keep your cats fresh between dreaded baths.

amazon.com

Promising review: "Our son was having a lot of dander on his back near the base of his tail. We kept up the brushing but it wasn't going away. Looking at the reviews I decided to go for the dander wipes. Well I have used it twice and was blown away. His dander is pretty much all gone now. Plus his hair seems shinier and silkier after his brushing and using the wipes. Not to mention our baby boy looks just like the cat on the packaging. All around I will continue to buy these and use once a week or twice every two weeks to keep up his beautiful orange coat. Thanks Burt's Bees!" —Tom Cincotta

Get two from Amazon for $13.98.

33. An organic cat grass-growing kit for the cat who struggles with frequent hairballs. It's made from a blend of barley, flax, oat, and wheat seeds and is a safe source of vitamins and minerals.

amazon.com, amazon.com

Promising review: "I love this purchase! Not only is the mug adorable, but the grass is simple to grow and maintain, and my cat loves it! My cat has had significantly less hairball issues since we started growing the grass for him, and it has helped curb his unwavering appetite throughout the day. The refill kits are affordable, and I have just ordered my second set of refills. I would definitely recommend this purchase for any cat lover!" —Cel

Get it from Amazon for $15.97.

34. An ultra effective handheld vacuum to suck up the endless wisps of pet hair that are coating your entire life.

amazon.com

Promising review: "Holy crap!! Are you skeptical when it comes to buying stuff online? ME TOO! That's why I figured all of these rave reviews were a crock of crap. I've seriously bought every kind of vacuum out there, including the Rumba, which is about as intelligent as a cotton swab. But I have four cats and a golden retriever, so I was getting desperate! I believe the saying is… a picture is worth a thousand words. Check mine out (above)! Of note — the 'before' picture was taken of my dog's bed AFTER it went through the washer and dryer. Look at all of that left-behind hair!!! And the 'after' picture was taken after only THREE MINUTES spent vacuuming her bed. I. Am. SOLD! BTW, I've NEVER taken the time to review a product before, just FYI." —Luka Chan

Get it from Amazon for $30.99.

35. A pack of paw protection cream with vitamin E to keep paw pads nice and soft. Most dogs hate shoes, so this helps keep their tootsies safe from the elements (salt and ice in the winter and hot sidewalks in the summer).

amazon.com

Promising review: "My dog has extremely dry and cracked paws, so rough she gets stuck to the carpet. I've tried just about everything, all failed for various reasons. This product works. I was only able to do one paw the first time, she fought me like a demon. Next time she let me do all four with little fuss, she likes the result. I followed everyone's lead and put it on right before walks. I've noticed that she wants to run and jump more, and genuinely is happy with her feet. One downside is because it softens the pads you have to be careful where they step; she picked up a thorny branch where before the treatment it wouldn't penetrate. Fair trade in my opinion; now we can play and snuggle without her scratching me up. Bottom line: love it, the dog loves it, good value little goes a long ways. —Peggy

Get it from Amazon for $29.62+.

36. An ear treatment to clean your pet's ears of buildup, and prevent inflammation and irritation. All the better for them to hear you tell them how much you them love one million times.

amazon.com

Promising review: "My dog has had chronic ear infections for years now. Every other month or so she'd get an infection and $200 later we'd have meds from the vet who confirmed what we already knew. I finally decided to give an unprescribed treatment a try and it worked AMAZINGLY. Followed the instructions for a week, and her ear is completely healed! Much easier to pay $20 as opposed to $200 when you get the same results! I highly recommend." —Fromal16

Get it from Amazon for $21.98+ (available in three sizes).

37. And a front-facing backpack so you can safely take your small dog on long walks and let them take in the view.

Harper Hendrickson / BuzzFeed

Promising review: "I loved that this bag is comfy for her, but secure enough so that I have no worries about her falling out. I used this bag with Lily while hiking in the mountains, and on a particularly hot day while walking around downtown. Everyone thought she was the cutest as she rested up. I replaced my old pack with this one because it's much better, and I recommend this bag to anyone who brings their pup everywhere. Also, if your dog likes to snuggle down for a snooze at the bottom of bags, I recommend sizing up so they have plenty of room to do so!" —Harper Hendrickson, a BuzzFeed writer

Get it from Amazon for $54.45+ or K9 Sport Sack for $69.95 (available in four sizes and five colors).

Being a pet owner = challenging, but rewarding.

Looking for the perfect gift for any occasion? Check out all of BuzzFeed's gift guides!

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Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.

Looking for more great Amazon finds? Check out some of our favorite cheap things to buy on Amazon, some of the weirdest things on Amazon you might actually want, or read through all the rest of our incredible Amazon product recommendations.

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