Best Products For Pet Owners
I'm a Pet Parent and These Products Make My Life So Much Easier
In any other scenario of my life, I'm not what you would call "woo woo," and yet because I would do (pardon the theatrics) absolutely anything for my dog Ziggy, recently I found myself sitting next to her during a Sweet Energy reiki session while a lovely woman named Melanie performed acupressure, myofascial release, and energy work. I'm also not much of a shopper, and yet here I am, recommending a handful of pet products I've loved out of the approximately five gazillion I've bought her over the years.
Turns out, being a pet parent means constantly searching for items or experiences that will make your fur baby happier, healthier, and more fulfilled. That comes with a little labor, of course: the long walks to tire them out before work, the scheduled feedings, the constant trips to the trash to empty their litter box.
These products are designed to make those parts of your life easier.
Between puzzle toys that keep your little companion busy (and minimize the guilt for you) during back-to-back meeting days, tools that simplify bath time, hands-free leashes for walks, automatic feeders, and so much more, we've uncovered several game-changing items that make tasks feel less arduous for a pet parent and more enjoyable for your pet. If you're aesthetically inclined, you'll also find cute pet-friendly furniture and cozy dog beds or cat trees. To support the never-ending cleaning that comes with having a pet, allow us to introduce you to our favorite fur-finding vacuums, car-seat covers to keep hairs at bay, and top-entry litter boxes. Convenience, especially when living a life with pets, really does make all the difference.
Keep reading to shop every life-changing find.
The Best Products For Pet Owners
- A hands-free leash so you can multitask during your walks: Hands Free Dog Leash with Zipper Pouch at $20, originally $22
- A multipurpose toy to keep them entertained and mentally stimulated: Woof Walkabout at $20
- Good for your pup's gut health with real chicken as the first ingredient: Kismet Chicken & Barley Dry Dog Food For Digestive Health at $36, originally $45
- Schedule up to four feedings a day: Wopet Automatic Feeder at $25
- Makes bath time so much easier: Aquapaw Dog Bath Brush Pro & Dog Shower Attachment at $35
- Cuts back on spraying and spilling: Iris Top Entry Cat Litter Box at $40
- Monitors your fur baby's health changes: PrettyLitter Health Monitoring Cat Litter 2-Pack at $49
- A plush bed you can move around easily: Bedsure Corduroy Fleece Pet Bed at $56, originally $67
- Holds up to eight days of used litter while eliminating odors: Litter Genie Platinum Stainless Steel Pail at $60
- Roll it around or wear as a backpack: Gen7Pets Dog Carrier Large Red Roller Bag at $70
- For a clean and scratch-free car: Molly Mutt Papillon Multi-Use Cargo, Hammock & Car Seat Cover at $75, originally $85
- Filters out pet hair and debris: PetSafe Drinkwell Stainless 360 Multi-Pet Cat Water Fountain at $82
- Keep your dry pet food fresh: Simplehuman Medium Pet Food Storage Container at $120
- A cat tree that'll fit right in with your home decor: PetPals Handwoven Cat Tree With Perches Scratching Post at $149, originally $169
- Features a built-in light to help you see and remove hidden fur: Bissell PowerClean FurFinder Stick Vacuum at $150, originally $260
- Schedule cleanings any time from anywhere through an app: iRobot Roomba 105 Vac Robot Vacuum at $150, originally $300
Hands Free Dog Leash with Zipper Pouch ($20, originally $22)
Push the stroller, drink your coffee, or read the newspaper with ease while using this best-selling hands-free dog leash. Just belt it on, and off you go. Plus it comes wth a pouch to fit your essentials and a few dog treats.
Woof Walkabout Dog Puzzle Toy & Slow-Feeder Kibble Dispenser ($20)
Part puzzle, part treat feeder, this multipurpose toy keeps your pup fully occupied on busy meeting days. Even better, the game-dispenser format can also provide as much mental stimulation as a walk outside, says veternarian Lindsey Kaplan, DVM.
Kismet Chicken & Barley Dry Dog Food For Digestive Health ($36, originally $45)
Any dog parent will tell you: a pup's gut health is such an important part of their overall wellbeing. Kismet's Chicken & Barley Recipe promises to improve it, with real chicken as the first ingredient — plus prebiotics, probiotics, and tasty freeze-dried Nugs mixed throughout.
WOPET Automatic Feeder ($25)
Tired of getting woken up like clockwork by pets who need to be fed now? This feeder allows you to schedule up to four feeding times per day all while controlling the amount and even gives you the option to record a message that can be played with each feeding.
Aquapaw Dog Bath Brush Pro & Dog Shower Attachment ($35)
This tool takes the stress out of one of pet owners' most dreaded tasks: bath time. Operated by using just one hand, the Aquapaw not only helps you scrub, soak, and rinse off your pet but also allows you to do so with optimum ease.
Iris Top Entry Cat Litter Box ($40)
Litter tracking is a frustrating issue that can plague any cat owner. The top-entry, enclosed design of this litter box, however, cuts back on it resulting in less spraying and spilling and even offering a degree of privacy for your cat around other pets. You'll say goodbye to sweeping tracked litter twice a day.
