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Mar 27, 2024

37 Genius Pet Products You'll Wish You Bought Sooner

We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed collects a share of sales and/or other compensation

We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed collects a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.

Like cord protectors to thwart mischievous chewers and an anxiety jacket to soothe stressed-out pups.

BuzzFeed Staff

Promising review: "Years ago, I saw an Instagram dog who had this bed and rode along when his owner took him on car rides and road trips. I used to use a regular dog bed in the passenger seat, but one day, out of nowhere, my dog developed car anxiety. She went from being my errand buddy and riding along with me with no issues to panting, climbing up the passenger door to look out the window, and a couple of times even jumped into my lap! This is one of the best purchases I have ever made. The hook attaches to the dog's harness so she isn't able to jump up or jump out of the bed. It's also lifted so she's able to look out the window. Keeping her in place and able to look out has helped tremendously with her car anxiety, and I honestly don't know how I lived without this product. I highly recommend it, especially at this price point. Love it!" —Joseph Smorol

Get it from Amazon for $59.95 (available in black/blue, orange, red, and light blue/charcoal).

Promising reviews: "Can't live without! I wish we would’ve found this amazing product years ago! It gives us peace of mind that our dog won’t lose his footing and fall between the front console and the back seat. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!!!" —Brian R.

"It is a good product and I wish I had it years ago. The ride is easier on the dog as well as myself. She can sit comfortably and since she is not standing on the center console, I don't have to worry about her ending up in the front seat if I have to stop short. As a side benefit, it makes it much easier to put things in the back seat of the truck (golf clubs, overnight bags, etc.) because of the flat surface, and I still have the room to put my backpack of tools and things underneath." —Dan A. Lichtner

Get it from Amazon for $79.

I've been using this trapper mat for months now, and while it's pretty much impossible to eliminate all litter from your home if you own even one cat, let alone multiple, this mat has made keeping the floor of my litter box room MUCH more manageable. Unlike other mats, where the litter just kind of sits on top and eventually gets kicked elsewhere, this mat is designed so that the litter falls through the holes and stays inside the mat until you're ready to dump it. It's made out of an EVA material that's supposed to be gentle enough for cat paws, and my two kitties don't seem to have a problem walking on it. I *highly* recommend getting the larger 30-by-24-inch mat to extend the coverage area — I initially got the smaller one but went back for the larger size and it's perfect. Note that the mat will probably have a fold down the middle when it first arrives, but just give it some time and weigh it down with something if needed; it'll lay flat.

Promising review: "I have three indoor cats, and they used to track cat litter everywhere in my house! I mean, it was everywhere! Since I've been using this mat, the amount of cat litter that gets tracked around has been reduced by about 95%. I'm not exaggerating. I used to have to vacuum up the tracked litter several times a day. Now I vacuum it up about once a week and it's still less than I used to have in 1 day. I wish I had gotten this mat years ago. My cats even love the texture of it, and roll around on it frequently. You don't really even have to empty it, you can vacuum the litter out of it with a dust buster or hose attachment. It truly is miraculous!" —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $13.49+ (available in two sizes and five colors).

You get a large 33-quart bin and a smaller, stackable 12-quart bin, so you could store dog and cat food separately, or just use the top bin to store other pet supplies. You could also use the bottom bin for storing a cat's litter bag and the top bin for food — the options here are endless! The wheels on the bottom bin make it easy to roll around, a helpful feature for those with limited mobility or less arm strength. A scoop is included!

FYI, I use a similar bin from this brand for storing my cats' dry food and love it — especially the fact that their products are made of food-safe polypropylene, aka BPA-free.

Promising review: "This is AWESOME. I wish I found this years ago. The castors roll well, even on carpet. The smaller bin is a great addition. We keep it on top of the big bin and fill it up as needed. Less bending over to feed the herd of puppies. The scoop is sturdy and easy to handle without being flimsy or too heavy. It's been dropped by little hands repeatedly and no cracks or breaks. Honestly, I cannot find a negative on it. I really like it." —Amy T

Get it from Amazon for $29.99 (available in six colors).

Promising review: "I can’t believe I’ve had a dog for six years without having this paw cleaner. It’s not only easy to use and clean, but it cleans paws thoroughly and fast. Huge fan. Definitely recommend." —Zach S.

Get it from Amazon for $14.40+ (available in three sizes, eight colors, and with or without a lid).

The tens of thousands of 5-star Amazon reviews are reason enough to add the ChomChom to your cart immediately — but let me add my own personal review to the stack. I've been using the ChomChom for quite a while now, but I took the photos above literally just now to show just how quick, easy, and effective this roller is. It took 10 seconds to rid my velvet couch ottoman of the hair my two gray kitties are constantly leaving everywhere. It takes a bit of practice to get the hang of using this roller — at first, I thought you only brushed down in one direction, and was confused why it wasn't picking up hair. It's important to do a push-and-pull brushing in *both* directions so it actually pulls the hair inside, which does require you to apply a bit of pressure. Afterward, you'll just dump out the hair that's been trapped inside. The ChomChom is best for large flat surfaces like couches and beds.

Promising reviews: "Where has this been all my cat-loving life? Sticky rollers work fine for clothes, but this is the only product that has ever COMPLETELY removed all the cat hair from my bed. I have a long-haired 20-pound tabby and if you run your hands up his back a few times and fling the hair everywhere, it looks like it's snowing — he never stops shedding no matter what I do. After using the ChomChom, I can put on a black dress and roll around on my bed and not get a single hair on me. It's absolutely amazing. Everyone is getting one for Christmas, even if they don't have a pet. I don't care, it's THAT good." —Stephanie

Get it from Amazon for $24.99.

Promising reviews: "First of all, I don’t know how to write this without sounding like I’m on their payroll. Second, I wish I bought this light years ago!! The difference in my dog’s nose is indescribable, and I forgot to take a before picture so now no one will believe me! It was like watching a chrysalis turn into the smoothest most beautiful butterfly of a nose you could ever imagine! Just. Buy. It." —Amazon Customer

"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.

I use these and can absolutely vouch for their effectiveness. One of my cats, Sneaky, is a notorious cord chewer and particularly loves going to town on the charging cable for his automatic water fountain — you can check out the damage above. I was getting to the point where I was afraid it'd stop working entirely, so I ordered these protectors in the 1/2-inch size. They snap on and off *so* easily — flexible enough for removal, but thick and durable enough that your kitty's teeth are no match against the thick wire loom. Sneaky pretty quickly realized he'd finally been defeated once he discovered these on his favorite chewing spots (I also applied a protector to my poor MacBook charging wire, which was another target), and I haven't seen him even attempting to chew anymore.

I like that these come in multiple colors as well as different lengths and sizes so you can order as much as you actually need. You just snip off as much as you need for a particular area, so I used a shorter piece for my water fountain cable and a much longer one for my MacBook charging cable to protect the whole area. I ordered the 1/2-inch diameter ones, but you could definitely go down to the 1/4-inch or even 1/8-inch sizes if you're only planning to cover a single thin cable so it's not quite as bulky as mine looks above. If you're planning to cover multiple cables at once, you'd want to stick with the bigger sizes.

Promising reviews: "Easy to use. Can't believe I've survived all these years without this. Highly recommend." —pangochic

Get it from Amazon for $7.63+ (available in 15 sizes and three colors).

Promising reviews: "Easy to use and is the first thing that has ever protected my sofa from cat paws! I wish I’d bought this product five years ago!" —Carol Palmer

"Our cat was destroying the corner of our brand-new sectional, so I was excited to try these out. I didn’t want to try sprays or anything with pins that puncture the couches. I was a little worried about the quality of the adhesive, but the screen has been holding up and my cat no longer scratches that corner. There are plenty of screens in the package to add more if she finds a new spot." —NKakanis

Get a pack of 10 from Amazon for $17.99 (available in multiple pack sizes).

An optional, add-on subscription unlocks even more functionality with the camera, including tracking specific dog activities (like when they jump on furniture), alerting you when a person comes into view, taking selfies when the dog is looking at the camera, and creating a 60-second doggie diary that shows you the highlights of your dog's day. A 90-day free trial of this subscription is included!

Promising reviews: "We love our Furbo. Got it for Christmas. No problems. Can't believe we went 12 years without one. Highly recommend." —John Iodice

"I currently have two Great Danes and the Furbo is absolutely essential when I leave the house. I had one that got sick when I was gone, so I was able to see that and get back home. I have a puppy now that requires lots of check-ins and I am alerted to any extra movement, barking, etc. It also alerts me if a person is there, which definitely came in handy about a year ago when I was not expecting to see someone there. It also alerts me if the smoke detectors go off! I can't live without this!" —Lori L. Young

Get it from Amazon for $199.