PrettyLitter Health Monitoring Cat Litter 2-Pack ($49)
It can sometimes be a total guessing game trying to figure out if your pet is feeling their best. Enter Pretty Litter. It's not only flushable and low dust, but it also monitors any changes in your furry friend's health.
Bedsure Corduroy Fleece Pet Bed ($56, originally $67)
Every pet parent knows that a good bed for your dog or cat is a worthwhile investment. This TikTok-viral option has raised sides so your furbaby has a comfy nook for their head and neck, and it comes in sizes small to extra large so pets have enough room to rest comfortably through the night. One editor raved about it in her Bedsure Corduroy Fleece Pet Bed review.
Editor Quote: "The Bedsure Corduroy Fleece Pet Bed's design and features are next-level. It seriously has everything I could want in a pet bed, both for me and for Cooper. For him, it has raised sides that are perfect for resting his head, plush filling that I'd lie on myself if only it were human-sized, and a nonslip bottom to keep it in place. I appreciate the removable, washable cover that I toss in with my laundry each week, the easy-carry handle for moving it around, and the ribbed design that adds a touch of fun texture to my bedroom." — Marisa Petrarca, former contributing shopping editor
Litter Genie Platinum Stainless Steel Pail ($60)
Whether your septic system can't handle flushable litter or you're tired of the daily trips to the trash to throw out cat waste, this viral pail can make your life much easier. Designed to hold up to 8 days of one cat's used litter, the Litter Genie locks up any odors and is also compact to fit in small spaces.
Gen7Pets Dog Carrier Large Red Roller Bag ($70)
Traditional pet carriers can be heavy and clunky, making it an uncomfortable experience for both you and your pet. This carrier rolls smoothly and can even be transformed into a backpack for optimal convenience.
Molly Mutt Papillon Multi-Use Cargo, Hammock & Car Seat Cover ($75, originally $85)
This viral multiuse item keeps your car clean as well as fur and scratch-free all while giving your dog a safe and comfortable ride. Alongside a machine-washable canvas, it's durable to withstand use from dogs of all sizes yet still soft to the touch.
Woof Flipmat ($10)
If you've ever needed something to keep your pup entertained at bath time, look no further. This double-sided lick mat has suction cups that easily lock onto any surface, which means you can smear either side with a scoop of peanut butter, pop it onto your shower tile, and rest assured knowing they'll be happily distracted (and self-soothing, to boot).
PetSafe Drinkwell Stainless 360 Multi-Pet Cat Water Fountain ($82)
The popular fountain creates a constant stream of filtered water for your pet that encourages them to drink. The foam filter keeps water clean from pet hair and debris, and the constant water circulation means it doesn't have to be changed every few hours.
Simplehuman Medium Pet Food Storage Container ($120)
Keep your bulk dry pet food fresh with this pet-food can which stores up to 29 lbs of dry dog food, cat food, or bird seed. Its airtight seal protects food from any misbehaving pets that may be trying to get into it.
PetPals Handwoven Cat Tree With Perches Scratching Post ($149, originally $169)
If you've been on the fence about purchasing a cat tree, here's your sign to invest in one that won't ruin your decor. Ideal for small cats, this gorgeous tree features a bowl-shaped lounge, a plush pillow, and intricate handweaving that will elevate any space. Most importantly, your furry friend will get plenty of peaceful sleep in the cozy cushion.
Bissell PowerClean FurFinder Stick Vacuum ($150, originally $260)
Keeping shed fur to a minimum is probably one of the most challenging pet-parent tasks, and one editor finds it virtually impossible without the Bissell PowerClean FurFinder Vacuum. The standout feature is the built-in light, which reveals layers of hidden fur that isn't always visible to the naked eye and takes fur-cleaning to another level. Check out more details plus photos in our editor's Bissell PowerClean FurFinder Stick Vacuum review.
Editor Quote: "I really appreciate the 3-in-1 design. You can pop off the floor head to use the slimmer stick with a different attachment for corners and tricky angles, or switch to handheld mode for furniture (aka my personal nightmare zone) and car cleanups. It also comes with an upholstery tool for those of us who let our pups on the couch — complete with a built-in fabric strip that grabs onto fur — and a two-in-one crevice and dusting brush for spots like curtain edges and window blinds." — Marisa Petrarca, former contributing shopping editor
iRobot Roomba 105 Vac Robot Vacuum ($150, originally $300)
Fur everywhere, pet food accidents, and litter tracking are all things of the past with the most convenient hands-free cleaning device out there. Not only is it self-charging with 3 stages of cleaning including power-lifting suction, a multi-surface brush, and edge-sweeping brush for tight crevices, the iRobot HOME App allows you to schedule cleanings anytime, anywhere from your phone so that your home always has that "just swept" feeling.
— Additional reporting by Brittany Natale.
Kelsey Castañon (she/her) is an ASME Award-nominated writer and editor with enough years of experience to warrant a retinol prescription. She is currently the editor-in-chief at PS, where she manages content across platforms while simultaneously stockpiling (and reporting on) everything from skin care to wine.
Brittany Natale is a former PS contributor.