Oh, and you'll still be able to lift and lower your car's windows normally.

Promising reviews: "These are so easy to install, and really effective in protecting the interior of car doors. They are thin and easy to lift for anyone sitting in the back needing access to door controls. They fold up if needed to be removed and are machine-washable. I really wish I had invested in these years ago." —Amazon Customer

"Exceeded expectations in my 4Runner. My 65-pound golden retriever puppy likes to put his paws on the door to look out, and his claws were creating permanent dents in the soft-touch plastic. Received in good condition, and the fabric is heavy duty. I was skeptical they would stay in place because the tabs that go in the window channels slid in easily and don't seem to 'lock' in the window channel. In use they work perfectly and don't move at all, even now that he is 65+ pounds. I am 100% happy with these after about a month of use, and they are holding up great with no signs of wear." —old john

Get it from Amazon for $19.97+ (available in three colors).

Promising reviews: "I should have had this years ago. It is a flashlight so it does not clean. I did not even know that the male dog had done a sprinkle in the living room. This flashlight lit it right up! You will be able to see the pet stains immediately. Absolute must have! My daughter got one after I told her about it. Same thing! Surprise areas that the dogs had stained." —Boomer

"OMG this is disgusting!!! I hope this isn't all just cat pee that shows up cause there is a lot! I bought this because I thought my cat was peeing in one room and couldn't find the exact spot so I bought this. Found the spot and more. Would recommend." —Momof3boys

Get it from Amazon for $11.99.

Carpet messes are undoubtedly the worst to clean up, but you can also use this on clothes and other surfaces like concrete and hardwood. Just be sure to follow the instructions carefully for noncarpet use.

Rocco & Roxie is a family-owned small business named after the Magleby family's pets Rocco, a Labradoodle, and Roxie, a former shelter tabby cat. They make a variety of pet supplies, including cleaners, treats, grooming tools, accessories, and toys.

Promising review: "I honestly have no idea how we managed without this product before. We’ve tried most everything, from carpet cleaners to products that just cover scent. Nothing truly worked or lasted to get the cat urine odor out of our carpets. We were at our wit’s end when it began to happen in our own room — one corner of the room has become nearly unbearable. We didn’t even want to enter our own room. I purchased this product as a Hail Mary, hoping the positive reviews were true. THEY ALL UNDERSTATED THIS PRODUCT!! My fiancé followed the instructions down to the T and the smell is COMPLETELY GONE. Not even the slightest hint of urine anymore. I admit, I’m more of a citrus/floral girl for smells so this more minty scent isn’t my style, but the fragrance doesn’t linger too long. But what remains is a completely neutralized smell. In addition, the carpet seems generally cleaner. I am so grateful to this product." —Amazon Customer

Get a 32-ounce bottle from Amazon for $19.97 (also available in a gallon size).

It can also help discourage them from hiding under furniture!

Promising reviews: "WISH I WOULD HAVE FOUND THIS YEARS AGO FOR MY DOGS! I recently bought it because my 11-month-old is constantly throwing stuff and pushing things under couch. I was able to install this while the baby was climbing all over me and haven't had any problems with adhesive. Also keeps my two small dogs from hiding their bones and toys under the couch! Perfectly invisible. Literally life changing! I can finally throw away self-made blockers, which were pool noodles that always moved." —Crystal K

"A must-have for ALL pet owners. This contraption is genius and will save cat (and dog) owners insane amounts of time and frustration retrieving toys. We used this beneath our oven and it works PERFECTLY. Cat can't destroy it (the way she shredded the foam insulation we had stuffed under there before) and we no longer have to get the yardstick out when literally all of her toys are 'gone.' Yes, this is a challenge to install, but 100% worth it. I'd buy it again in a heartbeat." —Allison Goldstein

Get it from Amazon for $13.98+ (available in three sizes).

Promising reviews: "I honestly should have bought this YEARS ago but I was skeptical that it would somehow magically help my 105-pound German Shepherd who is TERRIFIED of thunder and fireworks... WOW, just WOW! She was a completely DIFFERENT DOG this New Year's celebration and if I could hear the fireworks, I know she could too! She did get a little nervous on some of the HUGE bangs but again, night and day difference for her!" —BS

"I HIGHLY recommend this for any dogs who have that nervous energy or get overstimulated; that is where it has been most effective for us. I do suggest it for more 'typical' anxieties as well; it has helped cut out the anxious pacing and shaking, but it's not a miracle cure (at least for us) that makes them immune to those triggers. Definitely worth trying, we are kicking ourselves for not getting one years ago!" —Christine K. (Psst — read this full review for more deets; it's long but helpful!)

Get it from Amazon for $39.95+ (available in seven sizes and four colors).

The grooves on this feeder also help add enrichment to the meal, so it can help with fussy eaters / kitties who need encouragement to eat more.

Psst — Get a look at it on TikTok!

Promising review: "I wish I had bought this five years ago! My older cat loves puzzle toys with her kibble but this is perfect to slow her down with her wet food. And because it takes them so long to eat, my kitten can also eat her (yummier) wet food nearby in peace. I don’t even need to soak the mats to clean them; food usually washes right off if you pick them up right away. I bought these only a week ago and they are used daily in this house." —E. Turner

Get a pack of two from Amazon for $16.95 (available in three combo packs and three individual colors).

See it on TikTok!

I purchased this feeder back in January because my youngest cat, Chicho, is a little ball of energy and needs regular mental stimulation or he'll whine and stare and me and whine some more (super fun while I'm trying to WFH). Thankfully, he LOVES this. I literally put his regular dry kibble in there, which he already has full access to in his food bowl in the kitchen, but for some reason, putting his paw in these tubes and digging them out one by one really does it for him. I only use it as a playtime toy when he needs attention and I can't give it to him, not as a regular feeding device, but plenty of reviewers said their kitties eat full meals from it (and finally *aren't* throwing up). If your cat is often bored and meowing for attention, I say give this a shot!

Promising review: "This feeder is fantastic! Only took a few days for my fat 20-pound cats to begin to 'work for their food' and they are doing it! My one cat rarely scarfs and barfs anymore. I wish I'd seen this years ago. No more kitties stuffing their faces into a bowl of food. They pull up each piece and eat it individually. Great product!!" —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $15.10.

It comes with three replacement filters and a mat.

Promising review: "I wish I would’ve bought this years ago!! I have a cat that loves to play in water. He now gets the running water feel without having to dig in the water and make a mess. Amazing product and great buy." —Amazon Customer

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

It plugs into the wall, but it also accepts batteries in case of power outages. Also, you can record a 10-second clip of your voice saying something like, "Maggie! It's time to eat!" so they get a consistent verbal cue that they recognize.

Promising review: "We held off for years telling ourselves our cat would eventually accept his feeding time if we were consistent in ignoring him. Well, here we are. Wish we bought this sooner; best money I've ever spent. Plus, we can more easily leave our cat for a few days without worrying as much. The battery backup is a nice feature, and it's easy to program, and once you get it set up you basically don't need to do anything except monitor the amount of remaining food. My only slight complaint is that the bowl itself is a hollow plastic, so the food hitting the bowl was actually loud enough in the other room to wake us up. So we now just have it dispense onto the mat we have." —Jen E.

Get it from Amazon for $55.99+ (available in three colors, two sizes, and a Wi-Fi version).

Promising review: "I have cats who like to hang on my screens and this stuff has held up now for almost two months without even one spot that has ripped. It is a little darker than my old screen but once it was in window, you can hardly tell difference. Regret not getting this years ago." —jen k

Get it from Amazon for $16.78+ (available in four sizes).

This robo vac can easily move between hard floors and low-pile carpets/rugs and can pick up all the accumulated dust, dirt, and hair while you go about your day.

Promising reviews: "Love this little vacuum! Don’t know how I have lived without one of these for all these years. Highly recommend for busy households with teenagers and dog hair." —Lori

"So we have three cats and three large breed dogs. I was seven months pregnant with a 10-month old at home when I realized I had no energy trying to keep the floors clean vacuuming every day so my baby could crawl freely. A friend of mine got this vacuum and was really pleased with it so I decided to try it as well. Oh my god...I fell in love instantly!! We have uneven floors/drop steps and it gets around no problem. With all of our pets I choose to run it at night and sometimes once in the afternoon when the kids are napping. This thing is amazing and picking up everything. I really don't find it to be too loud and I don't mind the maintenance cleaning it requires from working in our house with all the pets. If you're on the fence on this purchase, just give it a try. You'll wonder why you ever lived without it before." —Ecaclan

Get it from Amazon for $179.99+ (available in two colors).

I've used this exact gate in the past and found it really easy to set up in my doorway, and it's *extremely* sturdy once you adjust the tension properly — I can't see any dogs being able to break through, and it's made of metal, which discourages chewing. I personally used it when I adopted my younger cat and needed to slowly introduce him to my older cat. The space between the bars were wide enough for them to see and sniff each other without any possibility of them fighting. I will say that once the younger cat got braver, he was able to leap over the top of it, but my older, bigger cat could not (which meant the younger cat always had a means of escape). So keep that in mind, depending on your use case. You can also install it a few inches above the ground to get some extra height.

Promising review: "I wish we bought this gate years ago since it was a constant game of figuring out how to keep the dog away from the cat's food and box. We even occasionally used a rollaway suitcase in a doorway as our makeshift solution. FINALLY — peace, cleanliness, and less money spent on extra cat food that our dog would devour every time she got a chance. Great gate!" —HillsideHaven

Get it from Amazon for $34.99.

Promising review: "We have a Boston Terrier who LOVES cat food but it makes him extremely sick. We needed something to keep him out but let the cats in so we tried this. It works so well we bought a second one for our bedroom so the cats at night can come and go as the please but it keeps the dog in our room and out of their hair if they choose to wonder the house! I’m not sure how I lived without it but I won’t be without it now!" —Mickey Bergman

Get it from Amazon for $16.94.

Promising reviews: "How did I go so long without one of these? Love that you can pour the water back in. Perfect size for out pup!" —Tony

"This water bottle has been exactly what I needed for dog walks or longer rides. I've used it for several months before posting a review. It's not leaked and the attachments have not failed. I like that it came with an attachment that I can hook to a leash/bag as well as one that I can put around my wrist. Sometimes I toss it into a bag and it's never leaked. As pet owners know, water isn't always available when needed; this is no longer a worry for me. Super pleased at how this has worked for me and my boys." —Fastdogz

Get it from Amazon for $12.99+ (available in seven styles).

This is THE pet bed, y'all. I can personally vouch for it for cats, though plenty of reviewers have shared pics of their adorable dogs curled up in it too (it comes in larger sizes)! Neither of my cats have ever really taken to a cat bed and much preferred to doze on their cat tree or curl up on a regular blanket — until I finally caved in and bought the Aspen self-warming bed a while back. IMMEDIATELY upon placing it on my couch, one of my cats crawled into it and happily began napping. As soon as he moved away, my other cat jumped in to take it for a test run as well — and immediately curled up as well. After about a week of them taking turns using it (literally, the cat *not* in the bed would lay next to it waiting for the other to leave — my polite boys 🥹), I realized I needed to buy a second one. They immediately took to that one as well, and now, they both have access to their favorite bed whenever they like!

Whenever I put my hand underneath them, I can definitely feel how warm they are underneath, so the bed's self-warming feature seems to work well. I think what they love most about it is the shape and how unbelievably cushy it is. And the sides of the bed are supportive enough for them to put their heads on, but still flexible enough for them to stretch out however they like. While the listing recommends this bed for cats under 10 pounds, larger cats will be just fine, as my older cat Sneaky is quite large (his affectionate nickname is "Chonky"), and he adores this bed. Most of all, I love knowing they won't be cold at night, especially when I'm away from home. Knowing I'll never have to waste money on another cat bed that sits unused is just the cherry on top. Highly recommend!!

Promising review: "Our cats are instantly smitten with these beds and we have tried sooooooo many. Maybe it’s the self heating? Wish I got these years ago." —Catherine

Get it from Amazon for $19.74 (also available in larger sizes and a rectangular shape).

Promising review: "I don't know how I've lived without this for the years I've had my dogs. I've always wondered if my golden retriever's hair was embedded in the carpet. I would ALWAYS have hair on my socks when I walked around the house. So I decided to buy this little gadget to see if what I thought was right. I'm not gonna lie, it takes a lot out of you. It's a good workout lol so I couldn't do the whole house at once but I'm excited to do the other rooms! It seems sturdy and well made, but I could see why some people had issues with it breaking, because you need to use a good bit of force to work the hair out. One thing I DON'T like is that if you have white painted trim, it will leave black scuffs on them :( I'm hoping that buffs out." —Nichole

Get it from Amazon for $16.99.

Check out our FURemover broom review for more satisfying photos of the hair it removed from one BuzzFeed Shopping editor's carpet.

Promising reviews: "Fantastic buy for my black lab! I can find and see her anywhere. One of the best things I have ever bought for her. I take her running at night quite often and it is perfect. It is very easy to recharge as well. Extremely happy I bought it for her! I wish I had done so years ago!" —Mn greeneyes

"I initially bought a couple collars because I live on five acres and my older dog cannot hear when I call him and I needed a way to find him in the dark. I ended up buying enough for all four of my dogs because it was so much fun to watch them all over and find them easily at night if they were far from the house. We have a totally blind 5-year-old Australian Shepherd that wears his (green) collar almost every time he goes out and it is no exaggeration to say this collar saved his life when he fell in our icy pond two days ago. Without this collar we would have lost our sweet boy and may never have found his little body. In addition to saving my drowning dog, months ago I found my smaller dog on the highway outside our fence at 5 in the morning in dark because his blinking red collar. I guess I can say it saved one and may have saved another of my dogs." —Will

Get it from Amazon for $18.99+ (available in sizes XS–L and 10 colors).

Each cleaning magnet comes with one pad for glass aquariums and one pad for acrylic aquariums.

Promising reviews: "Works great! The cleaner leaves a smooth coat on the glass (like your new cell phone screen), then it glides wonderfully! I wish I would have got this years ago!" —Mary Lornson

"All the time I spent with a long-handled brush scaring my fish while I scrubbed away at the walls of the tank and never once did I think of making something like this. This is incredible! I used to let my tank get a lot dirtier than it should have been because cleaning it was such a messy, time-consuming chore. I saw this while I was looking for a tank to get my daughter's beta fish and it looked like such a good idea. In less than five minutes, I had every surface of the tank scrubbed clean and I didn't have to get my hands in the tank, didn't have to scrub for half an hour with a sponge on a long handle, and didn't spill water all over the counter. The difference in just one pass was like night and day." —Jack H

Get it from Amazon for $9.49+ (available in four sizes).

It's a somewhat pricey solution, but if you're someone who can't get a good night's sleep because of your cat's late-night antics, this might just put an end to your issue for good. Note that it uses four AAA batteries to operate.

Promising review: "This product is awesome! I wish I had known of it three years ago. As a newlywed, I inherited five cats which love to sleep on our bed (never had cats before). Their constant rhythmical motion of their paws pushing in and out against our blankets kept me awake all night. I started putting them out of the room and closing the doors. This brought more sleepless nights staring at the ceiling as they would not stop scratching the door to be let back in. Nothing has work to deter this behavior until I learned about the PetSafe SSScat. It worked as advertised, flawlessly from day one. What kept me awake the first night was the sound of the psssssss compressed air scaring the heck of each one of the cats and their subsequent landing. Apparently each had to test the SSScat and when it worked, they jumped high up in the air, based on the loud thump they made when landing and taking off down the hall. It was hilarious! After only two nights, I can now sleep soundly because there are no more cats scratching my doors. When we open the bedroom doors in the morning, we find five cats sitting in front of the door, just out of the SSSCat motion detector range, patiently waiting to be fed and loved." —Jose Esteban

Get it from Amazon for $49.95 (replacement cans available for $16.95).

Promising review: "Found out about this product from BuzzFeed and decided to try it on my short-hair cat. As described, product is easy to use and her fur smells great and is SO soft. Wish I knew about this product earlier." —SYK

"Vet said I needed to start bathing my cat. She's older now and doesn't do the best job. No matter how much she grooms herself, she still feels a little greasy and has a lot of dandruff. This foam is so easy to apply. It goes on wet but a good rub followed by her favorite brush and it was easy-breezy. Her coat is clean and smells fresh now. No more heavy greasy feeling. Seems like the dandruff is not as bad either. Wish I knew about this years ago." —Runner

Get it from Amazon for $9.21.

Reviewers say it works for both small and bigger cats alike! One reviewer's tip: Make sure the side without the grooved lid is facing a wall so that cats can't jump out that way (the grooved side is what prevents litter tracking).

Note that if you have a senior cat with limited mobility, you'd want to provide a litter box with low, easy access for that cat.

Promising reviews: "Wow — I can't believe I went four years without this. My house is sooooo much cleaner now; my two (fairly big) Ragdolls barely track any litter now. Great product." —Josh

"This box is seriously amazing. My cat went right in and has plenty of room to go to the bathroom without missing or spreading litter everywhere. I would have loved to have had this six years ago when I got her." —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $33.99+ (available in three colors and two sizes).

Promising review: "These gloves work great! I usually only use one at a time cause it makes the process much easier. I have a Siamese cat that sheds like crazy so I groomed him a couple of days in a row and it made a huge difference. I groom him a couple times a week now and that's about all I need to do. It's nice to be able to pick up my cat without being covered in hair. Wish I would have bought these years ago." —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $14.99+ (available in five colors).

Promising review: "Wish I had found these years ago! They work absolutely perfect on our new Maltipoo puppy (she is all white). I only need to comb through once or twice and everything stuck in the hair around her eyes is cleaned up. No more having to moisten the eye area and pull at her hair, she doesn't mind my use of the comb at all!" —Cheri S.

Get it from Amazon for $5.95.

Of course, even if you're not a bird owner, you can use this outside if you have furniture that's covered in bird droppings!

Promising review: "I wish I had bought this years ago. Don't be cheap like I was! I've kept parrots on and off for 17 years. I just got this for the first time and nothing has ever cleaned off nasty caked-on poop like this, with the exception of my pressure washer. According to the label, it can be sprayed on poop while the bird is around. Unbelievable. So I've started spraying the grate every day and no more stacks of poo! Yes, I'm not the best about staying on top of it but with Poop-Off I can just spray the caked on poop once every day and it doesn't have the chance to build up. I use Publix Puppy Pads in the tray and on the tray for the play top because they are the best pads on the market. They have an internal gel so when I spray the grate, it's absorbed immediately after dripping down off the grate. Now that I'm in a wheelchair, I don't have the luxury of disassembling the cage once a month. Spraying once a day IS something I can do without assistance and this spray has given me back a cleaner home without the smell of bird poop (ugh). Had I not been so cheap before and just bought this stuff, I would have saved the backbreaking work of cage cleaning for many years." —Possum Queen

Get it from Amazon for $18.33.

For someone like me who lives in a fourth-floor walkup, cutting down on the number of trips spent taking litter bags outside is a *major* help. They say it can hold up to 14 days of cat litter for one cat, so you may fill it up quicker depending on how many kitties you have.

Promising review: "Many years ago, I had a Diaper Genie for when my son was in diapers. Imagine my surprise finding the Litter Genie. It's ingenious. I'm so glad I found it. It's so easy to set up and use. I have it timed so that the waste goes in the trash once or twice a week, which is a lot better than every day. The refills are pretty economical; they last a long time and are easy to replace. I don't know how I did without it. Thank you Litter Genie!!!" —K.C. Clancy

Get it from Amazon for $29.99. Liner refills are also available from Amazon for $16.22.

Promising review: "I just received this in the mail yesterday. I feel so dumb for not buying this years ago. It is amazing. The Dremel is not going to be immediately loved by all dogs. With love, patience, and training, this Dremel let me cut their nails and I don’t have to risk their little nails falling off because they are too long. Yes it could take two people, and I have tiny dogs! If you have a dog that puts up a fight, I do think the Dremel is the way to go, but don’t expect them to automatically not put up a fight. You may need to train them to be comfortable with the Dremel and having their paws 'played with' before you actually cut. If your dog's nails aren’t as long as my dogs were, I say take your time and train them right. You won’t regret it. The Dremel is so fast and safe. Easy to charge and maintain. If you have dogs that are rescues and you have no idea why they hate nail cuts, or you have one who has had their quick cut too often, so you can’t cut their nails at all, try the Dremel, but know it may not be all peaches and cream as you use it. You may need to bribe them like a toddler in a grocery store during the evening rush just before dinner time and you just want to get home. 'Fine have the candy bar!' But I digress." —J4

Get it from Amazon for $38.93.

It has magnets, so just stick it on your fridge for some easy, nonverbal communication with the members of your household.

Promising review: "I wish I would’ve gotten this years ago. Takes all the guesswork out of 'was the dog fed?' Our poor dog either got multiple meals or nothing at all. It was so infuriating. I put this on the lid of the dog food container so you can’t get to the dog food without noticing if the tab was switched or not. Our dog gets fed more consistently now. I recommend this to anyone with a busy life who can’t remember anything or a family with many members who may or may not feed the pets!" —Kelly Oyster

Get it from Amazon for $11.95 (also available in versions for cats, fish, and more).

Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.